3 Reasons To Do Cardio This Weekend
There’s a wonder drug I’d like to recommend. It’s a drug that won’t just help you lose weight. It will also help you combat stress. It will make you smarter, faster, happier, and might even make you look years younger. Ready to start taking this magic little pill? Well, it’s called cardio – also known as cardiovascular or aerobic exercise. Now, let’s talk about the multitude of other benefits provided by this little wonder drug:
CARDIO: It makes you happier.
We’ve all heard of runner’s high. But let’s talk about what that really means. Cardio activities – like the 10-minute modules included in this book, or other activities like running, cycling, rowing, using an elliptical, or hiking outdoors – release a whole flood of endorphins and feel-good chemicals into the brain: There’s dopamine, which gives our brain the “reward” signal; and serotonin, which is the happiness hormone. Dopamine and serotonin are designed to make us feel good, and they actually resemble opiates in the way they create a feeling of well-being – and they can even provide a natural sense of pain relief.
That’s because when you do cardio, you activate the same parts of the brain that are involved when you fall in love, or when you listen to music that gives you that “chill” feeling of euphoria. And there’s more: cardio can even battle depression. A study at Duke University found that doing moderate cardio just 3 times a week was just as effective as Zoloft in reducing major depression.
CARDIO: It makes you younger.
There’s an important relationship between cardio and our chromosomes. And at the center of that relationship is something called telomeres. Telomeres are the bits of DNA found on the tips of our chromosomes. And these little DNA bits are incredibly important; in 2009, several scientists won the Nobel Prize for discovering the true function of telomeres. When we experience physical and mental stress, telomeres start to erode, which kills cells and leads to premature aging, while also damaging our immune systems. So, to break it down for you: Shorter telomeres, bad. Longer telomeres, good.
And how do you lengthen those telomeres? A few years ago, German scientists studied telomeres in middle-aged people, and how those telomeres were affected by running. Now, the study found that if you lead a sedentary lifestyle from, say, age 20 to age 60, where you hardly exercise at all, you lose about 75% of your telomeres over the years. That means your body is aging, and you’re facing everything that comes with aging, both inside and outside the body. But in this German study, they found that middle-aged people who jogged on a regular basis had almost the same amount of telomeres as people half their age! So, thanks to the effects of cardio exercise on our telomeres, a group of 60 year olds were able to achieve the bodies of 30 year olds. The doctors who led the study were quoted as saying that those people all behaved and looked years younger than people their same age who didn’t exercise.
CARDIO: It makes you better at your job.
We’re all trying to find a way to perform at a higher level and boost productivity at work, in ourselves and in our employees. We live in an incredibly fast-paced world, and the pressure is on all of us to keep up with it. We’re all trying to work more quickly and more efficiently.And it turns out cardio can help us do that.
Studies show that employees are 15 percent more efficient on days that they exercised. 15 percent may not sound like much, but think about it: That means that, on days that you exercise, you could accomplish in an 8 hour day what would normally take you 9 and a half hours. So why not try it? After all, if you boost your productivity, you’re also likely to see a nice boost in pay.
Bottom line: If you want to feel happier, younger, and better at your job…you better do some cardio!
Lift your mood, train your brain with Cardio Must Haves!
Younger and Happier Cardio Includes:
- Total Body Turnaround:
Designed to combat the aging process, Total Body Turnaround is split into three 20-minute workouts for a convenient, fast and fun way to get fit. You’ll wake up your body to feel stronger, leaner and more energized.
Click here to purchase separately > - Cardio Knockout 2 DVDs in 1:
The combination of kickboxing, Aerobox, and Tai Chi uses cardio get your body into knock-out shape! Improve your endurance, coordination, and balance, while enjoying an exhilarating rush of endorphins. (170 minute three-part DVD)
Click here to purchase separately > - Cardio Fat Burner
This is cardio made short and simple! Jump into two easy-to-follow 20-minute routines and get your heart pumping with these super-fun and high-energy workouts!
Click here to purchase separately >
