“…Make Your Body Feel Real Good “

Anybody still singing Sid the Science Kid?

My apologies…

But I do want to finish up with some thoughts on the chorus line “make your body feel real good.”

Most people know that exercise makes your body feel good. But how? And why?

Just a quick little science lesson. The pituitary gland, located at the base of your brain, releases endorphins – which can block pain and create feelings of euphoria. When you exercise, these naturally occurring opiates attach to the receptors in the brain causing that feel-good-feeling.

But, here’s the thing, while brain imaging does show increased endorphin production during exercise, it obviously affects people in different ways. What creates that flying-high feeling for some, will be nothing short of a disappointment for others.

Typically, “runner’s high” will occur after lengthy cardio exercise or intense, anaerobic workouts. When your body reaches that anaerobic threshold, it’s in desperate need of oxygen. In response, those endorphins kick in to help your forget about the pain, resulting in that awesome, I-love-exercise! feeling.

While taking a stroll around the block will definitely help improve your mood, it’s this euphoric rush that keeps so many returning to their workouts day after day. It’s your naturally built-in exercise motivation.

I hesitate and say this gently…When your daily exercise routine consists of nothing more than pedaling away on an elliptical while flipping through a magazine, it’s no wonder you “just don’t like to exercise.”

Don’t get me wrong, some days, that’s the perfect type of workout. Way back when, I used grade papers while cycling on a recumbent bike on days when I just needed something simple.

But if you’re looking to really “make your body feel real good,” consider upping the intensity.

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is all the rage these days. Don’t let the letters scare you. It’s really the most flexible thing ever. (And if you look at the link above, don’t let that intimidate you either). It’s really quite simple.

With ANY cardio exercise, simply alternate between pushing yourself almost-as-hard-as-you-can and recovery phases. For however long you’d like. The intense phase can be anywhere from 10 seconds to 5 minutes, and the recovery is usually equal to or longer than your work phase. It’s totally up to you.

Once you’ve experimented a bit and know what your body is capable of, I’d suggest trying to at least loosely plan it out somewhat. Otherwise, you’ll likely end up giving up sooner than your body could because your mind will be telling you to stop.

Even if you’re doing low-impact cardio, you can still alternate the intensity. It’s better to challenge the body with surprises than lull it to sleep with a mind-numbing steady-state cardio machine workout.

I realize reading a magazine or watching the built-in TV screens if you’ve got a snazzy machine, help pass the time. But, then, I’d have to ask what your purpose for exercising is. Hopefully it’s more than just “to pass the time.”

I know there’s more to this verse, but Colossians 3:23 sums it up for me:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart

Let’s see if, with a little change in focus and intensity, we can’t just “make our bodies feel real good!”