Low Energy? Get Moving! Why Daily Movement is Essential to Having Abundant Energy and How to Start
Updated: Jan 2
If you want to live a life filled with abundant energy it is essential that you get your body moving. In addition to having good nutrition, sleep and stress management practices in place you must also be including regular exercise and healthy daily movement to round out your healthy energized lifestyle program.
Just Say No To Sitting
Having a sedentary lifestyle can lead to all sorts of health problems over time. And, it's way too easy to fall into the cycle of sitting all day, feeling low in energy and not even having the desire to get moving. This is true even when you know it will make you feel better. It can be so hard to get motivated and most of us can find all sorts of excuses to stay in rest mode.
But, ultimately this is really bad for our energy, our health and our longevity. As human beings, we aren't meant to be sedentary and biologically our bodies and systems suffer greatly when we are.
Sitting and inactivity can lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria, which are the cellular energy producers of the body. We need them to be functioning optimally at ALL times to give us abundant energy. When the mitochondria are not healthy our metabolism will slow down over time. A slow metabolism, among other things, leads to low energy.
What we are designed for is periods of using our bodies physically in many different ways followed by periods of rest and recovery. The key here is balance and it is up to each individual to figure out what balance means for them.
It is even more important to focus on movement if your job requires that you are sitting all day. You may sit in your car or ride to work, sit at your desk all day and then sit all the way home. In total, you could be sitting 9-10 hours a day!
Exercise and movement is a signal to your body to wake up. It cues your joints, your muscles and your heart to start working at a more intense level. It is a key component in the healthy function of almost all of the systems of your body.
The Many Benefits of Moving
Movement isn't only necessary to keep you energized but it is imperative in supporting your overall health and longevity in so many ways. It is key in improving and supporting your metabolism and is as important to maintaining good health as nutrition. Getting regular exercise gives you endurance, stamina, balance and strength all of which are so important in feeling great in your body.
Here are the benefits of regular exercise:
Production of energy.
Weight reduction and/or maintenance.
Helps with deep, restorative sleep.
Helps decrease and manage stress.
Helps with distributing and utilizing nutrients.
Improves memory, performance and productivity.
Improves oxygenation and circulation of blood and lymph.
Supports healthy immunity.
Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease;
Encourages good function of the digestive system.
Reduces the risk of diabetes.
Maintains the flexibility and function of the joints.
Helps with stability, strength and tone of the muscles.
Reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Stimulates sweating and encourages toxin elimination.
Improves posture and body confidence.
As you can see after reading all of these benefits, there are so many reasons that it is vital to get moving! Keep reading for some of my tips to get you motivated to move.
Get Moving to Get Grooving!
If you don't already have a regular exercise program that you stick to then start thinking about how you would like to include more movement into your days. This may look like going for a walk or a run, swimming, biking or going to a gym and using the equipment. It may also look like going to a yoga class, a dance class or learning martial arts. Or maybe it looks like ordering some DVDs or finding YouTube videos to do barre or Pilates classes in your living room. There are so many choices! Experiment and find what works for you and then stick with it.
Here are a few tips to get you moving in the right direction:
Balance cardio with strengthening and stretching for a well-rounded program.
Start where you are, build slowly and don't give up.
Exercise earlier in the day to get moving while giving yourself less time to make excuses or run out of time.
Don't exercise within an hour after eating a meal.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You need more water when sweating.
Aim for about 30 minutes per day/5 days per week.
Incorporate more movement into your regular day--park farther away, take the stairs--the little things all add up.
Use a fitness tracker like a Fitbit to keep track of your activity and stay on target.
Do a variety of activities that you enjoy. If you don't look forward to it, you will quit.
Find an accountability partner--motivate each other to stay on track.
It has been found that low-intensity exercise can drop fatigue levels and give you an energy boost. So when you hit that afternoon slump or don't have the time for a longer, more intense workout, that's okay--take a 15-20 minute stroll around your neighborhood and you will boost your energy while getting some fresh air and vitamin D.
Movement Habits For Your Energized Life
If you don't already include some form of regular movement into your life, the time to start is now! Experiment and find what works right for you so that you look forward to your special time of being in your body and feeling strong and healthy. Start building the habit and stick to it.
Find your motivation and don't allow yourself to make excuses.
Remember, if you make excuses for why you can't exercise and squeeze more movement into your day, you are ultimately hurting yourself. Show yourself and your body the love you deserve and you will reap the benefits of abundant energy and a healthy future.
Ready to get moving? Join my Free Let's Get Moving 5-Day Challenge to quickly and easily get you on track to living an energized life! CLICK HERE TO JOIN
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About the Author
Kristi Ryan is the founder of Kristi Ryan Holistic Nutrition and the creator of the Abundant Energy Method for Busy Women. As a holistic nutrition and health coach specializing in energy wellness she supports, educates, motivates and empowers busy women with nutrition, mindset and lifestyle transformation using her proven methodology to bring abundant energy and vitality into their lives.
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Disclaimer: The information I share is for general information only and is not intended to replace medical advice. I do not diagnose, treat or cure disease, prescribe treatments or medications, or recommend medical treatment or surgery. You should speak to your physician prior to making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, exercise or medications or acting on anything you have read or discussed with me. If you don’t, you are doing so at your own risk.
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