Staying Healthy with Gymming
In today's sedentary world, making time to exercise is essential for maintaining good health. Hitting the gym regularly provides immense benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. Here are some of the key ways gymming helps you stay healthy:
Improves Heart Health
Regular cardio and strength training exercise boosts heart health in several ways. It improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, increases good cholesterol and strengthens the heart muscle. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Getting your heart rate elevated for 30 mins daily by activities like running, swimming or cardio machines at the gym is excellent for cardiac health.
Manages Weight
Gymming is a great way to get rid of excess body fat and achieve a healthy weight. Combining strength training to build lean muscle mass and cardiovascular exercise to burn calories allows you to lose weight in a sustainable manner. Having trainer guidance on effective workout routines and diet tips facilitates weight loss through exercise.
Reduces Impact of Chronic Illness
Being physically active through exercise at the gym helps manage chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity. It also reduces risk of cancer and improves recovery from illnesses. For diabetes patients, exercise improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control. For cancer survivors, being active reduces recurrence risk.
Improves Immunity
Working out moderately stimulates the body's immune response making you more resilient against falling ill. Exercising causes mild inflammation followed by suppression of inflammatory cytokines. This boosts circulation of antibodies and white blood cells that target infections. People who work out regularly tend to get fewer colds and flu.
Enhances Mobility
Weight training improves muscle strength, endurance and motor control. It also maintains the range of motion of joints and flexibility of tendons. These enhancements in musculoskeletal function allow for ease in movement and balance. This translates into improved mobility, stability, coordination and reduces risk of falls especially in older adults.
Promotes Bone Health
The mechanical stress placed on bones by muscle contractions during exercise triggers bone remodeling. This increases bone mineral density and reduces the rate of bone loss with age. Weight-bearing exercises that work against gravity are best for enhancing bone density and preventing osteoporosis and fractures.
Relieves Stress
Physical activity triggers release of endorphins which are feel-good hormones. It also regulates the body's stress response creating a sense of wellbeing. This helps in managing anxiety, depression and provides an outlet for coping with mental stress. Combining cardio, weights and yoga at the gym provides holistic benefits.
Improves Sleep
Getting regular exercise helps normalize your sleep-wake cycle and sleep quality. Post workout, your body temperature is elevated inducing drowsiness for better sleep. At the same time, it reduces symptoms of insomnia, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome that affect sleep. However, avoid vigorous exercise 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Boosts Brain Health
The hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other areas of the brain benefit from regular exercise. Cardiovascular fitness is linked to better memory, learning, focus and cognitive abilities as we age. Exercises like aerobics, dance, swimming that increase heart rate improve blood and oxygen flow to the brain.
Provides Social Interaction
Gyms are great places to meet like-minded health and fitness enthusiasts. Working out alongside others provides positive social interaction. Having an exercise buddy or being part of group fitness classes can make gymming more enjoyable and motivating. This enhances overall wellbeing.
Making gymming a habit provides both physical and mental health gains that enable you to live life to the fullest. It’s one of the best investments you can make for your health.