PAS3: Exercise Equals Endorphins

Exercise equals endorphins. Endorphins equal happiness!

“Happiness lies, first of all, in health.” -George William Curtis

Today I’m going to talk about the importance of physical health and the role exercising plays in contributing to your happiness as a whole. Your physical health definitely affects your mental health, positively of course, and its effects are more significant than many want to believe. It’s easy to say that TV, lounging around, and eating junk food all “make you happy”, but when it comes down to the science… That just isn’t true.

When your body crosses over from an aerobic state to an anaerobic state, it’s suddenly operating without enough oxygen to satisfy the muscles and cells screaming out for it. This is when the “runner’s high” occurs. I know what you’re all thinking: Ang no! I don’t run. I will never run. Running is disgusting.

Chill, fam, I agree.

There are about a million different ways you can “exercise” without even really realizing you’re working out. Dancing, walking around PSU, biking, swimming, rock climbing, hiking, parkour…

Personally, I don’t love running. I’m super slow, definitely a preacher of the “No matter how slow you’re going, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch” saying, even if it’s just to boost my self esteem for my ten minute mile pace. I became more active freshman year of high school upon joining my school’s volleyball team, and have gotten progressively more into personal fitness each year since. I bought a gym membership here at PSU and I’ve got to say these classes are the brightest part of my day! I highly encourage all of you to get up and try “Power Remix”: a forty five minute class that is mainly dancing but incorporates moves like squats and jumping jacks to remind you that you’re really working your body — not that you’d forget when you wake up the next morning unable to trek the hill from South campus to the Business Building.

If you’re #TeamiPhone, you’ll find a little app with a pink heart (that you are unable to delete so I’m sure you all have it!) that is labeled “Health”. This app can track everything, if you let it, but the most important thing (to me) to track is your steps. Though you may be dying for a Fitbit, there are alternative (free!) ways to track your steps each day! The health app tracks your steps without you doing anything at all, and you can see a chart of your levels of activity for the past week / month / year. I can almost without a doubt promise you that your steps will have SKYROCKETED in August upon arriving to PSU, at least mine definitely have.

Exercise not only leads to physical health but it also makes most people feel proud if done consistently, and generally have a more positive self image. Achieving personal fitness goals as well as improving the way we see ourselves because we know we are working on our appearance as well as our health. I may continue this topic next week because it’s so wonderful. Love yourself love your body be happy! Try something new this week!

PS IF YOU JOIN APOLLO WE ARE HIKING MOUNT NITTANY SUNDAY! FUN so you should join!

Links to Research:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/exercise-happiness2.htm

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33154510

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/09/17/25-ways-to-exercise-without-realizing-it/