Commercial Fitness Home Fitness

Month: June 2018

Why Working Out Is Good For Mental Health

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Exercise not only benefits your physical well-being, but it also helps keep your mind sharp. Physical fitness is trending, but so is mental health, and the two go hand in hand when it comes to your overall health.

Regular physical activity releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins are chemicals that are released from the brain during exercise that typically give the body a positive feeling. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), mental health is an important and often-overlooked outcome of regular exercise. So, if you feel like you are ever unsure about starting a regular workout routine, consider these benefits it can have to your mental health.

Keep Your Brain Wired

Not only does exercising release endorphins that make you feel good during and after a workout, but it also helps keep your mind challenged. Performing different types of physical activity or learning how to do a new type of exercise can change how your brain is wired, which can help to improve your overall cognition and mental acuity. As you consistently work out, you boost the ability of your brain to use the right muscles, correctly, and it makes you feel good when you successfully complete a workout.

Increased Self-Esteem

While physical activity does help the way our body looks, that shouldn’t be the only reason you want to work out. Think about it. Sure, your body looks good and feels great, but how satisfying is it to nail down your form on a tough strength training exercise or yoga pose? Having that sense of satisfaction in your head is just as rewarding as making improvements in your physical appearance. Additionally, you can help increase your self-esteem by setting regular, consistent, timely, and attainable goals.

A Better Night’s Sleep

Because of the body’s need to recover from exercise, your brain will make you tired earlier and help you sleep more soundly throughout the night. The human body recovers at night when we sleep; this is the most profound effect of recovery from training sessions. Without sleep, you will not progress very far in your quest for fitness. After all, sleep is one of the most important factors in fitness.

Fitness and mental health are a positive and beneficial relationships that any individual should focus on because it ultimately will help them out in all aspects of their life and improve their overall well-being.

Want More Health & Fitness Tips?

Follow Us On Facebook

School’s Out for Summer! Focus On Fitness With Your Kiddo This Summer Break

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Most schools are officially out for summer break and that means the kids are free. No homework, no test, no bedtime, no alarm to wake up to – almost no responsibilities and nothing to do all day, every day for the next three or so months.

As a parent, you are now tasked to figure out summer plans for your child. While summer school is an option for some, it only lasts a few weeks and then you are stuck with figuring out what to do with your child during the day once it’s over. Whether you have to have a nanny or babysitter or you can stay at home with your kid, there are plenty of ways to keep them active and their minds engaged while they aren’t sitting at their desk.

Make Exercising Fun

The CDC recommends that children do three types of physical activity: aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity and bone-strengthening activity. Aerobic activity should be moderate to vigorous in intensity and should make up the majority of your child’s physical activity each day. Then, at least three days a week should be dedicated to muscle or bone-strengthening exercises. These exercises can consist of gymnastics, jumping rope or running.

If your child is not yet of elementary school age, then an hour of normal play time should be considered their exercise for the day. Since it is play and not a structured fitness activity stick with doing things like going for a long walk or hike in a park, riding a bike or playing on playground equipment at the park. Once they grow up, slowly begin incorporating more technical activities like rock climbing that not only make their bodies work harder, but their minds.

Another great way to make exercising something your child wants to do when they are off school for the summer is to offer rewards for hitting certain milestones. Perhaps if they ride their bike or go for a walk with mom or dad or the babysitter every day for a week they get to choose what to eat for dinner one night or spend a day with a friend. The key is to make exercising enjoyable and entertaining to do, it shouldn’t feel like a chore.

Go To The Gym Together

If going to the gym is a regular part of your routine as a parent, why not bring your mini-me with you for a few sweat sessions? Most gyms are kid-friendly and going to the gym together can be a great time to bond and learn together.

Getting into the habit of going to the gym with your child shows them how important it is to focus on their physical fitness. Children will be more likely to keep their health a priority and go to the gym when they are older because they saw mom or dad going. Going to the gym will also help your child develop basic athletic skills and help increase self-esteem by working out around other people.

If you choose to take your child to the gym, teach them exercise and how to stay safe around equipment. Establishing rules like never using a piece of equipment alone can go a long way in helping prevent accidental injury.

Sign Up For Group Sports

Although some sports are seasonal, summer is usually the time when you can find a local team for your kiddo to play on, whether it be softball, baseball, tee-ball, soccer or something else outdoors. These are all fun activities that will not only allow your child to play with others his or her age, but learn how to commit to something.

Group sports can have many dynamics with them, but for the most part they consist of practices and game nights. As a parent, you can bond even more with your child by offering to coach their sports team. It’s a plus if the group sport you or your child chooses to play is something you played as a kid and enjoyed because again, you want to encourage your child to be active but make it fun and feel like play.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle for your children is important so that they develop health habits at a young age. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), exercise can help children do better in school, improve their behavior in the classroom and beyond and they are more likely to stay active as young adults. However, before you begin any type of exercise program for the summer be sure you talk with your child’s physician to figure out if it is going to be safe and effective.

Be sure to keep up with your regular exercise even during the summer months. Focusing on your fitness during summer along with your child’s can also help you stay on track with your own fitness goals too.

Get Your Family Moving!

For More Family Fitness Tips Follow Us On Our Blog