How did everyone fare this Valentine's Day? Our festivities are this weekend so I still have some temptation ahead of me. I will say that I only gave myself one piece of chocolate this whole week. Quite the feat for a chocolate love like myself!
Well this week I am going to focus on exercise and the brain. I recently read a book called "Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" by John J. Ratey. I was fascinating (and really science heavy just as a warning). We are always told about the benefits of exercise on the body, but this book focused on the link between the exercise and the brain. I will some up the basic points that relate to us and our exercise:
1. Exercising in the morning boosts brain activity, attention span and focus for the rest of your day. (Students had better tests scores when doing a rigorous workout before school, than those who exercised during the day- in fact, it put these kids first in the world in regard to science scores)
2. Exercise is a mood changer and can help make you happier. This is beyond jus the "runners high" or endorphin release originally thought.
3. Exercise is a major player in coping with depression, anxiety, ADD and increases your stress threshold. A 35 minute workout each day can drastically reduce the effects of these problems and some patients even weaned themselves off of medication as a result of pure exercise.
4. Exercise helps increase the repair of damage to your brain, delaying the effects of memory loss and reduces your risk of dementia.
I am hoping to make morning exercise a regular routine to get my day going, because heaven knows I could use a little extra brain power in the day.
What exercise have you been doing this week? I am going to try to do some "outdoor" running tomorrow (at a local fieldhouse) to mix it up a bit from the treadmill I've been doing this week.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Heidi - what a great book. I feel like maybe I comment too much but it helps me stay motivated - that's what is important:-)
ReplyDeleteI taught a great class on Wednesday that would be easy to do on your own, so I thought I'd share. Combines cardio and strength training so a great calorie burner! Hope you have fun trying it out.
60 squats (can be regular, with weights, or jumping)
4 shoulder exercises each: lateral raises, reverse flies, overhead presses
56 squats
8 shoulder exercises
52 squats
12 shoulder exercises
Jump Rope 100 times
48 squats
4 Ab/back exercises each: R side rises, regular full sit ups, L side rises, back extensions
44 squats
8 Ab/back exercises
40 squats
12 Ab/back exercises
Jump rope 100 times
36 squats
4 bicep curls, tricep extensions - 4 slow at 4 counts up, 4 counts down then 4 at regular speed. 4 dead lifts
32 squats
8 arms - 4 slow then 8 up to speed. 8 dead lifts
28 squats
12 arms - 4 slow then 12 up to speed. 12 dead lifts
Jump Rope 100
24 squats
4 chest press, flies, push ups
20 squats
8 chest press, flies, push-ups
16 squats
12 chest ...
Jump Rope 100
12 squats
4 burpees
8 squats
8 burpees
4 squats
12 burpees
Jump rope 100
DONE!!! (About 1 hour)