How Often Should You Be Exercising?

At times, it seems that exercise is just used as a tool for weight loss, building muscle or as a punishment. This is just not true. If we look at exercise from another angle, we can see that it is so much more.

What are the benefits of exercise?

Exercise is therapeutic for your mind, hormones, organs, bones and muscle health. And if you are suffering from a chronic disease it can aid your recovery also.

Exercise is medicine. It is important to understand the true value of using exercise to create a holistic approach to health, recovery and preventative action.

How much exercise should you do?

Movement is necessary to our health, but the question is how much exercise? What type of exercise? And what exercise is beneficial to your health?

To really know, you need to ask yourself what do you want to achieve in terms of health and physical activity. For example, lots of clients just want to be able to play in the back yard with their kids without pain or being physically exhausted. And some want to be able to run 20 kilometers. By knowing your goal, you can then select the exercises you need for your health plan - from recovery, to building strength and increasing physical capacity.

I want to start exercising, what can I do to start building up fitness?

Everyone's exercise program is going to be different because of goals, needs, injuries, current fitness levels and health status. And with all this information to absorb, if you don't know where to start, try going for a 30 minute walk a day. Stay consistent and see where that takes you on your health journey, you will most likely be surprised!

Here are 7 ways that exercise can positively influence your health:

1. A patient in completing cancer treatment and exercises has a increase in 70% survival rate.
2. Helps regulate a healthy blood sugar level.
3. Helps keep your veins clear of cholesterol build up.
4. Increases lung function.
5. Increase bone strength.
6. Helps prevent cancer.
7. Enhance emotional wellbeing.

What do I need to build a healthy lifestyle?

Exercise is not a magical cure by itself. It needs to be done in conjunction with a balanced diet, adequate water intake and mental wellbeing practices.

Exercise is a long-term, consistent addition to your life to help sustain a healthy future for yourself.

Invest in your health today and you'll harvest the results for years to come.