9 Reasons To Work Out (Which Have Nothing To Do With Your Looks)

We all know that the flatness of your stomach doesn't dictate your fitness levels - so we asked Personal Trainer Kit Redfern to share a few not-so-weight-loss-obsessed reasons to hit the gym...

YOU'LL FEEL HAPPIER

Exercise increases the production of endorphins - chemicals your body creates that block pain and elevate your mood in a similar way to morphine, only without the negative side effects. This explains that ‘runners' high’ that you may have heard of, and why once you fall into the habit of regular exercise it can be difficult to stop.

NO MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Running for the bus? Not a problem. And you won’t think twice about skipping the queue for the escalators on the tube because with a spring in your step you’ll be bounding up the sides in no time at all.

YOU'LL LOOK TALLER

Strengthening your back has its own health benefits in preventing back pain or injury, but having good posture will make you come across 10x more confident than slouching, even if you’re not feeling it.

YOU'LL FEEL MORE INDEPENDENT

Damsels in distress belong in fairytales. Squats and deadlifts in the gym make you strong enough to lift that heavy furniture for yourself, no man required.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD WILL IMPROVE

If you’re training hard in or out the gym you’ll need to eat to support your goals, which means ditching the diet mentality and viewing food as fuel instead, not something to be scared of.

YOU CAN JUSTIFY YOUR YOGA PANTS

There are so many fashionable fitness clothing brands around at the moment, and its a crying shame to buy such beautiful comfy clothes only to wear them for a marathon of the Netflix variety.

YOU'LL SLEEP LIKE A BABY

Regular exercise can not only help you fall asleep faster, but improves the quality of your sleep too so when you do wake up you’ll feel refreshed.

YOU'LL STAY SHARP IN YOUR OLD AGE

One unfortunate aspect of the ageing process is a gradual decline in cognitive function, but its been shown that people who engage in regular physical activity experience this decline at a much slower rate.

FEWER SICK DAYS

Moderate intensity exercise strengthens the immune system and makes you less susceptible to colds - in fact research has shown that people who participate in regular aerobic exercise take half as many sick days for colds and sore throats as those who don’t exercise.