25 Nov 5 reasons to exercise that AREN’T weight loss
Here at The Happiness Institute our focus, mostly, is on positive psychology.
That is, our primary reason for being is to promote the principles of positive psychology to assist as many people as possible to thrive and flourish.
We frequently promote the pursuit of a purposeful life; the setting of and working towards meaningful goals; the adoption of realistic optimism; building positive relationships; recognition and utilisation of strengths; and, of course, fun and play!
Happiness and positive emotion are crucial components of thriving and flourishing; in fact it's pretty hard, we believe, to live your best life without a healthy dose of happiness and positive emotion.
But it's also hard to live your best possible life without your best possible body; it's hard to be happy if you're often sick and tired.
So we're very strong advocates, in addition to all that's listed above, of exercise; and activity (and, although we won't mention it much here, a healthy and nutritious diet); which is why we're sharing with you today this article on why everyone should keep exercising and going to the gym even if they're not interested in weight loss…
by Alexandra Sifferlin from TIME magazine
Why you shouldn't give up the gym
Despite conventional calorie-burning wisdom, some people appear to not lose weight when they exercise, says a new study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. In fact, some actually gain weight, and it’s not all muscle mass.
The study, by Arizona State University in Phoenix researchers, looked at 81 sedentary, overweight women who exercised three times a week for 30 minutes in a lab. After 12 weeks, the researchers found that some women lost weight while others gained weight. But when they tried to identify what was causing the differences, they couldn’t come to any conclusions. “In reality, most people do not achieve or sustain weight loss, no matter what method they try,” wrote New York Times writer Gretchen Reynolds on Wednesday.
Basically, major bummer. But there are many other reasons to exercise besides trying to shed a few pounds, and they’re equally important for your health:
1. Memory Loss: Chronic inflammation and hormonal imbalances are a couple of factors that can play a part in memory loss, and exercise can help both. Exercise promotes better blood flow through the body, and the brain works better with a healthy blood supply. For example, a 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showed that people who spent time on a stationary bike had better memory recall than those who were sedentary.
2. Stress: Exercise has long been prescribed as a way to burn off steam and relax. It’s even recommended as a way to fight depression. How? Exercise keeps the brain occupied, and keeps the stress hormone cortisol in check which can lower symptoms for anxiety and restlessness, according to The Exercise Cure, by sports medicine physician Dr. Jordan Metzl. After a rough day at work or before a big exam or interview, even just a walk around the block can ease nerves…
…keep reading more HERE