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  • Rob Lawrence

Can Exercise Improve Mental Health?


The blogs title image which the title of the blog can exercise improve mental health

"Exercise, as a complimentary therapy has done more for my mental health than any medication has"

Up until about 3 years ago, I HATED EXERCISE. I was one of those lazy fat lads who always used excuses like "I'm too busy" or "I'm happy with the way I am" or "I can't afford it".........


Now???? Well now I'm like one of those converted self righteous ex smoking preachers who everyone hates..... I'm alright with that though




Well, I gotta tell you, folks. After a 12 week program with Caveman Training back in 2016, I was converted... Now, I love the gym, I love the feeling you get after good workout and I'm not gonna lie. Losing the fat and building some muscle has done wonders for my body confidence


So....


If you let me I'll try to convert you to the wonders of exercise..... It's changed everything for me..... I'd love for it to do the same for you


Let me Tell you why....


A image of a  man explaining Sports Science
The Science Bit

In the most basic way exercise offers our brains the release of some good feeling chemicals called "Endorphins". These little buggers effect how we think and feel and the more we have of them the more happy we are in life.


What else is affected by exercise?


Fresh Clear Focused Mind


A image of a kid with Fresh clear Focused Mind


As a person that enjoyed his weekends to the most a foggy mind was a way of life for me. The first half of the week was recovering and the latter part of the week was spent working and looking forward to the weekend (It was a constant repetitive cycle).


Nowadays I can't describe the benefits of exercise on the mind. It clears all the cobwebs away, I'm more productive and focused and the quality of my work is 100 times better than it was before I started to incorporate exercise into my life.


Body Confidence


A picture of before and after the blogger lost weight representing body confidence

I debated with myself quite a lot whether to put these pictures of me before and after in this blog but it is an honest representation of my journey with exercise and how far I've come.


"I could have counted the times I have taken off my T-shirt in public over the last 10 years on 1 hand!!"



Now that I have been working out over the past couple of years I still have some issues with the way I see my body but my journey from the back where I used to be and where I am now are at opposite ends of the scale.


It's amazing what a bit of body confidence can do to a person's mental health.


Endless Amounts Of Energy


rabbits showing Endless amounts of energy
And On And On And On

The excuse of


"I'm too tired after work to hit the gym is a myth"

I was a frequent user of this line but the truth is, yes you may find it hard to get off your arse and hit the gym after work because your shattered but living a healthier lifestyle with a bit of exercise increases your endurance levels to the max.



You acquire boundless amounts of energy.... Enough for work, the gym and whatever else you want to do with all this built up get up and go..


Improved Mood


2 old people representing improved mind

I've always had a pretty positive attitude about life and The daily increase of endorphins will put you in such a better frame of mind that you will be happier, more focused, motivated and better to be around...... Your friends and family won't recognise you or your happier personality any more!


Some Much Needed "ME" Time


A picture representing we all need some "me" time
Oprah For President 2024

I'm a bit of an introvert some days and trying to find some much needed me time can be difficult which is where the gym comes in.


Why not put your headphones and favourite tunes on and hit the gym for an hour..... It kills 2 birds with 1 stone. You get fit & healthy and it'll provide you with some much needed you time where you can re-engage with you, your thoughts and your feelings..... It does me wonders!!


A image of the blogger representing the end of the blog and his final thoughts
Final Thoughts

I get it, exercise is not everyone's cup of tea so I'll just speak for myself when I'm talking about how beneficial it can be on a persons mental health.


The truth is it really has completely changed my mindset and the great thing about it is that you don't have to turn into an Olympian to reap the benefits.


Start small.... find something sporty you enjoy doing and get involved. If you like it I promise you it'll be a game changer for you.








mental health blog image with the words madness manchester and the mind
image of the therapybyrobert

               Why Listen To Me?
 
The short answer is I don't know.

Life 10 years ago looked very different for me......I was smack bang in the middle of a mental health breakdown failing in every part of my life
 
But......

As I now find myself walking into my early 40s my story has very much changed..... It's moved from A troubled life I thought I was destined to live to one that's filled with mental health recovery, meaning and purpose.

The me now lives and works in Manchester using the Madness he experienced in the past to help others fix their Minds...... If that's something you might be interested in this blog might be for you 😊

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