There are obvious benefits to being fit. If you stick with an exercise program long enough, you no longer feel like you have to avoid your bathroom mirror when you get out of the shower. The more you do it, the more confidence you have in your body and the better you feel.
But have you ever thought about the hidden benefits that come with staying fit? They are not the benefits that a personal trainer is going to tell you about when you sign up for the gym, but they should be top-of-mind when you think about sticking to a regular routine
More Money in Your Pocket
It’s a proven fact that regular exercise can improve heart health and lower blood pressure, along with a myriad of other benefits. But having a regular workout routine in place means you will be healthier, which means less trips to the doctor, which means less money you have to pay out of your pocket to visit the doctor.
The average American spends a bit more than $9,000 per year on healthcare costs. Imagine being able to cut that in half because your cholesterol is under control and you don’t need heart medication because you make it to the gym on a regular basis? It’s not something you would necessarily think about while you’re sweating your butt off, but it’s a nice benefit you realize at the end of the year when you balance the checkbook.
A More Productive Career
You know the feeling: you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, go through the motion of showering and getting changed, then you dread arriving at work for the entire commute.
But have you ever considered it might not be because you hate your job, but because you’re not getting enough exercise?
When you stop exercising, your body fat levels, endurance levels and insulin sensitivity are all impacted. But you’re also missing out on blood flow to the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory) when you stop working out. Even though cognitive abilities are not impacted when blood flow decreases, if your job is dependent upon your ability to have your brain working at 100 percent, you are not going to operate at 100 percent at work. This could be the reason why you despise going to work every day.
There is a chance a regular workout schedule will boost your performance at work and lead to better results and a better mindset.
A Happier Social Life
We all know regular exercise boosts your mood. It’s science, people.
Being in a better mood means you are less likely to experience depression, less prone to anxiety, and probably don’t carry as much stress with you. This enables you to spend time on things that really matter, like friends and family.
How many of you take time out of your busy schedules to hang out with friends and family members who are not fun to hang out with? Not many. So if you are in a better mood, more people will want to spend time with you. Science also says spending time with friends boosts oxytocin levels in the brain. Not to get all geeky on you, but oxytocin supports serotonin levels in your brain, which is the chemical responsible for making you feel good. (Okay, we got a little geeky.)
So…if exercise puts you in a better mood, you are probably going to seek out time with friends. Once you start to engage, the oxytocin starts flowing, which results in happier times.
Do you want to experience some of these benefits? Sign up today for a free, no-sweat intro at Grand Trunk CrossFit!