The Counseling Corner
By Rev. Judith T. Lester, B.Min. M.Th
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
On September 22, 2018, the fall season begins. Summer will be gone, the weather will begin to change, and a new fall television lineup will emerge. With any new season comes new beginnings. This month, this column will highlight a few new beginnings you can jumpstart in this new season, such as healthy eating, exercise and conclude with an article regarding self-care written by my daughter, Camille, a past Louvenia Johnson Scholarship Award recipient.
Let’s get this series started with the Mayo Clinic’s 7 benefits of regular exercise. Tips 1-3 will be presented in this week’s article, and the balance of the Tips will be provided next week.
Mayo Clinic’s tip #1: Exercise controls weight.
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.
Regular trips to the gym are great, but don’t worry if you can’t find a large chunk of time to exercise every day. To reap the benefits of exercise, just get more active throughout your day — take the stairs instead of the elevator or rev up your household chores. Consistency is key.
Mayo Clinic’s tip #2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases.
Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, a number of types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
Mayo Clinic’s tip #3: Exercise improves mood.
Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A gym session or brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
Beloved, regardless of one’s age, gender or physical ability, regular exercise is good! Allow this new season to encourage you to exercise and get moving! If you need more convincing, be sure to pick up your copy of The Milwaukee Times next week and read the additional tips regarding the benefits of regular exercise.
Next Week: Continuation
The writer does not assume responsibility in any way for readers’ efforts to apply or utilize information or recommendations made in this article, as they may not be necessarily appropriate for every situation to which they may refer. This information is for educational purposes only. If you would like to contact Rev. Lester, write to her c/o P.O. Box 121, Brookfield, WI. 53008.
