Exercise Increases Productivity

Research finds that employees who exercised during work were more productive than those who relaxed or worked during those hours.

Group 1 exercised 2.5 hours/week, Group 2 relaxed during those 2.5 hours while Group 3 worked through those 2.5 hours. Not only did productivity increase over 6 months and 1 year, but Group 1 employees also lost less time to sick days.

Laughter a Form of Exercise

Research shows laughter can produce the same health benefits as physical exercise. Volunteers watched 20 minutes of a funny movie or comedy stand-up and revealed that laughing lowered their blood pressure, altered their appetite hormones as moderate exercise would.

In the spirit of this study, this video should provide you with your daily workout's worth.

Walking = Happiness

Research shows even 5 minutes of exercise in a natural setting can significantly increase happiness. 10 different studies where 1,200+ people did activities such as gardening, sailing and country walks demonstrated the effect. People with mental disorders benefited the most.

Fitter = Smarter

Research suggests that adolescent physically fit men tend to be more intelligent than their non-athletic counterparts.

Animal studies have long shown a link between physical activity and better memory. In humans, aerobic exercise can boost cognitive function in old people. Scientists found that of 1+ million men enlisted for military service @ 18, cardiovascular fitness, not muscle strength, was associated with overall intelligence (in the Swedish army). Physical fitness at 18 also foreshadowed greater academic achievement later in life for the public in general. Even among the twin pairs, the fitter brother tended to be the smarter.

Different Exercises Affect Diet Differently

Researchers followed 11 males as they jogged on a treadmill for 1 hr or 90 minutes lifting weights. They found that the treadmill workout altered the production of two different hormones that control appetite while weightlifting only affected one. This suggests that aerobic exercise is a better appetite suppressant than muscle building. Also, runners were less hungry than weightlifters.