Dopamine is a chemical in the brain called a neurotransmitter that’s necessary for feelings of pleasure and happiness. As we age, we’re losing our stores of Dopamine. When you exercise you increase the release of Dopamine and upregulates the number of Dopamine receptors in the rewards area of the brain.

Whether it’s deciding to run a 10K, increasing the amount of weight you can lift, creating a goal for weight loss or muscle gain; setting and achieving your fitness goals is an incredible self-confidence boost.

Once you commit to reaching an exercise milestone and then achieve it, you will feel an amazing sense of accomplishment!

The heart needs exercise just like any other muscle. Muscles that are utilized regularly become stronger and healthier, whereas muscles that aren’t used weaken and reduce in size. When it’s exercised, the heart can pump more blood through the body and continue working at optimal efficiency with little strain. This will likely help it to stay healthy longer. Regular exercise also helps to keep arteries and other blood vessels flexible, ensuring good blood flow and normal blood pressure.

Exercise helps you sleep better because your stress hormone levels drop. Most people who have trouble sleeping have increased levels of stress hormones in their blood, keeping them chronically hyper aroused and awake. Exercise initially increases stress hormones, but the levels soon fall.

In addition to allowing more oxygen to reach your brain and blood stream, exercise allows your blood itself to circulate more efficiently, bring more oxygen to your muscles and allowing for increased functioning throughout your body and heightened energy production.

There is a one-in-two chance that a woman will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime, and there is a one-in-four chance that a man will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in his lifetime. This is a big deal and lifting weight will decrease your chances!

Lifting weights will help increase your strength and make everyday task easier. Your body is designed to move and working out is the best thing for it. Your bones regenerate and Wolfs Law states that your bones will adapt to the stress put upon it. That means your bones will become denser and help you avoid osteoporosis as you get older.

And don’t forget about stretching: It increases your body’s flexibility, helping everyday tasks become easier. It also sends more blood to your muscles, improving circulation, and can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Just a few minutes a day of deep stretching can make a difference.

Exercise improves your memory both directly and indirectly. Indirectly memory will improve due to better sleep, improved mood, reducing stress and anxiety. It also acts directly on the brain itself. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking, and memory are larger in volume in people that have been exercising for 6 months to a year.

Feeling down on yourself? Exercising can help you feel better about yourself -— no matter what type of workout you do or how fit you are. You will begin to feel more confident in everything you do especially at work.

Stress increases your susceptibility to getting sick and the reduction of stress from working out helps lessen the odds of you getting sick. Regular exercise helps protect your body and fortifies your immune system.

Being there for our loved ones and enjoying as many special moments together as we can — that’s what life really is all about. Keeping your body happy and healthy to help you live a longer, fuller life is one of exercise’s biggest benefits.

So, the next time you think you’re too busy, think about it this way: You’re shaving off years of life. Is that TV show really worth it?