There are many benefits to working out consistently but finding the motivation and staying consistent is hard to do. According to the CDC (The National Center for Health Statistics), the percentage of adults who stay consistently working out is 46.9%. In this article,  I will attempt to help you understand just some of the benefits of working out and how to get motivated to be consistent.

One benefit to working out is improving your mood and boosting your energy. When you are stressed from just having a bad day, a simple walk can fix that. This is because when you exercise, your brain releases chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine which are meant to make you happy or even relieve pain. These chemicals can also help reduce your mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress. When looking at physical activity, consistency can present a challenge. It’s important to find something you enjoy and over time increase difficulty and time to improve your fitness level. For example, some people like to walk on a treadmill and should try increasing speed and incline as consistency is established. For someone who enjoys weight training, mixing up which body parts are being trained and adding variety along with tempo training and max weight training can increase the fitness level. 

Exercise can also boost your endurance which gives you more energy as you become consistent. Physical activity can give your body nutrients and will help your cardiovascular system work better and when this happens you have more energy to do more activities. As you stay consistent with the days and times of your workouts, your body will naturally adjust to being used to exercise at those days and times making it easier to get out and move.  

Another benefit to physical activity is that it lowers the risk of bad health conditions and improves Cognitive Function. According to mayoclinic.org, “No matter what your current weight is, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, and it decreases unhealthy triglycerides.” This means that exercising can prevent many bad diseases and health conditions including stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and many types of cancer. 

In conclusion, consistency over time is the key to improving physical fitness which can, in turn, have a positive effect on mental, physical, and emotional health and wellness. Physical strength and improved fitness levels allow you to lead a life of longevity and enjoyment.