We are all quite familiar with the many benefits of working out, whether they are psychological, biological or physical. Exercise is always a good investment for your body, your mind, and your heart!
When people think about “harmful” habits, their minds usually jump to things such as consuming excess alcohol, getting irregular sleep, smoking, and unhealthy eating habits. However, people often overlook one major risk to overall health – while we know of the benefits of exercise, we seldom consider the damaging effects of a lack of physical activity to one’s overall health and quality of life. Discontinuing one’s usual physical activity routine for a long period of time and leading a sedentary lifestyle with almost no activity can lead to serious problems.
A less active heart
Just like the biceps or quadriceps, the heart is also a muscle. Regular physical activity helps keep the heart in good condition as an active muscle pumping blood to the rest of the vital organs. So naturally, failing to maintain healthy physical activity could have the opposite effect: the heart will lose some of its strength and can become sluggish with time, making even simple activities taxing and tiring. Over time, this might lead to irregular heart rates and even more severe cardiac conditions.
Diminished Strength
Much like the heart, the rest of the muscles in the body require stimulation through proper physical activity. Maintaining strong muscles contributes to being fit, not just by helping maintain the shape but also, muscles having a higher calorie-burning rate than fat. Without physical activity and exercise, muscles become weaker, and in turn, so will you. Weak muscles impact even the most basic of functions such as breathing, walking, and moving.
Less Restful Sleep
In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, it also improves sleep for many people. Specifically, moderate-to-vigorous exercise can increase sleep quality by reducing sleep onset – i.e. the time it takes one to fall asleep. Physical activity also increases time spent in deep sleep, the most physically restorative sleep phase. Better sleep, especially deep sleep, helps to boost immune function, and leads to a better metabolism by comparison to one who is sleep-deprived; it supports cardiac health, and assists in controlling stress and anxiety. Of course, better sleep also leads to more energy throughout the day, which allows will help with your next workout!
So even if we forget about the aesthetics and physical benefits of exercise, who would say no to better sleep?
Quicker burnouts
If you work out properly, especially with a focus on aerobic exercises and moderate-to-vigorous intensity workouts, you’ll boost stamina and endurance, and in turn, gain even more longevity when it comes to fitness and strength. A sedentary lifestyle without physical activity has the opposite effect – leading to one becoming burned out, feeling weak or drained, and out of breath out much quicker doing the simplest of things.
Irregular blood sugar levels
Physical activity has a direct influence on how the human body processes carbohydrates (sugars). When there is little or no exercise involved, blood sugar levels can quickly rise, alongside inflammation levels and risk of type-2 diabetes. However, regular exercise helps cells become more sensitive to insulin, making insulin work more efficiently while also helping cells manage glucose levels within the body. Studies have found that exercising 30 minutes a day can reduce one’s risk of diabetes by 25 percent.
In summary, ensuring proper physical activity as part of an everyday routine is nothing short of essential. Optimal cardiac activity, enhanced muscular performance, better sleep, higher endurance, and more regulated blood sugar levels are all direct benefits of exercise. Exercise is especially helpful for patients who have undergone weight loss procedures, as it helps them achieve weight loss goals more efficiently and maintain these results long term.
In addition, weight loss patients who undergo an ESG, or an Orbera gastric balloon procedure, should go on to do some physical activities to maintain the progress they’ve achieved. For more information contact us to book a free consultation.