Benefits to Exercise

What is your favorite go to exercise?  Do you walk three miles in the morning on the treadmill?  Take the dog for a walk in the evening?  Work the elliptical for a half hour three times a week?  Tennis?  Think about your go to exercise.  Then think about why you do it.  Mine is Chalean Extreme and tennis.  I LOVE the strength training in Chalean Extreme and tennis is just plain fun.

Exercise is a critical piece to any lifestyle change.  The Mayo Clinic identifies seven key benefits to exercising regularly.  


1.  Exercise helps control weight.
2.  Exercise helps to combat detrimental health conditions.
3.  Exercise improves mood.
4.  Exercise boosts energy.
5.  Exercise promotes better sleep.
6.  Exercise can help put the spark back into your sex life.
7.  Exercise can be fun!!!


US News identifies seven ADDITIONAL benefits to exercise.


1.  Exercise helps to reverse those detrimental effects stress has on your body.
2.  Exercise helps to lift depression.
3.  Exercise helps improve learning.
4.  Exercise helps to build self-esteem and improve body image.
5.  Exercise leaves you with a natural high, a type of euphoria.
6.  Exercise helps keep the brain fit.
7.  Exercise might help to keep Alzheimer's Disease at bay.


Medicine Net tells us that 64% of men and 72% of women fail to fit in an activity on a daily basis.  I agree, it's difficult at times to fit the workout or daily activity in.  However, reading the fourteen benefits above makes me want to make sure I am fitting the workout in no matter what.  Jenelle Summers is always talking about how she fits in her workouts at 10 pm if she needs to.  Sometimes that's what we have to do!  The key is to COMMIT to your workouts and activity, no matter what.  Trust me, you will see the benefits!!

Make the time!!!! Calendars are your best friend!!

In the go go go... go go go world, it is sometimes hard to fit in the important things.  We run out of time at the end of the day, even though some of us may be awake for 16 hours!!  We spend 8 hours at work (sometimes more), several hours with family, not to mention maybe drinks after work with co workers or friends...  where is the time for YOU???? 

Unfortunately, some of us do not make the time we need for ourselves.  I know I am guilty of it.  I have to physically schedule time in for my workouts and any down time I may need or want.  I keep a calendar on my phone and make sure I schedule my workouts, power hours and any additional events I want, such as drinks with a co worker or dinner with my friends.

I workout in the morning from 5:30 to 6:30 am.  Guess how I know???  It's in my calendar!!! Make sure you are making time for yourself!!!  Schedule it in the calendar!!!

Morning vs. Evening Workouts

Morning workouts can be a challenge, but they get the blood pumping and your brain waking up. 

Evening workouts can be great too as a way to relax and shake off the stress of the day. 

Neither are wrong, so how do you decide? 

First of all, think about your schedule and when a workout will fit into your day.  If a morning workout is the way to go, here are some easy steps to keep you motivated and keep your appointment to either hit the gym or push play!!

1.  Plan ahead and stick to the plan.  Having your alarm set will go a long way in helping you achieve your goal of working out in the morning. 

2.  Lay your clothes out the night before.  Have them in the gym bag or in the place where you get dressed.  Make the workout clothes the first thing you see!

3.  Commit to the schedule.  Don't lay in bed and say "5 more minutes."  Just get up and DO IT!  Once you're up and about and dressed, you will have no choice but to hit the gym or push play.

4.  Get rid of the voice inside your head that tells you not to workout today.  Listen to the positive voice in your head that says your day will be better for it.

5.  Keep a variety in your workout routine.  If you are doing a program (such as a Beachbody program), make sure it has enough variety to keep you interested.  If you love the gym, make sure you're switching up the exercises so you are not doing the same thing all the time.  This not only gives you variety but it keeps your body thinking.

6.  Know when you're body needs rest.  If you are injured, make sure you take the time needed to recover.  Build a couple of rest days into your routine so you are not overworking your body. 

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I prefer to get the workout out of the way.  So I try to wake up early in the morning to get the workout done.  However, there are some days when that cannot happen because I would need to be up at an unreasonable hour (before 5 am is unreasonable to me).  When I cannot get up in the morning, I make sure I schedule the workout for RIGHT after work.  I do not mess around and just get it DONE. 

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WORKOUT!!!!!! 

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REMEMBER!!!  PLANNING AHEAD IS THE KEY!!!