The Benefits of Exercise

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, "Wow I really don't like the way I look. I'm too fat/thin/ugly. This needs to change."

Everyone needs improvement, but some aren't sure what to do. Others, aren't even sure whether the solution is worth it. Why put yourself through pain just to lose a few pounds or gain a bit of muscle? Seems like a bad trade off, right?

The benefits of working out are more than just simple weight loss or muscle gain, however, especially when one makes it a habit in his life. I believe that working out should be done for more than simply "looking good" or for some other vapid, meaningless reason. Here are some of the benefits that making exercise a regular part of your life can bring.

1. It's Healthy

   Exercise has been shown by multiple doctors to keep one's body and metabolism in good balance. It burns off any excess calories, especially carbs and fats, and helps build muscle and endurance. Of course, this can probably go without saying, since it's something we all know. However we may not realize just how all-encompassing this is. Putting our bodies into a greater balance increases our mood, our activity, our willpower, and therefore our happiness.

2. It Pushes our Body and Will

   Forcing ourselves into a rhythm that works our body and produces pain can be very tough. It isn't something that comes easy; it lies outside our comfort zone, especially for those of us who have not made exercise a habitual part of our lives. This is extremely important, and I will explore the comfort zone more in a later post. All that needs to be said here is that if one wishes to better his life, he must constantly push himself away from stagnancy and simple normality. That kind of thinking, while safe, is ultimately pointless and (an even greater sin) boring. This diagram from Katy Anker is a very helpful tool to show what defines the comfort zone:

   

   Image source is this wonderful article

3. Regularity/Time Management

   Having a regular schedule allows one to maximize their activity and creative energy efficiently. By incorporating the healthy, body/soul balancing power of exercise into a managed, ordered schedule, one utilizes the effects of exercise to its fullest. Having this ordered, scheduled life in combination with always pushing one's self to become better, to be outside of his comfort zone, leads to perhaps the greatest, most fulfilling life imaginable. Some could describe it as divine or ascended.

All in all, it is clear that exercise is one of the most valuable things we can incorporate into our lives. So what are you waiting for? Push yourselves, work hard, become the powerful, near-divine beings we were meant to be.