The benefits of exercise are many and scientists are still discovering new owns. The latest research states that aside from boosting your level of general wellness, regular workouts literally help you live longer. Unfortunately, many studies also indicate that the efficiency of exercise for weight loss isn’t as big as we used to believe.
Are the Benefits of Exercise for Weight Loss a Myth?
No, positive effects of exercise on weight loss definitely aren’t a myth. A belief that working out alone can help you lose many pounds, however, is a myth. It has now been dispelled by over 60 studies and new ones are added to this list regularly.
What you need to take from this is that adding exercise to your weight loss program is wise. It will boost your health overall and help build up some muscle tissue. However, for your workouts to be effective in weight management they have to be:
- Incorporated into a comprehensive weight loss program that has its main focus on the diet. It should also include some supplements if your main goal is to learn how to lose weight fast. Use diet pills that contain caffeine as it enhances the fat burning effects of a workout. They should also contain capsaicin, which boosts fat oxidation further.
- Chosen wisely as only three types of exercise have any significant effect on weight loss. These are HIIT (high-intensity interval training), cardio, and strength training. If shedding extra pounds fast is your ultimate goal, you should have one of these workouts at least three times a week. Note that HIIT and cardio burn off more calories per session. But weight lifting allows you to experience the more long-term weight loss benefits of exercise as it builds muscles. Muscle tissue has a higher metabolic rate. This means that if your body has more muscles, it will burn off calories faster even when resting.
As you can see, it’s quite easy to ensure that working out will boost your weight management program. However, this isn’t the main reason to start exercising regularly. The many benefits this activity offers your health is that reason.
Latest Studies on the Health Benefits of Exercise and Fitness
Today it’s a well-known fact that exercising reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, recent findings prove that going out for that morning run or practicing some yoga before bed will have more far-reaching positive effects on your health.
- Exercise increases lifespan.
Researchers from the Duke University Medical Center have proven that physical activity reduces the risk of premature death. The most important finding of this team is that it’s ANY type of exercise that helps achieve this stunning result. Even if you only have sporadic sessions of moderate intensity, you’ll feel the benefits. Of course, the overall efficiency increases with the frequency of your workouts. - Exercise slows down aging.
As if to complement the findings of the study mentioned above, a team of researchers from the University of Birmingham surveyed a large group of people over the age of 55, who have been exercising regularly all their lives. Their health reports were compared to their peers who led an inactive lifestyle. The results are outright shocking as those, who have been working out regularly, are not merely healthier. The condition of their bones and muscle tissue can be compared to that of young adults. They also have very low cholesterol levels and men had high testosterone levels (these naturally decline with age, which often leads to erectile dysfunction after 40). - Staying fit reduces the risk of dementia in women.
The final piece of research from the American Academy of Neurology, published only weeks ago, shows that women definitely should strive to stay fit. The health benefits of exercise in this case include a 90% rate of dementia prevention. With Alzheimer’s disease gaining epidemic proportions in the US and dementia following it closely, this discovery has vital importance.