I humbly consider myself to be thoroughly kicked in the pants. Good grief – why have I avoided exercise for so many years? Since I began to workout faithfully in January, I feel healthier and more energetic than I have EVER felt!
You know one of the main reasons I avoided exercise? Okay, two of the main reasons? 1) I didn’t really need to lose much weight and 2) I have asthma.
Oh dear – I was really afraid that my asthma would flare up if I exercised? Let me tell you right here and now – and this is the part where I have been kicked in the pants – exercise has made my asthma better, not worse! Beyond that, being at a healthy weight is great, but that’s a silly reason for me to think that I didn’t need to exercise.
Shucks, exercise can certainly help a person lose weight (sweet!), but as I have been working out with Jen, I have learned all kinds of reasons why exercising has been beneficial to me. I’ll let her share about those reasons here in a minute, but first I need to gab and gush about how good I feel.
Here’s the deal: The past couple of weeks, my family has been passing around a cold – and I didn’t get sick. This never happens to me. Any time my kids are snotting and hacking, I catch it. Within days, infection typically hits my asthmatic lungs, causing some major issues like bronchitis or even pneumonia.
This time, I began to get a sore throat, then began to fear that sickness and lung congestion would lay me flat. I upped my vitamin intake, drank plenty of water, and worked to get enough rest. And would you believe it? I fought that cold and did not get sick.
You may not understand the significance of this. But trust me, Matt and I are astonished. All of the cardio workouts and the weight lifting I’ve done during the last 4 1/2 months have really built my immune system and strengthened my lungs. I feel strong! I feel healthy. I can fight now!!! (Fight infection, that is – not the children. I do feel strong, but I still don’t feel the need to get on the floor and wrestle, just in case you were starting to picture that…) ;)
I asked Jen, of Getting Fit with Jen, to give me a bullet list of all the amazing benefits to exercise:
~ Lowers your blood lipid profile (cholesterol)
~ Makes daily living/every day activities easier
~ Reduces your risk for cardiovascular diseases
~ Improves bone health, which helps fight osteoporosis
~ Improves mood and mental health
~ Lowers your blood pressure
~ Transforms your body shape
~ Helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight
And oh yes, exercise can strengthen your immune system. I realize that exercise isn’t preventing me from ever getting sick again. But I have seen so many improvements in my overall health since beginning our workouts. I’m in this for the long haul!
What benefits have you seen from exercise? If you haven’t been exercising, what improvements would you like to see if you were to start an exercise program?
I had a similar experience with exercise. I’ve had asthma most of my life and used to be prone to respiratory infections. However, I ran track in college and since then my lungs are no longer my weak spot! I still get a little wheezy during allergy season but I don’t get respiratory infections.
Exercise reduces stress and refreshes your spirit; it gives you a new outlook on things once you are done exercising. I always feel like I could take on the world with energy! :) God is good. I thank him for the ability to exercise. I agree, the more we take care of ourselves, the healthier we are and more able to fight infections. What a blessing!
Energy! My goodness, it shocks me how much more energy I have when I exercise regularly. I used to avoid exercise because 1-I hate it 2- I just *don’t* have the time. But since I started taking the time to exercise it has given me more energy, like being a kid where you can run around all day and still not be tired at night. That 45 minutes of exercise pays off in me being significantly more productive. It’s almost like it saves me time!
I get the same benefits with my Fibromyalgia. When I exercise more, I hurt less overall during my days. I do have to make sure I exercise consistently, and make very gradual increases or I have more pain than most people would the day after, but overall I feel better when I exercise.
Exercise drastically improves my depression. I have not noticed a difference in my asthma (I’m pregnant right now so that might be the difference), in fact if anything it’s gotten worse. But the mood booster is worth it, for sure.
YES,YES, YES ! If only more folks would see this… I ahve 5 genetic diseaes plus a few other chronic things. I walk, run, bike, lift weights, stretch, do pilates etc.. and, from that ( and the Lord0 I can get along pretty much fine- and without the meds the docs want me to take. I do, of course, eat healthy food as well, but the exercise makes me FEEL so much better…
You are exactly right, Laura! I didn’t walk any distance for about 20 yrs because of my hips/legs. In a wheelchair then out. On my feet then off. Ugh! Finally, 1 1/2 yrs ago I started with 100 steps and worked up to a mile of a tad over. That’s all I coulkd do but was faithful 5-6 days a week. I DID feel so good and my balance was better. I was so happy. But, my back couldn’t take it and my leg with all the fake parts is inflamed. Been 11 mths since my leg got bad and I just now am set up for shots in my back to relieve this. I pray I can get back to my walking. They said to try after they get the pain and stiffness gone. I will be starting all over again but will be so worth it! Can’t wait!!
YES ! If only more folks would give it a try. I do eat heathliy (!), but with 4 genetic disease and 4 more Chronic ones, if I don;t exercise, I do not function well at all. I run, walk, do aerobics, lift weights, do pilates, bike… and with that I can skip the pain meds the docs keep telling me to take. I am 50 ( 2 days ago), and can out “do” most of my younger friends. The energy and the feel good feelings you get from a good workout are priceless
Personally, I like using P90X to lose weight. I can use it at my leisure and it’s one of the few fitness sets that I’ve seen real results from.
Another thing I am learning is that exercise pumps the lymph. It doesn’t have a pump like the heart to move things around, relies on us moving our bodies. Walking, jogging, jumping,or pumping arms and legs empies those lymphnodes so they can be flushed out of our system. I think that can be a major way of fighting sickness as you get the stuff out of there and don’t let it linger. God is so amazing.