informative speech outline

informative speech outline

The Importance of Exercise

1. Introduction

The modern sedentary lifestyle is so pervasive that many don’t realize the fundamental changes it has imposed on society. These changes are very complex and have affected us all in a multitude of ways. Simply recognizing the problem is tough for many since it affects us all differently. Those who are inactive have the most obvious problem, but the lack of physical activity is representative of everyone. This is a problem that affects each and every person because the absence of physical activity is now considered normal. With this societal change in mind, the purpose of this essay is to analyze what exercise is and the reasons for its importance in today’s society. This will be done in a way that is most meaningful for everyone, from the elite athlete to the regular gym-goer to those who have never considered exercising a part of their lives. By recognizing the importance of exercise, we can see the direct effects it has on our lives, both now and in the future.

In our society, exercise has become more significant than many realize. Most people see exercise as a chore and even a waste of time. This view, however, is the result of a poor experience or knowledge of exercise in general. Without realizing it, we have become a society that fears and rejects one of the most essential behaviors for attaining and maintaining health. We are inactive. The Surgeon General’s most recent advice on physical activity for Americans is about two and one-half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. This breaks down to a simple 30 minutes a day, which can be achieved by simply walking.

2. Benefits of Regular Exercise

Increased energy levels and moods – Regular exercise improves the performance of your cardiovascular system. When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to do the things you enjoy. Just as a car runs more smoothly and requires less petrol when the wheels are aligned, your body uses less energy when your cardiovascular system is working well. Imagine tying a 30kg weight around your waist and carrying it around all day. You would feel exhausted very quickly. This is what excess body fat does to your body. It makes your heart and lungs work harder than they have to. Imagine taking that weight off and how much easier it would be to move around. The stairs and hills would not be as daunting. Exercise has also been shown to improve a person’s mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. It produces changes in the parts of the brain that regulate stress and anxiety. It can also increase brain sensitivity for the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which relieve feelings of depression. For this reason, exercise can be used to prevent or treat depression and anxiety.

3. Different Types of Exercise

Anaerobic exercise involves brief, high-intensity activity where the body’s demand for oxygen exceeds the oxygen supply available. It is not sustainable for long periods as fatigue will eventually kick in. There are many types of anaerobic exercise with examples including sprinting, high-intensity interval training, and resistance training via the use of weights. The main benefits of anaerobic exercise are its positive effects on strength, muscle mass, and power production. When resistance training is done, muscle cells adapt to the stress by activating genes which, in turn, results in an increase of protein synthesis and stronger, thicker muscle fibers. Over time, as strength continues to increase, muscles will also increase in size. Anaerobic exercise also has many functional benefits unlike aerobic exercise. It will improve the performance of any active individual in everyday life, professional or amateur sports, and aids in the maintenance of a healthy body and mind as we age.

Aerobic exercise is often referred to as “cardio” since it involves the heart and circulatory system for the purpose of delivering oxygen to working muscles. This type of exercise is relatively light and can be sustained for long periods. Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, and swimming. Aerobic exercise has many benefits. It burns fat among the working muscles, which results in weight loss. This is because it increases the metabolic rate an individual has and, in turn, reduces their appetite. Aerobic exercise also helps prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Other benefits include an improvement to the immune system, an increase in stamina, and stress reduction. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends an aerobic workout of 3-5 days a week for 20-60 minutes to improve general health and fitness.

There are four main types of exercise that can be done to improve the body’s physical condition. These are aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, flexibility exercise, and strength training.

4. Tips for Incorporating Exercise into Daily Routine

Do not allow yourself to take long breaks from your exercise plan. It’s okay to miss a day now and then but try to avoid a pattern of inactivity. Studies have shown that the most difficult obstacle in exercise adherence occurs within the first 6 months of starting an exercise plan. After 6 months, people will usually have fully integrated exercise into their daily routine. So the idea is to stick with it until you actually enjoy it.

Another approach is to link exercise with other activities that you have to do daily. For example, with all the money you save on gas, parking, and time, commuting to work by bike can be very practical. Walking or biking can also be a healthy change of pace that allows you to better enjoy the weather and your surrounding environment. Also, instead of driving to a gym you can try going for a jog or doing a workout at a local park. People who stick with exercise long term find activities that make them feel good, whether it’s the sense of accomplishment after a hard workout, the endorphin high from some physical activity, or feeling relaxed after doing some yoga. Try to identify these feelings and use them as motivation.

Use a calendar or a planner to keep track of your exercise schedule. As you create your exercise plan, look for conflicts with other events and rearrange as necessary. You are more likely to stick to an exercise plan if you schedule it as if it were a doctor’s appointment. And if you are just starting to exercise, it helps to set daily goals and maintain a log of your activities. The goals should be simple and realistic. For example, you can start by walking 5 minutes a day for the first week.

The best way to make an exercise plan is to make it a regular part of your daily life. Whether you choose to exercise in the morning or at night, sticking to it is the key. Below are a few tips on how you can make exercising a part of your daily routine. Remember the idea is to go from thinking I should exercise to I gotta exercise! Take baby steps and ease into it. The more you enjoy it, the more you’ll be inclined to stick to it.

5. Conclusion

It is worth repeating that the problem of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis is not to be dismissed as a mere nagging worry to those who are physically inactive. The threat is real. This was evident by the observably positive effects of exercise in the experiments described on human and animal subjects with both hypertension and atherosclerosis. Also shown was that the earlier in life an active lifestyle is adopted, the lesser the chance of acquiring such afflictions. The excuse given by many that they are just too busy to include exercise in their lives seems invalid when one considers the costs in efficiency and productivity that may result from the lowered functionality to the heart and blood vessels brought on by the diseases. In considering a near future of such a grim reality to researchers confronted with the immense job of isolating the specific exercises and mechanisms of action to benefit various organ systems, the message is clear. Now is the time to take advantage of the knowledge that we have. It is known that endurance training improves the functionality of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and the overall physiology of the body. And it is known that even the slightest amount of appropriate exercise is beneficial to health. Therefore let everyone be convinced that the minimal requirements for exercise are realistic and attainable and no longer allow silly excuses to prevent one from taking the vital steps needed to ensure a healthy lifestyle.