Psychological Benefits of Exercise

The psychological benefits of exercise are not talked about as much as the physical benefits but they do exist. Since they are something that are hard to measure and cannot be physically seen, some people tend to shy away from talking about them at all. When someone exercises there are several chemicals that are released to help induce feelings of well-being and happiness. There are also the positive psychological effects of losing weight, completing goals, and becoming stronger.

The act of exercising triggers the brain to produce and distribute several chemicals that make a person feel happy and content. These chemicals are known as endorphins, and the more you exercise, the more endorphins are created. Many people have experienced a natural "high" after a hard workout routine; this is just a high amount of endorphins working. The brain also releases natural pain killers when there is physical exertion. The combination of these natural painkillers and the endorphins creates a potent high that many people find addicting.

When you exercise on a regular basis it is natural to lose weight and become more lean. This usually increases self esteem, confidence, and in turn becomes a psychological benefit of exercise. There aren't many things that feel as good as looking in the mirror and seeing a fit, conditioned, and attractive figure that took hard work to get. Accomplishing goals has long been known to increase a person's confidence and self esteem.

With the psychological and physical benefits of exercise so closely intertwined, it is nearly impossible to distinguish where one begins and the other starts. This close correlation also makes the study of the psychological benefits of exercise hard to perform and measure.