Exercise matters for health and wellbeing

Exercise matters a great deal for our overall health and well-being and is a crucial element to your weight loss journey.  As you embark on the path to a new you here are some key points about why exercise is important: 

Physical Health Benefits: 

Heart Health: Regular exercise helps reduce the risk of heart disease by improving cardiovascular health. 

Weight Management: It can help control weight, lose weight and prevent obesity. 

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Exercise can lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels. 

Diabetes Prevention: Physical activity/exercise reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Reduced Risk of Sarcopenia: Muscle-strengthening activities, like lifting weights or doing yoga, can prevent muscle loss associated with aging and immobility 

Reduce the risk of Stroke, being active lowers the risk of stroke. 

Mental Health Benefits: 

Reduced Anxiety and Depression: Exercise positively impacts mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. 

Improved Sleep: Regular physical activity can lead to better sleep quality. 

Boosted Energy: Exercise increases energy levels and reduces fatigue. 

Chronic Condition Management: 

Neurological Rehabilitation: Exercise can help manage conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. 

Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Exercise is effective for reducing chronic back pain, osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal issues 

Recommended Weekly Exercise: 

Moderate-Intensity Activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. This can be broken down into 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Moderate-intensity activity makes you breathe harder than normal but still allows you to talk 

Vigorous-Intensity Activity: Alternatively, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. Combination of Both: You can also mix moderate and vigorous activities to meet the recommended total. 

Forms of Exercise: 

Walking: Incorporate walking into your daily routine. 

Cycling: Consider cycling instead of using a car. 

Sports and Exercise: Engage in activities like swimming, dancing, running, or playing sports. 

Full-Body Workout: 

Full body workout

Swimming Is the Best Full-Body Workout for Your Health (healthline.com) 

Swimming engages multiple muscle groups, making it a full-body workout. It works your arms, legs, core, and back. 

Unlike some other exercises, swimming has little impact on your joints, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. 

Swimmers tend to have stronger lungs than other athletes. Regular swimming can enhance lung capacity and respiratory function

Remember, every minute of exercise activity counts, and helps you on your weight loss journey, so find something you enjoy and get moving! 😊