Do the colder, darker Winter months have a negative effect on you? You’re not alone. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) affects around 2 million people in the UK every year. The long, dark nights and short daylight hours cause many people to become depressed, unsociable and lethargic.
If you’re suffering from SAD, or any type of depression or anxiety problem for that matter, then you’ll know that there are a wide range of treatments available. These include everything from psychiatry to prescription drugs. One of the greatest natural antidepressants however, is exercise and here is why you should exercise to lift your Winter mood:
Boost Your Feel-Good Chemicals
It’s scientifically proven that exercise improves your overall mood. This is down to the fact that when you exercise, a flood of feel-good chemicals including dopamine, endorphins and serotonin is released into your body.
The reason for this is that your body needs physical activity in order to keep healthy. When you exercise, your brain sends an array of mood-boosting chemicals coursing through your body to encourage you to exercise more. This is where the term ‘runner’s high’ comes from. You’ll find that you feel really good for hours after you exercise. A regular exercise regime can even permanently alter your mood for the better!
Be More Social
The feel-good chemicals that your brain pumps out during exercise include confidence-boosting ones too. You will feel more comfortable meeting and engaging with others, and may even make some new gym friends in the process. Socialising is a great way to improve your mood. Socialising is beneficial to improving mental health, and meeting new people through exercise is a fantastic way to help drive away the Winter blues.
Avoid Comfort Eating
Many people turn to comfort eating when they’re depressed or anxious, but the reality is that this will only make you feel worse AND pick up weight. Unhealthy foods packed with sugar will only leave you craving more. The long-term effects of a poor diet means that you can become overweight and cause you even more mental anguish.
Exercising combats this problem. You’re much less likely to go home and binge eat after spending time in the gym burning away calories. You may also decide to get a personal trainer. They will help you keep motivated and focussed. They can also create a diet plan with foods that will improve your mood rather than cause it to slump.
Core results is an exclusive private Chichester gym providing personal training programmes, gym access and superb classes. Our specialisms and qualifications range from specialist weight loss and general fitness, to rehabilitation and surgery preparation, the all important nutrition, plus gaining and maintaining fitness in over 40’s.