10 Ways Fitness Can Improve Our Mental Health

Hey loves,

Today’s blog post is about the 10 ways that fitness can improve our mental health.

In this blog post, I will go over what mental health is, the mental health benefits of training, what mechanisms are at play during exercise and more!

Finally, I will share a few mental health resources for anybody who may be struggling at the moment!

Your wellbeing should be a priority and definitely matters no matter what goals you chase!

What is mental health?

Mental health describes mental wellbeing that allows us to self actualize, work/study and maintain interpersonal relationships.

Having good mental health entails us being able to function through these modalities with ease and while feeling good.

What type of fitness improves our mental health?

Lifting weights, jogging, walking, swimming, dancing and even gardening/cleaning offer numerous benefits to our mental health.

10 ways fitness can improve our mental health

1) It relieves depression and anxiety

Physical activity has proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins which in turn make us feel good.

2) It improves self esteem and cognitive function

Staying in shape improves our self esteem by making us feel good about ourselves.

It also increases our cognitive function thereby allowing us to be sharper and more focused throughout the day.

3) It improves sleep

Fitness raises our core body temperature, when it drops, it makes us feel sleepy.

4) It leads to an increased interest in sex

Fitness can improve our sex lives by increasing our sexual appetite.

5) It provides stress relief

Training reduces stress through the release of endorphins and by allowing us to sleep better.

Woman’s hands are in prayer mode during yoga

6) It leads to an improvement in mood

Thanks to the release in endorphins and increase in dopamine, fitness is a sure way of feeling good throughout the day.

7) It leads to more energy and stamina

Fitness allows us to have more energy and stamina, this can be helpful in fulfilling activities and certain functions throughout the day.

8) It reduces tiredness and can increase mental alertness

Fitness makes us feel more alert overall and can improve our ability to focus and use more of our brains.

9) It boosts brain power and enhances memory

Fitness boosts our brain power and enhances our memory.

If you are studying and need to memorize information for your exams, staying in shape is an excellent way of helping you do so.

10) It has social benefits and allows us to integrate into a community

The camaraderie aspect of fitness is an understated part of how helpful staying fit is for our mental health.

As social beings, we need to feel like we belong and are included in a community. The gym is an excellent way to do so!

How much exercise to do:

A 2006 study by Madaan, Sharma & Petty indicates that thirty minutes of exercise at a moderate pace is sufficient to reap mental health (and physical) benefits.

The workouts can be spaced into three parts, for instance, three 10 minute walks can produce the same mental and physical benefits as a 30 minute walk.

From lifting weights to doing Pilates, make sure to challenge yourself while you are training.

Remember to check out the rest of my blog for tools on how to achieve progressive overload and become a serious fit chick!

How does exercise promote better mental health:

Releases Endorphins and Serotonin

Exercises release the feel good chemicals of endorphins and serotonin. These feelings boost mood and increase positive feelings.

Alters our Thinking Patterns

Another way that exercise can help our mental health is that it alters our thinking pattern.

Simply, focusing on both our physical bodies and moving it allows us to interrupt negative or anxious thought patterns.

Improves the Function of the Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal Axis

A scientific explanation for how fitness improves our mental health is that it improves the functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

The HPA axis is a major neuroendocrine system and controls reactions to stress and regulates digestion, immunity, mood, emotions, sexual activity, and energy storage/expenditure.

This axis also lowers cortisol secretion and restores balance of leptin and ghrelin.

Releases Opioids and Encodannabinoids

Finally, exercises releases endocannabinoids and opioids, these pleasure and relaxation-enhancing properties allow us to feel relief from depression or anxiety.