Which workout is the best fit for your feelings? Experts weigh in.
When you’re feeling down, it can be tempting to curl up on the couch with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and binge old eps of Gilmore Girls. And sure, a pity party feels good in the moment. But it doesn’t really make you any happier— or healthier—in the long run.
The better-for-you boost? Exercise. It might be the last thing you feel like doing, but squeezing in a sweat sesh is more effective at making over your mental state.
“Exercise has been proven to increase serotonin, which helps your brain regulate your mood, sleep and appetite,” explains Alex SilverFagan, a Nike master trainer.
You can even take it one step further by matching your workout to your mood. So to help you stop sulking and start slaying, we asked four fitness pros for the best ways to exercise depending on how you feel…
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING
STRESSED OR ANXIOUS
PERFECT PICK-ME-UP: POUND THE PAVEMENT
Turns out you *can* run away from your problems—sort of. Going for a jog (or any cardio, tbh) has brain-boosting benefits like promoting the production of endorphins, the chemicals that make you feel happy and calm. Even better? Hitting the treadmill or the trail also gives you time to process your probs.
“On a run, you’re alone with your thoughts, which forces you to be at one with yourself. And the actual movement of ‘moving forward’ shifts your mentality and brightens your mood as well,” says Meghan Takacs, a master trainer at Aaptiv.
TRAINING TIPS : Not a huge fan of running? Opt for a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout instead, which will keep both your muscles and mind moving.
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