Many More Reasons to Get Moving: Part 1

It’s 4:30 pm and the countdown has begun until quitting time (only 60 min to go, 59 min, 58 min...).  For many, the idea of going to a gym or taking a brisk walk after work is the last thing on their mind after a long day.  Although physical activity has been engineered out of most of our lives, this does not disregard the fact that movement has historically been used for our productivity and survival (how else would we be getting our food!?).  It’s well-known that physical activity is beneficial for our health as seen by a host of studies showing a reduction in risk of disease with more exercise.

Physical activity not only helps ward off the top three leading causes of death in the U.S. (heart disease, various cancers, and strokes), but it also reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is of growing concern nationally and globally.  Likewise, moving more benefits mental health by improving mental acuity, concentration, and memory (my recent hiatus from exercise affirmed this fact personally!).

For some, knowing the exact reductions of risk for disease is enough to spark the flame for change in their physical activity habits (read more).  Meanwhile, others unfortunately get their wake up call by being diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease or experiencing a catastrophic health issue. My hope is for it not to get to this point and to let knowledge in all forms instigate change.  The benefits of moving more go far beyond physical appearance and aiding in weight loss. In fact, exercise intricately influences an array of hormones and biological processes that contribute to great health--both known and unknown by the scientific community. So we know and hear that exercise is good for us, but how does moving more elicit all of these benefits?  Stay tuned for more...