Exercise Your Way to Better Health

The next time you are playing that tug-of-war in your brain about going to exercise (“I know I should” versus “but my bed feels so nice and cozy in here”), ask yourself the following questions:

· Do I want to be happier?

· Do I want to have less stress?

· Would I like to do something good for my body and mind?

· Would I like to feel better about myself?

· Would I like to have a better night’s sleep tonight?

· Would I (and my partner) like my libido to be lifted?

· Do I wish I had more energy?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then exercise is the answer!

Most of us know about the benefits of exercise on our physical health - including weight loss, decreased blood pressure, improved “good” cholesterol, enhanced cardiovascular function and the prevention of certain chronic illnesses. As the 17^th Earl of Derby once said, “Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Did you also know, though, that exercise is also good for your psychological health? Evidence shows that exercise:

ü Raises mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain

ü Enhances positive attitudes

ü Releases muscle tension

ü Promotes better sleep

ü Has a calming effect

ü Lessens anxiety and depression

ü Enhances your libido

ü Gives you more energy

Sound good to you?

Let’s face it. Our society is facing an epidemic of stress and depression. While many think reaching for a pill is the best answer, more and more research is showing other approaches can be extremely beneficial.

For example, one study out of Duke University examined the benefits of exercise on depression. They randomly assigned over 150 people with severe depression to one of three treatments: (1) Anti-depressant medication, (2) Exercise or (3) Anti-depressant medication and exercise.^[27]

After four months of treatment, all three groups had similarly lower levels of depression. That means exercise was as effective as the anti-depressant medication.

As if that were not amazing enough, after ten months of treatment, the groups performing exercise were doing significantly better than the medication-only group. In the long term, it appears that exercise can be even more powerful than anti-depressant medication for people suffering with depression.[1]

As a clinical psychologist, physical therapist and group fitness instructor, I travel around the globe to help people have less stress and more happiness, regardless of what is going on in their lives. And one vital ingredient of the happiness prescription is to get moving.

You need not have a lot of money or time to exercise: just a desire to do something positive.

Make exercise a consistent part of you life- and you will become an even happier you!

Bio:

Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD is a clinical psychologist, physical therapist and author of “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness.” She has been featured by CNN, Glamour, Redbook, Self, Elle, Reader’s Digest and Woman’s Day for helping people have less stress and more happiness. For more information and free happiness resources, go to www.AHappyYou.com