uovoc:
“exercise will give you more energy” gets said a lot as a common piece of health advice but I think it needs to be expanded into “exercising will make you tired while you do it, and you will continue to be tired immediately afterwards, sometimes even the next day too, but over months of consistent exercise, your muscles will get stronger and therefore get less tired out by everyday activities, making you feel like day-to-day life takes less physical energy than it used to”
It’s more than that, even! Exercise encourages your body to create more mitochondria, which as we all know, are the powerhouses of the cell. Mitochondria are responsible for creating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is literally the energy we use for everything. So you’re basically telling your body to make more batteries for yourself.
There’s also increased blood flow which increases oxygen absorption (required to make ATP and also to live). There are also exercise-released hormones like endorphins which increase mood and energy levels. And as a fun little side effect, regular exercise helps your body regulate its sleep/wake cycle, meaning you sleep better and are therefore less tired and have–wait for it–more energy!
Also there’s this misconception that you’re only ‘doing exercise’ if you’re like…sweating at the gym for 3 hours a day. It’s bullshit. Movement of ANY kind is exercise and the ideal starting place is somewhere you are comfortable and happy. Standing up and walking around a little on a coffee break could be a great starting place. Standing and doing arm raises or jumping jacks or trying a plank or ANYTHING really. Whatever you find fun and is getting your body moving. You’ll be astonished how the cumulative effect of these tiny bits of movement will start improving your energy, though. Fr.
