How exercise can build your confidence
A new study shows that exercise is not just good for weight loss, better health, higher muscle mass and a good mood; but can also lead to a positive perception of body image.
A recent poll suggests that Americans who exercise more feel better about their appearance. The findings show that those who exercised for 30 minutes every day in the past week, as opposed to those who exercised once, are more confident in general about their appearance.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index interviewed more than 80,000 participants on how they felt about their appearance based on the amount of exercise that they got each day. The report was conducted between January 1 and June 23 in 2014.
The report also notes that 70 percent of Americans who exercise at least 30 minutes every day say that they “always feel good” about their physical appearance. About 50 percent of people who do not work out say that they do not feel good about their physical appearance, the poll says.
Only 14 percent of Americans exercise every day, 23 percent exercise four to six days, 34 percent exercise one to three days, and 29 percent do not exercise at all, according to the report.
Colleen Eggers, a personal trainer/fitness instructor at the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center in Downers Grove, Ill., says that the study results line up with her experience.
“Endorphins are released by the pituitary gland, which can be found at the base of the brain,” Eggers says. “This tiny pea shaped gland releases chemicals in your body that help to make you feel exhilarated, happy, and also helps to block feelings of pain so you can ‘power’ through your exercises.”
Endorphins not only help boost your mood, but it can also lower feelings of anxiety and depression, according to the Gallup-Healthways poll.
“Working out as little as 30 minutes a day can help you feel stronger, look stronger and increase your mood,” Eggers adds. “All of these can make you have a better self-esteem and a better outlook on life.”
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
Whenever I miss a workout I feel sluggish and sometimes bloated. I think exercise definitely builds your confidence!
I agree – I just feel better about myself overall not just because I know I am doing something good for my health. I notice the confidence factor.
This is so true. I run and as I click off the miles I can feel all of the stress, frustration or anger just melt away. By the time I am done I feel like a new person and feel like I can take on anything. It is such an awesome feeling and makes me feel good about myself and my health.
Have you considered the possibility that those who exercise every day for at least 30 minutes are already an inherently self-selected group — **because** they feel better for having done it, whereas others don’t feel better after exercise and this provides them a disincentive?? Better to examine why some people NEVER get runner’s high or a similar feeling of well being after exercising, then see what can be done to motivate them in the absence of that feeling — that way, you might actually get more people who need exercise to do it. it’s a fact that some people don’t get feelings of well being after exercising, but nobody has looked into why this is. I’d think that would be a no-brainer if you really want more people to work out.