My life revolves around exercise, it always has and it always will. In my teens I played many sports so exercise was a big part of my life. In my early 20’s I exercised to avoid being overweight as I liked to go out drink, party and eat bad food as you do when you are young. Now that I am older I look at exercise in a different light. I want to be fit, healthy, have more energy and be happy, without exercise for me none of these are achievable. Here are my top 5 reasons to exercise.

No. 1: Keeps you healthy
I think health is the most important aspect of exercise. People get carried away with looking a certain way and train their butts off then you have the skinny people that think they don’t need to exercise because they are not overweight. Exercise is going to keep your heart in check and can prevent or improve high blood pressure. It can help strengthen and build bones. I have seen 40-50 year old woman sign up to the gym on strict orders from their doctor because they have very low bone density or even have osteoporosis as they have never exercised in their life. Regular activity can help manage or prevent a number of health problems. I have had a number of clients with with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol that have seen massive improvements to their health which has now increased their longevity of life.

No. 2: Controls weight
It’s not rocket science to associate exercise with weight loss. Exercise burns calories. The more often we exercise the more calories we are going to burn. Obviously the more intense you exercise the more calories you are going to burn. I have never been a believer of spending hours and hours in the gym. You can burn the same amount of calories if not more in half an hour if you increase the intensity of your workout. Incidental exercise is important too. Start riding a bike at the weekend to do certain chores. Get the stairs instead of the lift or the elevator. Park your car further away and walk.

No. 3: Improves Mood
It only takes 1-2 days of not exercising for me to feel my mood change. I have often felt depressed and moody and quick tempered on the days I have missed working out from being too busy. I can only imagine what people feel like that never exercise at all. Working out is a great way to combat stress, give you a buzz and make you feel good, when you exercise your body releases chemicals called endorphins these endorphins trigger positive feelings that make you feel happy. Seeing changes in your appearance from exercising regularly will also help boost your confidence and self esteem.

No. 4: Boosts Energy
Regular exercise increases energy and reduces fatigue. Have you ever relaxed on the couch all day and then felt exhausted? I have done this so many times. The days I don’t exercise I have less energy. We live in a world where people are constantly grabbing a coffee or an energy drink for a boost of energy, this will bring you down just as fast as they gave you a high. Even though when you are feeling tired and the last thing you feel like doing is exercising try going for a brisk 30min walk or hit the gym. You will see a difference. Regular exercise is going to help your heart and lungs work more efficiently and therefore you will have more energy to go about your daily life.

No. 5: Promotes better sleep
There is nothing worse than having a bad night of sleep. If you are struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep try working out for at least 30mins per day. Studies suggest that exercise can improve sleep quality. We are going to be more tired at the end of the day if we have worked out therefore can fall asleep easier and into a deeper sleep. Exercise can reduce stress and anxiety so we can fall asleep quicker instead of lying in bed wide awake worrying.

Remember these are just my top 5 reasons to exercise, there are so many more. If you want to live a happier, healthier more productive life and improve your relationships with your partner, friends and family try adding more exercise and I can guarantee you will see the benefits straight away.