Discover the incredible ways an active lifestyle can improve your health. From cognitive function to weight management, unlock a healthier you.
Besides having a great body, an active lifestyle can elevate your life in many ways. Most people who exercise or engage in athletic activities aim for physical fitness. However, having an active lifestyle can benefit having an improved cognitive function, a stronger immune system, weight management, positive self-image, and higher self-esteem.
Moving the body regularly can increase serotonin (happy hormones) and dopamine levels in the brain, making you feel more energetic, upbeat, and motivated. Moving the body is not restricted to the gym or sports only, but this includes keeping the body active throughout the day. Take small steps, move away from your desk or wherever you have been sitting for a long time. Take a short walk to the deli to pick up lunch, or take the staircase instead of the elevator. These little steps have a domino effect and add up to a higher daily activity level.
Here we are sharing some of the most prominent health benefits of an active lifestyle and how you can incrementally move towards an active lifestyle:
Health Benefits of An Active Lifestyle
Besides having a great body, an active lifestyle can elevate your life in many ways. Most people who exercise or engage in athletic activities aim for physical fitness. However, having an active lifestyle can benefit having an improved cognitive function, a stronger immune system, weight management, positive self-image, and higher self-esteem.
Moving the body regularly can increase serotonin (happy hormones) and dopamine levels in the brain, making you feel more energetic, upbeat, and motivated. Moving the body is not restricted to the gym or sports only, but this includes keeping the body active throughout the day. Take small steps, move away from your desk or wherever you have been sitting for a long time. Take a short walk to the deli to pick up lunch, or take the staircase instead of the elevator. These little steps have a domino effect and add up to a higher daily activity level.
Here we are sharing some of the most prominent health benefits of an active lifestyle and how you can incrementally move towards an active lifestyle:
Manage a Healthy Weight
With a laid-back lifestyle or long hours at a desk job, you are always at risk of putting on weight and eventually dealing with stiff joints and tight muscles. An active lifestyle helps you maintain a healthy weight while keeping your joints lubricated and your muscles flexible. Besides having a workout regime, you must stay active throughout your day. Getting away from your desk every couple of hours to stretch your legs, choosing to walk rather than driving whenever possible, and even trying to walk every now and then during long-haul flights are all great ways to keep your body in active mode.
If you already have a healthy weight, aim for moderate physical activity at least 3 times per week from 45 - 60 minutes. If your aim is to lose weight, you would need intense physical activity with a calorie deficit diet that includes managing your eating habits.
An Active Heart is a Healthy Heart
Improve your cardiovascular health by staying active. Enough physical activity helps maintain good heart health and optimum blood pressure. It lowers the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol in the body.
Opt for simple activities like outdoor walking, running, and jogging if you cannot enroll in workout programs and facilities. A 150-minute cardio activity is excellent for reducing health risks by increasing blood circulation in the muscles.
Increased Muscles and Joints Flexibility
Our muscles and bones become dense and lose flexibility, as we naturally age. . Working out regularly helps keep the body flexible and enhances the strength of muscles and joints. Giving your body a chance to move every day allows the body to be adaptive and strong.
Think of your body as a mold of clay: The longer you let the clay sit in one form, the more rigid it becomes. However, if you keep playing with that mold, it keeps it from becoming a rock. The next time you get lazy or become a couch potato, think about this analogy.
Improved Cognitive Function
Physical activity has a direct positive impact on cognitive function. Regular physical activity can improve cognitive skills such as focus, problem-solving, emotional balance, and memory. Also, according to research, staying active can reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety to a great level.
Exercise improves cognitive ability, reduces sleep abnormalities, and improves sleep quality.
However, it is suggested that you should not perform any high-intensity exercise before bedtime.
According to research at Harvard University, “The researchers examined 23 studies that evaluated sleep onset and quality in healthy adults who performed a single session of evening exercise compared with similar adults who did not. They found that not only did evening exercise not affect sleep, it seemed to help people fall asleep faster and spend more time in deep sleep. However, those who did high-intensity exercise — such as interval training — less than one hour before bedtime took longer to fall asleep and had poorer sleep quality.”
Adapt to an Active Lifestyle
Start with incremental changes to your routine instead of starting strenuously training at the risk of burning out in a few weeks and giving up on your health goals. Start with small, manageable goals. If you aim to work out 5 times per week, 60 minutes each time, start with 40 minutes of workout 3 times weekly. Once you settle into your routine, you can then increase the frequency and intensity of your exercise.
The goal here is to move the body at your terms, according to your needs.
Explore Your Pleasure Points
Try out different activities, even something that you haven’t done before. Explore various physical activities that can be fun for you and that you would want to practice again.
Remember, your workout must be pleasurable and should not be forced. Mix a few different activities in your week, such as HIIT, yoga, swimming or weight lifting, running, and pilates. See what works best for your body and what resonates most with you.
Remember, the goal of an active lifestyle is to stay healthy and mentally fit. While looking good is an additional benefit, it is not the primary goal. Once you focus on feeling healthy, your thoughts become more positive, you feel mentally strong, and you can deal with stress more positively. Start where you are with what you have, and focus on the one reason why you need to do this for yourself.
If you are a HerMeNow participant or alumni, book your free coaching session now through the HerMeNow website https://www.hermenow.com/wellness.
 | Anam Anjum Wellness Consultant +971 52 629 9656 anam@hermenow.com almawellbeing.com |