19 Ways The Gym Whips Your Brain In To Shape (with GIFS!)

If you ask people why they're choosing to get sweaty, more often than not you'll hear words like tighten, tone, build, strength, endurance - and none of them are wrong. That being said, I think it's safe to say that once you jump on the fitness train it's definitely hard to not get addicted. No doubt, this is largely to do with the fact that you feel effing amazeballs afterwards, not just physically - but mentally too. In fact, there seem to be even more mental benefits than physical ones when it comes to gym time. So how exactly does the gym whip your brain in to shape?

1. Your brain will give up before your body does.

Your muscles are more powerful than you give them credit for. It’s your brain that’s causing them to shut down. Gain control of your mind, and you’ll control your body.

2. It removes you from your problems.

Ain't nobody got time to waste thinking about things you can’t control when you have a plethora of sweat machines in front of you.

3. It resets your mood.

Exercise is one of the most effect ways to deal with depression. Take that feels.

4. Endorphins are released in your brain, which make you happy.

Many people resort to medicine before trying to naturally fix their problems. Exercising releases endorphins in your brain, which affect your serotonin (the happy) levels. Elle Woods knew it all along.

5. It will distract you from whatever bullsh*t your day was filled with.

When you are working out, the only thing you’re focusing on is the task at hand. You know what you’re not focusing on? Your crap shoot of a day or the catty remark you received from a co worker.

6. It mentally sets the tone for the rest of your day.

Working out in the morning helps keep you at a healthy pace for the rest of your day.

7. It helps you calm down when you’re angry and stressed.

Take that frustration out in the gym. Your stress-related chemicals help to minimize the physical pain and discomfort associated with exercise. They’re also responsible for the feeling of euphoria many people report when exercising regularly.

8. It wakes up your brain faster than coffee.

Experts have found that caffeine doesn’t do what we think it does in a variety of situations based on the simple fact that we’ve created a dependency on it. Think you need coffee to wake up? Try hitting the gym and see how much more energized you feel.

9. It instantaneously boosts your self-confidence.

So you're abs may not have just miraculously shown up in one session - but you sure as hell feel like it

10. It helps to keep your life on schedule.

Scheduling and time management is essential to life balance. Knowing you need to get a workout in does just that and it also breaks your week up and helps the days go by faster.

11. It keeps your brain healthy.

When you exercise, you increase the blood flow throughout your body, which directly affects your brain and allows it to perform better. This is exactly why you feel more focused and attentive after you exercise.

12. It even creates new brain cells.

By exercising frequently and keeping that blood flow strong, you are promoting the growth of new brain cells.

13. It manages anxiety.

  Science supports the fact that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people.

14. It makes you more productive at work.

Try an early morning sweat-sesh: once your brain is awake and fired up, there is no stopping you at work. Look out world!

15. It motivates you to get sh*t done.

You can’t help but feel productive and motivated after a workout and like you've really done something for yourself. You’re on an energy high, which will translate into almost very other aspect of your life. PS: this is the perfect time to do chores that you usually hate.

16. It helps to improve your memory.

Since your ability to remember things is dependent upon the health of your brain - so therefore it makes sense that exercising would improve your memory.

17. It gets your creative juices flowing.

Did you know a serious sweat-sesh can boost creativity for up to two hours afterwards? If you're stuck on a project - sweat it out and go back to it after!

18. It relaxes you and brings you back to your center.

Seriously - it helps you wipe your mind of the billion other things that are on it and focus on the present.

19. It helps you focus and keeps you disciplined.

Nothing else can stop you once you’re in the zone.   H/T: Elite Daily