Exercise stimulates your heart, increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain
If you’re ready to begin your fitness journey, we have excellent news. Your body starts to react positively from the very first moment of physical activity.
Quick Read:
- Regular exercise boosts the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, helping digestion and boosting immune function.
- Weight-bearing exercises like walking and strength training can help increase bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
- High-intensity workouts trigger something known as “afterburn effect”, which means your body continues to burn calories for hours after working out.
The transformative benefits of exercise
So, you’re off the couch and on a 30-minute walk. Your body “wakes up” and starts responding to this activity by stimulating certain processes to help you along the way.
How incredible is the human body? For example, when you start exercising, your cardiovascular system kicks into high gear, increasing activity beyond its resting state, while your digestive system slows down. Within the first 10 minutes, your heart rate rises, boosting blood flow to the brain, which enhances alertness and helps block pain signals. As you continue with the activity, your body shifts between different energy systems based on the intensity and duration of your workout.
The more consistently you exercise, the more benefits for your mind and body. Exercise is a proven stress reducer as physical activity helps lower the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Even better, while stress comes down, the feel-good hormones (endorphins and serotonin) come out to play too, giving you that burst of energy and good vibes.

Some pain for much gain
After a few days of regular exercise, you may notice improvements in your sleep. Studies suggest that aerobic exercise can enhance sleep quality in ways similar to sleep tools, helping you fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper rest. Naturally, all this new activity is going to come with a little soreness, but your nervous system is good at its job, so these should be temporary aches.
As you become more adept at movement, your body naturally becomes more aligned. Your flexibility improves and you may notice your skin starts to look clearer. This is because exercise increases your blood flow, helping to nourish your skin cells. That’s where the “glow” comes from.
If you need a little extra motivation, a 2019 report in the Annual Review of Physiology revealed that muscle cells from older male and female lifetime cyclists had the same qualities and function of a person decades younger.
If you’ve consistently struggled with feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, one of the benefits of regular exercise is a boost in energy levels. As exercise stimulates your heart rate, blood flow increases, delivering more oxygen to the brain. Hello, more energy!
What if I’ve never exercised before?
Starting your fitness journey can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never exercised before. But don’t worry – everyone starts somewhere, and the benefits are well worth the effort!
In the beginning, you may experience muscle soreness and fatigue, but these are normal signs that your body is adapting. You’ll notice a boost in energy, better mood, and improved sleep as your body begins to adjust to regular movement. Initially, it’s important to start slow and focus on form, gradually increasing intensity as your confidence and strength grow. Remember, progress is about consistency, not perfection. Before you know it, you’ll be amazed at the positive changes in your body and mind!
So, now you have even more reasons to get fit and active. Make every day an active day and enjoy the benefits. Your body starts enjoying the perks of exercise from almost the first moment you get moving. Don’t stop now – keep going. You are on your way to becoming a WellBeing!
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