For the last few days I have been wondering what I was going to blog about.  This morning, it hit me when I was searching the internet for some information around exercise to share with our Weekly Weigh-In Groups.  Lifehacker has a great article, with links to other articles talking about the Top Ten Reasons To Exercise Besides Losing Weight.  I thought it would be fun, as well as educational for me to review them one or two at a time and explore for myself how each of the reasons apply to my personal life.  My hope there is that you too will find something in what I have written that resonates with you and your life.  Here goes:

• You’ll improve your memory
  • After a workout I definitely notice that I am able to think more clearly.  This is the result of my brain getting more energy and oxygen.  Here’s what Scientific American has to say about that :
    • When you exercise, you increase your blood pressure and blood flow throughout the body.  This includes the brain, so, when you exercise, your brain gets more energy and more oxygen.  That’s not all though; as the Scientific American article points out, it’s also about more long-term effects:
      
      Another explanation for why working up a sweat enhances our mental capacity is that the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for learning and memory, is highly active during exercise.  When the neurons in this structure rev up, research shows that our cognitive function improves.  For instance, studies in mice have revealed that running enhances spatial learning.  Other recent work indicates that aerobic exercise can actually reverse hippocampal shrinkage, which occurs naturally with age, and consequently boost memory in older adults.  Yet another study found that students who exercise perform better on tests than their less athletic peers.
  • This means that I can keep my brain size larger as I age and you, who may be younger than my 67 years can keep your neurons firing allowing you to perform better.
  • I say if you get foggy in the mid afternoon, even a brief jog or a walk can help clear your mind.  What do you think?

• You’ll have better posture
  • Regularly exercising your abs, backs and other muscles can go a long way into fixing your posture, both sitting and standing.  For example, today was core day at the gym, and as I sit here at the computer I just noticed that I am not hunched over the computer, I am sitting straight in my ergonomic chair with my head held high. 
  • Studies have also shown that the way we move our bodies affects how others see us as well as our own moods and habits.
  • Dutch behavioral scientist Erik Peper has done extensive research into this area, as well.  He regularly makes participants in his classes stand up and stretch, for similar reasons

Here are three fascinating things that happened once our posture changes:

1. For example, when we sit up straight, we are more likely to remember positive memories or think of something positive in general, according to this experiment.
2. Another insight was that if we skip during breaks, we can significantly increase our energy levels.  A slow, slumped walk on the other hand, can do the exact opposite and drain us of our energy.
3. The study also found that those who were most affected by depression before the study found their energy drained more than others.

I notice that when I stand or sit properly I keep muscle aches and pains and headaches and tired eyes to a minimum.  I also feel more self confident, and therefore more positive. 

A study by researchers from Columbia and Harvard Universities showed that body language symbolizing power can actually affect our decision-making, subconsciously.  The researchers measured the appetite for risk of participants in either expansive, powerful poses, or constricted poses (occupying minimal space, keeping limbs close to the body).  Those in the powerful poses not only felt more powerful and in control, but were 45% more likely to take a risky bet.

Plus, the study used saliva samples to prove that expansive postures actually altered the participants' hormone levels—decreasing cortisol (C) and increasing testosterone (T):

So clearly, our posture has more to do with our minds we might have thought.  And in fact, it seems like our bodies come first—when we alter our posture and body language, it subconsciously influences our thinking and decision-making

When I sit or stand straight I notice that I am more alert, more focused in the moment, and more aware of myself and others around me as well.  Could this be the result of the decrease in the stress hormone in my body?  What are your thoughts?

I find this topic fascinating to explore and I hope you find some nuggets to take away from this blog.  If you find this as fascinating as I do I will continue the series until I have covered all 10.

I will continue my exercise regimen because it not only keeps my weight in check but also has multiple other positive “side effects” on my body and my being.  How about taking a 15 minute walk today?