Strength training benefits go beyond the mirror muscles and how we look. Building strength increases our mental acuity, helps to balance our emotions and mental state, promotes healthier food choices, acts as a natural pain reliever, and builds resilience and overall confidence.
Strength Training Improves Mental Acuity: Want to think better? Move more.
There is a misconception that we don’t have time to exercise and in the process, our productivity and ability to accomplish tasks and “find our flow” diminishes.
Fact: When we exercise, BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) increases leading to improvement in mental processing, creativity and productivity. This means that you will get more done in less time, with more creativity, and feel better about the work that you accomplished.
This can feel like an impossible task and a tough corner to turn especially when feeling stressed and overwhelmed. But if you take the plunge and do it, you will feel the shift in your mind and body. Perhaps there is an unhealthy habit you can stop doing to free up some time for exercise. Binge watching Netflix perhaps?
Strength Training and Exercise Helps to Balance Emotions and Mental State: Move more, feel better.
Did you know that exercise had been proven to be equally as effective as antidepressants? We are not saying that you should drop your meds and rely solely on exercise, but imagine how amazing you will feel if you really devoted some time to working out?
Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or depressed? Get in a solid sweaty workout that challenges you physically and you will feel the weight of the world lighten a bit. The impossible becomes possible and we feel more in control of our lives again. It’s pretty powerful stuff.
Working Out Improves Food Choices: Want to eat better? Start working out.
When we feel better we naturally want to eat better too. After a solid workout, your body and mind are more centered. When we are less stressed and reactive we are less vulnerable to making poor food choices. You are more likely to make a healthier food choice. For instance, a protein and antioxidant rich fresh smoothie sounds more appetizing than a donut after a good sweat session.
Exercise Acts as a Natural Painkiller: Skip the Advil – workout instead!
We often associate muscle soreness and pain with exercise – and it’s true that we can feel “sore” after a good workout. But, the natural painkiller I’m talking about is more systemic. Workouts boost your endorphins, causing your entire body to feel less pain and prompts overall feelings of wellbeing. News flash: Sitting around actually makes us hurt. And the more we sit, the more we hurt. The more we hurt, the less likely we are to exercise. So stop sitting around! Get up and move. A general rule of thumb is to never let more than 72 hours pass between workouts. After 72 hours we more easily fall off track and “forget” how good exercise feels.
Workout Habits Build Resilience and Confidence: I move because I can. I can because I move.
Movement and exercise – especially when we push ourselves to do hard things – builds mental resilience and confidence. Studies support that regular exercises are more resilient to acute stress and handle it with a more positive attitude. It is the more positive/less negative response to the stressor that helps protect us from chronic disease. Think diabetes, obesity, depression, heart disease. Our response to stress and life in general is what forms our lifestyle and habits. Our lifestyle and habits put us on a path to chronic disease or to a more vibrant disease free life. Exercise increases our resilience to these stressful events that could otherwise take us off course. Consistent exercise habits keep us physically and mentally stronger.
In summary, we were designed to move, to expend calories, to do hard things. So let’s do them and get on track or stay on track to the good life of vibrancy and possibility. Think about your lifestyle and habits. Where does healthy eating and exercise land on your priority list? If it’s not in your top 5, it’s time to rearrange your priorities. Think of strength training and exercise as the firm foundation of your mental and physical wellbeing. With a strong foundation under your feet, you can stretch to higher targets, maintain your health and be a positive influence to those around you. So, pick up those weights and let’s get moving.