The Benefits of Exercise

We all know that exercise is a major part of weight loss, but did you know that it has several other benefits? Exercise can greatly improve the condition of your body and organs, making everyday tasks in life much easier.

One major benefit to your body from exercise is the impact it has on your heart. Your heart pumps blood through your body, and the weaker it is, the harder it has to work to get this done. Performing regular aerobic exercise can significantly strengthen your heart so that it is more efficient at its job. Aerobic exercise is defined as

Brisk physical activity that requires the heart and lungs to work harder to meet the body’s increased oxygen demand. Aerobic exercise promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood.

Examples of aerobic exercise include running, walking, swimming, and cycling.

Exercise does something else for your heart. Regular, moderate exercise improves heart health by reducing the risk of heart disease. As heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, reducing this risk is important.

Another area where exercise improves health is muscle strength and endurance, and bone health. Both of these benefit from strength, or resistance, training. As muscle strength increases, you will be able to lift heavier objects with less perceived effort. As muscle endurance increases, you will be able to perform activities for longer. Everyday activities will become easier as both improve.

Stronger bones are more resistant to injury and osteoporosis. Good bone health can also lead to better posture and deeper breathing. Good exercises to improve bone health include lifting weights, walking, jogging, tennis and hiking.

Flexibility–the range of movement in a joint or group of joints–is also improved with proper exercise. Flexibility is important to overall health as risk for injury and soreness increase when it is limited, and movement is more difficult. Stretching exercises, such as yoga, that stretch the muscles, tendons and ligaments are good for improving flexibility.

Here at Final Inches, our typical patient is someone who lives a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, but can’t seem to get rid of those stubborn fat pockets.

Photo by sanchom