Are you a yo-yo exerciser? Do you have tons of excuses as to why now is just not a good time to commit to a regular exercise regime?
Don’t worry, I’ve totally been there before..numerous times! But, the truth is that whenever I commit to a regular exercise routine life always gets better – I feel better about myself and my body, I have better energy levels, I feel strong and empowered. And it’s not just me – my clients share a similar sentiment. How can all these benefits be reaped just from moving the body?
It’s always important to ask the WHY before the how, when, where and what. Because when we understand the WHY we are more likely to stay motivated and stick to it; whether it’s a healthy diet, healthy thought patterns or today’s topic – a regular exercise routine. That being said, I’d like to share my five most motivating reasons to commit to regular physical activity.
- Exercise makes you happy. Studies have shown that exercise can be more powerful than anti-depressants. When we exercise we stimulate the production of our feel-good hormones, which make us feel alive and naturally high on life. Need I say more?!
- Exercise can be a natural and powerful way to reduce stress levels. To learn more about the negative consequences of stress on our body check out: https://imuaortho.com/blog/stress-busters/. In addition to the negative physical effects of stress, our mind and our emotions are clearly not at their best when we’re stressed out. Thankfully, there is a natural, free solution available to us – regular exercise. The restorative power of exercise has been confirmed by clinical studies that have effectively used exercise to treat stress and anxiety.
- Exercise is empowering. When we regularly exercise we are more likely to make healthier choices in other parts of our life. We’re more likely to eat healthier, have better sleep patterns and stick to habits that support our health and happiness. In addition, if we stick to a regular exercise routine, as our strength and stamina increase so to do our self esteem and confidence levels.
- Exercise keeps you young. Improving your aerobic capacity by 15 to 25 percent is apparently equivalent to shaving 10 to 20 years of your age. Some of the more recent research explains why exercise keeps us young, on a cellular level. Specifically, researchers have measured the length of telomeres, which are DNA on either end of thread-like chromosomes. ‘Just as the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces keep the laces from fraying, telomeres protect the chromosomes that carry genes during cell division.’ (http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20091201/molecular-proof-exercise-keeps-you-young). Telemores have been referred to as a type of biological clock and exercise has been found to reduce the shortening of telemores, thereby promoting youthfulness. People who engaged in regular exercise had telomeres of similar length to inactive people up to 10 years younger.
- Exercise gives us energy. Doing the right type of exercise, at the right intensity level, with the correct form, can give you a wonderful boost of energy. However, what is right for me may not be perfect for you, and what was right for you ten years ago may not be ideal for you today. If you need more guidance in terms of finding the right physical activity for your body and your lifestyle please send me an e-mail at imuahealth@gmail.com to schedule a free consultation. A lack of energy is the number one reason people procrastinate, in all areas of life. So, whether you’ve been putting off cleaning the house or living a healthier lifestyle; exercise can help!
I hope that you have enjoyed reading my top five reasons to commit to exercise and that you feel motivated to move your body. Please take note that none of the information provided herein is ever intended to take the place of medical advice and these tips are purely of informative and educational value. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day!
