Why Your Doctor Wants You to Exercise: The Surprising Benefits You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Your physician is feeling a little frustrated. Yes, that’s right—they’re tired of constantly emphasizing how crucial exercise is for your well-being because, let’s face it, sometimes it feels like you’re just not listening.

They’re tired of explaining how so many of your health issues could improve, or even vanish, if you’d just commit to a consistent exercise routine.

They’re exhausted from listing your controllable risk factors, which, by the way, include physical inactivity and obesity.

But why do they keep giving you the same lecture, you ask?

Because they’ve seen exercise change lives.

They’ve even seen it save lives.

1. Feel Great: The first thing patients report after starting an exercise program is how much better they feel. It’s amazing how many people don’t realize just how bad they’ve been feeling until they start exercising. They get used to feeling lousy, and then when they finally start moving, they feel like a whole new person. Suddenly, their energy levels soar, and they feel fantastic.
2. Pain Be Gone: Next, patients notice a significant reduction in aches and pains. Chronic muscle and joint pain that they’ve been living with for years begins to fade away. For some, joint replacement surgery is postponed. For others, arthritis pain is significantly reduced. Their muscles and joints feel better than they have in years.
3. Goodbye Coronary Heart Disease: While patients may not feel this healing benefit of exercise, it’s one that can literally save lives. Exercise eliminates two major risk factors for heart disease: physical inactivity and obesity. It also helps increase good cholesterol (HDL) and lower blood pressure, significantly reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
4. Goodbye Type 2 Diabetes: Patients with type 2 diabetes can gain significant benefits from exercise. It improves the body’s use of insulin, and the resulting weight loss improves insulin sensitivity. Of course, patients with type 2 diabetes should always consult their doctor before starting an exercise program. Exercise helps better control blood sugar levels.
5. Goodbye Sleep Apnea: Patients with sleep apnea are often trapped in a vicious cycle. Their weight promotes episodes of apnea, which in turn leads to inadequate sleep and further weight gain.

With all of these benefits, it’s hard to understand why anyone would avoid exercise. What’s your excuse?

• I know you’re tired…but exercise actually gives you energy.
• I know you’re in pain…but exercise alleviates muscle and joint pain.
• I know you’d rather stay in bed…but exercise makes your sleep more restful.
• I know you’re pressed for time…but exercise improves your efficiency and extends your life.
• I know you don’t know where to start…but that’s where I come in.

Reply to this post or give me a call, and we’ll schedule a consultation where I can show you the fastest and safest way to reap all of the benefits of exercise.

Then, the next time you see your doctor, instead of giving you a lecture, they’ll be congratulating you on your progress.