As if we needed another reason why being fit and in shape and healthy is good for you, we have yet another reason. Exercise is the single best thing you can do for yourself physically. It’s better than any anti-depression drug, it’s better than any high blood pressure medicine, it’s the closest thing to a magic pill that we have. When we do vigorous exercise, we release “feel-good” chemicals known as Endorphins throughout the brain and the body. So not only does exercise feel good physically when we’re doing it, we also feel the psychological feel-good chemicals when we look in the mirror and see that we’re making progress and getting in shape.
Even though I’m a massage therapist, I don’t always get massages as regularly as I should. You know how it goes: doctors don’t go to the doctor, dentists don’t go to the dentist, massage therapists don’t go for massage etc,. Since I don’t get massages as frequently as I’d like, I rely more heavily on Self-Care exercises and…exercise! As long as I’m moving my body almost every day and doing some self-care on a regular basis…I feel pretty decent. Of course, I’m a huge believer that the food we eat plays a monumental role in how we feel, think, act etc. The food we eat plays a huge role in how our mood is, how we feel. I used to eat junk food all the time, and I would notice that I would get so grumpy sometimes. When I eat clean…I feel clean, productive, happier, on a mission, like I’m on the right track. I’ve learned a bit about myself. I know all the things that make me feel terrible, both physically, emotionally and mentally. On the other hand, I’m well aware of all the things that make me feel very good about myself, productive, like I have a purpose. I imagine I’m not the only one. I realize some people are more in tune with their bodies than others. You might be wondering…well are you going to tell us? Sure, why not. Things that make me feel terrible: 1. Sitting watching tv/playing video games for hour and hours on end I have always been addicted to video games. But what I would notice is, that if I was sitting down for like more than three to four hours, I would start to get very grumpy and irritable. My girl can attest to this. For one, sitting for hour and hours on end is a bad idea. Lack of blood circulation, bad for posture etc. Secondly, staring at a computer screen or a phone for hours and hours isn’t such a great idea either…especially before you go to bed. The blue light in the screen isn’t good for your eyes and it keeps you brain active if you’re trying to go to sleep. Thirdly, playing mindless video games for hours and hours, or watching tv, are both bad for your mind! I try to minimize the tv I watch as much as possible. I think unless it’s with family, it’s a totally waste of time. Either with family, I feel there are much better ways you can bond with your family like playing a board game or something. 2. Eating Junk Food and Sugary Foods. As I said before, eating junk food, processed foods, or foods loaded with sugar is a terrible idea for many reasons. 1) It spikes your insulin levels, basically making you insulin-resistant i.e. diabetes. 2) It affects your mood, sometimes a LOT. 3) You’re re-addicting yourself over and over to junk food, making it THAT much harder to want to eat good clean healthy food. 3. Being Lazy. Many times, if I make bad choices, I’ll do a combination or sometimes ALL of the bad things that make me feel terrible, and when I do all of them, man o man, it’s not pretty. I’m much better with it now, if I’m tempted to be lazy, I know right away the consequences. I know I’ll feel terrible later on and so I wisely choose to do the things that make me feel good. Being lazy can become addictive, like anything else. And you hate yourself when you’re lazy too, at least I do. 4. Being Negative. Believe it or not, thoughts affect you on a physiological level. Being negative can lead to stress, higher blood pressure and much more. Being positive, grateful for life and family and health, has many positive effects. Things that make me feel good:
2. Exercise makes me feel great. Not during the exercise mind you, but it helps me not to feel terrible. If I don’t exercise and I sit all day, I get this pressure headache that just won’t go away. The only way to get rid of it is through vigorous exercise and a cold shower. 3. Cold Showers. Most people hate cold showers. I love them. And sometimes I hate them. But in general they help me to feel better. It forces me to be disciplined, but it always snaps your brain awake if you’re sleepy or fatigued. It always helps my headache to go away a bit. I’ve been doing it for so long now that I usually don’t even think about it. 4. Eating clean, healthy Nutritious Foods Eating clean healthy foods is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll feel nourished, clean and on top of the world. Make sure it’s food you actually enjoy eating. There’s soooo many delicious ways to eat healthy foods. 5. Meditation for 10-15 minutes. I try to meditate for ten to fifteen minutes every day. It helps me to be grounded, calm and relaxed. It helps me to clear my head and be in the present moment. I highly recommend it. Ok, there you go. Exercise is the best thing you can do for yourself. Find out the things the healthy habits that make you feel good (in the long run, not short term) and avoid the things that feel good in the moment, but make you feel terrible long term. Hope you found some value in this, let me know if you liked it. Cheers, Alex S.
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Alex StampflLicensed Massage therapist (LMT) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). Archives
August 2022
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