When people hear the word ‘exercise’ the first thing on their minds is weight loss and getting toned. While losing weight and toning your body are very sweet benefits of working out, there are a lot more benefits than that.

Exercising not only changes your physique but it also changes your brain and your entire life.

When you commit yourself to moving your body consistently you will experience a range of unexpected benefits for doing so. How do I know that?

I know that because for the past 3 years, I’ve been consistently working out. When I say working out, I don’t mean anything too crazy. I’ve been doing 30 minutes to an hour of home workouts daily with dumbbells and resistance bands as my only equipment. This is proof that you can also experience these benefits with very little exercise.

1. Improves Productivity:

This goes out to all my busy people out there who feel like they cannot catch a break. Their main excuse for not working out is that they do not have the time to do so. This is quite ironic as working out would make them more productive thus decreasing their work hours.

Working out improves your energy and concentration levels while simultaneously decreasing fatigue and stress. This is because it keeps your glucose, blood, and oxygen levels high. These are all needed for optimum brain function. Which in turn makes you more effective and efficient.

2. Better Skin:

This is one of the best benefits that I did not anticipate when I started working out. My skin became clearer and started glowing. Many people started complimenting my skin (even strangers), and everybody was begging me to drop my skincare routine. Everybody wanted to know my secrets, but they did not believe me when I told them that I was sweating every day.

If you want to improve your skin health, I recommend adding working out to your skincare routine. Working out increases the oxygen flowing to your skin, which helps flush out toxins. My theory is that working out requires you to drink more water, which increases your overall water intake. We all know how beneficial water is for your skin.

3. Alleviates Anxiety:

I know, I know, working out is the last thing you want to do when feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, but I promise you it helps. Going for a quick run, running on the spot for a few minutes, doing a 10-minute workout, or going for a walk will do wonders for your anxiety.I know, I know, working out is the last thing you want to do when feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, but I promise you it helps. Going for a quick run, running on the spot for a few minutes, doing a 10-minute workout, or going for a walk will do wonders for your anxiety.

Working out releases endorphins which are feel-good chemicals. This will improve your mood even just a little bit and it will decrease your feelings of stress. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious I turn to my natural painkiller, working out to help me feel better.

4. Improves Self-Confidence and Body-Image:

Showing up for yourself in the gym consistently every day or five days a week makes you trust and respect yourself more which are all ingredients for self-confidence. Getting in the gym, pushing yourself and learning new things that your body is capable of doing improves your perception of your body.

Of course, the fact that you become lean and toned makes you feel happier when you look in the mirror. Not only because of your reflection but also because of the dedication that you put into getting that reflection. That all makes you think more highly of yourself.

5. You Inspire Others:

Doing something in your life permits other people to do the same in their lives. It shows other people that it is possible, and it is doable. We draw inspiration from the people around us. They inspire us to do better and to be better.

By showing up for yourself and working on your health, you inspire others to do the same. A lot more people will start hitting the gym because of you. A lot more people will get happier and healthier because of you. If that doesn’t make you want to workout, I don’t know what will.

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There are a lot of benefits of working out, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Working out not only improves your health and enhances your lifespan, but it also improves your overall quality of life. You know exactly what you need to do to get these benefits, get up and start sweating!!

Originally posted https://link.medium.com/mhJjGqgNkzb

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