From The Straits Times    |

This comes with a warning: it’s probably not going to be what you want to hear. Recently a piece published in The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research suggested that not everyone loses weight when they exercise. We know, it’s a blow.

Researchers at the Arizona State University in Phoenix took a sample of overweight women and looked at the effect exercise had on them over 12 weeks. While some of them dropped pounds, others actually put weight on. And to make matters worse, they couldn’t find out why that was the case.

So that doesn’t sound great, but try to not worry too much, because exercise has many other benefits. We know most people want to drop some pounds after slavishly pounding the treadmill, but read on and we’ll convince you of its other positive side effects too:

Memory

It sounds strange, but stay with us. Inflammation and hormone imbalance are two things which can cause memory loss. And guess what? Regular exercise helps with them both because of the effect it has on blood flow. Better blood flow means better brain function, you see.

Stress

This is an obvious one, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. There are a few reasons why gym sessions can help with it; namely it ensures stress hormone cortisol doesn’t get out of control. Time.com points to a book called The Exercise Cure by Dr. Jordan Metzl, which links cortisol to anxious feelings. So whether it’s a horrible day at work or a case of pre-job nerves, a workout could be what you need.

Fatigue

Picture the scene: you’ve had the day from hell, arguments at work, a terrible commute and you’re shattered. So what should you do? Go to the gym of course! It sounds weird, we know, but a previous study by University of Georgia found that low-intensity workouts can beat fatigue. So there really is no excuse not to put on those trainers.

Health

This is no surprise either, but don’t forget how much exercise does for your body. It keeps your lungs and heart healthy, can ease back pain, helps your muscles become strong and will make you toned.

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