It’s a well known fact that if you’re aiming for sustainable weight loss, integrating daily movement into your routine is the way to go. But outside of the fat loss benefits of exercise, working out also offers a number of other significant side effects that can bolster your overall health and allow you to feel better in your body without even seeing changes on the scale.
We spoke with Kate Meier, CPT to discover the primary reasons you should be working out regularly even if you aren’t aiming to lose weight, and there’s no shortage of compelling evidence on the positive impact it can have.
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Lower Risk Of Injury
Outside of losing weight, working out will most likely offer you a significant improvement in muscle strength which can in turn change how your body appears without the scale ever dropping. With this, your body will be at a lower risk of injury and you will generally begin to feel better in your skin.
“Working out creates a more resilient body by strengthening muscles, bones, and tendons,” explains Meier. “Building stronger bones and soft tissue is important in order to reduce the risk of injuries and maintain a higher quality of life. It is also important to work on building a strong body so that as we get older it slows down some of the effects of aging.” Improving the quality and longevity of your life will ultimately lead to a boost of endorphins as well, which leads to this next point.
A Better Mood
Not only can exercise impact how your body looks, but it can improve your mood and how you feel as well. “When we exercise there are endorphins that get released that increase pleasure and reduce depression,” notes Meier. “These effects can carry on for the rest of the day which can also lead to better productivity and overall happiness. Our bodies need the physical outlet for stress that exercising provides.” Exercise is a great tool to utilize if you’re feeling particularly agitated within your day, and pushing your body can help to burn both calories and negative emotions, leaving you feeling better at the end of your sweat session.
A Stronger Heart
Cardio workouts are great for increasing calorie burn, but they also challenge your lungs and heart health which can allow you to live longer and feel great as you age. “As we work out, the heart has to work hard to pump blood to the muscles so that they have oxygen to perform the given task,” explains Meier. “Over time this will strengthen the heart and make it run more efficiently which lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease which is still the number one cause of death. Resting heart rate and blood pressure can both be lowered from exercise and prevent the need for medication.” Integrating cardio into your workout routine alongside strength training will create the perfect balance of cardiovascular challenge, while also priming your muscles for growth.
Less Inflammation
If you often find yourself struggling with excess bloating and inflammation within your body, exercise can be a great way to alleviate this discomfort and release water weight. “As blood flow increases while working out it will help to relieve inflammation and pain, improving the function of the muscles and joints,” says Meier. “For people with chronic pain conditions, this can be incredibly beneficial to help provide relief.” Certainly if you’re in pain it will be important to be prudent with how much you’re exerting yourself, but on the whole some gentle daily exercise will reduce inflammation and allow you to feel more comfortable in your body.
