What if I told you that exercise has an immediate, positive benefit for your brain including your mood and your focus!

Have you ever noticed that after your sweat-inducing workout you are in a really great mood and full of energy?

I can tell you for sure that’s what keeps me going back to the gym.

After breaking a sweat, I feel strong, positive and my mood is good. And best of all is that my perspective and ability to deal stress improves tremendously!

I see this happening with my clients over and over…

When they start exercising they often wonder WHY they so felt resistant to doing this before – The powerful effects they feel are priceless!

I am talking about the powerful effects of physical activity.

Simply moving your body, has immediate, long-lasting and protective benefits for your brain. And that can last for the rest of your life.

Exercise Is Medicine

The belief that exercise could be considered medicine, or part of medicine, is not new. In fact, before mainstream Western medicine and healthcare became more focused on ‘‘sick care’’ at the beginning of the 20th century, a major part

of a physician’s duties focused on the preservation and promotion of health and the prevention of disease. In this context, physicians emphasized the importance of exercise and diet, or what became known as regimen.

Your Most Important Muscle

What is the most important muscle in the body that has the strongest has the most influence over whether or not you achieve your goals??

Without a doubt the most powerful muscle of the human body is the mind.

Physical Activity Improves Your Cognitive Health

Cognitive functions encompass brain activities that lead to knowledge, reasoning, memory, attention and language for acquiring information. Research reviewers Hillman, Erickson & Kramer (2008) state that aerobic exercise and physical activity improve cognitive health across the lifespan.

Exercise is Food for your Mood

Here is some evidence to back this statement:

Exercise can make an incredible difference on your mood. Many studies have proved that exercise improvesvitality, mood-enthusiasm, pleasure and self-esteem, and aid in a lowering level of tension, depression and fatigue.

Physical exercise is an effective strategy in the treatment of anxiety and depression, as are psychotherapy and pharmacological approaches; however, the former are healthier and more economical, in addition to enabling greater adherence than other strategies.

Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to provide antidepressant and anxiolytic effects and are capable of protecting the organism from the harmful effects of stress on physical and mental health.

And best of all exercise benefits actually last a long time and protect your brain from different conditions like depression, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

“By moving your body, you move your state of mind”

The Brain Changing Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is the most transformative and powerful thing that you can do for your brain today, according to Wendy Suzuki.She says that the Brain Changing benefits of exercise are:

• Better mood
• Better energy
• Better memory
• Better attention
• And limits the effect of stress on your brain

Wendy’s research showed that a single workout can improve your ability to shift and focus attention, and that focus improvement will last for at least two hours. Her studies have shown that a single workout will improve your reaction times too.

So, what is the minimum amount of exercise you need to feel great?

Here are some answers:

• 3 to 4 times a week min
• Min 30 mins at a time

Including these regularly:

• Aerobic exercise to get your heart rate up
• Resistance training for the following benefits:
• improved muscle strength and tone – to protect your joints from injury
• maintaining flexibility and balance, which can help you remain independent as you age
• increased self-esteem

Incidental exercise tips:

• Add an extra walk around the block in your power walk
• Park your car further and walk
• Take the stairs-lifts get stuck…lol

And lastly bringing exercise in your life will not only give you a happier, more protective life today, but it will protect your brain from incurable diseases. And in this way, it will change the trajectory of your life for the better.

The message is simple. Exercise is the best, cheapest and most accessible medicine available you can utilize to improve your mood and productivity!

“Let’s Move More”

Go on and exercise your mood!

And now it’s over to you…

How can you kick off your exercise habit and feel good about moving more?

If you are ready to start exercising your mood and turn this into a consistent habit so you can feel good about yourself and your life, let’s chat to talk about your next steps, book a free 15-min mini-coaching session with me and I’ll show you how to transform your life.

It’s free. And it might change your life.

Irena Geller

Emotional Eating Coach

BSc (Biomed), Cert IV (PT), Wellness Coach (Level 3))

I coach 35+ women to put down their fork and pick up their life.  If you want to end your struggles with excess weight, stress, and self-belief, using your strengths and capabilities, book a free 15-minute mini-coaching session with me and I’ll show you how to transform your life.