Being Active
Why does excerising produce "feel good" hormones, even though sometimes exercising is hard? Is there a time when too much exercising is bad? How can you motivate yourself to exercise?
Various hormones come into play when condsidering "happy homrones". These include Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxtocin, and Endorphins. Exercising lowers the amount of stress hormones in the body, which is one reason why you fell so good after working out. Doing physical activity increases the production of endorphins which act as the bodies natural painkillers and help elevate your mood. Dopamine is the brain's reward system and can be naturally increased by eating healthy, exercising often, and getting enough sleep. Serotonin is the hormone that help regulate the body's sleep, appetite, digestion, learning, and memory. Spending time outdoors in the sun increases serotonin. Oxytocin is the hormone that promotes trust, empathy, and helps create relationships. It is also known as the "love hormome".
Exercising is good and should be done on a daily basis. But over-doing it can have serious consequences. Over-exerting yourself can undo the work you have done and actually damage your heart and arteries. What classifies as "too-much" depends on your age, health, and the type of workouts. Overall, adults should get 5 hours per week of moderate exercise and 30 minutes of intense acitivty. Doing a lot more than that doesn't increase your health benefits any more according to the CDC. Too many high endurance activities can lead to heart damage, heart rythm disorders, and enlarged arteries in some people. Doing moderate exercise can boost your immune system, but doing too mcuh can suppress it. You can even get addicted to exericse. Symptoms of this include feeling anxious or exhausted when you miss a workout, even if it may be harming you. Keep exercising, but do the right amount.
Here is a list of things you can do to motivitate yourself to exercise: - Write down your goals and look at them often - Find a gym buddy to work out with - Plan your workout schedule ahead of time - Have some good music preped - Plan your gym time to fit your mood - Keep a specific goal in mind - Stay on track by following a specific program - Wear a fitness tracker - Consider it "you" time