1. You’ll get an instant energy boost. When you’re feeling drained, no one can blame you for wanting to curl up on the couch to read or watch something on TV. But, odd though it might seem, that’s when you should get up and move. Exercising gets your blood flowing, delivers oxygen throughout your body, wakes you up and makes you feel ready to take on the next challenge.

2. Your mood will improve. In some cases, exercise can work better than medication and is a great stress management tool. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise helps depression and anxiety by releasing feel-good endorphins and other brain chemicals, and can take your mind off worries while you’re doing it.

3. You’ll strengthen your bones to help prevent osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends two types of exercise for building and maintaining bone density: weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening. Thinning bones can result in painful fractures if you fall. Strength-training and weight-bearing exercises also help with balance.

4. It can help keep your mind sharp. You can keep doing the daily crossword. Just be sure you’re moving your body too. Physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning and judgment skills sharp as you age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

5. You’ll slash your diabetes risk. Being active helps keep your blood glucose levels in check, so it reduces your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. And if you already have type 2 diabetes, regular activity can help you manage it. Learn more.

6. You’ll reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. Exercise helps you control your weight, lower your LDL (“bad” cholesterol), raise your HDL (“good” cholesterol) and control your blood pressure.

7. Your back will thank you. Stretching and strengthening the muscles in your back will help you avoid backaches. As well, increasing core muscle strength will help you have better posture.

8. It offers relief for achy joints. It might seem like sore knees or hips would be a good excuse for resting. But the Arthritis Foundation says physical activity is the best non-drug treatment for improving pain and function.

9. Exercise helps you stay independent. Increasing strength, flexibility and confidence helps you continue to perform activities for daily living. Think lifting a grandchild, putting on a seatbelt, even driving.

10. You might accomplish things you never thought you could. Be like 71 percent of SilverSneakers® participants who say, “I discovered I can do more than I thought I could.” (2017 SilverSneakers Annual Participant Survey)

Remember, you can get all the activity you need by participating in SilverSneakers. If you haven’t started yet, do it now. You’ll be glad you did.

Get up and get active now with SilverSneakers. SilverSneakers.com/StartHere 1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET

†SilverSneakers is a wellness program owned and operated by Tivity Health, Inc., an independent company. Tivity Health and SilverSneakers are registered trademarks or trademarks of Tivity Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. © 2018. All rights reserved.

HCSC6018GUGABLOG0718_T