ActiveBody transformation coach shares 5 reasons why workouts can help you feel better physically and mentallyFeeling blue? Here’s why you should PUT THE COOKIE DOWN and work out immediately to feel betterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveBody transformation coach shares 5 reasons why workouts can help you feel better physically and mentallyFeeling blue? Here’s why you should PUT THE COOKIE DOWN and work out immediately to feel betterWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Feeling blue? Here’s why you should PUT THE COOKIE DOWN and work out immediately to feel better
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, might be made up, but it doesn’t take away from the importance of talking about mental health. I personally look forward to Blue Monday every January, as it allows me to open up a conversation about the connection between mental well-being and exercise and how workouts can be the most convenient and money-saving way to improve mental health.
I’m not alone in thinking this way. I talked to many people in the fitness industry who appreciate the connection between physical activity and mental hygiene, but not many stories inspired me as much as Rhys', a personal trainer and body transformation coach working in Madeira. Talking to him recently made me realise once again how different we are and just how essential it is to take mental health seriously.
“I believe that the physical benefits of exercise are a secondary win compared with the mental reward. Body transformations happen, sure, but how exercise can transform one’s mindset and strengthen confidence tenfold is quite frankly miraculous.” I asked Rhys to share his five reasons why exercise and workouts are the best way to battle the Blue Monday blues; please find these below.
Rhys MaddocksSocial Links NavigationFunctional fitness and body transformation coachRhys, a.k.a. MadFit, is originally from the UK and has recently relocated to Madeira, Portugal, to pursue a more active outdoor lifestyle and improve his mental health and well-being. He’s been involved in sports and training for the last 10 years, and his central coaching ethos is to help people take control of their minds and bodies using a positive and robust approach to nutrition and exercise.
Rhys MaddocksSocial Links NavigationFunctional fitness and body transformation coachRhys, a.k.a. MadFit, is originally from the UK and has recently relocated to Madeira, Portugal, to pursue a more active outdoor lifestyle and improve his mental health and well-being. He’s been involved in sports and training for the last 10 years, and his central coaching ethos is to help people take control of their minds and bodies using a positive and robust approach to nutrition and exercise.
Rhys MaddocksSocial Links NavigationFunctional fitness and body transformation coach
Rhys MaddocksSocial Links Navigation
Social Links Navigation
Rhys, a.k.a. MadFit, is originally from the UK and has recently relocated to Madeira, Portugal, to pursue a more active outdoor lifestyle and improve his mental health and well-being. He’s been involved in sports and training for the last 10 years, and his central coaching ethos is to help people take control of their minds and bodies using a positive and robust approach to nutrition and exercise.
Rhys, a.k.a. MadFit, is originally from the UK and has recently relocated to Madeira, Portugal, to pursue a more active outdoor lifestyle and improve his mental health and well-being. He’s been involved in sports and training for the last 10 years, and his central coaching ethos is to help people take control of their minds and bodies using a positive and robust approach to nutrition and exercise.
1. Exercise reduces the symptoms of depression
Many people know about the runner’s high phenomenon, even if they haven’t experienced it themselves. Losing yourself to exercise is an uplifting feeling that can easily wash away the stress of the day. “Workouts release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins which help enhance our well-being,” Rhys explains, “It enables the body to release proteins known as neurotrophic or growth factors, which help our nerve cells grow and create new connections.”
2. Improved confidence
Workouts change your body, but you don’t have to squat 300 lbs or run around the village to feel accomplished. “Even the shortest workout can help flush your brain and body with endorphins and dopamine, boosting self-esteem and fuelling self-confidence,” Says Rhys, “Knowing that you’ve achieved something and on a course to alter your body and mind positively, exercise induces a positive alteration to your mental state, too!”
(Image credit: Alex Green / Pexels)
(Image credit: Alex Green / Pexels)
3. Helps manage stress
“Aerobic exercise can help better manage stress”, Rhys suggests, and science backs him up on this claim. “There have been consistent findings that people report feeling calmer after a 20- to 30-minute bout of aerobic exercise, and the calming effect can last for several hours after exercise”, says theAmerican College of Sports Medicine. It might feel like this is just stating the obvious, but considering how many people still don’t use exercise to combat stress, it’s important to reiterate the connection.
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4. Makes you sleep better
For many, a good night’s sleep is the ultimate challenge to tackle. And while most people know what it takes to sleep better – bedtime routine, screen-free evenings, regular exercise, good diet, etc. – not many of us actually follow these rules to make a difference. “Research showedthat exercise positively affects sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults,” says Rhys, “This is why I always recommend my clients to prioritise exercise if they want to feel well-rested during the night.”
5. Creates social connections
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