The Science Behind Why Exercise Makes You Feel Good

how exercise makes you feel good

how exercise makes you feel good

The Science Behind Why Exercise Makes You Feel Good

Just about everyone is familiar with the “runner’s high,” but the truth is that any form of exercise can help you feel better on an emotional and physical level. Unfortunately, most people don’t really know why exercise makes you feel good, and that might prevent them from going ahead and starting a workout routine in the first place.

It’s true, exercise does improve the way that you feel, both mentally and physically. So, if you have been avoiding starting an exercise routine, but you haven’t been feeling well, or you wish you had more energy and motivation, it might be time to just force yourself to get more active.

Here’s why exercise makes you feel good:

1. Neurochemistry

The quick way to explain why physical activity makes you feel good is to simply link the activity to the release of endorphins. But there are also other chemicals, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and the neurotransmitter anandamide, that become elevated during exercise. These flood into your bloodstream and eventually make their way into your brain, giving you that familiar euphoric feeling that you get after your workout. And because low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine are often linked to depression and anxiety, it makes sense that working out combats some of our darker emotions and helps keep us on track and stable. These brain chemicals also have the added benefit of having an appetite suppressant effect, which can take you even further toward your fitness goals.

2. Self-Esteem

Anyone who has ever done a moderate amount of exercise and then checked themselves out in the mirror knows that, realistically, those 30 minutes didn’t do much to change your physical appearance. But in your mind, you look better than you did a mere half hour ago. Exercise makes you feel good about you! Those effects wear off fairly quickly, but for the time being, in your mind, you look good! Those kinds of results also help get you hooked into a routine, meaning more frequent mirror checks to boost your self-esteem. A study in mice even showed researchers that meek-natured mice were less stressed when housed with aggressive mice when they were allowed to exercise before each encounter. Mice that were deprived of any exercise at all handled the stress of living with a bully much more poorly and were often submissive and cowered fearfully in corners.

3. Productivity

Whenever you exercise, your brain does a neat trick when it notices your body is under stress during your workout. Basically, in order to protect itself, your brain releases a protein known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (also known as BDNF). The best part of this is that BDNF has both reparative and protective effects on your memory. This is why people who exercise regularly and put in the necessary effort into studying do better on tests and have an easier time being organized. Professionals that incorporate exercise into their daily routines are also generally more productive than those that forego the exercise and inevitably get burnt out through the day. Exercise makes you feel good by boosting your ability to "slay it" at work, home, and play!

Still Not Convinced? Here Are Other Ways Exercise Makes You Feel Good 

Do you still need more reasons to start and maintain a workout routine? Then check out the following ways that exercise makes you feel good:

  • Exercising helps build strength and stamina, and these are things you can use in your everyday life. Example: someone who used to struggle to go up the stairs in their building might find that they no longer feel out of breath when they get to the top, and that makes them feel super good about themselves and all that they have accomplished.
  • When you are able to achieve some weight loss with the help of exercise, you will likely feel a lot better overall. That’s because excess weight can make you feel tired and sluggish, and it can hold you back from doing some of the things that you love to do. By working out, and burning off excess calories and fat, you can begin to slim down to your target weight.
  • Did you know that exercise can act like a natural painkiller? It’s true! That’s because, during a tough workout when you’re testing your body’s limit, the hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland will produce those endorphins we discussed above, and those act like painkillers.

In summation, exercise makes you feel good because it can make you stronger, and you can use that strength in your daily life, not just at the gym. Plus, it can help relieve pain and put you into a positive mood. And it can help with learning, productivity, and memory, while also boosting your self-esteem, whether or not your workout routine is geared towards losing weight.

Exercise Makes You Feel Good: Here’s How to Get Started

For the best exercise-induced high, exercise with moderate intensity for 35 minutes to an hour. Also, according to a study published in Preventative Medicine, the optimal exercise amount for mental health benefits are between 2.5 and 7.5 hours per week. Any more or less may reduce benefits.

As you can see, working out is good for you, and exercise makes you feel great! The simple act of hitting the gym will benefit not only your physical health, but your mental and emotional health as well. Now you know exactly how exercise makes you feel so darn good, and if you’re ready to get started, rest assured that you don’t have to be hard on yourself. Start off slow and work your way up to more intense workouts as you get stronger. No matter what, you’ll feel amazing.

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