As I said in my post yesterday, exercise is being given a hard time in the weight management world. This speaks more to people who are very overweight or obese. For this group it is very hard to lose weight with exercise as your main treatment plan.
I do believe there are very good reasons to exercise:
1) It improves your sleep. Research though conflicting at times suggests that at least subjectively, sleep quality and sleep duration are better in people who exercise. Sleep has a direct impact on your mood and your ability to cope. The better you sleep, the better you feel. This affects weight management.
2) It releases neurochemicals that lift mood. These are serotonin and the class of chemicals called endorphins (endogenous opioid peptides).
3) Weight bearing exercise is very important. Muscle mass is lost as we age and muscle is an active tissue in the body. For women this is necessary especially around menopause. Maintaining weight does depend on having a reasonable muscle mass. Weight training is important to maintain bone density as well.
4) It is something the family can do together. Any activity that allows quality time together is important. This is true for couples and friends as well.
5) For people with smaller amounts to lose or who want to maintain their weight, exercise is effective as part of your regime!
6) It can help your hormones. Fat cells produce estrogen, a female sex hormone that is present in both sexes. You need to have the right amount of these hormones, not too much. Maintaining a reasonable weight is important.
7) It has cardiovascular benefits. Blood pressure and heart rate improve with exercise.
8) Moderate exercise suppresses appetite in people. This aids in weight management.
9) A recent study stated that as little as 20 minutes of exercise a day can benefit children and decrease their fat tissue. This is less than the recommended 60 minutes daily which all children should reach.
10) It is a stress buster, decreasing anxiety and other negative emotions. It increases your energy too!
So whether you are trying to lose weight or not, exercise is a great thing. It’s even fun! You just have to find the type that works for you.
What do you think? Do you agree with my list? Anything to add?