Regular exercise, along with a good balanced diet, are staple healthy habits for everyone of all shapes and sizes – though it can be more difficult during these times of self-isolation.
Keeping active is the best way to keep your mind and body healthy, and ensuring your systems are firing at top capacity.
So, how do you know you should be moving more and getting active? Keep an eye out for these warning signs—inspired by the American Heart Association‘s Move More Month—and if any strike a chord with you, consider amping up your daily exercise routines (or get one started).
You Get Bad Sleep
If you’re feeling groggy throughout the day due to poor sleep, your shuteye may be suffering because of a lack of movement during the day.
Regular exercise tires out your body, making it easier to fall asleep, and stay asleep.
A study published in Advances in Preventive Medicine examined the relationship between sleep and exercise, and found that “physical activity promotes improved sleep quality and efficiency.”
Your Lower Back Hurts
If you’re on the couch or in bed for most of the day, you may find yourself feeling your back stiffen up more often. You may even be feeling lower back pain throughout the day at your desk or at night. If you have no underlying conditions, this is another sign you simply need to move more.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine analyzed the causes of lower back pain. In most cases, the culprit was a lack of exercise and movement. “The current evidence suggests that exercise alone or in combination with education is effective for preventing lower back pain.”
Related: Coach Potatoes – How to Workout without Leaving the Couch
You Don’t Stay “Regular”
If digestive problems are more frequent, regular exercise can help you become more, well, regular. If you’re not moving a lot, your digestive system has no incentive to continue moving either.
According to Harvard Medical School, the colon responds to stimulation and if you’re not exercising, it’s not being stimulated.
And believe it or not, stronger muscles can help ward off constipation, as they can assist with a successful bowel movement. So if you’re suffering from chronic constipation, get up and get moving everyday to alleviate those uncomfortable symptoms.
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