In case we forget, working out isn’t only about appearance.
Not everyone has the same goals when it comes to their health and appearance. Often times, we can get so caught up with the aesthetic appeal of physical fitness that we forget it has other benefits. However, it is important to remember that there are also several health benefits of working out and hitting the gym that doesn’t necessarily have to do with your overall appearance.
Below is a list of benefits that are sure to get you more motivated to hit the gym!
1. You’re probably going to live longer
According to the CDC, people who workout for 7 hours a week have up to a 40% lower chance of premature death. I think it’s fair to say that most of us would like to live longer! The really cool thing is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be intense workouts, just get moving!
2. Your mental health will be better
Anyone who has gone through a satisfying workout, whether it be running, lifting weights, or just a nice long walk, will tell you that it ends with great mental clarity. There is a lot to this, but the most simple way to put it is working out will make you feel great mentally. This is largely attributed to the endorphins that begin flowing while working out, but there is more to it than just that. In fact, working out reduces your risk of anxiety, stress disorders, and depression.
3. Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer
It’s safe to say that we all dislike cardiovascular disease, and would hate to become a victim of one of these conditions. The good news is that one of the benefits of working out is that it can reduce our risk of contracting these.
When it comes to cardiovascular disease, we can reduce our risk by doing cardio exercises such a running, jogging, or sprints. If you’re not huge into cardio, you can also do interval or circuit training; but make sure to keep your heart rate up to keep the workout in an aerobic state.
To reduce the risk of cancer, it becomes simpler. The CDC reports that any physical activity reduces your risk of multiple cancers including colon, breast, endometrial, and lung. Is physical fitness a key ingredient in reducing the cancer epidemic?
4. You will sleep better
I know several people who have benefited from this. Who doesn’t want better sleep? I used to have issues sleeping. I would stay up all night without a care in the world and then have to wake up and go to work in a terrible mood because I got terrible sleep. Also, I have noticed that when I get a good workout in, no matter the time of day, I end up actually getting tired at night and sleeping better when I do fall asleep. I think it’s important to note that many people have a difficult time getting to sleep if they work out later at night. This is because of their endorphin spike, but once it wears off, you will find yourself more tired.
The list can go on-and-on, but these are some of my favorite benefits. While it is easy to get wrapped up in the appearance benefits of working out, we need to keep in mind that working out is also one of the major players in our overall health. We need to make time to get some physical activity every week to ensure we are doing all that we can do to improve our overall health.
