Benefits of Exercise on the Body & Brain
Why do 80% of people who make their New Year's fitness goals drop them by the second week of February? People tend to have issues sticking with their exercise goals and feel a sense of failure after fear and intimidation sets in. The key to experiencing the long-term benefits of an active lifestyle is to prioritize your self-care. Our society has come to believe that we must take care of everyone else first before tending to our own needs. This is the exact reason why many Americans are burned out and exhausted. Self-care is a necessity for living your best life.
So now that we understand how important self-care is, let's identify your goals for living a healthy life, create steps to reach these goals and take action to feel accomplished!
To gain the benefits of exercise, you must be willing to get outside your comfort zone. Push yourself mentally and physically for growth and transformation.
To help motivate you, here is a list of physical and mental health benefits of exercise.
Physical Health Benefits of Exercise
Increased muscle strength and muscle mass (which helps burn calories and fat)
Increased energy
Improved flexibility and movement
Weight loss and weight control
Improved immune system, for overall better health
Strength training & weight-bearing exercise (like walking, jogging, etc.) promote stronger bones
Lower risk of some types of cancer
Increased “good” cholesterol to keep blood flowing smoothly
Lower risk of a heart attack and stroke
Reduced risk of Diabetes 2 and metabolic syndrome
Exercise can increase your life expectancy by an average of 7 years!
Mental Health Benefits of Being Active
Improved happiness and life satisfaction
Increased self-esteem
Can alleviate symptoms of Depression
Exercise is associated with deeper relaxation and better quality of sleep
Strength training has been shown to decrease tension and worry in the body and mind
Studies show exercise reduces/treats and may prevent anxiety and panic attacks
Increases mental clarity and efficiency
Improves cognitive functioning
Exercise is associated with better thinking, learning and judgment
Group or partner exercise increases social activity and decreases feelings of loneliness and isolation
Increased body-image
Increases levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which is linked with improved mood
Increases endorphins, or the “feel good” chemicals in the body, improving mood and energy
Exercise enhances the mind’s ability to withstand daily hassles and stressors and regulate itself
It can help you tap into intuition and creativity
Increases assertiveness and enthusiasm for life
Are you ready to be the best version of yourself physically & mentally? Tell yourself every day “I’m worth it!” Let go of all the fears you may have ("I'm not good enough," "It's too difficult," "I don't have time,") and feed into your new positive mindset.
If you need help with unlocking your inner beast, click HERE to learn how to improve your drive and motivation for working out.
If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.
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A HEALTHY MIND CREATES A HEALTHY LIFE
-Trish French, MSW, CAP, LCSW