Yet another great reason to start working out. If you have been feeling stressed due to work or personal reasons, then an hour at the gym is just what the doctor ordered!

Research shows that people who hit the gym frequently show far lower levels of stress than those who do not work out at all. So going to the gym and breaking a sweat will not only make you healthier and help you get a more fit and toned body, it will also help you become happier and more relaxed.

The report regarding the amazing effects that working out has on stress was published by the reputed Harvard Medical School and are a reason for you to take notice. If you are fed up with being trapped in a cycle of stress eating, which in turn affects your physical fitness, then exercising regularly will help you kill two birds with one stone. Not only will you be able to burn off all the excess calories gained from the stress eating, you also get rid yourself of stress, effectively killing the unhealthy eating habits.  
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), an organization that helps anxiety and depression patients cope with their problems and find help and support, also reports that a number of its members and website visitors use exercise as a means to cope with their problems.  So if you are feeling a little down in the dumps, join your local gym or rec center, go out and take a walk or run or hop on your bike for a little TLC.

Get happier by working out

As it turns out, looking good can actually make you happier. Working out and having a toned body not only make you appear more attractive to other people, your own confidence level goes up as well and you are more satisfied with your life in general.

When you work out, your body pumps out more endorphins. Fitness junkies love to call endorphins the happiness chemical, as it elevates mood and makes people happier and calmer in general. Even the simplest exercises can help release this chemical, and help you feel better right away.
If you do not have the time or money to join a gym, even going for a brisk jog will get you the same results. But for the best results, it is always a good idea to seek out an expert who can help you make the most of your effort. Just hitting the gym and keeping proper form while you exercise will help you get in great shape in a very short time as long as you are consistent and pair exercise with proper nutrition.

Exercising is also a meditation

Believe it or not, your focus will improve remarkably once you start working out. Training your brain for consistent exercise requires discipline that will carry over into other aspects of your life.  Engaging in actual meditation also has many positive benefits for stress relief; however, exercise can have the same anxiety-reducing results due to the changes in hormone levels and longer-term changes in physical appearance and overall happiness.   

Need a little help getting started?  Ask a friend or coworker to help you get started by simply taking a walk together.  Join a new and fun fitness class at a local gym or rec center or get help from a professional if you need more direction and accountability.  If you have something keeping you from getting started, identify the barriers and make small steps to overcome them. Once you get started, it will be easy to keep going as you begin to realize the benefits. Stay motivated and never give up!

Editor’s note: Kim Farmer, of Mile High Fitness & Wellness, offers in-home personal training and corporate wellness solutions. For more information, visit www.milehighfitness.com or email inquiries@milehighfitness.com.
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