Exercise not only helps you lose weight and look better, it can help you reduce your risk of developing a serious disease. The FamilyDoctor website recommends exercising four to six times per week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. If you don't already exercise, start slowly and check with your doctor before beginning any fitness program, particularly if you have any chronic or serious health problems.
Stronger Heart and Muscles
Exercising regularly strengthens your heart and other muscles, increasing the efficiency of your heart and giving you more stamina to do the things you enjoy. A strong heart can pump more blood than a weaker heart, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains, which allows you to endure longer exercise sessions without feeling fatigued. In addition to increasing stamina, building strong muscles increases flexibility in your ligaments, tendons and joints.
Reduction in Diseases
Exercise can reduce your chance of developing several serious diseases, including osteoporosis, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Regular aerobic exercise can also improve your cholesterol level and reduce inflammation in your arteries. Aerobic exercise is any type of sustained exercise that increases your heart rate and uses the large muscles of the body. Exercise also has a positive effect on blood pressure by keeping the arteries flexible. When the arteries are flexible, blood can flow freely through the arteries, resulting in normal blood pressure. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that sedentary people have a 35-percent greater risk of developing high blood pressure than physically active people do.
Performing aerobic exercise lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and can help lower your blood sugar level if you already have diabetes. Weight and strength training may help you avoid osteoporosis, a disease that can weaken your bones as you age. Weight-bearing exercise strengthens your bones and reduces falls by improving your balance.
Improved Mood
Jogging, lifting weights or any other form of exercise benefits you by relieving stress and improving your mood. As you exercise, your brain produces endorphins, chemicals that reduce pain and stress, enhance immune-system functioning and improve your mood. When you feel less stressed, you may find that it is easier to fall asleep and to reach a state of deep sleep. Since exercise also increases your energy level, it's best to exercise during the day rather than just before you plan to go to bed.
Weight Loss
Exercise and eating healthy are the key ingredients to a successful weight-loss plan. Exercising burns calories, preventing excess pounds from accumulating and also helping to maintain your weight. Exercise can also help you reach your weight-loss goal even if when you're not exercising. The TeensHealth website reports that strengthening your muscles will help you burn more calories even when you aren't exercising, because muscle burns more energy than fat does when you are at rest.
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