Do you know what the short and longterm benefits of exercise are? You and I know that exercise should be a regular part of our lives on a daily basis.
Having said that, for some reason or the other, the majority of us either don’t exercise or start and abandon it somewhere along the way.
An exercise routine can provide you with a way to manage your insane busy lives while at the same time also maintaining a fit and healthy body.
Short Term Effects Of Exercise
Exercising causes your body to go through many adjustments as well as varying fluctuations and transitions.
There are various short term effects. For one thing, it increases your stroke volume which is the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle of your heart in one contraction.
Your stroke volume along with your heart rate, these both determine the output of blood per minute by your heart.
Additionally, sometimes these effects include feelings of wooziness, tiredness, or even soreness of your muscles. Don’t be alarm and decide to give up because all of this is completely normal.
It’s just an indication that your body is adapting and getting stronger. ‘ No pain, no gain’ right?
Be persistent and your body will thank you because you will enjoy all the good things that happen as a result.
If you’re asking yourself what are some of the short and longterm benefits of exercise, in that case, these tips will help you with that.
Exercise Helps To Fight Depression And Anxiety
When you’re depressed you just want to shut out the world and exercising is the last thing on your mind. But what you may not know is that your symptoms can improve with exercise.
Exercising will help to boost your mood by releasing endorphins ‘feel-good hormones’. These endorphins are a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system. They help to bring about a feeling of happiness and helps to activate positive feelings in the body.
What’s more, they help to reduce the symptoms of depression or anxiety and actually makes you feel better. Overall, it helps to improve the state of your emotional health and well being.
Boosts Energy Level
When you perform any type of physical activity it depletes your oxygen level. Because you start breathing harder and faster and so you’re using up the oxygen you already have.
For this reason, it leaves you needing an additional amount of oxygen. The increased intake of oxygen causes your lung capacity to also increase with exercise.
Over a period of time with constant exercise, this allows you to send more oxygen to the brain as well as the bloodstream helping you to feel more alert and ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Helps To Maintain Healthy Weight
The truth of the matter is that excess weight can make you feel self-conscious. Not only that, but it can also undermine your health.
Regular exercise is one of the key ingredients when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.
When you exercise, your body starts to burn those excess calories to help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
Lowering Of High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure then getting some physical activity into your daily routine can help to lower your blood pressure.
No, You don’t have to go overboard but start slow and remain committed. This is the way to go initially until you’ve figured out a routine that you can maintain.
Here’s the thing, regular exercise strengthens the heart. So, if the heart is stronger then it can pump more blood with less strain. This will lower the pressure on your arteries and therefore lower your blood pressure.
One thing to keep in mind is that it will take a while for you to see results- approximately one (1) to three (3) months.
But hear this, like everything else, you have to be consistent in order to see the results and also to maintain the results.
Improves Mental Alertness
These days ‘busyness’ is the order of the day. Truth be told, It can do a number on you over time. You get tired physically and mentally. Mental sharpness and strength are both important for you to carry out your responsibilities.
Exercising on a regular basis is one of the most effective ways to improve your mental sharpness and focus.
When you exercise it immediately boosts the serotonin levels of the brain and this influences your mental concentration and focus.
And another thing, don’t lose sight of the fact that exercise helps in the development of new nerve cells and builds the connections between your brain cells.
Improves Your Quality Of Life
Exercise provides a huge amount of benefits basically to every aspect of our bodies. But it doesn’t stop there, it also affects our quality of life.
Regular exercise helps to prevent many health issues. It can make you feel happier and improve your overall quality of life.
Adding to that, physical activity also helps to keep your health challenges and concerns in check such as stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis to name a few.
You will go through life with more satisfaction – being healthier, and being better able to participate and enjoy all of your life’s events.
Increased Sex Drive
Lots of factors come into play when it comes to the level of your sex drive. Perhaps you’re stressed out, maybe it’s lack of sleep, your alcohol consumption, or your lack of physical exercise.
Once you start to exercise it increases blood flow to all the organs in your body including your genital organs.
While Some situations may require medical attention, there are some exercises that can help to boost your sex drive. Some of these are strength training, swimming, walking, and yoga as well as Kegels.
Lowers Type 2 Diabetes
If you’re at risk of or suffering from type 2 diabetes, then it can be managed and possibly be reversed. Get this, regular physical exercise along with changing the way you eat plays a major role.
Even if you’re on medication, it’s critical that you choose appropriate foods in your diet to ease your health situation. Over time, it can greatly change this aspect of your health as it helps to reduce further development.
It helps to restore your blood sugar levels and your heart health. Also, choose an exercise plan that you can keep up with and will help you to keep fit. These are just a couple of useful things that you can do to make life better.
One thing to keep in mind, it’s not a miracle solution and it might not be for everyone. Consult your doctor before you do any of this.
Improves Sleep
Sleep is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to the way your body repairs and renews itself.
When you make exercise a normal part of your daily routine and you’re consistent it can help to improve your sleep. In that, it helps you fall asleep faster and you spend more time in a deep sleep.
Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, in particular, helps to relieve stress. And in so doing improves with the amount of deep sleep the body gets. So if you want to improve your sleep get off the couch and move your body.
Gain Confidence
Physical exercise is so good for your body and mind. I’m sure that when you start an exercise routine you have a goal in mind.
Maybe you would like to improve on an underlying health condition, shed some pounds, you probably want to get shredded, lean, and sculpted or even if you just want to stay in shape.
When you start to take your exercise seriously and stick to a regular routine, you will start to see results.
As soon as you start to see a change in your body you immediately start to gain confidence. This is because this change can also make you feel better about your body image.
How This Impacts Everyday Life
When you understand how exercise impacts your everyday life then you’ll become more aware of how your body will benefit from it. Some things to be aware of as you seek to up your exercise game.
- As you get older – it doesn’t mean that this is now your hall pass to forego exercising on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, you do need to exercise for flexibility, for heart health and to help ward off sickness and diseases. This will help you maintain your overall health and well-being.
- Improve productivity at work – Who doesn’t want to be more productive? Exercise can help to improve your productivity at work. It also increases your energy and gives you the strength and drive you to need to help reduce stress, combat fatigue and meet your deadlines. Not only that exercise helps to keep blood and oxygen levels high to feed the brain.
- Mental Wellness – There is a link between exercise and your mental health. Studies have shown that depression and anxiety disorders are two of the most common mental health conditions that affect so many people all around the world. Studies have also shown that physical activity decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression.
How to Start Exercising Regularly
I know it can be a challenge, especially in the first instance so here are some tips to start exercising regularly.
1. Don’t look at exercise as an afterthought but as an essential part of your day. Consider it to be just as important as eating food in order to survive. Okay, that might be a little too dramatic but you get my point.
2. If you are terrified of going to the gym, that’s not an excuse – you can still exercise. You can do so in the comfort of your home where you will be free of distractions and insecurity. It will also be cost-efficient because there are no gym fees. All it takes is your determination and dedication.
3. Put on your exercise gear. Even if you’re working out at home it’s necessary to put on your exercise clothes. That way you’re motivated and it makes it easier for you to get more hyped up to exercise.
4. Baby Steps. Get started safely. If you’re just starting out, start small. Walking is a good place to start. You could start with 15 minutes per day for 2 to 3 days every week. Then gradually increase the amount of time and the number of days. Then once you are comfortable You can also eventually add a variety of exercises to spice things up and work more muscle groups.
5. Schedule it if you have to. Just so you don’t forget, put it in your daily schedule and treat it as an important appointment with yourself as part of your self-care routine. How about that?
6. Look for fun ways that you can include exercise so that you can add some variety and excitement. This will make you want to actually exercise. You can include dancing, Zumba workouts, yoga, hiking, there are a ton of online workouts – you get the picture.
Conclusion
The fact of the matter is that you and I know that exercise should be a regular part of our daily lives. Don’t put it on your to-do list and not act upon it. Decide, commit and you’ll to reap all the short and long term benefits of exercise. The quality of your life depends on it.
Do you exercise? What form of exercise do you do?
Disclaimer : The information provided through this Website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by your Medical Provider or Mental health Provider. I am not a doctor, nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, therapist or licensed nutritionist. Always seek the advice of your Medical Provider or Mental Health Professional with any questions or concerns you may have about your health, medications, herbs or supplements you are currently using before implementing any recommendations or suggestions from our website.
Love this post. My husband and I have been exercising and eating right for a couple years and the transformation has been incredible. Every aspect of our lives are better.
Hi Summer,
For sure, eating right and exercising has so many fantastic rewards.
What a well written and informative article. You really talked about all the wonderful benefits of exercise. I think people need to start looking at exercise as something fun and good for our health instead of hard work or a chore. Exercise also has a positive impact on immune health, so now is a great time to start by going for walking, gardening, riding a bike, etc.
Hey Lauren,
You’re so right we need to start looking at exercise from that perspective….as something fun and good for our health. Indeed, now is a great time to start!
Love this! Exercising has been the best thing I’ve added to my life in the last year! ?
Hey Lauren,
I can attest to that! it’s really one of the best gifts you can give yourself.