You may not want to hear this, but exercise is a great stress reliever. As you know, exercise is important for a strong body. But not only does regular weekly exercise help maintains a healthy weight, it also helps the body to deal with stress. Just thirty minutes a day of physical exercise can relieve stress.

Exercise produces endorphins in the body. These endorphins produce a “feel good” attitude in the body. To continue to experience this feeling, people continue to exercise.

Exercise also increases the flow of blood to the brain. As a result, our mental clarity becomes sharper and we see solutions to problems where at first we thought there was none. Our cardiovascular fitness increases and we enjoy an abundance of energy for the tasks we face each day.

Exercise has so many benefits, so why don’t people do more of it? One reason that people don’t exercise is that they can’t find the time. What a pickle! We all need to find time to exercise so that we can take the time to deal with the stress in our lives.

For busy moms, exercising in the morning may be a good option. Before the day gets going and life happens, we can get our mental boost. In the morning, exercise can be done uninterrupted. You don’t need to go to a gym for a workout. Exercise videos and DVD’s are available that give just as good if not better workouts. And, you don’t have to get up, shower, get dressed and drive to the gym.

Another reason that people don’t exercise is that they don’t know what to do. They start out gung-ho and end up injuring themselves. The key to sticking with exercise is to find an activity that is at your pace and that you like to do. Yoga, for example, is a relaxing activity that teaches the body and the mind to work in tandem while strengthening the muscles and oxygenating the body.

Walking is still the best overall exercise and all you need is a good pair of shoes. Why not take a brisk walk around your neighborhood in the morning to clear your head and go over your schedule for the day. For working moms, lunchtime offers a chance to walk with friends and put the stress of work behind you. For families, walking in the evening after dinner is a way for everyone to de-stress and increases their health.

Exercise boosts our immune system.

It prevents the depletion of minerals in our bodies that usually comes with a prolonged stress response. Have you noticed that people who are under a lot of stress often catch colds? This is why. Exercise can prevent this type of result by keeping our minds sharp enough to deal with the stress in our lives.

So, if you’re stressed, make the time to exercise. Exercise has many benefits including weight reduction, heart health — on top of being a stress reliever. Thirty minutes or more a day can arm your body against the effects of stress. The endorphins can change your outlook on problems so that finding solutions is less of a struggle.

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Eat better, move more, and believe in yourself!

(About Me)