INDUSTRY INSIGHT
FITNESS
SPONSORED CONTENT
“Combat
Holiday
Stress
through Exercise”
#Stressless This Year
By Lisa Troyer
hen beginning any exercise program, you are usually
advised to consult your physician. However, it makes
more sense to me to consult your physician if you are
not exercising. People who do not engage in a regular exercise
program are more prone to disease than active individuals. Add
stress, which is the number-one cause of illness, and the scenario
becomes worse.
Everyone has some degree of stress in his or her life, but stress
isn’t really the problem—it’s how we deal with it. It is a fact that
W
exercise promotes the release of hormones that improve your
mood and reduce feelings of anxiety.
There are many ways that exercise controls stress and anxiety.
In fact, exercise is being prescribed by health professionals to
help treat nervous tension. As a fi tness professional, I believe that
exercise is truly the “magic pill.” Following a workout, clinicians
have measured a decrease in electrical activity of tensed muscles.
People are less jittery and anxious. Exercising can also relax you.
It generates 90 to 120 minutes of relaxation response, known as
“post-exercise euphoria or endorphin response.”
When you are on a consistent program you feel better about
yourself. A little self-worth goes a long way and will contribute to
stress relief. You also are more conscious of the food you eat. This
is helpful during the holidays with so many extra temptations.
Making healthy food choices makes you feel so much better and
aids in combating stress.
As the holidays approach, it’s going to be really tempting to
throw your workouts by the wayside, promising yourself that you
will start again after the New Year. Do yourself a favor and don’t
allow your body to “de-train,” which begins to happen within a
few weeks. Commit to shifting to maintenance workouts. Don’t
lose what you have worked so hard to gain all year. Simply reduce
the time of each session, or even cut back on how many times
you hit the gym.
With all of the added tasks that you will need to accomplish
in the coming weeks, let exercise be a valuable tool to get you
through. If you are a regular exerciser, I guarantee that missing
your workouts will only add to your stress. If you aren’t a regular
exerciser, don’t wait until the New Year. Start now; go out for
a brisk fall walk! Combat any holiday weight gain and, most
importantly, combat the stress.
Have a safe and happy holiday season.
#stressless
This Industry Insight was written by Lisa Troyer.
Lisa Troyer has been in the fi tness industry for more
than 24 years and is the owner of Fitness Fanatics in the
Great Southern Shopping Center. She currently holds
four nationally recognized fi tness and personal training
certifi cations and can be reached at 412.220.4190, ext. 3
or at fi [email protected]. Check out
www.fi tnessfanaticsinc.com for more great fi tness tips.
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