A Little Exercise Goes A Long Way

Written by Matthew Whitaker

Growing up, I was never the most athletic. I enjoyed time outdoors and hiking as a Boy Scout, but I was never interested in team sports like swimming or track. I suffered from asthma, which only made exercising more difficult. In college, I tried to exercise more but gave up after a few false starts. I didn’t have the motivation to exercise on my own – and without motivation, it’s a real challenge to follow a consistent exercise routine. 

That changed in spring 2023, when I found real incentive to get healthier — not just for me, but to better support my family and friends. I started exercising consistently…and strongly recommend that you start too.

A common misconception: to get the benefits of exercise you have to hit the gym seven days a week with the goal of looking like Jorgen Von Strangle from The Fairly OddParents. This couldn’t be further from the truth; even a small amount of consistent exercise can have big benefits. In the digital age, many of us live sedentary lives and our bodies crave more movement and our hearts need to beat a little faster. The good news is there are an endless number of ways to make that happen.

The Fairly OddParents GIF

Cardio is the easiest and safest form of exercise to start with. The goal is to get your heart pumping consistently for a period of time. 5 to 10 minutes twice a week on a treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike, depending on your initial stamina, will help you acclimate to cardio exercise. It’ll be tiring at first but the more you do it, the easier and more rewarding it grows. The key here is to listen to your body: you’ll know when you’re confident enough to do more. The more you exercise, your stamina will improve and you’ll be able to exercise for longer periods more often.

Challenging yourself is a super way to grow stronger. As you exercise more, think about expanding your workouts beyond cardio and integrating strength training. You don’t have to do strength training to enjoy the health benefits of exercise, but you may find you enjoy it!

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If exercising had no benefits, who’d do it? No one. We’d just sit all day watching television and scrolling on our phones. Fortunately, the benefits of exercise are plentiful and varied. The most obvious benefit is improved health. You have far more energy, wake up earlier, sleep better, and exert yourself much longer without getting tired. 

Your moods will improve drastically and your confidence level will rise, strengthening both your determination and self-esteem. Exercise can help stave off many diseases, decrease the likelihood of becoming sick, and can boost your recovery time if you do catch something.

Exercise is a game in which everyone wins. There are plenty of other benefits and no downsides as long as you’re careful and listen to your body.

You hear that? It’s saying, “How about taking that walk you were thinking of…?”

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Since I began consistently exercising two years ago, I’ve enjoyed many rewards including improved physical health, mood, and confidence. Starting an exercise routine is more approachable if you start small, meeting yourself where you are and intensifying that routine as you listen to your body. The benefits of consistent exercise are countless, being the best form of medicine along with getting enough sleep. While you may be hesitant to start exercising, I implore you to give it an honest try as you will feel so much better with just a little exercise!