Most of us have heard the recommendation that we should all be getting at least thirty minutes to a full hour of physical exercise each and every day. However, many of us do not. And it’s not necessarily that we are lazy or do not care about our health. In fact, most of us lead such busy lives that we simply do not feel as though we have the time to exercise. In addition, some people feel as if they do not need it. Still, the truth is that getting regular exercise on a daily basis can have a huge impact not only on your health, but on your mood as well. Below are the top five reasons as to why, if you are not getting daily exercise, you should find a way to incorporate it into your routine.

1) Weight loss. Perhaps the first and most obvious benefit that many of us will think of when it comes to exercise is the weight loss that generally comes along with it. After all, with over half of Americans being classified as overweight, most of us acknowledge when we could stand to lose a few pounds. Exercising, along with watching what you eat, increases the number of calories and fat that your body burns on any given day. And when you burn more calories than you intake through food and drinks, you lose weight. It is as simple as that. So the more you exercise, the more weight loss you will see.

2) Increased Strength. Every time you exercise, you give your muscles a workout. You are probably at least somewhat familiar with the soreness you can experience after an intense workout from the previous day. This is your body’s way of healing, because when you work out, you are essentially ripping your muscles. The pain that you feel the next day is them re-building to become stronger, leading to increased strength and durability. In addition, once muscles become toned enough, you can even begin to see a visible difference in your body and you will look better than ever.

3) Better Moods. It has recently been proven that rigorous exercise (and specifically, cardio workouts) lead to the release of chemicals in the body that instantly put you in a better mood. These chemicals stay in the body for many hours, so the next time you are in a bad mood, try going for a run and you will see that you are much happier afterwards.

4) Get Smarter. Many people find this hard to believe, but exercising can actually lead to increased intelligence. This also has something to do with the release of chemicals through working out, which travel to the brain and can not only improve your long and short term memory, but lead to brain and thought stimulation. This is why many people like to exercise in the morning, as it mentally prepares them for the challenges of the day.

5) Prolonged Lifespan. Perhaps the biggest benefit of all to exercising regularly is that you can literally add years onto your life by doing so. In addition to helping prevent diseases, exercise can lessen your chances of a heart attack, stroke, or other deadly medical conditions.

So if you are not getting your regular daily exercise, now is the time to consider your lifestyle!

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