Jazzercise Lutz: 10 “WHYS” OF EXERCISE
The Pandemic has taken its toll on our exercise plans by forcing us to stay at home and limiting the classes we can participate in. Here are some good reminders of the WHY we need to take care of our health with consistent exercise. In order for a goal to have a long-term effect, one must refer back to the relevance or the “why” behind the goal. When one puts actions into a greater context of the importance or relevance, it is easier to change the behavior by reviewing the significance of why one wants to make the change in the first place. The greater the detail of the reasoning, the more likely that
goal will not be abandoned. So before you give up on that goal of a healthier 2020, here are ten benefits of exercise based on research so that you may find your “why.” 1. Weight Control - Diet and exercise go hand in hand. Diet is the primary way to lose weight. Exercise is the primary way to maintain weight. A combination of healthy diet and exercise is the fastest, safest way to lose weight and keep it off. 2. Long-term Mortality - If you want to live longerexercise. A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association found that the risk of premature death of those with a sedentary lifestyle
was 500% higher than those who exercised. 3. Prevention of Muscle and Bone Density Loss - Both skeletal muscle and bone density declines with age. Sarcopenia is to muscle what osteoporosis is to bone. Loss can begin around age 40 with over half of muscle strength lost by age 70. Both can be reversed and improved with strength resistance training using weights, machines, resistance bands, and stability balls. One must incorporate strength training in with cardio for long-term health benefits. 4. Brain Health - Exercise has immediate effects on one’s brain. A single workout improves the ability to shift
and focus attention, increases the levels of neurotransmitters that boosts one’s mood, and improves reaction time. Consistent exercise has shown a direct link to lower the risk of depression. Exercise also improves long-term memory by producing new brain cells in the hippocampus. In addition, exercise protects the brain by strengthening the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, two areas of the brain most susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases and normal cognitive decline in aging. 5. Metabolic Rate - Exercise affects the metabolism by increasing the metabolic rate, which means
