Squats, lunges, crunches, sit-ups and deadlifts are usually ladies’ main choices of exercises to do. These exercises focus on the body parts that they want to be perfect: their butt and their stomach. This should not be a surprise to anyone – not even me. I actually started with these. Stepping a foot into the gym needed a bucket of motivation, I would not want to waste my time and my motivation to work on body parts that I didn’t really care about. I saw training as a way to have the perfect body – a perfect body that doesn’t exist.
I used to dread the moment I had to go work out. Not a single part of me wanted to suffer again. Doing those exercises felt like torture. When I was done, my legs were trembling and sweat was running down my forehead. I felt absolutely disgusting. My muscles ached for a week after. I even had difficulty walking down the stairs. Relatable right? But these pains are nothing compared to the benefits working out brings to our health.
Yes, exercising has the power to improve our health and give us the body we dream of. However, the mental benefits of working out is often overlooked. Those who exercise regularly know the feeling after a workout. People want to hang out with me after a training – even if I am sweaty. My mood is lifted so high; I am super energetic and happy. According to WebMD.com, the explanation behind it is that exercising has similar effects as antidepressants on the brain. It releases endorphins which are chemicals that make us feel euphoric. So when you feel a little bit under the weather, try to motivate yourself to work out.
With work and school and all the extracurricular activities that look good on CV’s, our stress level is surely affected. We feel anxious about not having enough time to do our assignments, worried about our performance at work and stressed about what other extra activities we can do to make us stand out more. Our lifestyle is extremely overwhelming and fast-paced. Also according to WebMD.com, another benefit of exercising is it reduces stress levels with the creation of endorphins. When I am working out, my brain pauses and focuses only on working out. My mind does not wander everywhere. I do not mentally create a to-do list and panic because half my list isn’t completed yet.
Exercising is not torture – not long-term anyways. Of course, the first few weeks will be painful, but with time, I strongly believe that you will start enjoying it. It is mental therapy. The effects of working out do not stop at being fit, every part of our body from our brain to our muscles are benefitting. It allows us to be the best version of ourselves: healthy and happy. I honestly cannot think of anything better than a happy and healthy me. The hardest part is the beginning where you have to find motivation within yourself. Once you go through it, nothing can stop you anymore. You totally got this. Remember ladies, no pain, no gain – physical and mental.