8 ways exercise makes you age in reverse

Looking for ways to turn back the clock?  Ditch the creams and potions and start sweating off the years.  A steady fitness routine has incredible power to help your clothes fit better, reduce chronic illness, build strong muscles, and make you look much younger than you really are.  People who have embraced exercise will find that no matter how many birthdays they celebrate, they end up resembling a much younger version of their chronological age.

Just how exactly does exercise do this?  What is so special about being physically active that brings about not only a much more youthful appearance but also in how you think, act, and feel?

Here is a list of how exercise helps you be that “Benjamin Button” person who seems to literally age in reverse:

1.  Exercise gives you soft, glowing skin

Nothing quite sets us apart age-wise than glowing, healthy skin.  Being the largest organ of our body, our skin’s appearance is what people will notice first when meeting you.  Frequent exercisers often have more supple, elastic skin confirmed by researchers at McMaster University of Ontario.  They found those who were over the age of 40 but had faithfully committed to regular physical activity over the years had skin resembling those in their 20s and 30s.  When exercising outside, be sure to wear an SPF lotion of at least 30 or higher for added protection. 

2.  Exercise gives you more energy

We all know that person who complains of being tired all the time. It is highly unlikely they exercise consistently.  Working out is sort of like nature’s energy drink – it fires up your brain and body making you feel more alert and alive.  It gets the juices flowing translating into more vim and vigor and a greater sense of wellbeing.  Suddenly, mundane tasks become less strenuous requiring less exertion.  And add to that, a definite pep in your step helping you be in “go” position all day long.

3.  Exercise improves flexibility

Stop exercising and your joints and muscles will shout out by making your feel stiff and achy.  No one wants inflexibility to ruin their ability to enjoy life.  To prevent this from happening, include stretching routines such as yoga and Pilates.  Regular stretching will improve blood and nutrient flow to all areas of the body but especially the joints and muscles that need a boost to keep them from getting rigid. 

4.  Exercise improves your frame of mind

 Anyone who has a good attitude towards life is always young in appearance no matter what their age.  To get that positive frame of mind, exercise is the perfect jumpstart we all need to get the endorphins flowing.  Sometimes referred to as the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers and can trigger positive feelings.  It is during strenuous exercise that endorphins are released by the pituitary gland of the brain.  Because they play an important role in the brain’s reward system creating pleasurable sensations, many people who exercise regularly, find that skipping even a couple of day of working out, leads to them feeling out of sorts.  Regular gym sessions have that ability to give you confidence kick you need while helping your feel happier too.

5.  Exercise helps you burn more calories

Once past the age of 40, our metabolism or the rate at which we burn calories slows down by about 5% per decade.  This means weight gain is more likely to happen.  Exercise can slow that gain way down.  Increasing our heart rate, moving our muscles, and simply being more active burns more calories than inactivity helping you maintain a steady, healthy weight.  Add in resistance training at least 2-3 times a week to build muscle mass, and the more calories you’ll burn.  By keeping your weight in check, you’ll look far younger than if you had let it get out of hand.

6.  Exercise slows aging of our cells

Not only does physical activity burn calories but even more importantly, it slows down cell aging of our chromosomes.  This has to do with telomeres, the caps at the end of chromosomes that control aging.  As we get older, our telomeres become shorter.  Longer telomeres are associated with longevity.  Studies have found a link between people who exercise regularly and having longer telomeres.   Just knowing this information is enough to make you want to lace up your tennis shoes and go out for a jog.

7.  Exercise reduces belly fat

Carrying excess weight around our mid-section does little to make you look younger.  Unlike fat on other areas of the body, belly fat also known as visceral fat, is a known risk factor for increasing your risk of diabetes and heart disease.  Consistent, regular cardiovascular workout sessions can do the trick to mobilize belly fat.  A 2011 Duke University study found that cardio workouts can help reduce belly fat more effectively than strength training workouts. 

8.  Exercise makes your heart efficient and strong

Our heart is a muscle and like any muscle it requires regular workouts to keep from getting weak.  When we don’t workout, our heart ends up having to work much harder pumping blood throughout our bodies, leaving you feeling stressed, easily tired, and winded.  This can be fixed with moderately intense exercise – like a brisk 30-minute walk – getting your heart stronger, more efficient as it pumps oxygen-rich blood resulting in less strain.  Exercise also reduces your risk of aging issues such as high blood pressure and high levels of triglycerides, both which contribute to heart disease.