Hi everybody, I’m Alyssa from the Double Chin Diary! Martinus was kind enough to let me stop by for a little while and tell you some of the cool things I’ve learned about exercise. I have about 80 pounds to lose and was well on my way with 26 pounds down — when all of a sudden, I piled on 20 pounds in four months. Confused and frustrated, I headed to the doctor where I was diagnosed with PCOS, a common women’s hormonal disorder. I’m now on a treatment plan and am committed to getting my life (and smaller jeans size) back! A big part of this treatment plan is regular exercise. Since I used to think walking to the fridge was a good workout, it’s taken me awhile to get to a place where I value and enjoy being fit. Here’s some research-based facts that helped me adjust to my new exercise-focused lifestyle, and they just might help get you movin’, too.
- 10 minutes can make a difference in your attitude! I used to cringe when people said exercise was one of the best treatments for mood; but now I know it’s true. Did you know just 10 minutes of brisk walking is enough to help you get out of a funk or turn a frown upside down? After ten minutes your life won’t be perfect, but endorphins start popping up and soothing chemicals start swirling, helping to reduce stress and energize your body.
- Exercise can give you better skin. Before I incorporated fitness into my life, I used to call my chin “the battle zone”. Now I’m happy to say my skin is less of a battle zone and more of a once-monthly hormonal zone, if ya catch my drift. Skin is our body’s largest organ, and sweat helps slough off dead skin cells, bacteria and purge out toxins. Sweating regularly (and make sure you’re drinking water at the same time) can help you get dewy, glowy skin that will make all the neighborhood babies jealous.
Sunshine makes the heart grow stronger! - Being outdoors makes you want to exercise more. A recent study by Ohio State University suggests that you’ll be 23% more likely to keep at a fitness routine if it involves being outdoors. I definitely find this to be true for myself, because even a leisurely walk around the local park is way more preferable to breathing in someone else’s funk on a treadmill. To each their own, but give it a try when the weather’s on your side.
Want some killer cardio? Wake up at 7 and push a sled filled with weights across a park. Not for the faint of heart! - Cardio counts. For weight loss and general heart health, cardio will always be your friend. Did you know just 45 minutes of cardio exercise can boost your resting metabolic rate (aka, how many calories you burn) by 37% for up to 14 hours?! That’s a huge difference in the way your body burns fat, develops muscle and turns calories into energy.
Fuzzy robes, purring kittens and early morning exercise… these things all help you catch optimal shut-eye. - The early bird gets the ZZzZzZ. Exercise is exercise, so if you can’t squeeze in your workout until evening, don’t fret. But, if you can motivate yourself to crawl out of bed in the morning, you’ll be rewarded with an easier time falling asleep. Early morning light resets your circadian rhythms, while a night time workout can delay your melatonin release, making it tougher to snooze at the same time each night.So there you have it – five interesting facts about exercise. Did you already know some of these tips, or do you find any of them to be true? Are there any other interesting facts about exercise I didn’t mention above? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
