One of the first things people think of when mentioning exercise is toning up and reshaping their physical appearance. These are also usually the reasons why people hit the gym in the first place, but they aren’t the only physical benefits of exercising.
#1 Helps maintain or lose weight. One of the most popular reasons for working out is to get a better body. Losing or maintaining weight is a major benefit of exercise. A 30-minute session of cardio *think running, jogging, and elliptical exercises* each day will help you burn calories, shed excess weight, and prevent unwanted weight gain in the future. Your exercise routine should always be paired with healthy eating in order to see proper results.
#2 Check out my six-pack, man. Ah, the lifelong debate. Do I want a six-pack, or do I want pizza? Everything in moderation, right? I digress. Opposite of cardio, strength training will help tone and sculpt your body and make you physically stronger. If you’re looking for those killer abs, a trendy round booty, and toned legs, strength training is for you. Using weights or doing high-intensity reps sans weights are great toning workout methods that you can do from the privacy of your own home.
#3 Combats serious health conditions. When it comes to working out, it isn’t only your muscles that are getting stronger—it’s your entire body! Regular exercise will help to improve your blood flow and decrease your risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, heart failure, or coronary artery disease. Exercise will also help fight against other illnesses such as Type II diabetes, arthritis, certain cancers, and prevents high blood pressure.
#4 Helps you catch your Zs. If you have trouble falling asleep, trying running a 3-mile trek on your treadmill and then see how easy it is to catch some Zs! One study by the Sleep Foundation found that those who exercise not only fall asleep faster than those who don’t, but they also fall into a deeper sleep. Why? Exercise raises the body’s core temperature, and once this temperature returns to its regular stage, your brain will send a signal to your body that it’s time for a big ole nap!
Exercise benefits for the mind
Consider exercise your new therapist. The benefits of exercise stretch far beyond getting a killer bod. In fact, many find exercise to be therapeutic in nature. So the next time you’re angry with your lover or pissed about something insensitive that was said to you, walk if off—literally! You’ll feel better after, promise.
#5 Reduces stress and anxiety. Next time you’re ready to grab a bottle of wine and cry to your girlfriends, step on the brakes and try a quick jog instead. Exercise is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. In fact, doing moderate to high aerobic exercises can actually calm those suffering from an anxiety attack and reduce anxiety sensitivities. Sure, it may not get you drunk, but it’ll sure as hell make you feel better!
#6 Boosts happiness and beats depression. Exercise can actually combat depression. Sure, sweating pools through your clothes may not seem like the happiest endeavor, but exercising actually releases dopamine to your brain that gives off euphoric, happy feels.
#7 Makes your brain stronger. With exercise, you can turn your normal brain into a super-brain! Exercising can actually strengthen your brain and help combat Alzheimer’s in the future by boosting brain chemicals that prevent the degeneration of the hippocampus, the area of the brain used for learning and memory functions. Exercise can also help strengthen your memory and vocabulary retention.
Benefits of exercise for sex
This is it, the subheading we’ve all been waiting for: the benefits of exercise on your sex life. Getting fit in the gym means getting CUH-RAZY in the bedroom! If you’re looking to improve your sex life and start feeling more ambitious between the sheets, let these sexual tidbits be your motivator!
#8 Boosts your stamina. Have you ever hopped on top of your lover for a wild ride, only to be winded after two minutes of writhing and sweating? Not exactly a sexy sight, and it ain’t getting you any closer to the Big O, either. When you exercise, you are challenging your body’s will and muscle strength. The more accustomed your body becomes to pushing itself to the limit and succeeding, the more stamina you gain in the future! This can mean wonders in the bedroom.
#9 Makes you feel sexier. Exercising makes you feel like a million bucks. Even if you aren’t at your “goal weight” or preferred size, actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle gives you more self-esteem and a better personal outlook. The best part? These results stretch into the bedroom! One sexual study reported that men and women who stayed physically fit felt their desirability was above average. How’s that for self-lovin’?!
#10 Helps girls with the Big-O. Staying fit and exercising regularly promotes blood flow… everywhere, including the vagina! This blood flow actually swells the clitoris and increases sensitivity, which can help you to orgasm quicker! Not to mention, since muscle tension is pretty much the key for having an orgasm, Kegel exercises will help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and give you bigger, better orgasms.
#11 Stretching for wild positions. Have you ever looked at the Kama Sutra’s wild positions and thought: “Not in a million years…” Exercise can help! Getting in 30 minutes of exercise a day *that involves cardio, strength training, and plenty of regular stretching* can actually make you more flexible. This makes those wild positions way more attainable for you and your lover.
#12 Helps combat erectile dysfunction. If you find that your little mister can’t keep his big and hard during intercourse, this might be your favorite exercise sex fact yet. Regular exercise promotes healthy blood flow all over your body, including the penis, and can actually lower a man’s risk of having erectile dysfunction
