I’ll be referring to a healthy and fit lifestyle as the good life. Sure that’s what it is. Being physically strong, having bundles of energy, feeling fit and looking damn good is the true definition of the good life. Not boat loads of money and material things although I know most of you wouldn’t turn down some cheddar being thrown out.

I’m a young guy growing my business from the ground up. In a tough as hell recession time hope itself can be hard to find. So you have to work hard, endure sleepless nights (like this one), put yourself out there being fearless. I take the risk and and consider sleep a luxury to reap the rewards for my labour. But the point I’m trying to make is this – If I didn’t have exercise as a daily outlet I would actually go INSANE !!!

I love training, always have and always will. The satisfaction of physically and mentally putting your body in situations it doesn’t want to be in and coming out stronger than before is hard to describe to those who don’t know. It actually started as an outlet when I was younger but I soon learned how great I felt from regular exercise. Brightened mood, feeling strong, permanent abs the list goes on.

So I had one of my clients put something together to explain in a little more detail the benefits you can experience with good training and nutrition. Here’s what he had to say

Exercise has amazing benefits for our mental health.

·         Mood enhancement

Research has shown a very strong link between exercise and mood. For example, within five minutes after moderate exercise you get a mood-enhancement effect. It has also been implied in research studies that active people report to be less depressed than inactive people. The benefits of regular physical activity extend beyond the short-term. Research has demonstrated that exercise can also help alleviate long-term depression and its effects have been comparable to some medication (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2007). Exercise can also form an effective preventative measure for those susceptible to low mood. Some researchers suspect exercise alleviates chronic depression by increasing serotonin. Hence, exercise serves as the body’s natural anti-depressant, so if you’re feeling down – get active. Exercise may boost a depressed person’s outlook by helping him return to meaningful activity and providing a sense of accomplishment.

• Anxiety management

Another benefit of exercise is in the treatment of anxiety.  It has been proposed that exercise acts like ‘exposure treatment’ to individuals who regularly suffer from anxiety and people can learn to tolerate the body’s natural stress response through exercise (Depression and Anxiety, 2008). Research has also discovered that people with high anxiety sensitivity who also reported high activity levels were less likely to panic than subjects who exercised infrequently (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2011). It has been suggested that exercise may be a way of biologically toughening up the brain, which helps a person tolerate more stress.

• Self esteem

Exercise has an immediate and enduring effect on our self-esteem. People who regularly exercise develop a sense of mastery, through the establishment of and attainment of fitness goals, which provides a sense of control and belief that life is moving in the desired direction. Improved body image, self-confidence, and self acceptance have been indicated in research as a product of exercise. Regular physical activity can also serve to replace self-defeating behaviours and habits. Finally, the commitment of taking positive action towards a ‘self care’ programme allows a person to manage other problems in their more effectively.

 

Dr. Austin Bayley

Clinical Psychologist. 

 

Take note from the doctor. Just some added benefits to regular exercise and a better lifestyle. Don’t let work or home life get in the way. We can always find time for a workout. Check out my youtube page for quick sessions if you’re busy. 

So take head and keep on progressing