Get Physical: 6 Non-fitness Bonuses of Exercise

We’ve all been told how important exercise is for us. Regularly working out doesn’t just keep us healthy and in good shape, it can also help us to:

• Lose weight
• Improve our stamina
• Help prevent diseases

This is why we are encouraged to lead an active lifestyle from a young age! Exercise doesn’t just give you good health, it improves the quality of your life, too. In fact, a good exercise routine may also be accompanied by these “side effects” that are pretty useful!

Do you find yourself regularly waking up in the middle of the night to answer nature’s call? This condition is known as nocturia, and it could be due to something as simple as drinking too much before bedtime, or your age kicking in. A 2014 study has found that those who lead active lifestyles are actually at lower risk of suffering from nocturia. This is because the regular workouts help to strengthen the bladder muscles, thus improving your bladder control. So, exercise more and you’ll get to enjoy a full night’s sleep instead of having to leap out of bed every few hours!

Improving bladder control isn’t the only strange yet beneficial side effect that exercise gives us. We’ve all experienced our share of constipation, and suffered the time it takes to get it out of our system. Whether it’s a change to your diet or your body unhappy that you’re travelling, constipation could hit at any time. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that exercise can help to relieve this issue! By working out regularly, your intestinal muscles undergo natural contractions, making them work more efficiently and regulating your bowel movements.

Did you know that exercise keeps you young? We don’t just mean feeling young (although that’s certainly a plus), as exercise helps you look young as well! A consistent exercise routine has been proven to help your skin maintain its youthful look. Researchers also found that regularly working out could also reverse the effects of aging, such as reducing sagging skin and discolouration. When you sweat it out, you’re not only giving yourself a healthy glow and eliminating toxins from your body, you’re also releasing feel good endorphins. The rush of endorphins makes you happy and when you’re smiling, you’re also erasing frown lines.

Whether you’re trying to kick junk food or nicotine cravings, exercise can play a role in getting rid of your unhealthy habits. Oftentimes, relying on willpower alone isn’t enough to keep the snacking or smoking at bay. Instead of giving in to them, a little physical activity can distract you until the longing has passed – research has even found that you can suppress your junk food cravings with at least 30 minutes of brisk walking.

An active lifestyle can positively impact your mental wellbeing by helping you manage stress and anxiety – and it goes beyond that too! Consistently working out has been linked to helping enhance your brain’s learning skills and memory retention, as the physical activity releases the necessary chemicals to strengthen these brain systems. Recent studies have also found that if you plan your workout routine strategically, such as exercising about four hours after you’ve learned something like a new language, you can actually remember it better.

Aside from enhancing your brain and memory skills, studies have also shown that physical exercise can contribute to the development of self-esteem. One study found that teens involved in sports club activities were not only more content with life, they were also more socially adjusted as they were able to feel a sense of belonging and receive positive reinforcement from their coaches and peers. For adults, being proactive and taking charge of your health can put you in a more positive frame of mind as well, even if working out does not necessarily result in the “perfect body” – and positivity is what helps you build belief in yourself.

While you can definitely achieve your #fitnessgoals with the help of various exercises, it’s also important to remember that working out means more than just toning your body, bulking up on muscles or losing weight. These “side effects” are great indicators of how staying active benefits our entire wellbeing, beyond the physical body.

References

http://www.mensfitness.com/training/20-weird-side-effects-working-out

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jun/18/how-physical-exercise-makes-your-brain-work-better

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/exercise-curing-constipation-via-movement

https://www.rd.com/health/fitness/benefits-of-exercise/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smart-moves/201408/do-sports-and-other-physical-activities-build-self-esteem

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/573999/hidden-benefits-exercise-working-out-fights-wrinkles-boosts...

https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/regular-exercise-releases-brain-chemicals-key-for-memory...

The above articles are intended for informational purposes only. AIA accepts no responsibility for loss, which may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.