Taking part in daily exercise is one of the most important steps to take for optimal health and well-being. There are many reasons that make exercise such an essential feature of a healthy lifestyle, however, many women continue to avoid it or put it off even though they are aware. No judgment…everyone falls into bad habits and ignores things that they know are healthy. That said, it’s never too late to make healthful changes. Just in case you need a reminder, here are several major reasons daily exercise is so important,
Exercise Builds Muscles & Strengthens Bones
First and foremost, regular exercise is one of the best ways to build muscles and strengthen your bones at any age. Performing regular weight bearing exercise is an extremely effective way to fight the effects of bone wasting diseases such as osteoporosis, as it encourages bone density and strength. Any kind of exercise, even mild, low impact varieties help you to maintain your muscle and bone health. Of course, building muscle takes a little more effort and heavier weights. Additionally, replacing lost nutrients after working out help you to give your body building blocks for physical health.
Exercise Improves Sleep Quality
Exercise is a superior way to improve sleep quality, as it helps you to burn off excess energy that can keep you awake at night while helping to balance the mind at the same time. Many women find simply taking a daily walk helps them to stay calm and centered throughout the day and able to sleep deeper and longer. While this might be enough for some women, others might benefit from more structured forms of exercise like fitness classes, Pilates, sports, or even a shaolin kung fu academy class. Some of these activities also strengthen and train the mind as well as the body. Experts believe that exercising for as little as 30-minutes each day can have a dramatic impact on sleep quality. I recommend trying various forms of exercise to find what works for you. Do also work out at different times to see how that affects your sleep.
Exercise Boosts Cardiovascular Health
Regular exercise is a pillar to promote good cardiovascular health, as working out puts an increased amount of pressure on your heart that strengthens it, just like any other muscle in your body. Forcing your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body as you exercise increases its capacity and capabilities like nothing else can. It’s easy to see that regular exercise can increase longevity and quality of life now. I know it’s easy to ignore it if you feel OK, but NOW is the time to develop good fitness habits if you want to avoid future issues.
It’s important to start where you are and build your momentum over time. Jumping into a new fitness protocol that your not ready for will not help in the long run. Focus on what you can do and not what you can’t. This is one of those things that bears truth in the statement that “something is better than nothing”.