Have you ever thought about how you feel pre, post, during, or skipping a workout?
I have!
This hat is certainly making its mark on the blog world. Love it.
It’s pretty cool how the things we do and how much we move our bodies affects how we feel from the moment we wake up. This morning was snowy and windy, so I decided to forego my usual run with the pup for a walk around the block instead. I followed our quick trip outside with another 35 minutes of blissful, cuddly sleep, and woke up around 7:20 to do some laundry and start breakfast. By the time I stood up at 7:20:15 (estimation/grumpy exaggeration) I could tell I had gotten up on the wrong side.
It was too late, I could have gotten back in and climbed over Bobs to get out on the other side…instead I just continued my morning in a sluggish drawl, made some coffee, and put on MSNBC.
Yesterday I went on a really great morning run! It was decently warm out and I covered somewhere around 4-4.5 miles. Work was work, and I had a super productive meeting about the running group. Then, we met up with Matty P (who does a lot of Marketing for UNH athletics) for a delicious dinner at Rudi’s and headed home around 9:30pm for a realxing night with pup. All of the fitness fueled activity helped Wednesday shape up to be really wonderful.
Weather on the Seacoast…snow has stopped for now!
I should have probably done some sort of exercise this morning to start off on the right foot. But I’ll definitely be doing some this afternoon, pre-din din, so that I can put an end to being a grumpus.
So why does exercise, or the lack of it, affect our mood so much? Here are a few fun facts! Here’s my reference!
- Exercising releases endorphins which contribute to the euphoria felt when you experience a “runner’s high”. Endorphins resemble opiates in that they give off a subconscious feeling of well-being and content.
- Exercise heightens your immune system which actually has been proven to fight symptoms of depression! Feeling healthy and feeling happy go hand in hand, and exercise can provide you with both as a package deal!
- That warm fuzzy feeling. Yes, if you’re exercising correctly, you’re going to sweat. That sweat happens because your body temperature rises and your endocrine and respiratory systems are doing what they can to cool you off. That heat that you create by exercising, though, contributes to the feeling of relaxation.
- Exercising can be social. Hanging out with friends is always fun! When you can share something, say, a common goal in exercise, you can bond, hang out, and better your health. Funnay how that works, huh?
- Exercise. Eat cleanly. Look Good…FEEL GOOD! ‘Nuff said.
When you’re used to exercising, your body gets used to feeling all of these wonderful, euphoric, fantastical emotions, so when you skip a day or week or decide to stop you’re depriving yourself of the things that naturally make you feel like a squillion bucks!
I’m looking forward to a nice sweat sesh this afternoon, so that’s helping me turn my frown upside down…
What’s your favorite time of day to exercise? Do you ever take an “exercise break” to cheer yourself?
I definitely feel super cranky and mad at myself if I don’t work out. I didn’t go to the gym early this morning either, but maybe after work!