5 Ways Exercise Can Increase Your Energy Levels
Do any of the following sound familiar?
You’re sitting on the couch after a long day of work and just don’t have the motivation to get up and play with your kids. You just hope they can entertain themselves.
It’s the middle of the afternoon and you have an energy slump. You grab a cup of coffee to help you power through the rest of your day.
You feel like you need to press the snooze button in the morning multiple times before you get out of bed.
A couple of the above used to sound familiar to me (all would, likely, but I don’t have any children yet!). If I could invent a magic pill that provided energy to others, I think I’d be a millionaire. Okay, probably a billionaire! Unfortunately, there is no magic pill. However, there are ways that your energy can be improved through different lifestyle factors. The only kicker is that you do have to put in some work. This blog post will specifically focus on 5 ways exercise can help increase your energy levels. Keep reading to learn more!
5 Ways Exercise Improves Energy
1.) Exercise increases your number of mitochondria
Rachel, what the heck are mitochondria?! Mitochondria are found within our bodies cells and are known as the “powerhouses of a cell.” Energy production occurs within the mitochondria. Exercise increases our number of mitochondria, which leads to an increased level of energy.
2.) Exercise increases oxygen circulation and improves heart health
Exercise improves your cardiovascular system, which leads to improved endurance throughout the day. Those that have a stronger heart are able to do more activities and have more stamina as they complete their daily life tasks.
3.) Exercise improves sleep
Exercise improves your ability to fall asleep as well as the quality of your sleep. Have you ever had a day in which you were more active than usual and felt like you had the best night sleep in a long time? There is scientific evidence that exercise leads to these benefits!
Is it okay to workout within 2-3 hours of my bedtime?
As with many health related questions, it depends. What may work for one may not work for another. There is research that says exercising within a couple hours prior to bed could actually improve sleep, however there are also studies that tout the opposite. Exercise raises our internal body temperature, which could lead to difficulty falling asleep.
4.) Exercise improves mood
Exercise increases endorphins. Endorphins are a natural hormone secreted in our brains. They help relieve pain by activating opioid receptors in the brain. This process leads to mood enhancement, which leads to energy improvement. Ever heard of the runners high? It’s because of those endorphins!
5.) Exercise helps improve metabolism
Exercising, and specifically strength training, increases muscle mass. When muscle mass is higher in an individual’s body, they are able to burn more calories at rest and have a higher metabolism. When metabolism is increased, this inevitably leads to increased energy.
To sum it up…
This blog post specifically went into 5 ways exercise can help increase your energy levels. This is just one piece to the puzzle! If you do incorporate physical activity into your weekly regimen, you will notice energy changes. These will be even more substantial if you pair it with proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.
It's time for you to stop feeling like a zombie and just going through the motions of life. Contact us if you’re interested in receiving help to reach your nutrition and fitness goals!