By: Reggie C. Fitness
After years of being a physical trainer to women who dedicate themselves to being everyone else’s hero and have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders daily, I have learned that stress and anxiety are real factors in most of their lives. I meet so many women who have exhausted themselves mentally, because they are trying to juggle marriage, kids, job, social life and whatever other curve balls are thrown at them.
By the time they reach out to me, many women gain an immense amount of weight, are stressed out, and on the verge of having to take medications due to weight related illnesses all because of the mental exhaustion that they’re enduring.
During our first conversation I always ask, “What has been your biggest challenge with working out?”, and the most common answer that I get is “I don’t have time!” They say this with so much anger and frustration in their voices, yet so serious when they answer as if it is a plea for help. My reply is always the same, “How can you care for everything and everyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first?”
Bottom line is… Take care of you!
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I thought it was pertinent to address how vital exercise is for maintaining not only physical but mental fitness as well. Exercise is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. When stress affects the brain, with its many nerve connections, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. Simply stated, if your body feels better, so does your mind.
Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Endorphins also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. We all know that stress is a normal part of life, however anxiety disorders which effect millions of adults, are also one of the most common psychiatric illness. The benefits of exercise extend well beyond physical fitness but to improving stress and anxiety as well.
So remember, self-care is the greatest medicine.
