Tip #82: Do it for your Mental Health

Okay, so maybe you could care less about having a perfect beach body or chiseled abs.  Who cares, most people don't.  What you need to care about is your overall health, including your mental health.  Our bodies were created to move.  Not to be sedentary.  You don't have to be a doctor to realize this.  Those who do not exercise regularly have significantly higher health problems, diseases, depression, and mental issues.

Why does exercise help your mental state?
-Exercise releases neurotransmitters and endorphins that ease depression
-Those who exercise have more energy
-Those who exercise feel better abouh themselves, their health and their lives
-Exercise can be quite fun!
-Exercise is a healthy way to cope with stress and anxiety.  The list goes on...

Having 3 young children, there can be days when my patience and irritability reach their limits by the time we get to lunch.  So, I put the kids down for a nap, hop on the treadmill, and engage in some quality venting and reflecting with my awesome God.  Amazingly, once the kids are up, I have a renewed sense of motivation, compassion and  perspective.

I realize that some of you may have become content with your somewhat sedentary lifestyle, but please also take into consideration your mental health.  I know that getting yourself to get on the treadmill, on the bike or out the door is the absolute hardest part.  If you can just get past that, you will be thankful, and you might even enjoy it.

Tip #81: Don't obsess over one body part, take care of it ALL!

I've seen it a dozen times.  The gal that is fed up with her belly "bulge" and does tons of sit-ups with little to no results.  Why?  Because she's zoning in on one little area of her body, while neglecting the rest of it.

We all have parts of our bodies that we are not very fond of.  The mistake that many people make is trying to target that one area, usually without any success.  If you want to improve your health, body weight, or any annoying body parts, your first priority must be to sweat and get your heart beating.  Do some type of aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week.  This means brisk walking, running, biking, swimming, an aerobic machine (elliptical machine, etc.), aerobic movement (Zumba, Tae-bo), or anything else you can think of to get your heart going for around 30 minutes or more.  Once you've made time in your schedule to make your "heart health" a priority, then you can begin targeting certain areas of your body.

The fastest way to get rid of your belly bulge (or insert your problem area) is to take care of your overall health by working that body!  Then add in some sit-ups, or other muscle specific exercises.  

***Stay tuned by the way, because in the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some ab workouts, from my living room to yours!