I love sports. It is
what keeps kids active for years and it is my primary source to staying fit. Even when I’m not playing sports, the teams I play
for and my teammates that depend on me and my top performance give me the
motivation to hit the weights and exercise even when I don’t have a ball to
chase. Playing sports affects and adapts
the mind more than exercises alone.
Motivation to stay on the task is also much higher and it is frequently
more enjoyable. Here are the reasons
why:
Competition
Because sports require competitors to outdo each other,
willpower, and determination are increased.
To aid in the competition’s survival the body increases adrenaline. Adrenaline Increases heart rate and
breathing, physiological initiation of the flight or fight response. Increases muscle contraction speed and energy
consumption. Neurotransmitter. Aids in
long term memory retention, appetite suppressant, decreases insulin, helps
maintain blood pressure, aids in switching to the use of fats to maintain
exertion.
Team work
Working as a team causes the release of oxytocin which gives a sense of caring, joy. Stress reliever, calmer. It helps in retaining positive memories and suppressing
negative ones.
Audience
Being watched increases stress. If this is eustress this will cause an
increase in adrenaline.
Problem
solving
Recreational activity affects more the ability to adapt to
different situations than exercise alone.
Problem solving occurs constantly in sports to defeat your opponent, and
combined with exercise this accelerates the brains capabilities to problem
solve.
Immediate
results
Unlike exercise where results are difficult to be seen and
sometimes can’t be noticed until months later, a sport shows the athlete
immediately the results of their work.
They are scored and grades almost as soon as they are finished. This score is rarely perfect and the athlete
knows what score they need to get next time in order to beat the previous.
Excitement
Sports are more exciting than regular exercise, this causes
the heart beat to rise faster and higher than regular exercise. With this elevated heart beat the body burns
more calories and raises the metabolism to burn more calories even when not
exercising. Because the activity is more
exciting, more endorphins are
released which are a natural pain killer and appetite suppressant. Endorphins
give feeling of emotional well being and enhances immune
response. Increased focus, Dilates eyes, cognitive initiation of the flight or
fight response. Endorphins are also a
very affective antidepressant and neurotransmitter.
Join a team! Incorporate sports and competition into your exercise regime and you may find some more motivation (and fun) to help you continue in your healthy lifestyle
Related post: http://www.xlr8therapy.com/2011/11/exciting-exercise.html
Related post: http://www.xlr8therapy.com/2011/11/exciting-exercise.html
