Why should you stay fit?

Achieving a healthy level of physical fitness offers many health benefits, making it an important goal for all people. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing and strength training are good choices in order to remain healthy and in shape.

Here you can find some reasons why you should and want to stay healthy.

• Controls weight

  Engaging in physical activity burns calories, which helps you lose unwanted weight or stay at a healthy number. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of exercise each week to maintain your weight. Increase this number for healthy weight loss. In addition, being physically fit increases your overall lean muscle mass, which boosts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories.

• Reduces the risk of diseases

  Regular exercise creates a physically fit body, which helps control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of heart disease. Controlling weight, cholesterol and blood pressure with regular workouts also helps lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. People who live an active lifestyle reduce their risk of several types of cancer, primarily colon and breast cancers, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

• Improves mood

  Regular activity keeps your brain healthy and enhances thinking, learning and memory. It may also reduce your risk of depression by boosting endorphins in your brain. Even small amounts of exercise are beneficial, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the recommendation is 30 to 60 minutes three to five times per week for optimal brain and mood benefits.

• Strong muscles and bones

  Aerobic exercise tones and strengthens your muscles, but including two 20- to 30-minute strength-training sessions each week enhances the benefit. Weightlifting, using resistance bands or practicing yoga are strength-training activities that count toward this goal. Creating a physically fit body slows bone density loss and keeps your muscles strong. This reduces your risk of osteoporosis and makes day-to-day tasks easier.

• Increases life span

  People who engage in several hours of activity each week are not only more likely to be physically fit, but they can have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being physically fit also reduces the risk of falls as you age. More exercise increases life span benefits, but any amount is a good way to live longer. In fact, in a recent evaluation of 20,000 people published in the Public Library of Science Medicine, it was found that people who exercise regularly, drink alcohol only in moderation, consume a nutritious diet and avoid smoking can tack an additional 14 years on to their life expectancy

• More energy

  It might seem counterintuitive that when you are feeling fatigued, you should go exercise, but the reality is working out – be it a quick walk around the block, participating in a yoga class or embarking on a solitude hike – can give you the kick that you need to keep going through the day. The reason? Exercise stimulates the release of feel-good endorphins that not only make you feel better but also boost your energy levels.

• Low medical expenses

  When a study came out in recent weeks suggesting that obese people are cheaper to treat than healthier weight people, the scientific community was up in arms. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, suggested that since healthier people tend to live longer, their medical costs were higher. However, the researchers acknowledged that the cost per year was far higher for obese people than their thinner counterparts up to age 56 and that the extra cost for healthier people was associated with “life years gained.”

• Improvement in mental health

  In a study conducted by researchers at Duke University it was found that exercising for 30 minutes, three times a week can help an estimated 60% of patients overcome their depression without using anti-depressant medications. In addition, exercise can give you the time you need to relax, take a break and deal with the problem at hand.

• More confidence

  According to a recent study in the Journal of Health Psychology, people that had less confidence gained more confidence when they participated in a regular exercise routine.

• Make the most out of each day

  People that are physically fit have better overall lives. They make more out of each day, are more likely to be positive, have more energy and feel more confidence. If you want to outlive your own potential, you should make exercise a priority. Fitness is a priority worth having!