This week we will be doing a series called #LoveAlways where we talk about different aspects of taking care of yourself. Today, we welcome Priya Menon back for her second guest post, where she will share with us the importance of exercise! Remember the best thing you can do to take care of yourself is to love yourself no matter what! Enjoy! ~ Nichole
Exercise is as an important factor of life, whether we acknowledge it or not. It is not about just weight loss or building muscles. Exercise provides a whole host of benefits both physical and mental.
Exercise boosts our brainpower by increasing serotonin, which enables to be more productive. Exercise helps decrease stress levels. It releases endorphins which gives us more energy and enables us to be happier and upbeat. It ensures that we are healthier by ensuring reduction of heart diseases, strokes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetics, arthritis and loss of muscle mass. It also strengthens cardiovascular system.
Running is another that allows us to burn the most calories more than that of any other exercise that we can do in the gym. It prevents osteoarthritis. Running strengthens ligaments around the joints by increasing oxygen flow and flushing out toxins.
It is also important to understand your body limits and not break personal limitations of your body. Instead of making you, feel upbeat and happy with the endorphins release, it will tend to make you weak and not allow you to perform to your usual abilities. If that is the case, then it is time to take a break for a few days so that your body can get the rest and recuperate. Something as simple as “sinus” falls under this category, most doctors advise against running during this time. Some sinus infections can lead to pneumonia hence it advised to wait it out before you decide start running again.
Exercising with a fever will put us on a fast track toward dehydration as well. Always ensure that your drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated. During a cold, gargle with lots of water and wash your hands frequently. Ensure that you take regular multi-vitamins. Most important when you are sick, listen to your body and rest well.
Exercise boosts self-confidence. Any kind of exercise make you feel like a million bucks. It helps boost self-esteem and improve positive self-image. It also helps in understanding self-worth.
Exercise also helps in alleviate anxiety. The chemicals that are released during and after exercise sessions help people with anxiety disorders to calm down. Exercise helps control addiction. The brain releases dopamine which is released in any form of pleasure, may that be exercise, drugs, alcohol or food. Short exercise sessions can effectively distract from drug or alcohol addicts.
A heart pumping gym session can boost creativity for a few hours after the exercise session. It is advised that exercising outdoors and interacting with nature increase the flow of creativity further. Running also help refresh the body and the brain at the same time to boost creativity. Studies show that most people perform better on aerobic tests when paired with a buddy.
Working out have positive effects far beyond the gym or a run session. It helps in gains self-confidence, pulling us out depression and thinking smarter are some of the motivations to take some time off for exercise.
Hi, I am Priya Menon, an Executive assistant by profession. Writing is a passion that I recently realized always have been an avid book reader. Until recently was just a reader, few months go pottered around in content writing and realized that i enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading.
Defying Shadows 