Omigosh...I am soooo High!!!

Oh, never mind the title...gotcha here didn't it?

That said, I really would like to talk about being high, and getting high. Naturally.  Legally. Without guilt or regrets afterward. Without keeping a dealer on speed dial, or emptying your bank account.
As a matter of fact, quite the opposite.  The high that I am describing last for hours, sometimes throughout the entire day or evening, depending on when you get your "high".

The "high" I am describing comes from EXERCISE! (Yup....here I go again!)
We normally think of getting high as the result of what happens when we introduce a substance into our bodies that brings about mental, physical, and metabolic change.  That alters our mood and mindset.  That affects the way we feel and think.
 Exercise is the very catalyst to bring about those physical, mental and emotional changes!

Exercise, especially of the cardio-vascular persuasion, brings about changes in our physical bodies and brain.  Exercise decreases the production of cortisol, known as the "stress hormone", which has, in recent years been linked to increased fat deposits.  Especially in the belly.
Exercise increases the production of certain other beneficial hormones and chemicals in the brain and sends them flowing. Production and release of endorphins, (the bodies natural pain killers), as well as serotonin, adrenaline, and dopamine, are all increased during exercise.  These chemicals work together to give you a general feeling of well being, increased energy and stamina, and can greatly elevate your mood.
Sounds like an awesome "high" to me!

If weight loss is important to you, you should know that 30 minutes of moderate exercise will jump start your metabolism in such a way, that you will burn calories at an accelerated rate for hours after your work-out is finished.  Sign me up for that!!

In addition to the very real chemical changes that take place in the body during and in the hours following exercise, there is the added benefit of increased self-esteem and a feeling of empowerment.  YOU have taken initiative!  YOU have accomplished a goal!  You have put aside the nagging voice "Waaahhh...I really don't feel like it" and gone and done it anyway! And when you are done, you have sense of satisfaction derived from taking positive, proactive steps for your own physical and mental wellness.  You have, against all the demands placed on you daily, done something just for you.
What's not to feel good about?

Regular exercise has been called a "fountain of youth" and I can attest to that fact. Not only in the way you feel, feel about yourself, and the way you look, but also at a very cellular and metabolic level.  Regular, moderate exercise s-l-o-w-s the aging process.
If you don't believe me, see the photo at the left of Jack LaLanne taken when he was 71 years of age!!!  Jack, who passed away last year at the age of 93, was reportedly still working out 3 times a week until shortly before his death.

Fitness & Nutrition Guru
Jack LaLanne at age 71

I grew up watching this man exercise from a very early age, and that was 45+ years ago!!!  He was a pioneer at that time with his revolutionary thinking about the importance of regular, physical activity, nutritious "whole" foods with an emphasis on plenty of fresh fruits and vegetable, and a much more holistic approach to wellness than was fashionable at the time. He's a bit of a hero to me.

Don't have time everyday for 30 minutes of some kind of physical activity?  Although that is deemed ideal, recent studies show that even 10 minutes a day can bring about the very real, and positive chemical changes I mentioned earlier.  The effects just don;t tend to be quite as long lasting.
Worth noting-studies also show that people battling and/or recovering from depression make better progress and heal more quickly when regular exercise is incorporated into their treatment plan.

Ready to get up off your derriere and do something yet?  I am!  See you later....going to go "Move It, Move It!"