Strength Training – Part 2 of 2
Strength – be the strongest that you can be and feel the far-reaching improvements in your quality of life.
In this two-part blog-post, Dan Cornish discusses how strength training will improve not only your physical capacity, but also how it will improve your mental game. Dan is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with ESSA and is part of the Health in Balance team located at Caulfield South, Victoria.
“Our mind and bodies are so intricately connected it can be an enormous boost to your confidence and capacity to deal with stress to develop physical strength. If you are stuck in a rut, struggling with feeling good about yourself, problems at work or in relationships, privileging your exercise matters. You will notice significant changes in your ability to feel emotionally stronger, and happier within a few short weeks of developing a new fitness regime. This is because the chemicals involved in exercise literally alter your brain chemistry and provide you with increases in testosterone that lead to greater confidence and lower cortisol which naturally increases your ability to deal with stress.”
Marg Ryan, Psychotherapist. www.counsellormelbourne.com
In Part 1, of this blog post, we discussed how strength training leads to physical improvements, and that enhancing our strength and capacity undoubtedly increases quality of life and self-confidence. There are physiological, hormonal changes that also happen inside your brain when you lift weights. Happy hormones, which make us feel better, brighter, and more alive.
Your brain loves Strength Training
We know from the research that some exercise is better than none, some is better than more, and a combination of resistance training and aerobic exercise is better than just aerobic exercise alone. Scientists have also discovered in recent years that pumping iron can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, and just one single bout of exercise can be enough to improve cognition and memory in those diagnosed with such a condition (memory is also better in healthy older adults who regularly strength train). Furthermore, research indicates that strength training: improves self-esteem (in healthy adults, as well as those with cancer, and depression); reduces anxiety; and reduces depression.
Be the strongest person that you can be. Increase your capacity. Increase your confidence and belief in yourself. Get physically stronger, and do some graded strength training. Then realise and experience the far-reaching benefits. The results will astound you.
For more details about our tailored strength training programs, under the guidance of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, don’t hesitate to call Health in Balance on 03 9523 5110.