Exercise benefits, guidelines and principles for weight loss and
health
At its most basic, exercise is any type of physical exertion we
perform in an effort to improve our health, shape our bodies and
boost performance. Obviously that covers a broad range of
activities and, luckily, there are plenty to go around whether you
want to lose weight, get healthy or train for a sport.
The Benefits of Exercise
I could (and will) go on and on about all the things exercise can
do for you, both physically and mentally. The great thing about it
is that you don't need much to get the benefits. Even just a few
minutes a day can improve your health, well-being and help
you:
i. Lose weight
ii. Reduce stress
iii. Relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety
iv. Reduce your risk of heart disease and certain types of
cancer
v. Boost your mood
vi. Give you more energy
vii. Help you sleep better
viii.Increase bone density
ix. Strengthen the heart and lungs
x. Improve your quality of life
xi. Motivating Yourself to Exercise
While it's important to know basic exercise guidelines and
principles covered on the next few pages, I think the most
important step in starting an exercise routine is exploring the
idea of motivation.
Without that, all the advice in the world won't do you any
good.
It's important to remember that motivation doesn't just happen.
It's something you make happen each and every day. If you have
multiple reasons to exercise, you'll always have something to get
you moving, even when motivation is short. The hardest part of
exercise is getting started...if you can get that far, you've won
half the battle. Some ideas:
Remind yourself of your weight loss goals
1.Think of a future event to get ready for (a wedding, a vacation,
etc.)
2.Consider how much energy you'll have to get more things
done
3.Imagine how relaxed you'll feel after a workout
4.Think of your exercise time as the only time you may get to
yourself all day
5.Remind yourself how good you'll feel by following through
6.Promise yourself a reward for completing your workout
7.Think of all the diseases and illnesses your workout could
protect you from
8.Remind yourself that this workout is necessary to reach your
goal