5 reasons to stay motivated with your workout plan
If there was one simple action you could take to fend off holiday weight gain, increase your energy levels, support your immune system, enhance your sleep quality, and uplift your mood, would you do it? It’s a no-brainer, especially during the hectic holiday season, right? Well, that one thing is regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of activity can yield all these benefits and more. As the holidays draw near, here are five compelling reasons to stay motivated and stick to your Curves full-body workout plan.
Avoid holiday weight gain.
You’re already aware that your Curves full-body workout torches calories and aids in building metabolism-boosting muscle. But did you know that the benefits of exercise extend long after you’ve left the Curves premises? Even post-exercise, your body continues to work and burn calories as it returns to its pre-exercise state.
Here’s an added perk: After-burn receives a significant boost with high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Just 30 seconds of high-intensity exercise (at 80 to 95 percent of maximum heart rate) interspersed throughout your full-body workout can do wonders. If you’re pushing yourself during each interval in your Curves routine—kudos!—you’re already engaging in HIIT. So, make every 30 seconds count. Strive for that burn and the after-burn at Curves three or four times a week, and you’ll be more likely to fend off those pesky holiday pounds.
Get an energy boost.
When life gets hectic, it’s tempting to opt for the couch over a Curves workout. But remember this: regular physical activity actually replenishes more energy than it consumes. Researchers at the University of Georgia examined 70 studies involving 6,702 individuals and discovered that in 90 percent of those studies, sedentary individuals who began and completed an exercise regimen reported feeling more invigorated and less fatigued compared to those who remained inactive. Why? The researchers suggest that exercise boosts the production of feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which enhance both energy levels and mood. Have a lengthy to-do list? (Who doesn’t?) Engaging in your Curves full-body workout three or four times a week will provide you with the stamina needed to tackle everything—with energy to spare!
Bolster your immunity.
Falling ill can significantly impede your momentum and dampen your holiday spirit. To steer clear of sickness, it’s essential to stay dedicated to your whole-body workout routine. Research indicates that regular physical activity a few times a week can bolster your immune response. Specifically:
1. Exercise may aid in flushing out cold-causing bacteria from your lungs.
2. Following a consistent workout plan like the Curves regimen might expedite the distribution of antibodies and white blood cells throughout your body, preemptively combating invading bacteria and viruses.
3. Accelerated blood circulation may trigger the release of hormones that alert your immune cells to the presence of approaching germs.
4. During exercise, your body temperature rises, potentially hindering bacterial growth, similar to how a fever operates when you’re ill.
5. Engaging in a regular full-body workout helps reduce circulating stress hormones, which could otherwise elevate your susceptibility to illness.
Sleep tight.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, both women and men who engage in regular physical activity tend to experience higher-quality sleep and greater alertness during the day compared to those who are less active. Additionally, adequate sleep is associated with a reduced likelihood of weight gain. A study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland examined the sleep patterns of over 7,000 adults aged 40 to 60 over a seven-year period. The findings revealed that among women who frequently reported poor sleep, one in three gained 11 pounds or more during the study duration, whereas only one in five of those who regularly enjoyed good sleep experienced similar weight gain.
Be merry.
For years, medical professionals and psychologists have advocated for regular physical activity as a means to prevent and alleviate depression. The correlation between fitness and mental health lies in the fact that exercise stimulates the production of mood-enhancing brain chemicals such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, while also reducing levels of stress hormones. In a study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, researchers found that exercise prompts muscles to produce an enzyme that helps cleanse the bloodstream of stress-related substances that may potentially harm the brains of mice. Whether this holds true for humans is yet to be fully determined.
Beyond the effects on body chemistry, engaging in a whole-body workout regularly instils a sense of achievement, bolsters mental and physical resilience, and enhances confidence and self-esteem—all of which contribute to overall happiness. Coupled with better weight management, increased energy levels, reduced illness, and improved sleep quality, dedicating just 30 minutes a day to exercise can pave the way for a truly joyful holiday season.
Now that you’re aware of these additional benefits of exercise, what’s holding you back?
