The benefits of regular exercise are hard to ignore. Of course, everyone can benefit from some form of daily exercise. However, regular exercise is so much more than just movement and losing weight.
Regular exercise keeps you fit, makes you stronger, and helps you look and move better. However, the real benefits of regular exercise help to improve the quality of your life in so many ways, such as:
I have discovered two main benefits of regular exercise in all the years I’ve spent exercising and coaching.
Firstly, exercise helps you to think healthy and eat healthily. People who do some form of physical activity tend to eat foods that promote healthy eating. I believe that exercise influences our food choices because it helps to influence our food cravings. People who exercise regularly start to crave more nutritious food choices like fruits and vegetables.
Secondly, exercise speeds up fat burning and helps build and retain lean body mass and muscle.
Kids love to move. Have you ever seen a child running around and playing without a smile on their face? I haven’t. That’s because they enjoy doing it.
These days many adults think of exercise as a chore. Life has become structured to make it easier for us to avoid movement like driving everywhere, using the elevator and sitting at our desks at work. Then when we have finished work, we come home, sit down and relax.
Our bodies are designed to move, not sit around, for most of the day.
Some people might say that they do not like to exercise, or could it be that they haven’t found the right type of exercise they enjoy doing.
Most people associate healthy movement with exercise that involves either going to the gym, jogging, doing ab exercises like crunches, or doing some structured exercise class. While some people like structured exercise routines, many people don’t.
I like some structured routines like my resistance training workouts. Still, I’m not too fond of other activities structured like deciding to go for a hike or playing ball with my son.
In most cases, you just haven’t found the proper exercise or activity right for you. The problem is the mismatch between you, your natural type and style, and the activities you associate with exercise. As a result, we tend to gravitate towards activities that best suit our physiques, abilities, and personalities.
However, when we find activities and exercises we enjoy, we are more likely to stay committed for the long term.
There are three primary body type groups (aka somatotypes):
Ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph.
In sports, you’ll often see that certain body types gravitate towards certain activities, specific sports, or positions in a particular sport.
Body types are not “set in stone”. There are no specific exercises or movements that a particular body type must follow. For example, not all ectomorphs are the same or prefer the same types of exercise. It’s just a general guideline and simply a starting point to give you some ideas for your own exercise.
Here are the differences between each body type and which exercises they gravitate towards the most.
Ectomorphs
They are light-framed, lean and may have longer limbs. They prefer exercises like running, swimming, cycling, climbing and endurance sports.
Mesomorphs
They are medium-framed and naturally muscular. Although mesomorphs are known for their all-around athleticism with strength, speed and power, they might prefer weight lifting and sprinting. In addition, you might find them playing sports like rugby (running backs), soccer, hockey, boxing or martial arts.
Endomorphs
They are heavier-framed and may have more body fat, a larger bone structure and shorter limbs. You might find them playing and choosing sports like powerlifting, rugby (forwards), and throwing sports such as shot put, hammer throw or discus throw.
It would help to find out which exercise or sports you enjoy, what motivates you, and what fits your unique personality trait.
Do you prefer to exercise by yourself, with a friend or with a group of people?
Are you competitive by nature? Do you like being pushed?
What movements and activities make you feel good?
To give you an idea, as an introvert, I prefer to exercise by myself or with an exercise buddy. Working out solo allows me to have some personal time and focus exclusively on myself. For this reason, I have always enjoyed individual sports like running, cycling and working out at the gym or home with my headphones on in solitude.
I also enjoy working out with an exercise buddy with similar interests to help push, support, and encourage each other. And, occasionally, I’ll meet up with a group of friends at the local park for a game of touch rugby or football.
To avoid single sports activity burnout or boredom, choose several different sports and rotate them often.
If you enjoy weight training and cardio routines, constantly change your workout routine. I’m always thinking of ways to make my resistance training workouts more exciting and effective. This constant variety keeps me motivated and committed for the long term.
Check out these infographics by Precision Nutrition to help you stay on track with your health and exercise.
How to stop pressing pause on your health and fitness
How to stay in shape when you’re busy
References:
Precision Nutrition