Exercise places/gyms can be a great place for working off some extra pounds or getting your body back into shape. But if stress is slowing you down, leaving you feeling worn out and overwhelmed, exercise can be the key for unloading those worries in your life.

Can exercise help you deal with stress?

There are certain chemicals in your brain that cause the negative effects of stress to decrease. These chemicals are present at higher levels in your body when you exercise. So planning regular visits to one of the local gyms in your area can help you fight off the wear and tear that worries bring.

People working out in gyms soon find that by focusing on the activity – that game or workout – their anxieties fade as their energy returns. You’ll find that the worries and cares of your day lighten as your energies and focus shift to your activity.

By working to get into good physical shape, you can help to prevent some sickness. Simply falling ill can because you worry, so by putting in the regular work to prevent illness, you’re helping to fight off potential future stress.

So how much exercise should you be doing to help relieve the stress you are feeling? If you’re doing a moderate workout, Harvard Medical School recommends 30 to 40 minutes of activity a day (unless you are sick). Moderate workouts include dancing, biking, jogging, aerobics, low-impact, and swimming, to name a few. If you work out at a brisker pace, then 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous activity is a good goal.

You can exercise in a single block of time each day or divide it into two sessions – depending on what works best for your schedule. Along with the workout, several sessions of strength training and stretching each week will help to round out your activity program.

Getting started

If you’re just starting a workout program, then check with your health care professional to be sure it’s okay from a physical viewpoint. Your health care professional can probably help steer you toward some good workouts for a person at your age and activity level. And if you are starting from scratch with an exercise program, you may need to start slow – maybe three days a week – increasing minutes and days as time passes and your body adjusts to your new activity level. As you build your stamina and strength, you’ll find that you look forward to the opportunities for activity.

Don’t let stress steal any more of your joy and enthusiasm for life. Look up the gyms in your area, and find a place to get started today on the road back to an active lifestyle.