Exercise – Is It Just About Looking Good?

Mar 10, 2011 by Tatianna

 

Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, but not many really know why, except for the obvious.  Before I started studying fitness, the only reason I thought that I needed to exercise is to look good, and because people told me it’s good for my health.  But I didn’t really understood how exercise works.  Now That I know a bit more, I would like to share.

 

Here is a tiny list of things, to help you understand the importance of exercise:

The energy our body uses comes from a little fancy named organelles called Mitochondria. These organelles convert oxygen and nutrients into energy that your body can use.

 

Exercise increases muscle mitochondria density

More dense the organelle, more energy it can store.   More energy you will have to enjoy your life to the fullest :).  You can’t always rely on coffee.  Having your own natural energy is much healthier for your heart.

 

Increases muscle glycogen storage capacity

When you eat food, your body has ways to store it.   It stores it in different ways.  One of those ways is muscle glycogen.  The more muscles you have, the more space your body will have to store food in glycogen, instead of turning the food into fat.  Because when your glycogen storage is full, your body begins to store the excess as fat. That means, the more muscle you have, the more you can eat what you like, without gaining a lot of weight.

 

Exercise also decreases your resting heart rate

The more blood your heart can pump with each beat, the less number of times it has to beat each minute to keep the rest of your body resting.  Simply put, better fitness translates to larger heart capacity and lower resting heart rate.

 

Exercise decreases body fat

An increased body fat is a problem that a lot of people as young as 25 starting to face, because of lack in physical activity.  Over time, excessive body fat can cause a lot of negative effects, not only on your body but your mind as well.

These are just a few simple things that fitness life style can change in all of us, there are hundreds of more, and we will eventually cover all of them over time.

So what do you think?   Is exercise only about looking good or is there something more to it.   I believe so.  After working out on a regular basis with a proper exercise program, I seem to be having a much happier life.  I have more energy, I sleep better, I eat better, I feel better about my self and I don’t get sick. I am pretty sure it’s not magic, it’s exercise!

 

Let me know if you would like to add something to my post?

Leave me a comment:)

 

Tatianna