If you’ve ever started an exercise after being sedentary for many years, initially, you may have wondered whether it was actually healthy. You might feel a few muscle pains or realize you have muscles that hurt that you didn’t know existed. You probably slept quite well after your muscles adjusted to the increased output. You may have lost a few extra pounds and noticed a big difference in your health. You improved your endurance, lowered your blood pressure, and started to feel better than you had in years. Those are just a few things exercise does for your health. There are even more reasons to start working out.
Exercising can help you live independently in your senior years.
The older you get, the more muscle mass you lose and the more likely you are to fall and injure yourself. You start losing muscle mass in your mid-thirties unless you take action to prevent it. Besides falls, lack of muscle mass can cause osteoporosis. When the muscles tug on the bones, it causes the bones to uptake calcium, which makes them stronger. If you don’t have weight-bearing exercise, the bones lose calcium, causing osteopenia and eventually osteoporosis.
Lack of exercise leads to insulin resistance and eventually type 2 diabetes.
Weight gain, a poor diet, and lack of exercise all can lead to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Studies show strength training helps regulate blood sugar and dramatically improves glucose levels. One study found that exercise helped reduce body fat, build muscle tissue, and improve insulin uptake. It helps reduce waist circumference and eliminate belly fat. Belly fat can cause inflammation that leads to other diseases.
Fight pain with exercise.
If you exercised and pushed too hard, you may have developed sore muscles, but mild exercise can reduce pain from conditions like arthritis or back pain. It strengthens ligaments, tendons, and muscles to lift the pressure from the joint. It increases the range of motion and also reduces pain. If your back hurts, building core muscles can help. By increasing the strength of abdominal muscles, it reduces the effort of the back muscles to keep you upright. Exercise increases circulation to help tissue heal. Exercise also improves your posture, which reduces back pain.
- It’s never too late to start a fitness program to reverse many conditions caused by excess weight. Always check with your healthcare professional first before beginning any program.
- Weight loss can dramatically help you lower your blood pressure. If you lose 2.2 pounds, it can lower blood pressure by one millimeter of mercury. Shedding belly fat drops it significantly lower.
- Exercising can improve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Many therapists now use it as an adjunct therapy. It helps more than many medications and only has positive side effects, like increased energy.
- Women with PMS or other signs of hormonal imbalances can benefit from regular exercise. It helps prevent weight gain and bloating, reduce moodiness, realign hormones, and prevent pain and cramping from periods.
For more information, contact us today at Hawaii Fit Camp!