It feels better to be stronger. Doesn’t it? Think about a time when you felt really strong. What was it like? (If you haven’t ever felt strong, let’s make THIS your time!) This blog series is all about building strength, and the benefits are extensive.
Lifting weights isn’t just for body sculpting and flexing in the mirror (although that is available!) Building strength cultivates things like more energy, more confidence, a better immune system, more mobility, better balance, stronger bones, better blood sugar regulation, improved brain health, and even a reduction in anxiety and depression. Considering the stressors of the pandemic and the increased pressure over the holiday season, there is no time like now to understand the link between muscles and mood. What if you could feel less anxious, more energetic, healthier, and just BETTER? Getting stronger needs to be part of the plan.
Studies repeatedly show a link between exercise and improved mood. We all know that we should move more. Moving more in general is great! Moving more with more muscle is exponentially better. Think about it. Muscles are the furnace for our metabolism (the amount of energy our bodies expend) and they send signals to the brain and body. The almighty mitochondria is at play here! In case you need a reminder, the mitochondria are organelles in most body cells that play a central role in energy production, immune function, cellular signaling, and more. They are improved and multiplied by exercise. Reading the list of their functions, doesn’t it seem pretty logical that we feel better if we have ample muscle mass?
Strength training (also called resistance training) has been shown to reduce anxiety in young adults, depression in older adults, as well as “symptoms in people with fatigue, anxiety, and depression; pain alleviation in people with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and low back issues; improvements in cognitive abilities in older adults; and improvements in self-esteem,” according to revered exercise science expert, Wayne Wescott. **
While all activities that are movement-based can help with mood, aerobic-type training (brisk walking, jogging, dance, biking, etc) have often been the focus to reduce depression and anxiety. I think that strength training makes doing any of those activities better. We move with more ease, our joints hurt less, our self esteem is higher, and our neural wiring and firing of muscles is improved. While exercise seems to be part of the answer to everything, I must note that when it comes to major depression and anxiety, it is important to seek help from trained professionals.
That said, when our health is better, our lives are better. When we hurt less, we feel happier. When we have more energy, we want to do more. When we do more, we tend to engage with other people more. We are designed to connect and to move. Making both of these things more possible by having a plan to progressively increase your strength just makes sense.
Cheers to getting stronger and happier at the same time!
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