Stress Control
 Yet Another Benefit Of Exercise

By: Daniel Green

Just in case you needed one more incentive to make exercise a part of your daily life, researchers now say that exercise is an excellent form of stress control. Many avid weight lifters use resistance training to "work out" their stress and find themselves feeling better for having done so. But you do not have to push your bench press maximum to reap this benefit. Any type of exercise will do, including cardiovascular and flexibility training.

Exercise lessens stress in a number of ways. Researchers working to control nervous tension have found that patients feel much less jittery after a workout. Similarly, many office workers (including this one) find themselves a little less restless-and much less fatigued-at the end of the day if they've managed to squeeze in a morning or lunchtime workout. Exercise also improves self-esteem, which, in turn, reduces stress. 

A good workout can actually improve your ability to relax. That's why many employers have been adding incentives to get their employees moving. A lunchtime workout can do wonders for late-afternoon productivity. It breaks up a workday that can sometimes become monotonous and allows you to refocus on your work with a fresh perspective. In addition to the post-exercise relaxation response, the resulting increase in productivity can reduce work-related stress, the most common type of stress in these demanding times.

Lastly, exercise often leads to an improved diet. The self-esteem derived from a workout routine, and the sense that you are doing something positive for yourself, encourages you to eat better. And good nutrition and overall health can help the body manage stress.

So get started! Your body-and mind-will reward you for your efforts.

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Daniel Green is the Managing Editor for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and an ACE-certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant. He is also a Contributing Editor to both ACE Fitness Matters and ACE Certified News. Visit the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org.

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