Working Out Will Save Your Life
Working out is a not necessarily what people believe it is. It goes far beyond the simple act of moving one’s body. It is a wide range of activities, from jogging and weightlifting to yoga and dancing, all aimed at improving physical fitness, health, and overall well-being. One could say that the type of workout you enjoy doing is the best workout. For example, if you do not enjoy doing bent over barbell rows, then you are more likely to cheat the workout and not get much out of it. If kayaking for a few miles is something that you find entertaining then it seems like a no brainer you should do it instead of a barbell row. What is great about these two different types of working out is you are still training the same muscle group.
One of the core elements of working out is developing strength and/or endurance depending on your goals. Regular physical activity challenges the muscles and cardiovascular system. This leads to an increase of strength and stamina. Whether lifting weights, doing high-intensity interval training, or participating in recreational activity, working out helps individuals build muscle and improve their overall physical performance. As individuals become stronger, they become more resilient. the sense of accomplishment that comes from setting and achieving fitness goals can boost self-esteem and self-confidence.
Working out plays a major role in weight management. It is a huge way to burn calories, which is crucial to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity and other health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, can be effectively managed through a combination of regular exercise and a balanced diet. Moreover, working out not only helps with weight loss but also helps maintain it over the long term, making it a fundamental component of a healthy lifestyle. Doing regular physical activity can really reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels. These health benefits underscore the vital role that working out plays in preventing health issue and promoting a longer and healthier life. Exercise has also been shown to enhance cognitive function and brain health. Regular physical activity can improve memory, learning, and problem-solving abilities. These cognitive benefits highlight the positive impact of working out on mental acuity and overall brain function, making it a vital practice for individuals of all ages.
Working out is a powerful tool for reducing stress and improving mental well-being. Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which is the body’s natural mood lifter. The release of endorphins during exercise can eliminate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular exercise can help people control the stressors in their lives, leading to improved mental health and emotional resilience. It can be going for a run or a serene yoga session; Working out provides an outlet for daily stress and tension. People tend to feel accomplished and overall happier when after they are done with their workout.
Working out is a concept that includes more than just physical activity; it is a transformative practice that improves physical and mental health. Research shows regular exercise strengthens the body, prevents disease, reduces stress, and enhances brain function. The benefits of working out extend far beyond the gym, making it an essential practice for individuals seeking to improve their life quality. Whether you are an athlete, a casual exerciser, or just beginning your fitness journey, working out offers a path to a healthier, happier, and more connected life.
Working out is an essential part of having a full and healthy life. Working out on a consistent basis has a direct correlation to people who are extremely healthy. There are different types of exercises to do. For example, strength training, yoga, or a cardiovascular exercise have a range of positive effects on the body.
Exercise can do wonders with your sleep quality. After a tough workout, lying down in bed and sleeping is when your body is fully recovering. With this improved sleep, the likelihood of sleep disorders like insomnia go way down. “The available evidence certainly suggests that exercise could be a valuable behavioral therapy for poor or disordered sleep. ” When individuals sleep more, there mental well being and mental health improve. People begin to handle stress and challenges more effectively. Other benefits include increased efficiency and job satisfaction.
Working out plays a major role in weight management. It is a huge way to burn calories, which is crucial to maintain a healthy weight. Doing regular physical activity can really reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels. These health benefits underscore the vital role that working out plays in preventing health issue and promoting a longer and healthier life. These cognitive benefits highlight the positive impact of working out on mental acuity and overall brain function, making it a vital practice for individuals of all ages. It is very rarely too late to begin working out. Research states “Researchers analyzed health and exercise surveys from 315,000 older adults in the 1990s, then followed up to see who was still alive in 2011. Compared with people who never exercised, older adults who’d exercised consistently since they were teenagers had a 36% lower risk of dying during the study period. Those numbers were similar to the results for people who’d been inactive in their youth and only began exercising regularly in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. That group had a 35% lower risk of dying, compared with people who never exercised.”
Working out has been known to increase brain health. Working out is a powerful tool for reducing stress and improving mental well-being. Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which is the body’s natural mood lifter. The release of endorphins during exercise can eliminate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Working out also implements discipline in one’s life. Now, this can happen in different ways and most likely changes for everyone. Sometimes the discipline is creating a schedule and using time management. Personally, in the summers, I go to the gym Monday-Saturday from 8-9:30. This is how I start my day and stick to my schedule. Other people can use working out as “outdoors time” or a social part of their day. If someone is an introvert, working out is a great way to see other people even if it not direct socialization for not for a long period of time. A great example of this is going for a run. As a person jogs past someone, they do not talk, but you are still seeing another person. People tend to feel accomplished and overall happier when after they are done with their workout.
Working out is a concept that includes more than just physical activity; it is a transformative practice that improves physical and mental health. Research shows regular exercise strengthens the body, prevents disease, reduces stress, and enhances brain function. The benefits of working out extend far beyond the gym, making it an essential practice for individuals seeking to improve their life quality. Whether you are an athlete, a casual exerciser, or just beginning your fitness journey, working out offers a path to a healthier, happier, and more connected life.
Working out is a worldwide known and practiced activity. Similar to everything else in life, there are negatives that come from working out. The negatives appear when the unrealistic expectations and an unbalanced mindset create adversity for the physical and mental well-being of a person. With these negatives, people turn to a reason not to work out.
One of the most significant negatives that comes from working out is the risk of a few different things; Athlete burnout, overtraining and physical strain, or muscle damage. People become so wrapped up in trying to look a certain way and lift crazy amount of weight, that he or she does not fully listen to the body and continue to train without adequate rest and no recovery. This is known as overtraining syndrome. Overtraining syndrome is a nationally recognized thing and can be diagnosed by doctors. It is similar to Athlete’s burnout. Athlete burnout is a condition where an athlete experiences a new level of fatigue and declining performance in sports despite not changing the workout routine. It also is a reason for mood changes, decreased motivation, frequent injury and a higher risk of infection. Working out puts a physical strain on the body that should not be done everyday. If the athlete does not do recovery, the chances he or she gets injured are very high.
Individuals may fall into the temptation of over working the bodies’ limits. The false mindset of more exercise will lead to better results kicks in for many athletes. This is an absolutely terrible mindset to have because lifting and “being strong” is all relative. The 5’6 160 pound kid that can sneak up 225 on the bench press may think he is strong until he sees the 6’2 195 pound kid doing it for reps. They both think they are strong, but are they both? It does not really matter if there is a right answer because they can both think they are weak or strong and still not be a top five strongest guy in the gym. The consistent pushing of the body’s limits can lead to stress fractures, tendonitis, and various muscle strains. It seems counterintuitive that working out is promoted to help people get healthier, can put such stress on and compromise the person’s health and body.
There is a lot of pressure that comes from social media, a gym environment, and the general eyes of the public to have the “perfect” physique. This ideology can lead to a number of unhealthy behaviors. This list includes over excessive cardio, eating, dieting, compulsive workouts, and worst of all the taking of Sarms, or stronger steroids. “SARMs, which are chemical substances that mimic the effects of testosterone and anabolic steroids, are not FDA approved. Online vendors and social media influencers are using social media to make SARMs seem safe and effective.” Studies show that the risks of taking Sarms are detrimental to an athlete’s health and can cause them to lose their life. Some life-threatening health problems include increased risk of heart attack or stroke, psychosis/hallucinations, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, liver injury and acute liver failure, infertility, pregnancy miscarriage, testicular shrinkage.
Exercising is often looked at as the cure for a bad mood or a instant mood booster. This is not the case for people who are prone to compulsive disorder tendencies. The gym to them can be a competitive place to go that will increase their blood pressure and dopamine which will cause injury. Pursuing the “perfect physique” can cause the development of BDD or what is also known as body dysmorphic disorder. The social environment of the gym can be a demoralizing place for people. It can promote body shaming, anxiety, low self esteem, and depression. The worst the part of these negatives arising is that they are all mental things. There are very very few instances that someone will actually walk up to another person in the gym and harass them by calling them fat, small, or out of shape. These negative connotations of working out come from a person not believing in themself.
Even though it is not as recognized as poorly as nicotine or gambling, working out can become a real addiction. Like all addictions, it becomes a nasty habit that they can’t find a way of avoiding. Individuals become so obsessed with working out, they can’t find another way to pass time each day. This often comes at the expense of the other essential parts of someone’s life. It can cause a rift in relationships, professional commitments, and typically leads to physical burnout.
To be clear, there are huge benefits of exercise. The benefits are helpful today, but not often down the road 30 years from now. High impact activity when is performed without perfect form or proper warm up can result in an injury ranging from sprains to severe nerve damage or a torn ligament. By working out so frequently, there is a premature hit that is put on the joints. This damage throughout the years will lead to chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. The activity that is supposed to build your body up and make you feel invincible, will contribute to not being able to walk down the stairs in the future.
The stress that is inflicted by a strenuous workout can be enough to push someone over the edge, especially if the person who is already under a significant amount of stress in the real world. There is a name for this that people get diagnosed with by doctors. This is called the “exercise paradox.” In other words, the person loses the ability to have a limit. They begin to workout to numb the stress in the outside world instead of working out to feel good.
The obsession that fitness creates caused a transformation in everyday life. People have to create a focus for doing everyday activity like walking up the stairs. Some people will legitimately sprint up the stairs to induce calorie burning activity. This type of hyperfocus on exercise and diet may create tension between relationships, family, and other friends. The tension is because others are unable to comprehend the obsession and can not comprehend what you want. The athlete is so committed to sticking with the strict workout regimen, the person will isolate themself and not involve themself with friends or going out.
While there are definitely reasons to work out, it is important to do it in moderation. There are so many negatives that can be introduced into someone’s life because of working out. The negatives that appear are both physical and mental. The negatives appear when the unrealistic expectations and an unbalanced mindset create adversity for the physical and mental well-being of a person. With these negatives, people turn to a reason not to work out.
References
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-exercise-paradox/
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 