The gym that mostly exercises your wallet. The jump rope coiled at the back of the cupboard. Plenty of us have proof it can be challenging to stick with exercising. But the benefits are clear:
- prevents heart disease and high blood pressure
- reduces your risk for stroke, colon cancer and diabetes
- enhances your sleep
- raises your energy
- reduces some types of pain
- boosts your immune system
- helps with weight control
Sure, a lot of us prefer to serve biscuits than tennis balls and prefer to channel-surf than jog. However, some tips can make exercising easier.
For one, you do not need to join a glitzy gym: plenty of community recreation facilities, senior centers and YMCAs have great gear and enjoyable classes (salsa dancing, anyone?) at affordable prices. Also find out if you’re able to hit the track at the neighborhood high school.
A little twist on the basics:
- though 20 or 30-minute sessions might be perfect for mood and health, experts say you could get loads of benefit from exercising in only 10-minute spurts too
- for your mood, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise or a combination of aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening three to five days each week. Some research proves that even lower levels of activity may provide mental health benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
