Does Being Fit Make You Feel Good?

While plenty of people will start going to a Silver Lake gym because they’d like to lose weight or get stronger, many keep coming back for one simple reason: they like the way it makes them feel.  “Wait,” you may be thinking, “why does anyone want to keep getting sweaty, or maybe even wind up sore?  That doesn’t sound like it feels good to me.”  Understanding the body’s powerful systems that regulate mood might just convince you otherwise.

Amazing Endorphins

If you’ve ever heard someone talk about a “runner’s high”, you’ve heard of endorphins: natural chemicals that the body produces to keep us alive.  We get endorphins for engaging in activities that the body thinks are important–such as eating, sex, and intense activity.  Why do we get an endorphin rush when we’re doing a more intense activity than usual?  Well, as far as your body is concerned, you’re probably a hunter-gatherer running for your life or to capture dinner, and you don’t need to be distracted by feeling bad.

But Is There More To It?

However, the positive effect of exercise on mood, while powerful, isn’t limited to just during the exercise session itself.  One study found that the subjects who were least active were 75% more likely to have a diagnosis of depression than the subjects who were most active, which means that regular exercise can have a powerful protective effect on mood.  Exercise itself increases serotonin, human growth hormone, and testosterone.

Read more here: https://www.liftsilverlake.com/fit-make-feel-good/

Staying On Track Through The Winter At Your Silver Lake Gym

You probably already know that most people who joined a Silver Lake gym on a whim or for the sake of a resolution recently will only go a few times.  That strikes us as a terrible shame!  Getting fit requires commitment, smart strategy, and even some devious self-manipulation.  Here are our best tips for making regular gym visits a habit that you won’t want to skip.

1. Make It Non-Negotiable

Odds are that you don’t engage in a lengthy cost/benefit analysis every time you realize it’s time to get ready to go to work.  You know that if you want to continue paying your mortgage, skipping work isn’t an option, so you just get up and go.  Ideally, going to the gym would be similar: a routine that just happens every day, without your having to think about very much.  If you treat going to the gym as non-negotiable, whether you feel like it or not, then you won’t have to make a new decision every day.

2. Find Your Motivation

Have you ever noticed that doing an exercise routine you hate seems to take forever and it feels unpleasant the whole time you’re doing it?  If you’re using exercise to punish yourself, or doing it because you’ve got your doctor or your spouse on your case, odds are you will find it much more difficult to stick with than if you’re doing it for yourself.  Ultimately, everyone’s reason for getting in shape will be different.  You might want to avoid a family history of heart attacks or diabetes, or you might just love how you feel swinging a kettle bell around.  Thinking about the reasons why you want to be in better shape can keep you coming to the gym when you’d rather stay snug at home.

 Read more here: https://www.liftsilverlake.com/staying-track-winter-silver-lake-gym/

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Silver Lake Gym and Personal Strength Training Studio

We know it’s a cliche, but there’s just something about the new year that makes a visit to your local Silver Lake gym and Personal Strength Training Studiomore attractive than ever.  But nobody wants to start the year strong and then fade out before Valentine’s Day.  Is there a way to not just make resolutions, but form good routines that can stay with you long term?  Here’s our handy guide to taking on new habits in the new year.

1. Stick It Out For A Month

Don’t worry, we haven’t changed our minds about not requiring contracts.  This tip is more of a contract with yourself.  Research has shown that if you can consistently do something for several weeks, it starts to become automatic.  Why choose thirty days?  Most people schedule their lives for a month at a time.  Also, thirty days isn’t an intimidating amount of time to commit to.  You can do anything for thirty days.

2. Do Some Every Day

Making habits automatic requires that you condition your body and the automatic parts of your brain.  The simplest way to do that is to do the task every day without fail.  Your brain and body are designed to adapt to changes in your environment and workload, so choose which changes you want them to adapt to, and then perform your actions (like, say, going to the gym and working out) every day for thirty days.  What if you misjudge your workload and push too far too fast?  Check out the next point.

3. Start Small

You may have ambitions to do dozens of box jumps, fifty pull-ups, and so forth.  That’s great.  We’re here to help you reach those goals.  We don’t, however, recommend that you try for them on your first day back to the gym in a while.  Instead, if you want the habit to stick, choose a goal that seems so easy it’s laughable.  Perhaps your goal is to come to the gym and do one pushup every day for thirty days.  Odds are that most days you will do more than one pushup, but by consciously setting the bar low, you’re training your brain and body to think of the gym as a place where you succeed, and making the task so simple that you can’t fail.

Read more here: https://www.liftsilverlake.com/get-silver-lake-gym-personal-strength-training-studio/

Making The Most Of Your Workout At a Silver Lake Gym

The holidays are full of great things–family, friends, celebrations, and tradition. But they can really do a number on your fitness routine. With most people extra-busy this time of year, we thought that you might appreciate some tips on how to make your visit to your Silver Lake gym and personal strength training studio extra-productive. Why wait until January 1 to get your health on?

1. Get Enough Sleep

It might seem counter-intuitive, but the number one thing you can do to make your workout effective doesn’t happen in the gym at all. Getting enough shuteye is vital, not only to keep you feeling alert and upbeat but to ensure proper muscle recovery and even keep colds and flu at bay. If you’re not getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night, you’re hampering your fitness goals unnecessarily. Whenever you can, get to bed early.

2. Keep The End In Mind

Most people find that the holidays come with a relaxation of regular standards, and who would want to miss Halloween candy, pie on Thanksgiving, or Christmas cookies? But add up all the changes that people allow during the holidays, and you’ll find that two solid months of
● extra alcohol
● staying up late
● lack of daylight
● extra sugar
● less exercise
● more stress

Can really do a number on your sense of physical well-being. Take some time this season to evaluate your goals and self-care practices, and decide where your limits are. Make sure that you are taking steps to protect the physical condition that you’ve worked so hard for–and don’t skip your workouts!

Read more here: https://www.liftsilverlake.com/making-workout-silver-lake-gym/