Why Do People Exercise?
We know that a regular fitness routine is good for the heart and the jeans - by helping the body to build muscle and maintain a healthy weight. But it also spurs the release of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that promote feelings of happiness.
A new study in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology adds more evidence to the "happiness" benefit.
Researchers from the Penn State University found that the more physically active people reported greater general feelings of excitement and enthusiasm, compared with the less physically active people.
Their study tracked the daily activities of 190 college-age students, who were asked to journal the amount and level of physical activity they got in their free time (15 minutes or more), the amount and quality of sleep they got each night, and their overall mental states (like stress and their feelings). At the end of each day for eight days, the participants gave their journals to the researchers.
Another study was released in the Journal of Business and Psychology showing that bosses who don't take the time to exercise are more stressed and lash out at their employees, compared with bosses who make time for fitness.
Researchers found that the more stressed out the bosses were, the more likely their employees were to say they felt like they were being victimized. And, the more the boss broke a sweat, the less abuse reported on the part of the employee.
SOURCE: Journal of Business and Psychology, news release, Jan. 18, 2012
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