Why Work Out When You Are in Your 20s: 8 Super Important Reasons

It is believed that roughly one-quarter of people in Britain don’t exercise at all. Things aren’t any better in the US, with only a quarter of the country getting the recommended amount of exercise.

This is unfortunate, because exercise is an important aspect of health, especially for the younger crowd.

The ‘why work out’ attitude is very damaging, especially when we’re in our 20s. During these years, our bodies are reaching the height of their physical prowess, so there are plenty of benefits to exercising.

We’ll talk about some of these reasons in the paragraphs below.

1. Weight Loss and Control

One of the most obvious benefits of exercise is that it helps you maintain a healthy weight. Exercise burns calories and builds muscle, which in turn helps to burn more calories. 

Some exercises burn more calories or build more muscle than others, but the important thing is to exercise regularly, even if you’re not doing anything too strenuous.

2. Stronger Immune System

Some people tend to get sick less often than others. Science may never completely understand why, but exercise definitely plays a role.

Some of this has to do with our skeletal and cardiovascular systems. Our heart is a muscle, meaning that it’s capable of getting stronger the more it’s used.

A stronger heart is one that can more easily pump blood, meaning that heart attacks and strokes (both of which are caused by a blockage or shortage of blood) are less likely.

Our skeleton also tends to get stronger as we exercise. As our bones encounter strenuous activities, they create more tissue, which makes our bones stronger. This makes us less prone to breaks and degenerative diseases.

Our heart isn’t the only organ improved by exercise either. Though our lungs aren’t muscles, there is a muscle involved in breathing.

Known as the diaphragm, this muscle flexes to force air into and out of our lungs. When we exercise, we make this muscle stronger, which improves our breathing.

Exercise also makes our skins and digestive systems healthier.

3. Improves Mood

You may have heard of a ‘runner’s high,’ and there is science behind it. Exercise causes our brains to release endorphins, which are responsible for elevating our mood. 

These chemicals are also responsible for managing stress and anxiety, so we may find that we worry about things less than before.

Of course, looking and feeling healthier doesn’t hurt either. It’s no secret that our culture values being in shape and has made it the standard for beauty.

We’ve all had days where we look in the mirror and decided that we look good today, and we’ve felt a little better after that. Looking good can make us happier and give us more confidence.

4. Helps Us Sleep

Exercise can also improve the amount and quality of our sleep. This has to do with something known as our circadian rhythm.

Human beings are diurnal, meaning that we sleep at night and are active during the day. The circadian rhythm is what makes that happen. It’s a biological process that controls how our body uses energy.

Exercise helps to regulate our circadian rhythm, so we’re sleepier at night and more awake during the day. It also releases a burst of energy, which can keep us from napping during the day.

5. Improved Sex Life

We’ve already mentioned that exercise helps us get into shape, which makes us look and feel sexier. However, it also improves our health, which in turn increases our energy levels.

It also benefits our sex life in more direct ways. Men who exercise more are at a lower risk of erectile dysfunction, and women tend to achieve boosted arousal. This may have to do with cardiac health and increased blood flow.

Exercise can even help you bond with your partner. You might try some couple’s yoga, for instance.

6. Higher Productivity

Exercise may combat depression and anxiety, but that’s not the only effect it has on mental health. Many of the chemical compounds produced by exercise are also used for focus and cognition.

As a result, we find it easier to pay attention and use our brains when we need to. This also ties into memory, which is also improved with exercise.

7. Improved Memory

As if exercise didn’t do enough for our brains already, it also aids in memory. This makes us less prone to disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which often result in loss of memory and cognition.

This has to do with the structure of our brains. Two regions of our brains known as the prefrontal and medial temporal cortexes, tend to be larger in those who exercise.

As you may have already guessed, these areas are related to cognition and memory. 

8. Enjoyment

Though many of us don’t like to admit it, exercising can be fun. Runner’s high aside, there’s something exhilarating about pushing yourself.

It’s rewarding to know that you’re getting stronger and improving your health. You’re going out and making something happen for yourself, and there’s a sense of power to that.

Plus, it’s a great opportunity to relax and think. We don’t get enough time to do that most days.

So, why work out? Because it’s fun.

Why Work Out in Your 20s?

For those wondering ‘why work out,’ there are many benefits of exercising. We’ve mentioned only some of these benefits in the paragraphs above, but there are plenty more out there.

We encourage you to do more research on your own if you’re interested.

If you happen to live in the London area and want more information and advice on exercising, please visit our site. We can help you to improve your balance with yoga.