Good health and fitness should be what we all aspire for. Kate Jaramillo notes on Stay Fit Blog that about 70% of people who make New Year’s resolutions aim to be a lot healthier. Fast-forward to halfway through the year, however, and most people have already given up on the fitness goals that they set at the beginning of the year. There are many reasons to Stay Fit, and often we forget the importance of them. Today, we are going to look at five reasons to inspire you to get your fitness back on track and Stay Fit.
More energy
If you catch yourself feeling tired or sluggish, trade in that coffee run for a run on the treadmill. Exercise is known to benefit your energy levels. During a good bout of exercise, our body releases natural hormones called endorphins. Even after we exercise, our endorphin levels stay up which contributes to “runner’s high”, that feeling of euphoria you get after a good workout. Moreover, being fit gives you more energy after work to do the things you want to do, like go to the park with your kids or go on a night out with friends. Regular exercise increases your energy levels, allowing you to try out new things or travel to new places. Being fit gives you endless possibilities you wouldn’t have thought possible living a sedentary life.
Mental health
In relation to that “runner’s high”, physical activity is a natural way to improve your mood. It can help relieve stress, depression, and anxiety. NYC sports medicine specialist Robert Gotlin says exercise boosts both your mood and your overall health and wellbeing. Also, exercise helps improve your self-esteem. When you exercise regularly, you will see your body slowly improve and achieve more than it did the day before. This gives a significant boost to how you view yourself and your capabilities.
Better sleep and sharper focus
Regular exercise also contributes to getting a good night’s rest. When you get quality sleep, you feel more refreshed the next day. If you don’t get enough sleep, however, then your whole health suffers, and you aren’t able to accomplish what you want to during the day. Moreover, both sleep and exercise help your cognitive functions and concentration. Studies have shown how high-intensity training can improve your attention to short-term memory tasks. If you are having trouble sleeping or concentrating, moderate physical activity throughout the week could do the trick.
Control weight
Physical activity coupled with proper nutrition helps people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lose weight. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends that everyone should stay active, since the last 20 years has seen an alarming increase in obesity in the U.S. About a third of U.S. adults are obese and about 17% of children and adolescents are as well. Being fit helps to counter this. While most of us want to lose weight for aesthetic purposes, it is also advantageous in building our overall strength and endurance for other activities.
Ward off chronic disease
Staying fit reduces your risk of developing a plethora of illnesses like heart disease, hypertension, strokes, osteoporosis, diabetes, and many types of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that someone who is physically active for seven hours per week is 40% less likely to die early than someone who is active for less than 30 minutes per week. With chronic illnesses on the rise in the U.S., keeping fit is very important. Maryville University claims that by 2025 chronic diseases are projected to affect about 164 million Americans — nearly half the population. Additionally, a study on healthcare costs found that the healthiest participants had 38% less medical costs later in life than their counterparts who weren’t fit. Being fit not only reduces your risk of disease, but it also helps you stay out of the hospital and keeps healthcare costs down.
Alicia Harper is a fitness blogger who writes about a wide range of health and exercise topics. She hopes that her articles provide the motivation and information readers need to accomplish their fitness goals. When she isn’t writing she can be found in her local gym.