Work Out Those Holiday Blues

Feeling a little stressed during the holiday season?  Forget the comfort foods this season.  That will only make you feel worse down the road.  Instead, put aside your worries for 30 to 60 minutes and get involved in some type of physical activity.

There have been well over 100 scientific studies on the effects exercise has on anxiety.  The type of exercise that has shown to have the most positive effect is a low intensity, aerobic type exercise.  There are 4 main reasons why exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety: (1) rhythmic nature of exercise, (2) thermogenic effect of exercise, (3) a diversion or time-out from daily concerns, and/or (4) the sense of accomplishment.

For those athletes who prefer a high intensity workout, there have been studies showing that a high intensity workout will also alleviate stress for similar reasons, especially the accomplishment of a very challenging workout goal.  So put down the ice cream and head to the gym for a great stress relieving workout that won't leave you bloated with holiday calories :)

Source: National Strength & Conditioning Association