The Benefits of Exercise!

In the health and fitness profession, I get the question all the time of why exercise is important, or why we    should exercise.

Remember, the word Exercise is a lot different from Activities of Daily Living (ADL's). There are two types of exercise, Cardiovascular (Cardio) and Strength Training. Cardio exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, while Strength Training is for our muscles and bones.

Cardio exercise involves getting the heart rate up for a sustained amount of time (ex: 30 minutes). Examples of Cardio exercise are: basketball, jogging, biking, hiking, brisk walking, soccer, ellpitical trainer, etc...

Strengthen training involves lifting a weighted object against gravity multiple times to increase or maintain the strength of a muscle. We need both Cardio and Strength Training Exercises.

ADL's are those activity, such as, washing the dishes, folding the laundry, cleaning the bathroom, gardening, mowing the lawn, chasing kids, etc.... While ADL's still burn calories, it's from the EXERCISE that we see the benefits.

Listed below are just a few of the BENEFITS OF EXERCISE! 

↓   Premature death                                                       
↓   Risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease      
↓   High Blood Pressure                                                   

↓   High Cholesterol                                                         

↓   Colon cancer and breast cancer                                   

↓   Risk of developing diabetes                                         

↓   Body fat and body weight                                            

↓   Depression and anxiety                                               
↓   Workload on the heart                                                                                                                
↓   Blood triglycerides

                                                                                                                                                                  

↑  Muscle mass, bones, and  joints                                                                                        

↑  Glucose tolerance and reduced insulin resistance
↑  Strength of tendons and ligaments
↑  Flexibility
↑  Strength, balance, and functional ability
↑  Energy level and happiness

↑  Psychological well-being    

↑  HDL (good) Cholesterol 

↑  Threshold for lactic acid accumulation
↑  Blood supply to muscles      
↑  Blood volume
↑  Maximal cardiac output
↑  Heart and lungs function
↑  VO₂max
↑  Sport and recreation performance
↑  Work performance