Already have an account?
Get back to the
Health

Yes, Exercising Can Help You Live Longer — Even If You Start Now

We all know that exercise is good for us, but sometimes it can just be so difficult to actually get ourselves to do it on a regular basis, New research says that starting working out today (even if you’ve been lazy up until now) will still help you live longer. This could be just the motivation we need! 

In a new study, researchers observed 14,559 men and women between the ages of 40 and 79, tracking their past and current work out habits over a 12 and a half year timeline. Those who increased their physical activity, even just by a little bit, were found to decrease their risk of both cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study went on to claim: “Compared with consistently inactive people, those who became more active over time had a lower risk of death from all causes, regardless of past activity levels.” 

Basically, this means it’s really never too late start exercising and see a benefit. You might have used the excuse that you’ve already “ruined” yourself by this point in your life, but this study confirms that just isn’t true.

You don’t have to go all out with a rigorous regimen or even invest in any expensive gym memberships (unless you want to), just start slow and see what works best for you. Chances are high you’ll find yourself dreading the physical exertion less and less as you go.

Another good tip: Be consistent about the time of day you do your exercises. Another recent study found that people who worked out at the same time every day saw better results. Whether that means waking up a little earlier in the morning to break a sweat before hitting the showers or workout before watching your favorite show at night, you’ll be helping yourself stay healthier and live longer. 

Now go ahead — get up and get your heart rate pumping! 

More From Woman’s World

How I Finally Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gym

3 Easy Exercises That Fight Muscle Loss as You Age

7 At-Home Exercise Tools Every Older Adult Should Own

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.