Z. Johnson
There goes another reason to start your fitness journey: boost your mental health. Staying fit is great not only for keeping an amazing body, but it will also help to improve your mental health. Taking care of yourself with daily routines like eating healthier, exercising regularly, staying hydrated as well as other wellness behaviors, is key to getting that mental health on point. Some people say that being fit and trying too hard has two sides of the coin. However, believe it or not, there are more health benefits to it than cons. Let’s get to the truth about fitness and mental health, and learn some facts that will blow your mind.
Fitness and mental health: How does one relate to the other?
Being fit definitely has a positive impact in your mental health. As I mentioned earlier, about the things you should be doing to start on your fitness journey, the greatest fact is mindset. And it’s just not only about being positive, but also that force of determination to improve your lifestyle. Having the right mindset around fitness will help you develop positive thoughts, will help you create discipline and good willpower. I know you may be thinking that it’s not easy to stay motivated all the time. Well, you’re right about that, to a certain extent. However, when you develop a good healthy mindset around fitness, then you’ll learn how to keep going forward with your healthy routines even when you’re not feeling your best. It’s what I call, “the force that drives you to have a healthy lifestyle”, and that, my friend, is for a lifetime.
Fitness and mental health are also related in terms of your values around self-care. As I always say, it starts with self-love. Taking care of your body has to do with a powerful self-esteem. If you truly value health, then will always find ways to improve on your fitness routine and self-care habits. It’s not just about eating healthier, doing exercise and doing that skincare routine regularly, but it also involves the types of thoughts you nurture everyday. Being fit helps you to stay motivated, persevering and also consistent. It trains your mind and body to adopt a lasting healthy lifestyle. There are fitness routines, like yoga, that help your mind develop strength and create healing, positive thoughts. I’ll break down some of the powerful main benefits or staying fit for your mental health.
Fitness and mental health: It boosts your mood
It’s nothing new that eating healthier and doing exercise, among other good habits, boosts our mood. But how does this happen? Well, experts found that being physically active regularly makes the body release serotonin, which is the hormone for “happiness”. This is the key to feeling great and having that good mood. Besides that, it also has positive results with sleep. If you still struggle to get a good night sleep, maybe you should be including more exercise and healthier foods in your routine. You’ll notice how you’ll start sleeping better. From my personal experience, I can say that these have been by far the best results I’ve gotten by being on a fitness journey.
Staying fit helps you fight anxiety and depression
Yes! Fitness also helps to fight those mental health issues like anxiety and depression. There are studies that show how being fit and taking care of your body has psychological effects on dealing with depression. As mentioned, when you’re active, your brain produces more “good mood” hormones like serotonin, as well as other substances like endorphins. These are associated with positive mood, and relieve the physical pain and discomfort associated with depression. In other words, if you’re feeling down, going for a walk or a run will definitely help you feel better. There are also foods associated with mental health. Plus, there’s a whole world about foods, mental health and emotional eating. But, that’s another topic. That’s why balanced eating is essential to keep your body working right as well as your mind and soul.
Fitness and mental health: It boosts your memory and productivity
Fitness can help improve your memory and keep you productive throughout the day. Who doesn’t like to start their day feeling like they’ve won the world? I bet you are also that type of person. There’s nothing better than to be focus throughout the day and getting things done the right way. In my case, I’ve been able to get more creative everyday. It’s like ideas just keep flowing effortlessly and I’m always coming up with new stuff to do. One great example, is well creating content, like this blog post right now (lol). The bottom line is, if you really want to have better days, especially when it comes to creating new projects, or simply focusing better at work, definitely include fitness daily habits.
Being fit lowers the risk of getting mental diseases later
There are doctors that found fitness to be beneficial in treating diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson. They even say that certain symptoms of schizophrenia can improve with exercise. Also, healthy whole foods like fruits, leafy greens, whole grains, veggies and eggs are related to improving the brain function. That’s because these foods are rich in tryptophan, which is an amino acid that’s key for brain health. Eating healthier, exercising and having other healthcare routine habits like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, improve your mind in the long run.
You’ll have better self- esteem and less body image issues
Having a fit lifestyle is a must to help boost your self-esteem. When you have a healthy, balanced life that includes self-care activities as priorities, you feel more confident. You feel empowered, sexier, prettier, stronger and therefore with a better self worth. That’s why we always recommend people with low self-esteem to practice more self love and start taking more care of their body. It really makes a huge difference. Something as simple as that dress you love that now fits your body, or those sexy jeans you can now flaunt… Trust me, it all counts! And it feels amazing! Besides that, you reduce the amount of complexities and issues around your body image. You learn to embrace who you are and your mindset shifts towards improving your wellness and body everyday.
How to start? Things to consider
Healthy whole foods
Some basic hacks here around food:
- Focus on a balanced eating lifestyle. Remember to give priority to whole foods, rather than processed. It’s ok to have a variety of foods, without falling into obsessions. Focus on including daily foods from all food groups, pay attention to the ones that are sources of protein, omega-3, B complex vitamins (B12, folate), and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and selenium. Add to your eating regimen, quality foods like plant based protein foods (whole grains like oats, soy, healthy nuts, for example), more eggs, dairy products (especially yogurt), fresh seafood and poultry. Also, don’t miss out on the veggies and leafy greens, which are essential sources of magnesium (mineral that boosts brain function). You should also be eating seeds regularly, as well as fruits. Foods like banana boost the brain function and mood. It all goes back to making smart food choices.
- Focus on developing a healthy relationship with food. I always stress on the importance of getting rid of anxiety around food. Embrace more intuitive eating, learn to enjoy the taste of foods and free yourself from eating with guilt. Learn to listen to your body and to feed it according to your hunger and fullness signals. This really makes a huge positive deal when eating in a balanced healthy way. Not depriving or falling into obsessions around food will also make you feel better and have a more realistic positive approach towards healthy eating.
Regular workouts according to your needs
It’s also important to practice exercise according to what your body feels comfortable doing. Nobody likes to feel working out like a burden. It should be something you enjoy doing. Practicing exercises you love will help you not only to feel at ease but will also boost that good mode we all talk about. Choose exercises according to your personal physical goals. Whether it is you want to lose weight, trim some body fat or get a smaller waistline, you always look for the types of exercises that will help you get there. Plus, you can always switch up things and include different types of exercises or routines. Don’t hesitate to look for professional help so you can get the proper results you need. At the gym you can easily get guidance from certified instructors.
Exercise your mind and nurture your soul
Fitness and mental health is also about exercising your mind. There are many mental exercises you can do to improve your mental health. Start by creating positive thoughts every time you start a new day. Try something new like meditation. Mindfulness and meditation are powerful strategies to manifest positive things and energy into your life.
These types of exercises promote the right state of mind to do and achieve things. It is also said that yoga can improve the way you perceive your body and your mind as a whole. This exercise helps to create inner wellness and connect with your soul with positive energy. It all goes down to good vibrations that flow from within. People who regularly practice yoga experience better wellness, improved posture, better blood flow and great fitness performance. There are many other mind and physical exercises you can do to nurture your soul and help improve your mental health. Also, consider doing a hobby you love, it will make you feel to your best potential.
Finally,
You can definitely boost your mental health by having a fitness lifestyle. The benefits are endless, and the only thing you need to do is to get in the right mindset and decide to go for a better living. As you see, fitness is not only about eating healthier or doing exercise, but it also involves having the right mindset and having that self worth that will push you to create a healthier lifestyle. If you need support in your healthy eating and self care habits, don’t hesitate to contact me. Let me know your thoughts and struggles around fitness and mental health in the comments below. Share with your friends.
Xoxo.
