Why should you love exercising?

People exercise on home fitness equipment for all sorts of reasons, many of which may have to do with their physical appearance. Exercise is a top way to keep from becoming overweight, and if you like to indulge in a piece of cake (or three), a few cookies or a bag of chips every now and then, working out is crucial to keeping a healthy figure.

While working out does wonders for boosting your self-confidence and happiness with your appearance, there are plenty of reasons to love hitting the home treadmill that have nothing to do with what people see when they look at you.

It can be challenging to always look forward to your ride on the stationary bike, but knowing how the many positives can be a great motivator. Here are some excellent reasons to fall in love with exercise aside from liking what you see when you look in the mirror:

You’ll be sick less: Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but regular fitness sessions can help you avoid getting a cold, the flu or other illnesses. Research has shown that exercising at least two or three times a week strengthens your body’s ability to fight germs and free radicals.

It eases cramps: For women, that one week a month can be unpleasant when it comes to painful cramps. Instead of reaching for the painkillers to dull the ache, hit the home gym equipment instead. Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins, which help relieve pain.

You’ll be in a better mood: Not only will you look great, but you’ll feel great, too. Fitness boosts the chemicals in your brain that lower your stress and anxiety levels while increasing your happiness levels, so the more sessions you fit in each week, the more relaxed and positive you’ll be. Next time you feel bummed out or sad, hop on the treadmill and you’ll feel better after a great sweat sesh.

It helps you sleep better: Anyone who struggles with sleep issues knows how draining it can be. Exercise has proven to help people drift off to sleep each night. A National Sleep Foundation study determined that 67 percent of those who exercise regularly get a good night’s sleep no matter if their session was in the morning, afternoon or evening.

It makes you more creative: It can sometimes feel like a challenge to get  your creative juices flowing, so if this sounds like you, it’s time to up the fitness routine. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience found that regular exercisers who rode a stationary bike performed better on creativity tests when compared to those who took part in no physical activity.

You’ll have no energy: Though it may sound counterintuitive, regular exercise can boost your energy levels. It might seem like physical activity would make you tired, but it’s just the opposite. In fact, fitness can actually lower fatigue because sweating raises your metabolism and makes your brain produce more dopamine, which helps you feel less sleepy.

You’ll have a better memory: If you find yourself constantly forgetting things, whether it’s your keys or important deadlines, it’s time to get serious about a workout routine. A study published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research found that exercise causes higher levels of hormones linked to strong memories in the bloodstream.