EXERCISE…YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN
EXERCISE…YOUR BEAUTY REGIMEN
Ladies, when some of us hear the word, “exercise”, we roll our eyes in that manner that says, “If you think I am going to torture myself in the name of “good health”, think again because it is not happening!” Exercise can be daunting, but it all depends on your mindset and what you believe it can do for you. Mental reprogramming is essential to embracing exercise. When the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that 80 percent of American adults don’t get the recommended amount of exercise, it is time to take personal responsibility and get off that statistic! Ladies, if they say strong is the new pretty, we owe it to ourselves to jump on that bandwagon. If exercise sculpts and tones the body, enhances mood, fights diseases and boosts energy, what then are we still waiting for to embrace it as part of our makeup regimen? There is no better cosmetic/makeup out there than exercise and as such, we should not leave home without an ample “application ” of said makeup…exercise.
The secret is simple. Make it fun! Think of it as an internal application of makeup. Most of us don’t leave home without putting on some powder foundation, lip gloss, mascara, etc. So why should we leave home without the one thing that does it all? Exercise. Exercise makes one feel and look good. It makes confidence go through the roof. One feels happier and more relaxed. Exercise also significantly boosts your energy level that it truly gives you that Super Woman feeling in her sexy outfit, cape and all. Exercise does wonders for the body. It is not surprising that it also evokes the feeling of being able to conquer the world! Wonder Woman and Super Woman all wrapped up in one…hmmm, I’ll take a dose of that!
When exercise feels more like play, and is fun, it has a better chance of passing the longevity test. Variety in activity is also the key to committing to an active lifestyle. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do, Zumba, CrossFit, running, walking, swimming, jumping - just move! You might say none of these things interest you. Well, that’s where the change in mindset-mental reprogramming comes in. Think of exercise as a must-do-movement. Make exercise mandatory i.e. one of those things you just have to do - like brushing your teeth. You brush, good oral hygiene; you don’t, poor oral hygiene. I don’t have to enumerate the many consequences of the latter.
If you are still on the fence and mulling over the subject of committing to an exercise lifestyle, think of these real benefits as it relates to your daily beauty regimen:
Healthy Beautiful Skin: The skin factors in heavily when it comes to beauty. The healthier the skin, the better its appearance. By increasing the flow of blood, exercise helps skin cells stay nourished and keeps them vital. During exercise, blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body and the skin. The increase in blood flow that comes with exercise helps in flushing out toxins from the body, thus giving you a thorough cleaning from the inside out. Also, exercise reduces stress, which has been shown to exacerbate some skin conditions like acne and eczema. Research shows that stress hormones negatively affect the oil-producing gland, (sebaceous gland). With regular exercise, stress levels are reduced and these skin maladies seem to improve. Exercise is good for the skin and can compete with any expensive lotions or potions, in my opinion.
Exercise is good for you
(https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/2013/04/15/exercise-makes-you-smarter/)
Healthy Mane: Exercise does for hair the same thing it does for the skin. Exercise impacts the sebum, which is an oily conditioning substance secreted by the skin glands that helps prevent hair from drying out. Stress affects the hair. When some individuals are stressed, hair loss occurs. Dialing down the stress levels with exercise helps prevent hair loss. Now, if this does not get your attention with regards to exercise, then…
Strong and toned Muscles: Toned muscles are a great benefit of exercise. When you see someone that exercises, you notice that they look fit and strong. Yes, strong is said to be the new pretty, the new sexy, the new must-have. With toned muscles, clothes look good on and it does not matter if the designer is Michael Kors or your grandma, the fit is simply better.
Gorgeous Gluteus Maximus: Looking at social media, it cannot be denied that a well-defined buttock is all the rage! Well, get to exercising! The cheapest and safest way to looking good walking away is exercise. You get great results with no surgical complications and the simple fact that you don’t have to worry about not being able to sit on your behind for an x number of weeks after surgery is not a factor!
First Lady Arms: Count me in! Who does not want toned arms? You don’t have to purchase weights. You can do it with your milk gallons. You can do push ups, chin ups, and all the other “ups” there are to do.
Costs Zero Dollars: The beauty of this beauty regimen called exercise is that it costs as much or as little as you want it to. Zero dollars is exactly how much I’d like to pay. You do not have to leave your home in order to indulge in this beauty regimen. You don’t have to have a gym membership. You do not have to purchase equipment of any kind. You can walk or run in your neighborhood, the park or wherever you please. You can have a slim body and a fat wallet! Isn’t it ironic that exercise costs nothing, but the results are PRICELESS?!
Lowering Risk of Breast Cancer: Research has shown that women who exercise at moderate to vigorous levels for more than three hours per week had a 30% to 40% lower risk of breast cancer. This result is true for all women regardless of their family history or risk level of the disease. Studies have also shown that the higher the level of activity, the lower the risk. The bottom line is staying active at any age may help lower the risk of breast cancer.
Lowering Risk of Uterine Cancer: Women who exercise have a 38% to 46% reduced risk of uterine cancer. Exercise does this by lowering obesity and decreasing estrogen levels both of which are factors that may be related to the development of uterine cancer. Similar research also holds true for colon and lung cancers.
We have to look at exercise as a “must” do as opposed to a “should” do. We have to change our mindset when it comes to exercise. It has to be thought of as a daily vaccine, if you will, that prevents diseases like Cancer, Type II Diabetes and obesity. It helps with Arthritis, improves heart health and so much more… Makeup can cost a fortune and is only skin deep. Exercise is free and it takes care of your outward appearance and reboots your insides. So what do you say?
Anwuli Okoye (BHO Contributor)
Last updated August 27, 2015
