Improve your Quality of Life by being Physically Active
May 28th, 2018
You can make a lot of money and be filthy rich; you can be extremely smart and educated; and/or you can even be drop dead gorgeous, BUT do you have the best quality of life? Good health is vital for a good quality of life. Being physically active is so important not just for your body but also your mind.
According to Public Health Agency of Canada, majority of Canadians are not meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.i In 2013, just over 2 in 10 adults and 1 in 10 children and youth met the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.ii
How is it that while living in a country that gives you every opportunity to get fit and move that we are not exceeding these guidelines? We are constantly encouraged to bike, participate in sports, use conveniently located recreation facilities and parks. We have every resource available to us if we are willing to use it but some how we still have so many people living sedentary lives.
To improve health, people need to start making lifestyle changes. We are certain that having a fit body and a fit mind can lead to good health and we know that being fit can only be achieved by exercising and being physical active regularly.
There are so many benefits of being physically active from controlling weight, to improving strength, lowering stress, sleeping better to improving your mood. Here are some top benefits of exercise:
FIGHT DISEASE: Constant regular exercise fights diseases and help with health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, prevention of strokes, treatment of depression, fighting various cancer types, arthritis, lowering stress levels and the list goes on and on.
LOSE WEIGHT: Weight loss and maintaining a healthy body weight is simple as long as you follow a healthy diet plan and exercise regularly. With regular physical activity you are less likely to be overweight as the more you move the more calories you burn. The more calories you burn the more weight you lose. It really is that simple.
STRENGTHEN BONES, JOINTS AND MUSCLES: Research confirms that doing physical activities such as aerobics, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening at a moderately-intense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes as you age.iii Exercising can also help with arthritis and other conditions affecting the joints. Research shows that doing 130 to 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, low-impact aerobic activity can improve your ability to manage arthritis pain and do everyday tasks which can make your quality of life better.iii Build strong, healthy muscles by doing muscle-strengthening activities such as free weights and using strength equipment. Slowly increasing the amount of weight and number of repetitions is very beneficial to building stronger muscles.
TREAT DEPRESSION: Regular physical activity is proven to be connected with improved psychological well-being, e.g., through reduced stress, anxiety and depression.iv
IMPROVE MOOD: It is a proven fact that physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that can improve your mood, make you feel happier and more relaxed.
HAVE MORE ENERGY: Regular physical activity can lift your endurance and improve your muscle strength. Exercising sends oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently and give you more energy.
FEEL GOOD: Exercising can make you feel better about yourself, give you confidence and boost your self-esteem as you see your appearance looking better.
So there you have it, a list of top reasons why physical exercise is so important to improve your quality of life. It really is quite simple, the more you prioritize adding fitness to your lifestyle the more you can improve your health not only physically but also mentally. Everyone, regardless of age, gender or ability, can benefit from being physically active. So why not add years and improve your quality of life by getting fit – your body and mind will thank you for it!
Note: Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regime especially if you have health concerns affecting your life at this time. Your doctor will be the best person to advise the best type of physical activity to get you started.
i Public Health Agency of Canada (2016). Health Status of Canadians 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2018 from http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/department-ministere/state-public-health-status-2016-etat-sante-publique-statut/alt/pdf-eng.pdf
ii Statistics Canada (2015). Table 117-0019 – Distribution of the household population meeting/not meeting the Canadian physical activity guidelines, by sex and age group, occasional (percentage) [Data File].
iii Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Benefits of Physical Activity. Retrieved May 27, 2018 from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html.
iv Warburton, D. E., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. Canadian medical association journal, 174(6), 801-809.
