5 Reasons Every Woman Should Exercise

You may not want to hear it, but exercise is very important for you. Everyone should be fitting regular fitness into their routine, but you also have some unique benefits as a woman. Here are 5 different reasons to start exercising on a regular basis.

1. It Gives You a Natural Mood Boost

One of the great things about exercising regularly is that it makes you feel so much better. It is high on the list of the best ways to naturally make you happier and reduce stress at the same time. This is all thanks to endorphins, which are happy chemicals you already have in your brain. When you exercise, it helps you release those endorphins, helping you to feel happier and more energetic. Exercising for around 30 minutes or so a day really boosts your mood.

2. You Can Reduce Certain Health Risks

Exercise is wonderful for so many reasons, from weight loss to giving you more energy. Another reason you should exercise is because it helps to reduce your risk for serious medical conditions. This includes physical conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease, both of which are a high risk if you are a woman. Exercising has also been shown to reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. There is no cure for dementia, so prevention is your best chance.

3. It Helps with Your Sex Life

If you feel like your sex life has been lacking as of late, why not feel sexier and get more confidence with exercise? There are many ways exercising can improve your sex life. First of all, it will give you more confidence due to becoming fit, healthy, and losing weight. It can also improve your sexual desire thanks to the natural mood boost and increase in energy you get. This is great for both women and men.

4. You Can Lose Weight

The reason many women choose to exercise regularly is to help them lose weight. While you should still follow a healthy diet, exercise definitely helps you manage your weight. It is important at any age, from teen and young adult years, to being an older adult and senior. Weight loss also has other benefits, like improving your confidence, helping with your sex life, and reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

5. Exercise is Great for Mental Health

While your physical health is very important to pay attention to, you should also be focusing on your mental health as well. It is imperative that you not forget about your stress level and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Exercise can help you manage these types of mental health conditions.

God Loves You and Sees You

Being a Caretaker can make you feel unseen. People forget to invite you out to parties. Friends may not call to check up on you. You are so busy taking care of everyone else, know one is taking care of you. And in the middle of it all, you feel so lonely.

But God sees you. That’s why Hagar called God “El Roi” or “the God who sees me”. The same God who saw a scared, runaway slave and loved her deeply sees you, the scared Caregiver who feels all they do is give, but never receives; He loves you deeply.

Can I say a prayer for you today, friend? God, I know my friend feels unseen and ignored by the rest of the world. Caretaking can be so isolating. But You see my friend. You love them deeply and You care about their pain. Remind them that You are close to them today. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Health Screenings for Women

As a woman, taking your health seriously is of the utmost importance. One way to do this is to get routine screenings that look at various aspects of your health, from your blood pressure and cholesterol, to your stamina and physical health. Here are some of the more important health screenings women need to get.

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

These are two simple screenings that everyone should get done regularly, including if you are a woman. In fact, women often have a higher risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions, so you should start these tests around age 18-20. Your doctor may request to perform the test each year if you are at a high risk, or do them every few years when you go in for routine bloodwork. Both blood pressure and cholesterol can affect your heart health and overall health, so don’t skip this one.

Breast Screenings

As a woman, one of the riskiest cancers for you is breast cancer. While men can get breast cancer, most people who get this type of cancer are women. You should get various types of breast screenings to look for signs of cancer. The first is a basic type of breast exam, where the doctor or nurse will look for signs of bumps or lumps on your breast, including examining your armpits and areolas for irregular patterns or colors. You should also get a mammogram each year starting between 40 and 50 years old, according to your doctor’s guidelines.

Osteoporosis Screenings

One of the more common medical conditions women need to be careful about is osteoporosis. This is when you lose some of your bone density, which can easily happen with women as they age. You need to focus on diet and nutrition, as well as proper exercise to help prevent osteoporosis. You can also get early treatment by getting osteoporosis screenings periodically. This often includes getting a bone density scan, then following that up with x-rays of your bones.

Blood Glucose Tests

Finally, as a woman you might be at risk for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can occur at any time during your life, whether you are at a high risk for it or not. It is important to get routine bloodwork, including checking your blood glucose levels, so you know whether or not you are pre-diabetes or if you already have diabetes now and need to get it treated.

Who Holds Your Future?

**Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to the known God!**

Having a chronic illness is a scary thing for sure. Many people don’t get a firm diagnosis or if they do, the doctors find it impossible to predict how that illness may change in the coming weeks, months, or years. As a caretaker you are not only taking on what is going on in your household, but caring for someone else’s day to day health.

It’s easy to sit up late at night, worrying about your health or your patient’s health. Will you be able to pick up your toddler next month? Will you still be able to drive to the grocery store next week? Will you be able to attend that family reunion next year?

There’s a quote from Corrie Ten Boom that comforts me in these moments. She says, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to the known God.”

This was a woman who faced unimaginable loss and still came out on the other side with a beautiful redemption story. She didn’t let the unknown keep her from seeking (or trusting) God!

Peace In the Middle

Have you ever felt like someone put your world on “spin cycle” and left it there for an extra long time? That’s how I feel when life throws me curveballs, disrupts my life and I have to adjust to the problem at hand .

There’s just so much we can’t control in this life. We can do everything we’re supposed to and things can still go sideways. But we can have peace no matter what’s happening because God is in charge.

Can I pray for you today, friend?

God, I confess—sometimes, my life feels like it’s spinning out of control. But my feelings aren’t true because I believe You are still in control. Help me to rest in this truth today and not what my emotions tell me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.