Exercise gets a lot of credit to make the outside of your body look great. But the benefits of a great workout program go much deeper than skin. Your whole body benefits—especially your heart.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of a regular exercise regimen is to maintain (or regain) heart health. Regular exercise lowers your risk of devastating diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
There are several ways for your heart to reap the rewards of regular exercise. While all exercise is great for your body, there are some types of physical activity that can do more for your heart than others. Aerobic activity, also known as cardio, can increase your body's capacity to use oxygen. Aerobic activity can come in the form of walking, running, spin or Zumba class.
Start your cardio program at your level is key to make sure your stick to a plan. For example, if you haven't worked out in years, it may not be best to run several miles a week in order to jump start your aerobic activity. In fact, a structured class environment where you can move at your own pace may be a better option to help rev up your activity level, while you ease back into a regular, heart healthy exercise regimen.
Of course, weight training is another way to build a strong heart. Your heart is a muscle. While you won't be able to actually lift weights with your heart to build it up, try to incorporate strength training into your routine to help build a healthier heart. Activities designed to help you use your muscles build endurance, and that will help you last longer as you perform cardio workouts.
If time is an issue for you, don't fret. You don't have to invest hours upon hours at the gym to reap the benefits. To change your body and build a strong heart, try to get about 20 to 25 minutes of activity a day. As mentioned earlier, enroll in an exercise class; it's a great way to start moving. If you're not ready for that, pick up a few exercise tapes or check out Youtube fitness videos from Bootique Fitness.
If you're already working out, include more variety to your activities like swimming, outdoor bike riding, indoor rock climbing and more into your routine to spice things up and keep active.
It's simple to build a healthy heart if you get active at least five times a week for about 30 minutes each day. Think of it as an investment to your health...it's worth the time and prevention.
Sign up for a fitness class.
