10 fitness facts
Need help getting off the couch? These tips might inspire you.
1. Exercise boosts brainpower
Exercise improves your body, and your mental function, says certified trainer David Atkinson.
“Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity,” says Atkinson, director of program development for Cooper Ventures, a division of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.
2. Movement melts away stress
As much as it might stress you out just to think about exercising, once you start working out, you’ll have less stress in life.
“Exercise produces a relaxation response that serves as a positive distraction,” says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. It also helps elevate your mood and keep depression at bay, he said.
3. Exercise gives you energy
You might be surprised at how working out for 30 minutes in the morning can change your day. When endorphins are released during exercise, “you feel much more energized the rest of the day,” says Todd A. Astorino, assistant professor of kinesiology at California State University-San Marcos.
When you improve your strength and stamina, it’s easier to accomplish everyday tasks like carrying groceries and climbing stairs.
4. It’s not that hard to find time for fitness
The key, Atkinson says, is to use your time wisely. Kill two birds with one stone.