The Benefits of a Single Workout
Posted: Feb 16 in Obesity and your Health, Weight Loss Surgery by Staff
Sometimes it is hard to get up the motivation to go to the gym. After a long week at the office, by the time the weekend comes it can take a lot of mental energy to convince yourself that heading to the gym is worth the hassle—especially when you know it will be the only workout you get in during the week. This type of frustration is often the start of a big downfall during medical weight loss programs. The excitement of a new weight loss program may encourage you at first, but as time goes on it becomes more and more difficult to get yourself moving.
Well, research shows that even if you don’t make it to the gym every day during the week, the one time that you are able to get there is totally worth your while. Every little bit of activity that you can engage in can help you in reaching your weight loss goal, and keeping the weight off long-term. One workout during the week can help you stay familiar with the gym, and can encourage you to find time during the rest of the week to be as active as possible. But even more than just those mental benefits, research shows that even a single workout can actually boost your metabolism for days, actually making it easier to burn calories throughout the week, even if you haven’t been keeping up with your daily workout plans.
Researchers from the UT Southwestern Medical Center found that the neurons that influence metabolism in the brain are activated for up to 48 hours following a workout. The more intense the workout, the longer those neurons are going to stay active. This finding is especially important in helping people who are managing obesity related diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, as it means that putting in the effort to work out even once or twice a week can have a significant impact on your overall health.
There are a million reasons as to why it is difficult to keep up with a workout during the week, but only one reason as to why you need to try anyways: it is the right thing to do for your health and wellness goals. If you really don’t like going to the gym, consider downloading an app like Daily Burn and watching workout videos at home. Otherwise you can find a friend or neighbor who can keep you company and head out for regular walks through your neighborhood. Being as active as possible as often as possible is the best choice that you can make for your health and weight loss goals.