Sometimes we’re repelled by the hard work and fatigue that comes with exercise to the point where we overlook or forget all the good that it can do us. But the benefits of exercise definitely make up for the gallons of sweat, shortness of breath and painful body aches because exercise isn’t just good for the body, it’s good for the mind and your overall well-being. It’s hard to get started on a regular workout routine but once you do, it gets easier each time and you begin to see and feel the results of your efforts. It might be counterintuitive, but the more energy you put into exercising, the more energy you’ll have. You’ll find yourself sweating, panting and aching less and enjoying exercise more.
There are several physical benefits of exercise. For one, it can lower the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. It can also help you maintain your weight so that the calories you eat don’t exceed the calories that you’re burning (or not burning). Exercise increases your energy because it gets your heart pumping and your circulatory system running, and the tissues in your body receive more nutrients and oxygen. In addition, exercise can enhance sexual activity, deepen your sleep and help you to fall asleep faster, and good sleep improves your functioning overall. Recovery is also important because your muscles are actually building up during rest, not exercise.
The physical benefits are related to the psychological benefits of exercise. Physical and psychological benefits work bidrectionally as satisfaction with the way you look and feel contributes to increased energy and mood, and vice versa. Feeling energized physically helps you to feel energized emotionally. Exercise also increases your mood because it stimulates the neurotransmitters in your brain—like Elle Woods would say, “Endorphins make people happy.” And not only does exercise work on our neurotransmitters, it also affects our brain’s neurons by increasing neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons, and more neurons in the brain can help improve learning and control stress.
Exercise can do a whole lot for you and your body, but it’s not the whole picture. The benefits of exercise should be complimented with healthy eating, especially if your goal is to lose weight. Exercise helps tone your body, but the only way to lose fat is to change your eating habits. The best formula for good health is combining the benefits of exercise with the benefits of a healthy diet.