Benefits of Exercise

Exercise has many benefits. Here are just a few things exercise can do for you...

Helps you feel better, makes you feel good!

A chemical, dopamine, is released during exercise that will make you feel great both mentally and physically.

Helps you sleep better.

Exercise helps control the body’s sleep cycle. Make a point of exercising each day. You will count fewer sheep and get more sleep.

Improves your ability to function independently.

Exercise makes your body stronger. Strengthen your muscles and organs through daily exercise and you will be able to function better as you age.

Helps control or prevent diseases.

Such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and colorectal and breast cancer. Daily exercise is important for preventing or controlling many common diseases for which cancer survivors are at increased risk. If you exercise, you are likely to have lower blood pressure and you’ll have an easier time managing your blood sugar, cholesterol and hormone levels. Your bones also will be stronger.

Gives you more energy and strength to do the things you really want to do.

Exercise gives you energy! Get into an exercise routine and within a few weeks, you will have more pep.

Gives you more energy and strength to do everyday tasks.

Such as shopping, yard work, housework, or climbing stairs. Do you find that you are short of breath when you climb the stairs? Are you worn-out after a shopping trip? Or, so you feel “beat” even before you do simple chores? Make exercise a routine part of your day and it will give you spare energy to do these tasks.

Improves the health of your heart, lungs and circulation.

Exercise gets your heart pumping and makes you breathe deeply. Start exercising and you will get more oxygen to your body organs – you’ll feel so much better!

Adds years to your life.

Active people live up to two years longer than those who aren’t active. Exercise is a modern day fountain of youth. Exercise helps you live longer and look better. It also reduces your chance of having a preventable disease, such as type 2 diabetes. Get moving and get more quality and quantity of life.

Helps you cope with stress and pain.

When you exercise, your body will release chemicals called “endorphins.” Endorphins create a sense of well-being and reduce pain. You also release a chemical called “dopamine” when you exercise. Dopamine will help reduce stress.

Improves your balance and may lessen your risk for falls.

You may not be able to walk on a tightrope hundreds of feet in the air, but exercise will improve your balance. Exercise makes your muscles stronger. It will reduce your risk of falling.

Improves your muscle tone and your appearance.

Get that body right! When you exercise regularly, you will start to look and feel better. Exercise will not only help you reduce fat, but it will tone your muscles as well.

Helps maintain a healthy body weight.

You gain weight when you eat more calories than you burn off. Exercise helps you burn more calories to help maintain a healthy weight. But, you must be careful. The best way to keep your weight in check is to avoid fattening foods. You would have to run a marathon to burn-off a piece of cake, a large soft drink, or an order of French fries.

To see how many calories you can burn with different physical activities see the Calorie Burning Guide.