We are made to keep moving!
You’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits that an active lifestyle and physical exercise can bring to improve your health. And we’re not talking only about being physically fit, but also about boosting our emotional well-being. You know, mens sana in corpore sano.
Increasing muscle strength, aerobic capacity, or flexibility. Which is better? In reality, each type of exercise helps improve our health in a different way. That’s why the ideal approach is to combine them!
More muscle: just a matter of aesthetics?
Nothing could be further from the truth. Although the physical change is obvious and helps us look better, the benefits of having good muscle mass go far beyond appearance. At the gym or at home. With weights, resistance bands, or just your own body weight. The possibilities are endless.
Do you want to lose some weight and improve your body composition? Strength training will not only help you burn energy during your workouts, but by increasing muscle mass it will also promote a higher resting energy expenditure. It will also help reduce your body fat percentage.
Numerous studies have also linked strength training to improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin response. So if your goal is to improve your metabolic health, this will be a great ally. In addition, it reduces resting blood pressure and can affect LDL (“bad” cholesterol), HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglyceride levels, helping you take care of your cardiovascular health as well.
Greater muscle mass and stronger muscles will help protect your joints and increase bone mineral density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. This is especially important as we get older, since muscle mass decreases and bones tend to become more fragile. That’s why it’s advisable to include strength exercises in your routine, especially if you are a woman.
If we still haven’t convinced you, let us tell you something else. Strength training has also been associated with improvements in mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and increasing self-esteem.
Increase your aerobic capacity to live longer and better
Do you remember the last time you ran to catch the bus? Or when the elevator broke down and you had to walk up to your apartment? Did you feel exhausted afterward? Improving the functioning of our cardiorespiratory system helps us better cope with everyday situations like these. Did you know that people with greater aerobic capacity tend to live longer?
In addition to improving cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency, aerobic exercise helps increase energy expenditure, allowing us to better regulate our weight and helping us reduce it. As if that weren’t enough, it also lowers the risk of cardiovascular problems, reduces blood pressure, and improves metabolic health by increasing “good” cholesterol (HDL) and helping control blood sugar levels.
If what’s happening is that you feel low on energy or you’ve been waking up on the wrong side of the bed lately, don’t worry—we have the remedy you need. Aerobic exercise may make you feel tired at first, but if you do it regularly you’ll notice your energy levels rise and your overall mood improves. Bless those endorphins!
Walking, running, swimming, or cycling are just a few examples. With so much variety, it’s impossible not to find something you enjoy!
Flexibility, the great forgotten one
Although often overlooked, flexibility influences not only the functioning of our musculoskeletal system but even our respiratory function.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a beginner, improving your flexibility will help take care of your joints, as it allows them to move through their full range of motion. In addition, your muscles will be able to perform their function more efficiently, and you’ll reduce the risk of injury.
Finally, stretching reduces muscle discomfort and improves posture, making it key to reducing common aches and pains, such as lower back pain.
Your training plan is unique
As you can see, the benefits of the different types of training are varied, and together they can add tremendous quality of life.
When planning your exercise sessions or workouts, it’s important to keep in mind that we’re all different and need to adapt physical activity to our abilities, experience, and personal preferences. Depending on our age, health status, and even biological differences, the recommended exercise routine may vary. This way, we can reap all the benefits while avoiding overload and injury.
If you were looking for a magic pill to improve your health and your mood, you’ve found it! Get guidance from a fitness professional to properly plan your workouts and start enjoying everything exercise has to offer.
