To say that life since the start of the global pandemic has been unprecedented would be an understatement. The long lasting effects of COVID-19 won’t be known for years but what it has done is highlight the importance of fitness and exercise both mentally and physically, during a time like no other in recent history.
Do you know how important exercise is to your health?
The last year has seen another major health issue arise, aside from the global COVID-19 pandemic, and that is the issue of health and fitness. Staying healthy with continuous exercise is important because exercise is medicine for your body. But why are people exercising less? Well, in a recent survey, we’ve discovered that there is a split as to why regular exercise is taking a back step in people’s lives, of those surveyed we found that:
- 59% of people lack motivation
- 50% just don’t have the time to exercise
- 39% dislike exercising
- 36% find cost as a major barrier
What’s interesting is that although 36% of people see cost as a barrier, the cost of a gym membership is generally cheaper than a daily coffee. So, swapping a latte or soft drink not only won’t hit you as much in the pocket, but will also provide you with health benefits too.
Perhaps the above issues and barriers aren’t surprising but when it comes to exercise, you’re not only improving your physical fitness but your mental health too and that can be forgotten when chasing physical goals.
It’s Not Just Physical Health, It’s Your Mental Health As Well
It’s not just what happens on the outside that matters but the inside too. Thankfully, mental health and wellbeing is an issue that is taken seriously these days but despite numerous support groups and available help, you need to keep your mental health in tip-top shape and a great way to achieve this is through exercise.
We’ve discovered that 60% of adults and two-thirds of young people say that their mental health got worse during lockdown, an astonishing number. Exercise helps to alleviate some of the issues of mental health by reducing issues like low self-esteem, social withdrawal, anxiety and depression. In fact, just half an hour of exercise can make a substantial difference and provide a more positive mood for you to enjoy for the rest of the day.
Now for the scary reality of being inactive…
As already mentioned, being inactive can leave your body prone to a number of serious diseases and conditions , some of which can be irreversible. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve learned that 7 out of 10 adults aren’t exercising enough, which increases the risk of numerous issues such as heart disease, rising blood pressure, decreasing energy levels and substantial weight gain, among others.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine also highlighted the fact that being inactive will more than double your risk of dying from COVID-19, a scary thought considering its prevalence in society today.
However, while there are areas to be worried about, there are many substantial benefits to staying active that you’ll want to embrace.
The Positive Impacts Of Staying Active
Staying active and making a change in your lifestyle to start exercising more will see you reap an untold amount of benefits, from losing weight to minimising the risk of many health problems both now and later in life. By exercising and staying active, you’ll enjoy:
- More energy throughout the day
- You’ll be able to improve your sleep
- Lose unnecessary weight and control it better moving forward
- Help your body to better manage sugar and insulin levels
- Be better mentally to cope with the stresses of life
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and other ailments
Make a change to your body today
There’s no doubt that the nature of the last year or so has been difficult for all of us, but what it has done is highlight just how important fitness of the body and mind is, so start taking steps to look after yours today.
Whether you’re looking to get back into fitness after some time off or are looking to start working out for the first time consistently, why not start your exercise journey with Gym Plus. With locations nationwide, at Gym Plus we have all the equipment and classes you need to get in shape to improve both your physical and mental health.
Visit us today at Gym Plus and start your fitness journey.
Written by Craig Shields
