Finding that motivation to get some exercise on a regular basis can be challenging. We always have good reasons to skip it: I gotta feed the kids, I had to work late, I'm too exhausted, or I can't miss tonight's episode of ----. We will always have excuses and barriers until we decide it's time for a real change - like any challenging behavior change! So if you're considering making that change and want a little extra motivation, or you're still on the fence but open to some research results, read on. This past month alone, 4 online articles describe the advantages of exercise along the lifespan:
1- PsychCentral posted Dr. Nauert's article Exercise Improves Mental Health of Overweight Teens, where he shows that just two 60-minute exercise sessions a week (and they seem fun) can make a significant impact on teens.
2- Penn State found that Exercise Boosts Satisfaction with Life. They found that while 18-25 year olds tend to have a volatile sense of well-being due to their life stressors and events, increasing their daily activity just a little longer and a little harder every day boosted their satisfaction with life.
3- University of Montreal researchers found that Sport Makes Middle-Aged People Smarter! They found that when their group of middle-aged individuals exercised 4 times a week, and two of those times were High Intensity Interval workouts (which, by the way, can be done in 15 minutes!), they not only got into better shape but also scored higher on cognitive tests.
4- Finally, an article by Alexandra Sifferlin on the TIME website shared how Exercise Trumps Brain Games in Keeping our Minds Intact. Research has shown for years that keeping our minds active as we age helps us retain our cognitive functions for longer. Now research is showing that exercise does even more to help!
If you ever want help with your motivation to make a change, or want help coming up with a realistic plan of action, I'd be happy to help.
1- PsychCentral posted Dr. Nauert's article Exercise Improves Mental Health of Overweight Teens, where he shows that just two 60-minute exercise sessions a week (and they seem fun) can make a significant impact on teens.
2- Penn State found that Exercise Boosts Satisfaction with Life. They found that while 18-25 year olds tend to have a volatile sense of well-being due to their life stressors and events, increasing their daily activity just a little longer and a little harder every day boosted their satisfaction with life.
3- University of Montreal researchers found that Sport Makes Middle-Aged People Smarter! They found that when their group of middle-aged individuals exercised 4 times a week, and two of those times were High Intensity Interval workouts (which, by the way, can be done in 15 minutes!), they not only got into better shape but also scored higher on cognitive tests.
4- Finally, an article by Alexandra Sifferlin on the TIME website shared how Exercise Trumps Brain Games in Keeping our Minds Intact. Research has shown for years that keeping our minds active as we age helps us retain our cognitive functions for longer. Now research is showing that exercise does even more to help!
If you ever want help with your motivation to make a change, or want help coming up with a realistic plan of action, I'd be happy to help.