The weather is wonderful and the sidewalks are full of folks walking, jogging and playing outdoors. If you want to feel your best and look terrific, get out there and join them!
You are only as good as what you did yesterday. When clients tell me they were track stars in college or played competitive tennis into their thirties, I say great, but what have you done for me lately?
The benefits of exercise are only 24 hours old. You must do something every day to thrive. Daily exercise will not only make you look your best, but will truly alter the way you feel and the time you spend exercising, you’ll make it back during the day. You’ll literally be able to get done in eight hours what it takes couch potatoes nine hours to do. I should know; as the mother of four, I need every extra minute I can get.
Get your exercise today and reap these benefits and more tomorrow:
You’ll burn more calories. Exercise boosts your metabolism and that boost will last for a full 24 hours, making you a calorie burning machine.
As we age, we naturally lose muscle. Exercise helps you keep that muscle and the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you’ll burn.
Exercise makes your brain run more efficiently. It boosts your mood. Whenever I’m short with my family or grumpy in the evening, James will say very kindly, “Joan, did you exercise today?” He knows I’m nicer, gentler and kinder when I exercise. He knows me too well and usually, he’s right. Daily exercise is the key to my mood.
Daily exercise is the number one thing you can easily do to fight off dementia.
What kind of exercise is best? The kind you enjoy. Whether it’s walking or jumping or dancing, do something you enjoy. Just make sure you mix it up. If you do the same thing day in and day out, your body will adapt so change your routine by increasing workout time and/or intensity. Do a variety of activities in the same week. Make sure you include some light weight training (keeps your bones healthy) and stretching along with your cardiovascular routine. Try walking, jogging, bike riding, yoga stretching and light weight lifting. Your mind and body will thank you.
