Getting In Shape: 10 Really Good Reasons To Start Now
To get in shape is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions of all time, but we found 10 really good reasons to just do it, which could extend your life and make you healthier.
It’s a brand new year, at which time most people sort of take an inventory of what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. For most, getting in shape is high on their priority list.
Everyone wants a six-pack or toned legs, butt, arms, and on and on. We all want to have a great body and anyone would be hard pressed to find a single person that does not to look better, but not many actually dedicate the time and put in the effort to stay the course once they start an exercise regimen. However, we will give you 10 reasons why you should really try to get in shape.
Reason 1
Exercise helps you sleep better — and who doesn’t need more zzzzzs? According to a survey from the National Sleep Foundation, people who exercise vigorously reported sleeping better than those who did not. Only 17 percent of these participants said their sleep was fairly or very bad.
Reason 2
Getting in shape and staying in shape could not only improve your body, but your brain. Since an immediate benefit of exercising is increased blood flow, including to the brain, researchers believe you can improve your odds of fending off some of the most devastating brain diseases, including dementia.
Reason 3
Taking that first step to getting in shape can literally extend your life by a number of years, according to multiple studies. Even as little as 15 minutes of physical activity each day can increase your life span by about three years. Isn’t that amazing?
Reason 4
Exercise is responsible for good eye health as well. A 2011 study concluded that people who exercised moderately 15 years earlier showed a 25 percent lower risk of low OPP, an important glaucoma risk factor. Glaucoma can lead to vision loss and even blindness.
Reason 5
If you are constantly sick, it may be a matter of getting in shape. Regular exercise has been proven to lessen the amount of time people get sick as a result of sweating. The body gets rid of the nasty germs; hence, you get fewer colds.
Reason 6
Getting of the couch can also mean fewer migraines. People who suffer from these, sometimes debilitating headaches, could find help in simply moving around more. Yes, there’s a study for this one as well.
Reason 7
Physical activity is also linked to a lower cancer risk. Getting in shape could help you keep the deadly disease at bay. According the CDC, there are at least 14 studies that showed statistically significant decreases in colon cancer risk among people with physically-active occupations. There is also the suggestion that exercise in your teenage years and early adulthood could help prevent breast cancer later in life.
Reason 8
If you exercise regularly, you know that you invariably feel better after a good workout or other activity. This can help those who suffer from depression. It’s not a cure, but among those with mild to moderate depression, exercise may work as well as some medications, according to a 2011 study.
Reason 9
Exercise is beneficial for your heart as well as your body. As you get stronger, your heart gets used to pumping more oxygen to the rest of your body and your resting heart rate may drop, which lowers your risk for serious disease.
Reason 10
Last, but not least, getting in shape by exercising regularly can boost your sex life. Guys, if you want to perform better in the bedroom, stay active and your blood flow will be what it should. This is particularly true for active men between the ages of 18 and 40-years-old, according to a 2012 study from Emory University.
As you see, the benefits of getting and staying in shape are not only about how your body looks, but how it feels inside. Exercising is a good idea, period, and if the new year is a time for you to embark on a workout regimen, then you have 10 more reasons to do it.
[Image via Shutterstock]
