The benefits of exercise

An excellent benefit of exercise is its ability to significantly reduce symptoms of depression. The body produces Endorphins during intense work-outs. Endorphins produce feelings of well-being that can make a depressed person go from sad to glad or at least from morose to ho-hum. Also, a depressed person will tend to isolate themselves from others. Getting out of the house to go to the gym, park or swimming pool forces them to be around other people. This decreases isolation, an important step in conquering depression. Exercising on a regular basis can also help with depression by improving a person's body image. In particular, strength training and resistance workouts can help firm and tone areas that were once flabby and out of shape. The net result is clothes that fit better and a more pleasing reflection in the mirror. It's difficult to feel severely depressed when you're looking your best.

A person who is physically fit and working out regularly is often better equipped to fight off colds and flues because their immune system is stronger than that of an unfit person. Even though a fit person can catch the occasional cold, they are able to get over them much quicker than an out of shape person. The unfit person may be out of commission for a several weeks due to a cold virus but the fit person will likely only miss a few days. The result is fewer sick days at work and improved productivity both at work and at home.

Another great benefit of exercising is its ability to reduce pain. Exercising causes the body to release endorphins. Endorphins produce general feelings of well being in the body and can reduce decrease feelings of pain and discomfort. People who live with chronic pain can help to reduce their pain, at least temporarily, through exercise. For the same reason, Doctors will sometimes encourage women who experience significant cramping and bloating before their period to exercise as a means of reducing their discomfort. Also, Endorphins are natural painkillers and they carry none of the unpleasant side effects of prescription painkillers.

Going for a workout in the morning or before a weekend can a have ripple effect of causing a person to make healthier choices throughout the rest of their day or weekends. For example, the morning exerciser is more likely to have a stir-fry or healthy sandwich for lunch than a greasy donut because they don't want to undo all the good they just did. By the same token, working out at the gym on Friday or Saturday can help a person make healthy food choices all weekend because they don't want to undo what they've already accomplished. Healthy choices encourage more healthy choices. So take that first step. What are you waiting for?

Learn more about this author, Karen Chamchuk.
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