Most people love to hit the gym to improve their cardio, as well as build muscle or to just get into excellent shape. Everybody knows that these are some of the most obvious ways working out can benefit them, but there are other ways that exercise can benefit, and these ways relate to mental health, relationships and just a happier life in general. If you want to learn about some of the unexpected exercise health benefits you can expect, then continue to read the rest of this article, as we will discuss what some of those ways are.
1. Reduce Stress Levels – Do you find yourself having rough days at the office, because if you are, then get a quick workout in. Exercise is known for being good for your mental state of mind, and a good way to relieve stress, and let’s not forget that exercise increases a certain chemical that can actually moderate your brain’s response to stress. In other words, head to the gym and workout hard if you want to reduce stress, as well as if you want help dealing with any tension you are feeling, mentally speaking.
2. Happy Chemicals Receive A Boost – Many people don’t like to jump on the treadmill and do cardio, but it is worth it for a number of reasons, with one of those reasons relating to endorphins. That’s right, exercise boosts these chemicals, which is a good thing because these chemicals create the feeling of happiness, and exercise can actually alleviate symptoms that people who are depressed often feel. It is thought by many that sometimes exercise is just as good of a treatment as antidepressant pills, and best of all, you don’t need to hit the gym and become a gym rat, as exercising for just 30 short minutes should be enough time to boost your mood.
3. Self-Confidence Can Be Improved – Want to feel like a million bucks, because if you do, then jump onto the treadmill. When you improve your physical fitness levels, then you can enjoy a boost of self-esteem. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your current size is or what your gender is, if you exercise, then you should quickly be able to improve your perception of yourself, and this means an increased in self-worth. In other words, start exercising today to become more confident in yourself.
4. Enjoy The Outdoors – If you don’t want to be indoors and exercising, then enjoy the outdoors and exercise, as this too can increase your self-esteem. You can easily find outdoor workouts that fit your individual style, such as hiking, rock-climbing or even getting a canoe and taking it around the lake or pond, or you can just do a jog or run throughout the par. Let’s not forget that when you exercise outdoors, and it is sunny out, then you can enjoy getting some Vitamin D, but make sure you don’t neglect the sunscreen. With that said, if you want to experience the benefits of exercising outdoors, then choose a workout to do and just do it.
5. You Can Prevent Cognitive Decline – The truth is that when we age, then sometimes our brain and thoughts become hazier, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s can wreck havoc on our brain cells and some of the most important functions of the brain also suffer as a result. The truth is that exercise or dieting cannot cure Alzheimer’s, but exercising can help you in different ways. In other words, exercise can increase your chances of preventing cognitive decline, so start exercising regularly if you want to experience this important benefit of exercising.
6. Alleviate Anxiety – Do you feel anxious often and want to alleviate anxiety, because if you do, then exercise can do wonders for this. When you exercise, it releases chemicals that can help you feel more at calm, which means you may end up feeling less anxious. With that said, you should jump onto the treadmill or head down to the track and get some aerobic exercise in. You won’t be just burning off fat, but you could end up reducing your anxiety levels.
Boost Your Brainpower – There have been a number of studies done that have shown that doing cardio exercises can create new brain cells, as well as improve the brain’s overall performance.
Put yourself through a tough workout if you want to increase the levels of BDNF, which is a brain-derived protein, and this could end up helping you with things such as making decisions, thinking on a higher level, as well as learning.
8. Improve Memory – When you exercise on a regular basis, then you may be able to boost your memory and your ability to learn new things may improve. Working out may not be fun to some people, but if you want to sharpen your memory, then one of the best ways to do so is to exercise on a regular basis. As time goes on, you might end up being surprised at just how much you have sharpened your memory, all thanks to exercising.
9. It Can Help Control Addiction – Exercise can help control addiction, such as drugs or alcohol, and sometimes even food, and exercise can help in addition with a recovery program. There are a number of ways that exercise plays a role in the recovery process and can help addicts control their addiction. If you are suffering from an addiction, then consider getting professional help as soon as possible and start exercising on a regular basis, and you might be surprised at just what you can accomplish.
10. Increase Relaxation – Exercising can increase relaxation. Many people feel as if a moderate workout is just as good as taking a sleeping pill, so you might want to raise your body’s core temperature 5-6 hours before going to bed, by exercising. When the temp drops back to normal, you might find yourself ready to relax.
11. Get More Things Done – Some people do not feel inspired, but jogging, walking or even running may be the solution. Those who want to be more productive, have more energy and be able to get more things done, should consider working out on a regular basis. Sure, busy schedules can make finding time to exercise difficult to do, but it is worth it, so try your best to squeeze in regular workout sessions and you might find yourself being able to get more things done.
12. Tap Into Your Creative Side – A good gym session can boost your creativity levels, and maybe even up to two hours after exercising. This means that if you need to become more creative, then it might be in your best interest to exercise a couple of hours before you start to think about whatever it is you need to think about, creatively speaking. When you do this, then you could end up boosting your creative thinking, so make sure to put some time aside to exercise or to get on the trails and take a long walk or jog.
Become An Inspiration To Others – You can inspire others when you exercise, as many people find that they perform better during their workouts, when they are training with a friend. If you workout regularly and other people start working out with you, they could end up feeling inspired and could end up working out harder than ever before. Even if you are a beginner in fitness, you can still inspire others you workout with, and you could end up finding yourself being more inspired by those you are working out with.
As you can see, there are many exercise health benefits. If you want to experience those benefits, as well as increase your self-confidence or even think smarter, then take the time to workout. The sooner you come up with a workout routine, and the more you stick with it and the more time goes on, the more you can expect to experience the above benefits and more.
Not all types of exercises have the same appeal to everyone, so on this website you will find articles that will help you to choose the best exercise workout routine that fits your lifestyle such as:
- Kettlebells for women
- Kettlebells for men