Fitness Brief

    Studies show that individuals who exercise on a regular basis are less likely to struggle with emotional and mental stressors than those who are physically inactive, according to GCSU’s Counseling Center.   
    Stress, anxiety, depression, even the immune system can be positively impacted by engaging in physical activity several times per week.  High stress levels are harmful for mental health and dangerous for your body as well.  High stress can cause atherosclerosis, a disease that creates fat deposits in the arteries, leading them to become hardened and blocked off.
    Mary Jane Phillips and Susan Hendley are the director and assistant director of the Counseling Center here at GCSU.  These licensed professional counselors recommend students increase the amount of physical activity in their lives.
    “Our bodies are designed for physical stress and they are designed to respond in physical ways to stressors.  When you’re exercising regularly, you are using up those stress chemicals in your body, that way they can’t hang around and cause trouble,” Phillips said.
    Physical activity helps manage stress.  If you’re getting frustrated about studying for a test, your body wants to physically react to it.  The chemicals causing stress remain in the body, leading to more serious complications.
    “Exercise more days than you don’t at your target heart range for 30 minutes at a time.  You will feel good,” Phillips said.
    Hendley agrees that exercise is a good way to manage stress.
    “Many of our students who come in, who are struggling with anxiety and depression, especially if they are not in any immediate danger, we often suggest them to try this for six to eight weeks before they consider taking medications.  It’s very effective for certain levels of depression and anxiety,” Hendley said.
    Phillips and Hendley give this advice to nearly 89 percent of the students they see. 
    Here are several suggestions to get into an exercise routine: Get a partner who is equally interested in exercising with you and will help with accountability.  It’s okay to start small, don’t try to burn yourself out after several weeks.  Take a wellness course; it’s an easy way to plan exercise into your schedule each week.                      Lastly, you can sign up for free personal training with an exercise science student at the Wellness Depot to receive educated guidance and motivation.
    GCSU students Megan Scott and Jon Collins agree that making exercise a regular part of their lifestyle benefits them physically, mentally and emotionally.
    “I try to mix it up a lot [with activities].  When I am being active regularly, I feel I have a lot more energy.  It almost helps me focus more on my day,” Collins said.
    Collins plays basketball, racquetball, tennis and lifts weights regularly.  Scott is an avid runner who feels that exercise makes a difference both physically and mentally.
     “When I am not doing anything, I feel lethargic and less motivated about school.  It gives me energy, I’m in the mood to do more when I am consistently active,” said Scott.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 19 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry