5 Reasons Why You Should Exercise That No One Is Talking About

You already know exercise helps you lose weight and protects your heart. But some of its best effects rarely get mentioned. Here are 5 reasons to exercise that no one is talking about, and how to get them without overdoing it.

1. It Helps You Look and Feel Younger

Forget the expensive creams. Regular exercise helps you keep muscle, stand taller and move more easily, which does more for how you look and feel than almost anything you can buy. It also supports your energy and helps lower your risk of many age-related diseases. People who move more tend to live longer (Ekelund et al., 2019).

2. It Boosts Your Social Life

Exercise builds confidence, and confidence makes it easier to connect with people. Training with others adds even more: a walking group, a pickleball league or a small training group gives you friends who encourage you, hold you accountable and make workouts more fun.

3. It Can Improve Your Love Life

Exercise reduces stress, boosts confidence and improves blood flow and energy. Many people notice the benefits show up in their relationships too.

4. It Makes You Happier

Exercise triggers the release of feel-good brain chemicals, including endorphins, that lift your mood and ease stress. If your day could use a little more brightness, a brisk walk is a good place to start.

5. It Supports Your Immune System

Regular moderate exercise is linked with better immune function and lower rates of illness. A research review found that people who exercise regularly tend to have fewer upper respiratory infections, and that moderate sessions of under about 60 minutes on most days are a good target (Nieman & Wentz, 2019). Pair it with whole foods, good sleep and healthy ways to manage stress for the biggest benefit.

How to Get These Benefits Safely

1. Move most days: aim for about 30 minutes of moderate activity, like brisk walking.
2. Lift 2 to 3 times a week: full-body strength training keeps you strong as you age.
3. Do it with others: a class, a club or a training partner.
4. Build gradually: too much too soon leads to injury and burnout.

Need ideas? Try 10 tips to reach your fitness goals or why motion is lotion.

When to Check With a Professional First

Talk to your doctor before starting if you have a heart or lung condition, and stop and seek care if you feel chest pain, dizziness or unusual shortness of breath. Get joint pain that lasts more than a few days checked.

Research

• Ekelund, U., et al. (2019). Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis. BMJ, 366, l4570. PubMed
• Nieman, D. C., & Wentz, L. M. (2019). The compelling link between physical activity and the body’s defense system. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8(3), 201-217. PubMed

Everything we do follows The Gray Method™: find the cause, fix it, then build you up so it stays fixed.

Get More From Every Workout

Our personal training and small group training make exercise safe, social and fun, with degreed, certified coaches who specialize in adults 50+ and work alongside our Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Not sure where to start? Our Free Fit-After-50 Assessment is about 30 minutes, one-on-one, with a gentle movement screen and a personal roadmap. No cost, no pressure, no contracts.

Call our office at (239) 223-0484 to schedule your assessment.