How exercise promotes mental health

Exercise, fitness, and self-esteem are closely linked. Research shows that exercise and physical activity, in addition to its many benefits, make us feel more comfortable and confident. In the following, we will tell you how the relationship between fitness and self-esteem helps to strengthen and improve your mental and physical states. We will also provide practical tips to help you gain self-esteem and stay in perfect shape.

Positive effects of fitness and exercise

1. Improve mental health

Exercise, weight loss, and having an ideal body in terms of fitness and strengthening physical strength also ensure mental health. According to some studies, fitness improves the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In addition, it gives the person more self-esteem and reduces isolation.

Exercise instead of these negative moods and feelings increases your self-esteem and strengthens your cognitive functions.

2. Reducing stress is another benefit associated with fitness and self-esteem

It does not matter what kind of exercise you choose for fitness. Aerobic activities such as aerobics, weight training, endurance training, yoga, and any exercise play an important and effective role in reducing stress.

Any exercise releases the hormone endorphins in the body and takes the mind away from stress, problems, and daily activities.

3. Feeling special success

Fitness and self-esteem, in another way, also strengthen and improve your mental and emotional states and feelings. When you exercise by focusing on achieving a specific goal and doing physical activity, you feel emotionally indescribable.

It does not matter what the achievement is. Maybe running is your favorite sport and you have recently been able to travel long distances in less time. Perhaps your achievement is to increase the duration of the brisk walk. Finally, by achieving the desired goal and achieving that particular achievement, you are proud and proud that it plays an important role in mental health and increases self-confidence.

4. Improve brain function, another effect of weight loss on confidence

Improving brain function is another important effect that fitness and weight loss have on increasing self-confidence and self-esteem.

According to research conducted at Harvard Medical School on laboratory mice, a hormone called irisin is released in the brain during exercise and physical activity (especially endurance training). Researchers believe that the secretion of this hormone in the brain helps protect the nerves more and better and activates genes involved in boosting memory and learning skills.

5. Fitness and its effect on feeling better

Exercise, weight loss, and fitness in the short term make us feel better and change our way of thinking to think of more positive and hopeful things.

It also gives us more confidence in our abilities, in the long run, directly impacting our self-esteem.

Another point that highlights the relationship between fitness and self-esteem is the negative and destructive effects that obesity and overweight can have on self-esteem.

We said that exercise, physical activity, and achieving the ideal form of fitness increase self-confidence and self-esteem. But there is another side to obesity and overweight. Unfortunately, in many cases, those who suffer from this problem are affected by their physical and mental health.

Many obese and overweight people are constantly worried about their image in society and among friends and acquaintances. They are constantly worried about how others might judge them. As a result, they lose their self-confidence over time.

If you are struggling with such problems, you should know that solving them takes a little effort and is not a way to get rid of them overnight. If self-esteem has been affected by weight gain, you can use the following tips to regain it as well as take steps to lose weight:

1. Feeling good about yourself

It does not matter if you are obese, thin, or physically fit. In any case, you should know that you are a human being and what is most important is your inner self and humanity. You may be a little affected by your physical health, but that does not mean you should feel bad and blame yourself. There is no solution to the problem, and weight loss is a path that can be taken despite the difficulties.

2. Positive thinking by repeating promising sentences and phrases

I am confident in my intelligence.

I’m sure I can reach my goal.

I want to live a healthy life;

I’m sure I have enough energy and strength to lose weight.

Repeat these sentences and phrases in your mind. With the help of these, you will get rid of negative thoughts, and positive thinking will become a habit for you.

3. Get help from others

Fitness and self-esteem are not unattainable dreams. People around you will play an important role in the path you take. Try to spend more time with people who encourage you to have more confidence and self-esteem and not constantly blame or judge you for your problems.

4. Avoid comparing yourself to others

You need to know that losing weight is the way to have a healthier body and increase self-confidence. You are not going to become something that others consider an ideal and perfect human being. Every human being is created with unique characteristics and abilities and must first set a goal according to them. Comparing yourself to others and becoming what others expect of you will push you away from your goal and ultimately lead to frustration.

5. Having reasonable and achievable goals

Remember that weight loss is not a goal you can achieve overnight. For example, if your goal is to lose weight for next week’s party and get in perfect shape, rest assured that you will be disappointed and blame yourself for that frustration. In addition, setting such goals for the short term causes the body to secrete cortisol and increase stress, which will not be good for your mood at all. In addition, according to some studies, the secretion of this hormone is closely related to the increase in stored fat in the abdomen.

Instead, consider these as actions that you must regularly take to lose weight, increase your self-esteem, and other long-term positive emotions. The goal is like choosing a new sport and participating in one or two sessions during the week. You can gradually increase the intensity and duration of your sports activities.

in the end

Exercise and a healthy diet are two important factors that will help you achieve your long-term weight loss goals and find the ideal body shape you want. Fitness and self-esteem directly impact each other, and the healthier you are physical, the more physically fit you will be and the more confident you will be. Of course, you should not forget that achieving this goal is as hard as achieving anything good in life, and you must persevere and constantly motivate yourself.

What do you think? How do you think fitness and self-esteem are related? Have you experienced weight loss and increased self-confidence with weight loss? Do you have any other tips or advice you can add to this?