10 benefits of physical activity

Being physically active has been a huge ongoing campaign in Singapore for the past few years. State-wide challenges such as the National Steps Challenge reward us for being physically active but is there a bigger message at hand here? We all know exercise is good for our health, but a lot of us don�t know the full extent of the benefits.

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Here are the top 10 reasons that make physical activity culture something worth embracing in your life.

Photo: Active Health

The top 10 benefits of physical activity

1. Weight management

The most prominent benefit of exercising is that it helps with weight management. Exercising increases our caloric expenditure, which helps us lose weight or maintain our ideal weight. Regular exercise also helps to optimise your metabolic rate, which makes weight management a much simpler affair.

2. Bone and muscle health

Exercising makes your body physically stronger because it builds bone and muscle strength. Stronger bones contribute to better balance which means greater stability and fewer injuries, while stronger muscles contribute to general fitness in carrying out daily activities like climbing the stairs or carrying groceries. There's no need to be averse to actively building muscle; a bodybuilder's physique requires years of very specific training and nutrition. Instead, holistic strength training will ensure that your body's muscles remain functionally healthy in the years to come!

3. Relieve from physical pains

Exercise provides rehabilitation for chronic pains such as lower back pain. The right kind of exercise can be a good form of physiotherapy for stubborn aches or long-term injuries. However, be sure to consult a specialist to recommend the ideal workout before you start exercising.

4. Protection against health conditions

Beyond making you physically stronger, exercise also keeps your body healthier by reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases. By helping with weight management, exercise also keeps obesity-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease at bay. Regular exercise also keeps your blood sugar and insulin levels at healthy levels.

5. Younger, healthier skin

The post-exercise glow is a real thing � exercise benefits your skin and makes it look more youthful by triggering the production of anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants repair skin cell damage and stimulate blood flow, improving skin health.

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6. Boosts mental health

There are several ways in which exercise is good for the brain. Firstly, exercise triggers the release of hormones that facilitate the growth of brain cells. Next, exercise also boosts blood flow to the brain, allowing it to get more oxygen to function better. Furthermore, oxygen also helps to improve memory by increasing the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. This slows down your brain�s ageing and also protects the brain against degenerative diseases like Alzheimer�s disease and mental disorders like schizophrenia.

7. Energy level boost

The rush of hormones from a good exercise session is a significant energy booster that helps you fight through fatigue and stay more focused. This energy boost is especially helpful for people suffering from chronic fatigue or health conditions that affect energy levels.

8. Improvements in mood

Along with making you feel more energised, exercise also makes you happier. Hormones like endorphins that are released during exercise evoke positive feelings and push away negative ones. This makes exercise a good form of therapy for people suffering from anxiety or depression.

9. More quality sleep

Exercise helps you sleep better at night and fights insomnia by making sure you are sufficiently tired come bedtime. Furthermore, the stress-relieving effect of exercise helps your mind and body relaxed so negative thoughts don�t keep you awake for hours at night. Exercise also helps to regulate your body�s circadian rhythm. The heating up of your core body temperature during exercise allows your body to cool down significantly by bedtime, promoting restful sleep.

10. Higher libido

Sleep isn�t the only bedtime activity that benefits from exercise; so does sex. Exercise facilitates blood circulation and flexibility, boosting one�s libido and enhances sexual performance and the overall experience as well. For older men, exercise helps to reduce symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

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In short, physical activity is indispensable when you are striving for optimal physical and mental health. The most straightforward way to reap these benefits is to simply set aside time every week to exercise. Proper, dedicated workouts allow you to maximise the time you spend exercising to get the most benefits. Unsure how to plan an exercise routine? Start from the following three steps.

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Planning your exercise routine

1. Set targets

Exercise, like any other project or plan, has to start from goal-setting (i.e. SMART goals). Be specific with what you want to achieve within a certain time frame. Is it for better stamina so you can run or swim for a longer duration? Or is it for greater strength in order to bench press a heavier weight? Whatever your goal is, set a specific target result that you can work towards. When setting goals, consider your current abilities and fitness levels and factor in any existing health problems or injuries so you can set out a plan that is feasible.

2. Plan workout duration and frequency

Before going into the types of exercise that you want to do, plan how many workout sessions you can fit in per week and how long each workout session will be. Most experts recommend exercising four to five days a week, varying the length and structure of your workouts with a mix of different activity types.

3. Workout structure

There are three types of activities to consider � aerobic, anaerobic and non-exercise. These exercises target different aspects of fitness and health, so it�s ideal to commit to at least one to two sessions of each activity every week.

Aerobic activities

Moderate intensity: Brisk walking, leisure swimming, leisure cycling

High intensity: Running, swimming continuous laps, spinning

Aerobic exercises are essential for building your physical conditioning as they work your heart and lungs, allowing you to build a greater work capacity. It�s important to incorporate both exercises of both moderate and vigorous intensities into your routine to build a stronger aerobic base � aim for a total of 150 minutes of moderate activity and 60 minutes of vigorous activity every week. To make it easier, you can break your aerobic exercises down into manageable 10-minute blocks.

Anaerobic / strength-training activities

Types of activities: Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, exercises involving resistance bands, weight-training

Strength training is important because it strengthens your muscles and bones for better health and resistance against injuries. Strength training also helps with weight loss � as you gain muscle, your metabolism increases which allow you to better convert calories into energy.

Non-exercise physical activities

Types of activities: Casual walking, stair-climbing, frisbee

Non-exercise physical activities (NEPA)are not meant to be physically taxing, but they are considered a legitimate form of physical activity that does well in supporting an active lifestyle. Engaging in NEPA during your rest days prevents you from lapsing into a sedentary state and adds (slightly) to your overall caloric expenditure.

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Keeping your workouts safe

Apart from deciding what exercises to include in your workouts, it�s also necessary to ensure you have safety protocols in place. Catering for safe workouts starts with the following steps:

� Proper warm-ups and cool-downs

These should last for at least five to ten minutes. Stretches and slow jogs are common warm-ups and cool-down exercises.

� Pay attention to signs of injury

When it comes to cardiovascular work or strength training, it�s important to stop at any signs of distress to prevent injury. Avoid intense exercises when you already have injuries such as stress fractures or sprains.

� Watch your form during strength training

Most injuries obtained during strength training are a result of poor form, so always pay attention to your form and never try to rush through your workouts.

� Stay hydrated

Heat-related injuries are some of the most common exercise-related injuries so always stay hydrated. Go for electrolyte-replenishing drinks after long aerobic sessions.

� Dress appropriately

Wearing the right shoes is of utmost importance to preventing injuries. The right clothing will also help you train comfortably and enjoy your workout more.

� Rest days

The most important safety tip is to always have rest days after intense exercise sessions. Giving your body enough time to repair itself helps to prevent overuse injuries and mental burnout.

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Life hacks to sneak in more physical activity

Apart from exercise, there are other ways to squeeze more physical activity into your daily life that don�t require as much time and planning. Here are some of the easiest ways.

� Take the stairs

Forget escalators and lifts, take the stairs whenever you can because stairs give your muscles a good opportunity for some resistance training. Just one minute of climbing stairs a day can be beneficial for your muscles and help to build up strength.

� Walk

Walking is one of the best ways to exercise because you can do it anytime and anywhere, without the need to change into sports attire or do some warm-up exercises. While you don�t burn as many calories from walking as you do from running, you are also less likely to binge eat after a good walking session.

� Stand up

The simple act of standing up does wonders for your body. Standing improves blood circulation, burns more calories, increases your metabolism and improves posture. You don�t have to go out of your way to stand up � opt to stand on public transport or take breaks from work to stand or walk around.

� Carry bags

Carrying your grocery bags by hand allows your arms to get some strength training in. The best way to get some benefits out of grocery bag lifting is to extend your arms all the way down and keep your back straight and shoulders back. This also engages your core and helps you work on your posture.

� Squat daily

A daily 30-second squat is something that's easily doable for everyone and helps to train what is considered the most fundamental aspect of human movement. Squatting helps to train your ankles, legs and hips and also improves stability throughout your entire body.

Even switching up your daily habits to get more exercise can help you get more of the numerous benefits of exercising. Regardless of your age group and gender, exercising provides a host of health benefits that you definitely should strive to unlock. Just make sure you plan your workouts with care and caution, and always respect your body�s needs and ability. Getting a professional�s advice is the best way to ensure your workouts are optimised for the best benefits � make an appointment with our Active Health Coach at our Active Health Labs today!

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