KT (Kayte) Walsh
CREATIVE  PRODUCER | WRITER | MEDIA SPECIALIST 

Besides the broken record of benefits (improves mood, fights weight gain, combats disease, boosts energy, increases sex drive), exercising consistently on a long enough timeline can improve your quality of life and help you age gracefully. Here’s a little reminder about the importance of exercise to muster up the motivation to workout on a regular basis.

 

#1 Health. Among the big ones of weight management, stress control and a healthy heart, exercise is important for the wealth of your health. Reduce blood pressure, improve posture, relive back pain and joint pain, fight osteoporosis, reduce depression and anxiety, improve brain function, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, improve stamina and sex drive. Really all the tools you need to for a healthy life packed into one simple practice. Get in the exercise habit for your health!

 

#2 Body. We all want to look good naked. At a certain point, gravity and metabolism become frienemies. No matter who you are, or how comfortable you are in your skin, you feel your sexiest when you’ve been hitting the gym. Toning, tightening, slimming, squeezing into a better shape for your body is a wonderful side effect to getting healthy exercise in each day. Want to fit into those old jeans? Workout. Need to squeeze into that gown or tux? Take a class. Trouble getting used to the post baby body? Pick up some weights. Fight gravity, aging, and extra pounds. It’s never to late to start looking good!  

 

#3 Endorphins. You are only one workout away from a good mood. Think looking good is a great side effect of working out? Try better self-esteem! Endorphins released when we exercise not only trigger a positive feeling but also but also reduce the perception of pain. So that traffic that was causing your grief, or that work problem seems to melt away after a run or a class or a lifting session. These chemicals are manufactured in the brain and other parts of the body and released when the body reaches an active state. It’s also an effective way to condition the body to react well under pressure or stress caused by extreme situations. Some exercises produce more endorphins than others. Cardiovascular workouts are at the top of that list. Get out there a get that heart rate today to feel this high!

 

#4 Strength/Bone Density. Strong is the new thin! Developing muscles isn’t just for lifting heavy objects, your future bone density depends on it. Strong muscles promote strong bones and joints. We lose bone density as we age. Relax, it’s natural. It only makes sense that the thicker your bones the longer it takes for them to weaken from the loss of calcium and other minerals. To keep our bones strong for a lifetime (especially in women), strength training is paramount. As your muscles gain strength and density your bones must do the same to support the growing muscles. Save your bones and lift some weights!

 

#5 Balance. Our balance is so important, especially as we age. Incorporating balance postures in your workouts are your ticket to getting through the golden years with grace. You’ve seen the lady who’s fallen and can’t get up, that could be you! As we age our center of gravity can be easily thrown off. It’s your job to work on your balance when you are younger to prevent injuries from falls when you are older. Yoga, Pilates, even try ballet to get your balance fix in. Try standing on one foot while you brush your teeth, anything helps!

 

Motivate yourself to workout. Side effects of a regular exercise regimen may include: weight loss, looking really good naked, better balance, stronger bones, happier state of mind, healthy heart, better butt, thinner gut, and the muscles to lift heavy things.

 

Please consult a physician before attempting any drastic change in diet or exercise.