Another Reason You Should Exercise…

When we think of the benefits of exercising regularly we think about: 

• Improved cardiovascular health

• Lowering blood pressure

• Reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and other health conditions

• Improving bone density

• Increasing muscle strength

• Better joint health

• Improved mood and mental health

• Lowering stress levels

• Better sleep

• Improved longevity

And there's another benefit I've been thinking about a lot more since dealing with this injury, and that's the benefit of knowing your body. 

When someone exercises consistently, they learn what their body is supposed to feel like, what "normal" is for them. Regular exercise teaches you what discomfort from exertion or muscle soreness feels like, so you know when something falls outside that norm and needs attention. 

If you’ve never paid attention to how your body normally feels, you might not know right away when something’s wrong, whether that's an injury or another health condition. 

If you never move your body, you don’t know what’s an “ok” level of discomfort from stimulating your muscles and joints and what’s a problem. 

If you’re not in tune with your body, when a medical professional says everything looks fine but you thought it wasn’t, you might not feel able to push back or ask for more clarity or a second opinion. 

There are a zillion benefits to exercising regularly. Getting to know your body so you can advocate for your own health and well-being might be one of the most important.

P.S. I talked about this on my Instagram last week (you can check out the video here).