By Michael De Medeiros, POPSUGAR
You may already love working out, or are looking for reasons to love it. Working out does so much more for you than you know. It's not just a way to burn a few extra calories so you can maintain a healthy weight. It's one of the best activities to improve yourself inside and out, beyond the walls of your gym.
1
Improves Your Memory
Do you ever have a fantastic idea or thought then completely forget it a couple minutes later? We all do, and the good news is that exercise can help you remember those “aha” moments more. A recent study by the University of British Columbia found that aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart rate up so you break a sweat, improves memory. Youfit Health Club’s national director of fitness, Raphael Konforti, agreed that exercise helps. “Exercise is a smart way to keep your brain and memory functioning in tip-top shape. Remember: sweat it, so you don’t forget it!”
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2
Boosts Your Confidence
“Exercise is incredibly powerful for building self-confidence. Week after week in the gym, you’re doing things you couldn’t do before, and often things you never thought you could do.” Konforti told us. Konforti explained that the gym truly builds you up emotionally as much as it does physically. “I’ve seen so many people gain confidence in themselves through exercise then translate it into their personal and work lives. The gym is the one place where if you put in effort and do it consistently, you’ll see positive changes.” Now that’s powerful stuff!
3
Reduces Stress
Work, friends, family, life or even waiting on the next season to drop on Netflix is downright stressful. We can’t help you with speeding up the release date for your next episode, but exercise can help with the stress it causes. “Exercise is a proven stress reliever. There’s a reason even the busiest people on the planet make time to exercise. No matter what’s on your mind, a quick sweat will be sure to help you reset,” Konforti said.
4
Decreases Your Chance of Chronic Illness
Live long and prosper. This is what we all seek to do. If living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life is something that interests you, then exercise should be a priority. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, exercise is proven to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and colon cancer, among other things. Thirty minutes a few times a week is enough to reap the benefits of your own preventative health care.
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5
Maintains Bone Density
As women age or go through pregnancy, they naturally lose some bone density. Luckily, that can be reduced and even avoided by incorporating regular exercise into your routine. According the National Osteoporosis Foundation, activities like weight lifting, dancing, or basically anything that gets your body moving helps to prevent bone loss.
6
Increases Your Energy Levels
It might seem strange to think that using your energy to work out actually gives you more energy, but that’s just what recent research has shown. While you might feel a bit tired right after your workouts, the rest of your life will feel that much easier. Carrying groceries up a flight of stairs? No problem! Feeling spunky throughout the day? You bet!
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7
Optimizes Your Brain Function and Creativity
You’re not just smart for exercising, you’re actually making yourself smarter by doing it! If you’re looking to step your game up at work, exercise might just be your secret weapon. Exercise, and especially dynamic exercise, is proven to increase a chemical known as Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF was coined as “Miracle Grow” for the brain by Dr. John Ratey, author of the hit book Spark. This exercise-induced BDNF creates new connections and pathways in the brain, which makes learning and formulating new ideas easier.
8
Builds and Maintains Lean Muscle
Lean muscle has more benefits than you’d think. Konforti reminds us, “Muscle is really what gives you that ‘toned’ look. It also speeds up your metabolism so you burn more calories even while resting. The best way to build and maintain lean muscle is with exercise and specifically resistance training.” Yes, it’s true. You can burn more calories while resting and doing absolutely nothing if you build a little bit of muscle.
9
Makes You Happy
Want a mood booster? Get moving! A study published in Sports Medicine showed that exercise increases endorphins, otherwise known as your happiness hormones. Endorphins makes us feel good, and exercise can stimulate the additional release of other feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. Whether you need a pick-me-up or just want to be even happier, exercise is a must.
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10
Burns Body Fat
Looking to lean down? Exercise is crucial part of getting to and maintaining healthy body-fat levels. “Losing weight and burning fat is all about the amount of calories you consume versus the amount of calories you burn. Exercise is healthy and effective way to burn more calories to spur on weight loss and burn body fat.” Konforti told us. Konforti also explained that exercise doesn’t always mean hopping on a treadmill or machine; just being more active or picking up some new hobbies, like gardening or hiking, is enough to get you on the fat-burning track.
