Why You Should Use Exercise To Relieve Stress

It's kind of ironic that two very common problems in our society today are stress and obesity, and that you can find relief for both of these problems with one simple act: exercise. Yes, it's true, you can exercise to relieve stress.

Your body produces endorphins when you exercise, endorphins can help you feel relaxed and at ease and produce an overall feeling of well being, even euphoria. This is what is referred to as the 'runners high'. This chemical is actually similar in structure to morphine.

By exercising regularly you are releasing these endorphins into your system which will help you feel less out of control and stressed. This feeling of well being will follow you throughout the day, long after you've left the gym.

Another stress busting factor in exercise is the ability to get out all, or at least some, of your pent up frustrations. Daily frustrations are cumulative and over time they can add up to one very big ball of stress.

We all know that if we allow stress to build up for too long we eventually explode. Regular exercise will help you get it out of your system. If we control those explosions by focusing that energy into something constructive, such as a boxing class, or a nice long jog, we can get the stress relief we need without getting ourselves into trouble.

If you're really angry nothing feels better than to do some very high intensity exercise. Do you still feel angry and upset after you've spent an hour at the gym, or running, swimming, biking, or even just taking a nice long walk? Most people will feel a pleasant calmness after an invigorating workout.

You can really melt away a lot of stress and anger by converting that angry energy into a physical workout.

Another reason exercise is a good stress reliever is because when you work out you tend to have a much higher self esteem. When we feel insecure about ourselves we tend to be on high alert and in a low simmer all the time.

Much of the stress we face is self induced. It's sometimes our own doubts and insecurities that create stress for us. Instead of letting our doubts and insecurities be another stressor we can use exercise as a way to improve our physical and mental health.

If we are feeling good about ourselves, if we feel strong, in control and confidant, then we simply aren't as prone to making a mountain out of a molehill and getting all stressed out over the little ups and downs of daily life.

So exercising is a win/win. We can lose weight, get our bodies more healthy, and relieve stress all at the same time.

Using exercise to relieve stress will not only help you lower your blood pressure and be happier, it can also help you lose any extra weight you have. Losing excess weight will help lower your blood pressure and be happier. Neat, huh?

Understanding Infertility

So, you think you might be facing the prospect of not being able to have your own baby? That can be traumatic and stressful to say the least. But the thing is, the more you stress yourself out, the lesser the chances of your ever getting pregnant! If you and your partner have been trying for a baby for the last 1 to 2 years, you might like to visit your gynecologist and get a check up.

This holds true especially if you're a woman over the age of 35 with irregular and painful periods, or you've had a miscarriage(s), use an intrauterine device (IUD) or have had surgery in the abdomen or pelvic region.

While couples are trying to conceive, they usually have unprotected sex thrice a week. And when they don't get results, it can be quite frustrating, not to mention, it kills the fun of having sex! If you think you're looking at a fertility problem, don't expect the worst. It could just be something as simple as bad timing! That is, you're not having sex near your ovulation period.

Having said that, there are certain factors that can increase the risks of infertility in men and women. A woman's fertility decreases after the age of 32. And the older one gets, there's a higher risk of miscarriages. As for men, if they're over 40 years old, they can become less fertile than men younger their age. And then, of course, there's the added hazard of alcohol and tobacco use.

People who smoke can reduce their chances of getting pregnant, while increasing the possibility of miscarrying. During conception or pregnancy, no level of alcohol is considered safe, though moderate alcohol intake doesn't seem to interfere with a man's fertility levels. Likewise, it's being speculated that excessive caffeine consumption may also lead to a decrease in fertility. Though, the verdict is still out on caffeine it does seem to contribute to the danger of a miscarriage.

Making a case for no excesses and adopting the middle path, too much of anything seems to be counterproductive. If you overdo exercising, you may face difficulties in ovulating. But, if you don't get enough exercise it can lead to weight issues that has a bearing on fertility.

Women who are seriously underweight due to crash dieting or eating disorders can also have a problem, as do women who are strictly vegetarian. Studies suggest that they might miss out on vital nutrients, such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. Ideally speaking, don't let it come to a stage where you're too stressed out to conceive. There is help out there, so please don't suffer in silence...