What is movement anyway? Exercise is actually any form of being physically active. Think walking, running, doing chores, exercising, running errands, strength training, a sprint to the train….you name it.

Why should you exercise more? Regular exercise contributes to good health, strong bones, and a healthy weight, among other things. Not only that, but by taking up soccer or pickleball lessons, you can meet new people and learn new skils.

1. Exercise to burn calories

Exercise ensures that you burn calories. This is essential if you want to lose weight. Sustainable weight reduction is achieved through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise. For example, go for a walk around the block every evening after dinner. Or instead of a beach vacation, why not book a walking vacation? This way you can see a lot and be active, at the same time! Get more inspiration about these vacations by looking at walking holidays in Switzerland, or maybe the Tour du Mont Blanc is something for you!

2. Accelerate your metabolism

By exercising more you burn more calories. You develop more muscle mass and your condition improves. Your body adapts to this by functioning in a higher gear. It will therefore learn to deal more efficiently and effectively with the food you consume.

Accelerating your metabolism is also a very good way to lose weight or to keep your body weight stable. 

3. Exercise improves how you feel

Exercise improves your mood by leaps and bounds and reduces stress. It relaxes you and makes you sleep better.

If you exercise more often, your body will also produce more of its own neurotransmitters.

These neurotransmitters determine to a large extent how you feel. Fortunately, you can influence these substances yourself. 

4. Your self-confidence increases

If you exercise more you will look better and your self-confidence will automatically increase.

5. Exercise is just very healthy

Exercise not only has a positive effect on your weight, but also on your heart, your blood circulation, your blood pressure, the immune system and even on your memory. Moreover, exercise slows down the aging process. So you stay looking young longer.

6. Improve your thinking skills

Not only your muscles, but also your brain benefits from regular exercise. Intensive exercise promotes blood circulation. So there is also more oxygen in your brain. The more oxygen in your brain, the better your brain can function.

7. Burn fat

By moving more you burn more calories immediately. You will continue to burn extra calories for a number of hours after you exercise. Your body is recovering and that requires energy.

Your muscle mass also increases and muscles need more calories to function. One kilogram of body fat needs about 9 kilocalories per day. But a kilogram of muscle needs up to 90 kilocalories to function.