Guest post by Katie Meyers

 With all the uncertainties and ups and downs of our daily lives, good health should be our top priority. Regular exercise is the first step to a healthier lifestyle. Do you struggle to lose or maintain your weight? What are some benefits of exercise and how do you stay motivated?

Exercise is Important

Regular exercise is proven to improve your mood, help you get good sleep, give you more energy, and can even help you live a longer and better life. Here are several reasons why exercise is important.

Gives you more energy

Physical activity increases your heart rate and causes your blood to flow. The more oxygen and nutrients your muscles receive, the more energy you’ll have. Regular exercise will also improve the symptoms of fatigue.

Promotes quality sleep

Because exercise has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, it can cause you to feel more relaxed. This will help you get better, more restful sleep. If you are able to exercise outside, it will also expose you to the sun and vitamin D which helps to regulate your wake-sleep cycle. While this is all good, be aware that exercising too close to bedtime can also sabotage your sleep.

Helps fight depression

Exercise can be an effective treatment for depression. Exercising increases your brain sensitivity. As a result, this will ease feelings of depression. Pilates, yoga, and breathing exercises are great ways to help reduce stress and promote relaxation while moving your body.

Helps maintain strong muscles and bones

As we get older, we start to lose muscle mass and function. Exercising regularly can help reduce muscle loss, increase strength, and boost muscle growth. Exercising as a younger person will build bone density and fight against osteoporosis in the future.

Reduces risk of chronic disease

Lack of exercise can impact your health and can be linked to high cholesterol, inflammation, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Regular exercise can fight against chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Reduces pain

Exercise can reduce pain and improve physical function. It can improve chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, and other conditions that cause chronic pain.

Boosts brain health

Exercise is important for your brain health. Movement improves blood flow to the brain and reduces inflammation. Even a quick workout may help you focus and can improve your mental function.

Improves skin

Regular moderate exercise increases antioxidants in your body. Sweating during a workout positively impacts your skin. Because exercise increases blood flow, it can help with anti-aging effects.

Helps you feel more productive

Who doesn’t want to feel productive? The feeling of accomplishment after a workout is always exciting and motivating. Exercise can make you less groggy and decrease irritability. Working out in the morning can also set the tone for your day and lead to more productivity.  

Helps you live longer

Regular exercise can help you live longer. It has been known to improve or prevent conditions like diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer and obesity. Exercise keeps your bones, muscles and joints healthy, lowers your cholesterol and blood pressure, and protects your mental health, which all contribute to a long and happy life.

Staying Motivated

If you find that staying motivated to exercise is difficult, or you find that your workout routine is becoming boring and stale, there are many resources and ideas to help you. There are some great apps out there to help with exercise, diet and sleep. Many people like to go to the gym, work one-on-one with a personal trainer, or take group exercise classes.

Healthy Living

To most people the words “healthy living” mean that both physical and mental health are in balance or functioning well together in a person. In this article, we’ve already addressed exercise and physical activity. What are some other components to healthy living?

Other factors for living a healthy lifestyle are diet and nutrition and mental health.

Diet and Nutrition Tips

• Aim to eat a healthy and balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.

• Your meals should consist of a variety of healthy foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, fiber, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.

• Include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts as part of a healthy diet.

• Control portion sizes. Eat only what satisfies your hunger and listen to your body to know when to stop eating

• Opt for healthy snacks when possible such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, or nuts.

• Avoid sodas and sugar enhanced drinks. Diet sodas and other foods with artificial sweeteners can actually cause you to feel more hungry.

• Have all your favorite treats in moderation and learn what foods make your body feel and perform the best.

Mental Health Tips

• Get enough sleep on a daily basis.

• Take a walk and enjoy the outdoors when you can.

• Try something new: for instance, a new route to work, or a new food.

• Read, work on jigsaw puzzles, or other mind exercises throughout the week.

• Make time to talk with others about different subjects.

• Set aside some time to do things that interest you like a sport or hobby.

• Allow yourself to be proud of your achievements.

• Have a strong social network and support group of friends and family.

• Seek advice if you’re struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming yourself or others.

Popular Health and Fitness Apps

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is one of the best food tracking apps available. The food diary includes an easy-to-use database that offers nutrition information for millions of different foods, including restaurant meals. Users are  able to set their personal goals and the app will take that and break down the amount of calories to take in each day and how much water to drink. MyFitnessPal offers a detailed view of what you're eating.

Headspace

Headspace will help you relieve stress. Users can choose mini guided meditation sessions specific to their mood and lifestyle. The library is curated with a wide variety of programs aimed for helping you sleep, relieve anxiety, and manage stress.

Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle tracks your quality of sleep, as well as your sleeping heart rate. Throughout the night, the app monitors your sleep patterns, making note of any disruptions like snoring or sleep talking. But its most unique feature is that it wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase in the morning, making you feel well-rested and ready to tackle the day.

Aaptiv

Aaptiv plans your workouts based on your fitness level, workout preferences and the equipment you have access to. Users also can track their progress by keeping records of their workout-related trends including stretching, running, strength training, and yoga.

Charity Miles

Charity Miles is a free app. It allows users to choose a charity to donate to. The donated funds come from corporate sponsors. Using your phone’s GPS, the app tracks your exercise, whether you walk, run, or bike. For each mile completed, 10 cents will be donated to that charity, making your workout feel twice as effective.

Fooducate

Fooducate is an app that teaches you about the products you buy at the grocery store. Just scan from over 250,000 barcodes to see a personalized nutrition grade, learn about the pros and cons of the product, and choose the healthiest option. Users can even connect with health professionals and other app users for advice and support.

Happify

Happify includes a variety of science-backed games and activities paired with guided meditation and relaxation audios that aim to give your emotions and mental health a quick boost. Creators say using the app on a daily basis should train you to think more positively.

In the end we all want to live a balanced and happy life. Exercise plays a key role in getting there. Today there are so many options to help you have successful workouts and help you have a healthy diet. Having better health overall will help you live a happier life. 

Katie Meyers is an SEO Specialist at SEO Design Chicago. Before joining the SEO Design Chicago team, she interned for them, as well as interned as a Content Writer at HZD Creates. She enjoys writing and is a volunteer writer for her church’s newsletter. She enjoys Gonzaga men’s and women’s basketball, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends.

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