Exercise is one of my favorite things. I love feeling strong and capable and for me, it is the ultimate stress reliever. It’s a time to let go of whatever happened that day, and focus on moving your body. I exercise because I really, truly love it, not because I’m constantly trying to lose weight (And I’m a much nicer human to everyone when I do so, you’re welcome). While it is a great thing to do if you’re trying to lose weight, that’s not the focus of today’s post.
Amidst the holiday season, and with New Year’s resolutions right around the corner, I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes relating to exercise…
Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do, not punishment for what you ate
Seriously. Your body was made to move, whether that be through walks, weightlifting, running, biking, yoga, etc. I hope you can find some activity that you enjoy doing! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share 3 non weight related benefits to exercise, so let’s dive in:
1.) Stress relief
There is something so therapeutic about sweating away stress. Whether it’s been a rough day in the office or at home, I find that exercise distracts me and simultaneously calms me down. On really bad days I will go to the gym and just workout for as long as I need to (or am able to) to help me feel better. Physical activity can also be used as a healthy way to manage anxiety!
2.) Better sleep
Exercise, specifically regular exercise, can help you get longer and higher quality sleep. The serotonin released while you exercise contributes to that better sleep. In relation to #1, stress and anxiety often contribute to not sleeping as well, so exercise can help you relieve some of that stress and fall asleep/stay asleep easier.
3.) Regular exercise slows down aging
I mean, how flippin’ cool is that? I originally read this in my textbook when studying for my personal training exam and immediately texted my parents haha. This study dives in further. I mean, I wouldn’t mind staying young…
There are so many benefits to regular physical activity, and while it can hard to start something new, or find your groove, I challenge you just to start. Start small, set reasonable goals and progress as you go. It it very hard to successfully go from 0-100, so I recommend a gradual increase in exercise. As always, feel free to reach out with questions.
Thanks for stopping by today.
xo, Maddy
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