Not only can exercise and healthy living increase the length of your life, but it provides a better, happier life.

Exercise affects many every day. According to Consumer Reports of the Washington Post, adults are recommended to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. They said that around half of adults achieve the recommended amount (April 29, 2019).

Exercise has many health benefits these adults could miss out on. Physical activity lowers the dangers of heart disease, some cancer and stroke, according to the Australian Department of Health. Besides these, it improves sleep, maintains a healthy weight and increases energy (April 4, 2019).

Darin Jordan said when he is tired and exercises, he feels happier, accomplished, and has more energy.

I have found that exercise can better my mood. Often, I do not feel like exercising, but when I do, I feel more confident and satisfied.

There is research to support that exercise increases good moods. Good moods are gained especially by exercising outside, where vitamin D is increased, said Harvard Health Publishing. Vitamin D fights against many diseases including cancer and heart problems (July 2010).

Exercising outside helps people to gain vitamin D, which then elevates mood, said Better Health Channel. They also said people are generally happier and more likely to be active if they are moving around outside (January 2018).

I believe physical activity contributes happiness and many health benefits to those who take a few hours out of their week to exercise. I continue to make exercise a priority in my life.

Marissa Muljat said that exercise puts her in a better mood. Theres the Christian aspect of it (healthy living). God tells us to treat our bodies as temples to him, Muljat said. I agree that through healthy living, we can honor God and respect the bodies he created.

Not only can exercise change our moods; it also fights against depression. Gretchen Reynolds of the New York Times said that exercising four days a week lowers depression. Reynolds also said that for mentally healthy people, exercise results in less anxiety and anger (April 8, 2020).

In a study done by Columbia University Medical Center, researchers directed half of their volunteer group to exercise four times a week and half to do nothing. Reynolds said that after three months when they were told to pause working out, The exercise group had learned to enjoy the exercise (April 8, 2020).

This is good news for us because it means that if we stick to working out, we may learn to like it. When I am regularly exercising, I enjoy it more and feel better about myself.

Another advantage to working out are the social benefits. Social interaction is essential to living a healthy, happy life, said Jane Brody (June 12, 2020).

Brody also said that relationships impact how people live, such as exercising friends encouraging their friends to exercise. It is important for us to choose friends who will encourage us to exercise and eat healthfully (June 12, 2017).

I have found this to be true in my life as well. I am more likely to exercise regularly if I have a partner to work out with. Another example is eating healthfully, because my family encourages me to do so and keeps me accountable.

Good options for socially exercising include going to the gym, walking with friends and getting a work-out partner.

Exercising with others increases the likelihood of people continuing to work out and will probably make exercise more fun. I enjoy exercising and hope to maintain it as a priority in my life.

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Exercise and Health - The Echo News