Exercise is among the best investments you can make on yourself. This is not just about the immediate gains, like weight loss or to make you appear better, but also about the long-term benefits. Having regular exercise does not only improve your body for today, but it also prepares you for the future; for a healthier, more fulfilling, and stronger future. If you take a look at someone who does regular exercise and then compare them to someone who does not, over time, you will see that the difference will be clear. Exercise is not particularly reserved for gym. Even from your house, you can have an exercise routine, like jugging, morning walk, push ups, planking, etc. These are part of what make you healthier.
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I have come to realise that a very significant long-term benefit of exercise is improved health. Medically, it has been proven times and again that being physically active helps to strengthen the heart, improves circulation of blood, and ultimately keeps your body functioning properly. One of our family friends who is a cardiologist once said that people who regularly engage in exercises have lower risks of developing serious heart disease, and even high blood pressure. This means that you do yourself a great honour by being active. When you are exercising, you are not only doing it for today, but you are protecting your health for many years to come.
Some years back, I observed something that thought me some vital lessons about being physically active. In the place where I lived, two women within the neighborhood were retired from active service when they clocked 60 years. They both worked in federal government parastatals but in different ministries. When they were retired, one of them got a part-time teaching job down the street, while the other one was just staying at home enjoying her benefits, gratuity, and pension. Both of them were paid well though, so they had enough to live on. When the other woman who was doing part-time job was asked why she decided to do that, she just responded that she has been active all her life, and that she does not want to stay idle.
After a while of retiring, the other woman who was always staying at home and living a sedentary lifestyle started to be sickly. She gained so much weight, she started looking older than she was in just a matter of months. But the other woman was still agile and going about her normal duties. After about 1 year, the difference between both of them was so much that you would not believe they are almost the same age. It was then that I got to find out that the difference might just be in their level of physical activities. When you exercise, you keep yourself fit and also help your body stay healthy.
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Exercise also has a way of strengthening the bones and muscles. When people grow old, they naturally tend to become weaker, with the bones even losing their strength. However, for people who exercise often, they tend to build stronger muscle, and they also maintain good bone density. This will help them to remain independent even when they are old. They will not have to struggle with mobility, but they will remain active and independent. The exercises you do now does not only affect you in the present but it builds you up for the future. Exercise is not what you do once in a while, rather it should be a lifestyle for you.
It is worthy to note that physical activities have ways of reducing stress, depression, and anxiety, which also improves the mental health. I once read from a medical journal sometimes ago that when you exercise, the body releases chemicals that can help improve the mood and make the person happy. Over time, this makes the person build mental resilience, and makes the person to go through life better. So as much as exercise is good for your physical body, it is also good for your mental health. If you know that it is good, then it is wisdom to engage in it. Invest in keeping yourself fit and your body will thank you.
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