Unless you have been living on a different planet, you would have come across a picture, an advert or something that reminds us of why exercise is important.
So what are the benefits of exercise and what type of exercise should you be doing and how often? In this article we will explore a few of the key benefits of exercising and why it is important aspect of our lives.
Exercise Benefits Your Body
There is strong evidence that shows people who are physically active tend to live healthier lives because of the reduced risk of getting long term diseases such as stroke and certain types of cancers.
Staying active reduces blood pressure, improves your memory and mood. Stress is a challenge in our lives due to work and family commitments and in many cases it is easy to see exercise as a waste of time or something that does not need to be done as often.
Exercise can help relieve stress and help us focus on the matters at hand. The time spent running or doing that activity is time that can be well spent planning and prioritising. Stress has its effects on the body and mind and there are few programs such as Mindfulness, and others to deal with stress. Exercise and keeping fit can be a ‘low cost’ alternative.
Exercise increases you heart rate as more blood is pushed in your circulatory system. Exercise makes your heart stronger and whilst this is not something you can see, you can feel it. Not to mention you are rewarded with endorphins after intense exercise.
Outwardly speaking, the benefits of exercise are obvious in your physical body because you are likely to be in shape, be stronger, flexible and not to mention, lose weight.
More often than not, the motivation for a lot of people to exercise is to have a beach body, or to fit into that dress or suit and whilst these aims are good, it is important to develop a lifestyle that incorporates exercise – you never know when you’ll be given short notice to attend a wedding.
Social Benefits
Gone are the days when you would run or do some activity by yourself and keep no track of your activity or have anyone to share it with.
These days there are hundreds of fitness apps that monitor your activity and even connects you to people who share the same platform and passion. It presents the opportunity to join a club around that activity, get out of the house, meet new people and see where the relationships can go.
It is not surprising that people engage in a fitness activity and as time goes on, job opportunities, mentorships or other type of opportunities become available.
What Type of Exercise Should You Do
There is no easy answer however there are options and it depends on your age, geographical location, hobbies, and responsibilities.
Playing football with your friends can work however you are prone to injury from a careless tackle and that can disrupt you from being able to do your job properly or carry out your responsibilities at home.
The same can be said of playing a sport like basketball, badminton, tennis or anything else that you may be interested in. It is important to note however some sports are not physically demanding and it is necessary to have your heart rate raised for some time so depending on your age you may want something a bit more involved.
Jogging is one of my favourites because I can do it at any time of the day (try to avoid when it is dark), pretty much all year round and an intense ten minute run is already beneficial to me. I do not need equipment so start up costs are minimal as it were and it is something that can be done alone or with people.
Cycling is another way to keep fit and in many ways is goes beyond that. It is a means of travel, a good way to explore places and even spend time as a family. I recently came across Zwift – I think it is a great product especially during lockdown.
Cycling is an activity that can be done year round, indoors and outdoors. Rowing indoors too is another that comes to mind.
While is important to be fit, it is more important to enjoy the process and the activity. If you have underlying health conditions or have not exercised intensely for a while, it is a good idea to seek medical advice just to make sure everything is in working order so you are not causing any damage to yourself.
It is best to choose activities that suit your lifestyle so that you are keeping fit but not stressing about it. At the end of the day it is something you need to enjoy rather than dread.
Costs Associated
There are some costs associated with keeping fit and depending on the activity, the costs can be significant. Cycling for examples – those bikes are not cheap however you do not need to start with an expensive bike.
Safety is important so it is necessary to have the full gear; helmet, glasses, gloves, clothing, shoes and other accessories that will make you more visible to motorists and other road users.
If you track your activity on an app you may need to upgrade to a premium version depending on what features you use and those that are relevant to you. If you are an avid runner and participate in marathons, you may need to travel from time to time so all these are potential costs.
The costs are not mandatory and do not stop you from realising the benefits or keeping fit. A simple jog, tennis game when the weather is pleasant or even something as ‘easy’ and ‘free’ as going for a walk is beneficial to you.
It goes without saying you need to have rest days or rest weeks where you allow your body to rest. It is also important to give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly whilst you exercise and rest to replenish what has been used.
Final Note
Exercise is beneficial both mentally and physically and in our busy lives it is necessary to fit exercise in our schedule so that we are mentally and physically in top shape.
Studies have shown exercise improve the quality of our sleep, our memory and brain function, reduces the risk of getting diabetes and certain cancers and is good for our mood.
Our bodies become stronger, our health is more effective in pumping blood, cholesterol and blood pressure drops as we exercise frequently and not to mention, we can at a moment’s notice go for a wedding and find that with little effort, we can fit into that dress.
There are different costs associated with keeping fit and it can become more expensive as the activity goes from being done to stay healthy to something that becomes a hobby. There is no need to go broke over staying healthy so apply balance and enjoy the fitness activity of your choice but be consistent.
Exercise allows you the opportunity to network and meet people who can challenge you to be better or people who are inspired by you.
