People are motivated to exercise for many reasons: Improving appearance, making social connections, and increasing energy levels are but a few. Here are some of the popular reasons people exercise along with tips to keep you motivated and committed to regular physical exercise.
Why Should You Exercise More?
According to Dr. Roy Shepar of the Department of Preventative Medicine and Biostatistic at the University of Toronto: “By taking yourself from a sedentary state, you can, in effect, reduce your biological age by 10 to 20 years.”
Health and Fitness benefits
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Most people acknowledge health and fitness benefits are basics for wellness. There is no debating exercise benefits like improved figure, higher self-esteem, stronger immune systems, and increased resistance to sickness. The problem is motivation. Many physical exercise programs are started like clockwork on January first each year, and then abandoned because of lack of motivating force. Here are three explanations of what motivates people to exercise.
Physical Health Fitness Improves Appearance
Want to look about ten pounds lighter quickly? Health and nutrition are contributing factors to overall fat loss and changed body appearance, but regular physical exercise programs tone the body and make you look slimmer. Clothing fits better and self-image increases as you see your body firming up.
The good news is becoming physically fit improves appearance; the bad news is lasting results require commitment and time. Consistent physical exercise performed daily yields the best results in the long run.
Aerobic Exercise Builds Social Networks
Aerobic exercise classes are great arenas for broadening social networks. Make pals with a training buddy and use the accountability factor to help you stay on track with health and nutrition objectives. As a bonus, social contacts help when you are coping with stress. Share your anxiety and depression feelings with workout friends and draw energy from their encouragement. Knowing that someone is relying on you to attend aerobic exercise classes motivates many people to exercise.
Physical Exercise Increases Energy levels
Ever notice how good you feel after fitness walking? You feel alert, energized, and ready to tackle the world. Physical exercise mitigates stress effects, leaving you feeling less stressed out. Walking is the perfect exercise because most people at any level of fitness can begin a fitness walking program and realize exercise benefits. Physical exercise lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Next time your energy is flagging and you need a boost, put down the coffee cup and go for a brisk walk.
Easy Ways to Exercise More
Here are easy ways to get more exercise. Make a commitment to exercise for just ten minutes. At the end of that time, you can choose to continue physical exercise or stop. Getting the first few minutes of exercise out of the way is what motivates some individuals.
Put yourself on the spot. Tell everyone you know that you are starting a physical exercise program. Encourage them to hold you accountable. Knowing that others are watching their level of commitment to an exercise goal motivates others to stick with their commitment.
Take “before pictures” and post them in prominent places like on the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror. This is an amazing visual motivation for keeping individuals committed to physical exercise.
What motivates people to exercise? While individual answers will vary, the common theme of health and fitness benefits is shared by those who incorporate regular physical exercise into their lifestyles.
References:
https://library.thinkquest.org/10991/exercises.html,quote from Dr. Roy Shepar, accessed 01/30/2010
American obesity epidemic, https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html , accessed 01/30/2010
https://www.impactlab.com/2009/01/22/you-can-change-your-appearance-with-exercise-but-not-overnight/Health & Fitness, Science & Technology News, January 22nd, 2009, accessed 01/30/2010
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Image Credits
Public Domain Pictures/Petr Fratchovil
Public Domain Pictures/Vojko Kalan
