There are many benefits of participating in physical activity regularly. Not only can it change your life, it can make you feel like a better person and help you sleep better. You need regular physical activity to be healthy and every one of all ages should participate. Physical activity can be fun. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Even just taking a brisk walk can make you feel better about yourself and provide you with the energy you need for the day.
First of all, the most important benefit is that you stay healthy. If you are staying healthy then you will be less likely to get diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is one of the two biggest killers in the United States. Cardio work outs such as jogging 3-5 times a week will decrease the risks of getting this disease. It will also keep you from getting sick from regular colds or flues that you would normally get without working out. This means you will miss less days of school or work because your immune system will be healthy too.
Next, a benefit of regular physical activity is that it will increase your mood. A 30 minute workout could be just the thing you need when you are having a stressful day and want to relieve some of that stress. Studies also show that people who are physically fit are happier than those that aren’t. If you are in a better mood and playing sports or working out it will also decrease the chance of being depressed or doing drugs.
Another benefit of regular physical activity is that you will have better self esteem and more self confidence. If you feel more confident then you are more likely to make more friends, land the job you have always wanted, find that special someone and feel better about yourself in general. Not everyone is confident in their own skin but exercising regularly can give you that extra confidence boost that you have always wanted.
Last, my most favorite benefit of regular physical activity is weight loss or weight control. When you work out you can lose those extra inches or pounds that you can’t get off with just safe dieting. Losing weight can be a great motivation. Maybe you want to fit into your old, favorite pair of jeans or get ready for bikini season. Sometimes losing a little weight is all you need to get asked out on that date from the cute guy or girl you like and you will feel better about how you look.
All in all, regular physical activity is very important and we all need it in our daily lives in some form. There are many different activities that you can do so you don’t have to do the same thing everyday nor do you have to get a gym membership or buy expensive equipment. The fitness guidelines recommend that everyone gets at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. They also recommend muscle strengthening like lifting weights and flexibility work outs as well. If you eat the right foods and stick to a regular fitness program then you will stay healthy and live a longer, more efficient life.
