Most of us are aware that exercise is beneficial to our physical and mental health. But, in this regard, are certain activities superior to others? According to a recent study, persons who participate in team sports such as soccer, baseball, and hockey had the fewest days of bad mental health.
This is likely due to the essential social component of such sports: being among people and forming relationships has clear psychological advantages; after all, we are social creatures.
In both scientific and anecdotal evidence, endurance sports like running and cycling advocate for their mental health advantages. On the latter point, numerous running group members, including myself, have stated that running has helped them cope with depression.
What about strength or resistance training? Resistance training is known to have various health advantages, including more muscular muscles, higher bone density, less age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), and a reduced chance of falling, to mention a few.
The relationship between physical activity and mental well-being has long been known. The old proverb "a healthy body, a healthy mind" still holds today. For those who don't love cardio, the good news is that you don't have to run a 10k to obtain a euphoric "runner's high"– strength training may provide the same endorphin surge.
While it's crucial to remember that exercise isn’t used in place of professional care for mental health, those with poor mental health and those without identified disorders can both benefit from training.
There are a lot of myths regarding strength training that need to be busted, and most of them revolve around what people think strength training does to their bodies.
Strength training activities such as weight lifting and bodyweight motions like squats, push-ups, and planks won't make you bulk up unless you're a bodybuilder. Still, they will provide a boatload of additional advantages – both physically and emotionally.
Here are five benefits of weightlifting to your mental health.
Depression is a very prevalent condition. Countless people around the globe suffer from the disorder, which is characterised by poor mood, loss of enjoyment, decreased energy, and sleep and food difficulties.
Modern life is demanding, and we all experience anxiety from time to time. Anxiety manifests as restlessness, persistent concern, shivering, and muscle strain. Strength training, fortunately, can also aid in this situation.
A study of seven research indicated that moderate-intensity strength training reduced anxiety symptoms minor but meaningful. The people who partook in this research were adults who had not been diagnosed with a clinical anxiety illness.
Having healthy self-esteem or a sense of self-worth and value is one aspect of excellent psychological health. Strength training does contribute to a slight boost in self-esteem, according to a significant meta-analysis of 113 research.
Given the impacts of strength training on muscle development and body definition, it's not unexpected that participants had a better body image and confidence in their physical ability – all of which falls under the umbrella of 'physical self-esteem.'
Another thing that could boost your confidence is wearing SlamClub apparel. They are spearheading a movement that acknowledges and promotes the relationship between physical and mental health because they know how many individuals use weights as a form of therapy. A healthy body and mind are associated. So what are you waiting for? Check Slam Club apparel!
Studies have shown resistance exercise to enhance and delay memory, attention, and decision-making in older persons. The SMART (Research of Mental and Resistance Training) study looked at adults with moderate cognitive impairment, in which cognitive abilities deteriorate gradually but noticeably.
Resistance training mixed with brain training increased cognitive performance compared to brain training alone, and the advantages lasted for 18 months.
While lifting, you are entirely concentrated on the subject at hand, your mind separated from everything else, and you are not thinking about how that afternoon meeting will go. Instead, you sense the weight of the load you must lift, the strain in your muscles as they contract to produce force, and you keep your breath under control between movements.
You reflect on your successes and opportunities for growth once you've completed your session and reviewed your performance. When you achieve goals, especially ones that looked nearly impossible to achieve previously, you feel a tremendous feeling of accomplishment.
So there you have it: five scientifically-proven benefits that lifting will boost your mental health. However, it's crucial to realise that exercise isn’t a cure-all for mental illness, whether it's weight training or not. It's also not a replacement for getting expert medical treatment.