Chemical Reasons to Exercise
We’ve all heard of runner’s high, or people say they exercise for their mental health. I know for some of us that is hard to conceptualize. I tend to roll my eyes when I hear that arrogant sounding statement, mainly because it sounds like they have a special secret to exercising that makes it enjoyable that I am completely unaware of.
I actually do love how my mind feels after exercising, I am sometimes amazed at the amount of ambition and clarity I feel afterward. I have never left a workout feeling low or worse than when I started. I also love how exercise can feel as though it’s brought me down to earth, it makes me feel my feet on the floor.
Here are the chemicals produced from exercise completed for 20 minutes:
Endorphins- a hormone that is released that helps the brain with pain, improves mood, and lowers stress. Think stabilize here.
Dopamine - is released from the “rewards system” of the brain, muscles working get dopamine sent from the brain, it is the “feel good” chemical, the “pleasure” chemical.
Endocannabinoids — biochemical substances similar to cannabis but naturally produced by the body. People have called this the runner’s high. This is how PhD David Linden describes it:
“Exercise increases the levels of endocannabinoids in the bloodstream, unlike endorphins, endocannabinoids can move easily through the cellular barrier separating the bloodstream from the brain, where these mood-improving neuromodulators promote short-term psychoactive effects such as reduced anxiety and feelings of calm.”
I used to feel this relaxing chemical after a long run, it honestly made me feel so chilled out afterward. I completed these long runs on Sundays and it made me feel so relaxed, a little sleepy, and calm. I found myself not thinking about the week ahead but enjoying where I was.
Endorphins are really cool as they don’t just help with stress and anxiety, they can help suppress your appetite,
Just recently a friend said she always loses weight when she does cardio, and I really attribute that in part to the fact that when you exercise regularly, ie. cardio you feel less stressed. Your whole body responds when you feel less stressed. When you’re less stressed you’re able to eat like normal, you’re able to sleep, there is a homeostasis to it. People tend to stress eat, stress drink, or stress consume. We all have our responses that feel a bit out of control that leads to weight gain when we feel stressed.
It is a bit crazy to think that 20 minutes of cardio will elicit all of these chemicals, hormones, neurotransmitters into you and positively influence your mind and body. It can be a walk that is more than a stroll, it can be on an elliptical or it can be on a bike.
I hate to be so boring and a bit repetitive here, I’m just not creative enough to make this information more exciting. I feel like either people don’t believe it or they just don’t really care.
To me this is exciting stuff! Although I’m a simple lady and easily inspired much like a golden retriever. If I can slow my imminent mental decline by exercising for 20 minutes three times a week, yes I will do that. I don’t find myself able to control much in this world, but I can control things like this. I don’t think fear is the best motivator, but it can work. It seems most people only get motivated when it’s become a little late, or they’ve experienced something traumatic. Many conditions or ailments are reversible; it really just depends. I guess my head goes, why not try?
I really think doctors have given up, and don’t share this information anymore. More people want a pill instead of going for a walk (I am not speaking about diagnosed conditions). I don’t blame the doctors as their effort falls on deaf ears. Not many people want to think they have some control over their personal health and well being. It’s easier to deal with it if it’s seen as something that happened to you by no contribution of your own.
Yes I’m gently saying we see ourselves as a victim here instead of taking any responsibility for how we contribute to our personal health. I’m not saying we all don’t have a bit of genetic betrayal, but we can do something to help negate this betrayal. The fact that a person’s physical and mental health can be so easily improved from 20 minutes of movement is great news, but so rarely seen that way.
Linden also said about exercise:
“Exercise has a dramatic antidepressive effect,”
“It blunts the brain’s response to physical and emotional stress.”
Hello, how great is this? Doesn’t it sound so nice to care less about daily occurrences that we feel typically stressed around?
Along with improving your overall mental health, regular exercise can help slow your aging progress. Yes exercise is the equivalent of an anti aging cream, except it requires a little effort. Exercise can act as an antidepressant for basic sadness, except it requires some effort. The positives are endless. Why not try and see?