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Some days, I am just in a mood. I don’t know what you call it, maybe stressed, bored, lonely, angry, sad, anxious, or tired. I call it "getting into a funk." When it happens, I have allowed my circumstances to dictate my attitude and my thinking and then—bam! Before I know what hit me, I’m in a full-blown funk. While I like to exercise when a bad mood rises, others turn to unhealthy habits like emotional eating or smoking. When you're upset, stressed or otherwise not feeling like yourself, exercise—and the mood-enhancing endorphins it produces—can be the best thing for you. Don't you believe me? The next time you feel that mood coming on, identify what you're feeling and why. Are you bored because your best friend is out of town? Are you feeling lonely since the kids have left the nest? Or maybe you are stressing over finances. Whatever it is, pinpoint it. Then use the specific ideas below to bust your bad mood with a feel-good exercise prescription. Your Mood: Angry Your blood is boiling! You want to take this anger out on someone before you explode! Mood Busting Exercises: Kickboxing, boxing, shadowboxing, or martial arts. Whether you follow a kickboxing video or take a group class, you'll release anger with every punch, kick and jab. Imagine the target of your anger as you do a set of 12 front kicks! Besides getting your anger out you’ll blast calories with these cardio workouts. Any form of martial arts, often overlooked as a form of exercise, will also work. Besides actually making contact with pads, targets, and shields (a major stress and anger releaser!), you’ll gain gaining confidence, discipline, and focus. Your Mood: Bored You're stuck in a rut and want to do something interesting, but you're not sure what. Mood Busting Exercises: Spinning class, step aerobics, or a new fitness DVD Beat boredom (without food) by taking a high-energy Spinning class at your local gym. Set to great tunes, you'll be surprised how quickly an hourlong class flies by. Step aerobics is another great workout when you're bored because it's always changing. You have to concentrate on the choreography—sort of like learning a simple dance that involves a step. You'll build skills and feel really accomplished when it's over! Lastly, head to the library or video rental store and pick up the first workout DVD that looks interesting to you. Do it at home or invite a friend over to try your newest exercise venture! Continued › |
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Fitness Articles › Pitfalls and PlateausBust Your Bad Mood with ExerciseUse Fitness, Not Food, to Change Your State of Mind-- By Jason Anderson, Certified Personal TrainerSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
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Jason Anderson
Jason loves to see people realize the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. He is a certified personal trainer and enjoys running races--from 5Ks to 50K ultramarathons. See all of Jason's articles. |
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Member Comments
Yes, I know. Some women feel "empowered" by kicking and punching. I don't. I just feel sick. To do kickboxing in response to feeling bad would only have me feeling worse.
No thanks. No punching fists for me, please. No kicking feet. - 1/5/2013 10:58:47 AM
and i just do not know where to start, taking a walk clears my mind and i feel i can tackle any thing after . - 8/5/2012 7:34:03 PM
Don't know if anyone already said this, but it's nice to see for a change. - 8/5/2012 2:05:24 PM
I wanted to save it to favourites but couldn't figure out how to... anyone know where the heart symbol's gone that made it a one-click move? - 8/5/2012 3:00:15 AM
Having recently lost my beautiful mum following a short but extremely aggressive and distressing illness, I've been feeling very low and sometimes extremely black. I still workout every morning to a DVD and do strength work, but sometimes these days I feel I want more, to help me cope with my loss.
So for example, yesterday despite the threat of thunderstorms here in the UK I took myself for an hour and a half's hike through my local fields and absolutely loved it. I just walked and walked, and got lost in my thoughts.
Before I knew it, I was almost home, had managed to escape the looming storms, and my head felt a lot clearer and more focussed. - 8/5/2012 1:46:15 AM
Great Article....
- 5/1/2012 4:10:49 PM