Exercise Reduces Stress in Women

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Exercise Reduces Stress in Women

Research indicates that exercise reduces stress and that physical exercise is extremely important in order for women to maintain a healthy body. Regular physical activity is very helpful in maintaining a weight level or losing weight. Women need to be especially careful of carrying extra weight around the abdomen area. Excess stomach fat, or having an “apple shape,” can put people at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Women with waist measurements exceeding 35 inches should make efforts to slim the middle portion of their bodies. There is strong evidence that regular exercise reduces stress as it improves cardio respiratory and muscular fitness and increases bone density. Also, regular exercise has been linked to reduction in depression and improved sleep quality.

Examples of Daily Exercise Activities

If you are unused to physical activity, start gradually and build up to longer amounts of time. You may need to start with 5 minutes of exercise for a time for the first week and gradually add more minutes each additional week. Aerobic activity gets your heart beating faster and increases how hard you are breathing. You need to be working hard enough in your exercise to raise your heart rate and break a sweat. Examples of moderate intensity aerobic activity are:

Vigorous intensity aerobic activity means that you are breathing hard and fast, and your heart rate has gone up significantly, such as:
• Aerobic dance
• Bicycling faster than 10 miles per hour
• Jogging or running
• Jumping rope
• Race walking
• Swimming fast or swimming laps
• Playing singles tennis
• Playing basketball

Exercise reduces stress so, the more you can increase these activities the more you can help in lowering your stress levels.

Include muscle strengthening exercises at least 2 days per week. You can engage in these muscle strengthening activities on the same or different days that you are also doing aerobic exercises. There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles. Examples are listed below:

Why Do We Say That Exercise Reduces Stress?
Physical exercise reduces stress and can be used as a stress management tool! When life’s challenges make you feel stressed or upset, high level forms of physical activity can provide an effective release of these negative emotions. Physical exercise is very important to helping your body remain in better working condition—all the joints and muscles and organs will thank you. You will also find that as your exercise reduces stress, you will have a brighter outlook on the world around you.

If you find it difficult to maintain a regular exercise routine, try making some lifestyle modifications that will not be difficult to maintain. The goal is to incorporate more exercise into your daily activities. Choose to take the stairs rather than the elevator. Park further from the mall entrance so that you can include more walking as you complete your errands. You will be surprised how much exercise you can add to your week, just by making some of these choices.

I enjoy being outside with my dogs. We take a nice walk to get some fresh air and gain a new perspective on the world around us. A great way to leave your worries behind. Remember, exercise reduces stress.

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