Improved Mood and Increased Confidence

I may be preaching to the choir for those of you who already train with weights, but just the act of training and completing a workout makes you feel good. Lifting weights in particular gives you more self-confidence. Don't just take my word for it. Numerous studies have been done on the subject, and they all arrive at the same conclusion ' choose physical activity over inactivity any day to prevent depression and elevate your mood. In general, people who are inactive are twice as likely to have depression symptoms as more active people. A report from the U.S. surgeon general in 1996 stated that the consensus of people who are physically active is that they have an enhanced mood, higher self-esteem, greater confidence in their ability to perform tasks requiring physical activity, and better cognitive functioning than people who are sedentary or less physically fit.

The jury still seems to be out on exactly why and how exercise elevates mood. There are many theories, but it is likely a combination of events that promote the positive effects. Some psychological theories are that exercise leads to increased self-mastery or self-efficacy, that it provides social interaction and support, that it provides a form of meditation, that it provides a form of distraction from negative thoughts or behaviors, or that it is a pleasant activity and positively reinforces itself. Some physiological theories are the thermogenic theory, that the increased body temperature from exercise decreases muscular tension; the endorphin theory, that the body releases endogenous opiates during exercise; and the monoamine neurotransmitter theory, that the body releases increased levels of norepinephrine and serotonin during exercise. There is little evidence on the endorphin theory, and researchers are leaning toward a combination of psychological theories with the neurotransmitter theory. Some researchers think that exercise may help the brain cope better with stress or that it gives the body a way to deal more appropriately with stress. Regardless of the whys, adding a strength-training program can positively influence the way you feel.