The Benefits of Exercise
Exercise is truly a workout for the body and mind. It can help prevent illnesses, keep you energized, lift your spirits, and improve your athletic performance. Investing your time and money in exercise is an investment in a long and healthy life.
There are some obvious benefits of exercise, such as weight loss or building muscle. However, there are some not-so-obvious benefits as well. And although we could never tell you all of the numerous benefits of exercise, some of the mental and physical benefits include:
- Reducing the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (read more);
- Increasing natural protection against cold and flu viruses (read more);
- Helping to fight depression by improving confidence and self-esteem (read more); and
- Preventing some of the physical and cognitive problems associated with aging (read more).
If you don’t already exercise, don’t worry. If you start working out everyday for as little as fifteen minutes, you will start seeing results. With a regular workout routine, you may notice some of the benefits right away, such as:
- Increased energy level;
- More confidence and self-esteem; and
- Higher productivity at work.
If you already engage in physical activity regularly, keep doing what you’re doing. Make exercise a part of your life, something you can’t go without. Although this won’t guarantee you perfect health, it will give you an advantage.
The best workout routines are well balanced. This means incorporating a healthy mix of strength, cardio, agility, and flexibility training. This is where a health club membership is important. A good health club has all of the machines, free-weights, and exercise equipment you need to start a balanced plan and trainers to show you how to use all of it.
There are many ways to exercise and joining a health club isn’t the only one. However, when you have all of the tools at your disposal to engage in a balanced exercise routine, you will have no barriers to leading a healthy life.
With all of the physical and mental benefits of exercise, the question of whether or not to start working out is a no-brainer. Start exercising today and you will reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
Use our health club finder to locate the clubs in your area.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
In October 2008 the US Department of Health and Human Services released the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Being physically active is one of the most important steps that Americans of all ages can take to improve their health. The Guidelines provide science-based guidance to help Americans aged 6 and older improve their health through appropriate physical activity.
These Guidelines are designed to provide information and guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial health benefits. This information may also be members of the public, policymakers and health professionals. The main idea behind the Guidelines is that regular physical activity over months and years can produce long-term health benefits. Realizing these benefits requires physical activity each week.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describes the major research findings on the health benefits of physical activity:
- Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
- Some physical activity is better than none.
- For most health outcomes, additional benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, and/or longer duration.
- Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are beneficial.
- Health benefits occur for children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group.
- The health benefits of physical activity occur for people with disabilities.
- The benefits of physical activity far outweigh the possibility of adverse outcomes.
View the latest guidelines
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