Motivation Monday

Exercise is important for good health. We all know that we should eat a healthier diet if we wish to maintain or improve our health but getting enough exercise can be more difficult for many people.

Over the years we have become more and more inactive. Since the advent of the motor car we walk much less than our ancestors and most of our lives contain much less physical work due to all of the labour saving modern equipment we own. Therefore, we have to artificially make time to exercise as this is a vital part of keeping healthy.

We should all be getting at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. If you are just beginning to make exercise a regular part of your life it is important to start gently. As you get fitter you can increase the intensity of your exercise. There is a good pdf document, Be Active Your Way, to help you get start on making exercise a part of your life.

Six Benefits of Regular Physical Exercise

1. Exercise improves your mood.

Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins in the brain. These endorphins have a strong effect on your mood. They help to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. Your self confidence will also improve as your body starts to look and feel better.

2. Exercise helps prevent or manage chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

Exercise halves your risk of developing coronary heart disease. It helps to reduce high blood pressure and helps to boost the good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL).

Weight bearing exercise such as walking helps guard against osteoporosis by promoting bone density.

Regular exercise can also reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer, breast cancer, , prostate, lung and endometrial cancer.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.

Exercise helps your body to burn calories and increases your metabolism so, when combined with a healthy diet, can help in weight loss or weight maintenance.

4. Exercise strengthens hearts and lungs

Regular exercise helps to keep your cardiovascular system in good order so your heart and lungs can work optimally.

5. Exercise improves the quality of your sleep.

However, exercising before just going to bed can make it more difficult for you to fall asleep so it is better to exercise earlier in the day.

6. Exercise can be fun.

Exercise can be fun if you choose an activity you enjoy. Walking, dancing, playing tennis or football or playing with your kids are all enjoyable activities and when shared with other people can give much pleasure so make sure you find something you enjoy. If you don’t like going to the gym, then don’t go. Do something you do enjoy instead!

Here is a fun video to help you get some exercise today.

Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise programme.

Exercise Motivation?

Ah, Monday is almost over and I have missed my exercise for the day. It’s just been too hot here this last week, I’ve had far too much work to do  and there has been the Wimbledon tennis finals to watch over the weekend and …..

Well, I just did not get around to it.

Yes, I know it is a lame excuse but ….

What excuses do you have for missing exercising? How do you motivate yourself when there is just too many other things going on in your life at the same time?  Curious minds need to know so they can keep up with their exercise routines much better than they are at the moment!

Motivation Monday

Since beginning this blog a few weeks ago my exercise routine has taken second place. At the best of times it is all too easy for me to push exercise to the back of my mind and find a multitude of other things to do as I do not particularly enjoy exercising. Beginning this blog was a great excuse. I did not mean to use the blog to get out of exercising. It just sort of happened somehow.

I know exercise is very important for a healthy lifestyle and I do feel better when I have a regular exercise routine. It is just the initial starting that is difficult especially after an extended absence so I went looking  for some motivation. I found this short aerobic video on YouTube which is an ideal gentle introduction. It only takes a minute to complete but hopefully it will spur me on to do some more exercise during the day.

I cannot remember where but I read that you should always do some exercise on a Monday and a Friday because if you don’t it is unlikely you will do it any other time during the week. This makes perfect sense to me so today is a great day to get back into my exercise routine.  I hope you will join me!