Keep That New Year’s Exercise Enthusiasm Going All Year Round

Many of us enter the new year with great intentions. We make resolutions on New Year’s Eve, often to eat for better health and exercise regularly, and we’re great about keeping those resolutions in January. But what about in February and beyond? Are you sticking to that resolution to improve your fitness, or do you need a little motivation to keep going? Remember these important points the next time you are considering talking yourself out of exercising:

• Regular exercise is good for cardiovascular health. It can even help lower blood pressure.
• The 26 bones, 33 joints, and hundreds of muscles and soft tissue structures in each foot will benefit from exercise.
• Weight-bearing exercise is the best way to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a dangerous weakening of the bones that can result in fractures. The good news is that you don’t have to pump iron; any exercise that makes you support your body weight – even a walk around the block – is helpful.
• Counterintuitively, exercise can help curb appetite, making it more likely that you’ll be able to skip those snacks.
• Working out will make you thirsty, helping you get in those eight glasses of water a day.
• There is proof that exercise improves mood. It can be useful in managing depression and anxiety.
• Some exercises, like gentle yoga and tai chi, can improve balance, reducing your risk of a fall.
• Joining an exercise group is a great way to make friends and increase social bonds.
• Is quitting smoking another of your resolutions? Reducing tobacco consumption is challenging, but exercise can help you shift your focus and succeed.

If standing, walking, or running is uncomfortable, it’s going to be hard to stick to your exercise program. With years of training and experience, an expert podiatrist like Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, can determine and resolve the source of your discomfort. Call our friendly staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule a convenient appointment in the My Chicago Foot Expert office, located in the Ravenswood District of Cook County, today.