Now is the perfect time to start exercising; take advantage of the beautiful weather. The recommended amount is at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of more vigorous aerobic activity per week. You can do this as part of a self-directed program or join a local small-owned gym like Space City Gym or Lifetime Fitness. It doesn’t matter where you are physically. If you’ve never set foot in a gym, that’s okay—as long as you start doing something now. Light walking is a great place to start—and a great habit of incorporating into your life. Walk with a loved one or just by yourself while listening to an audiobook. Set goals every day and meet them, and you’ll start feeling like you’re back in control of your life. What are the benefits of exercising? Short-term benefits include improved muscle sugar metabolism by using muscle glycogen (a stored form of glucose) and having the muscles use glucose (sugar) from the circulation. So if you’re prediabetic or diabetic, this is why exercise is beneficial to you! Long-term training benefits include fiber changes that help your muscles use energy more efficiently, including developing more “slow-twitch” fibers and developing new capillaries in the muscle. Cholesterol metabolism may also improve with regular exercise, including serum LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Other long-term benefits include: · Improved bone density. · Increased lung capacity. · Decreased cardiovascular mortality (by lowering blood pressure). · Increased libido. · Better sleep. |
You will find that if you exercise daily, you will feel much more energized. I encourage all patients to engage with some exercise. Don’t look at exercise as a chore but instead as part of your self-care!
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