No More Excuses: Get Up and Exercise to Reverse Depression and Lose Weight Naturally

The Latest Health Findings

The latest natural health studies claim adequate sleep can give us more energy, allowing us to burn up extra calories while performing our daily activities and exercise workouts. Exercise can also act as natural antidepressants, combating depression.

Current findings comparing weight-loss and weight-gain, as reported by Newsmax Health, ask the question, "Does Too Little Sleep Make You Fat?" The article supports the need to exercise for a good night's sleep, in order to gain extra energy necessary for burning up more calories, resulting in weight loss.

Other recent discoveries are found in the article "Exercise for Depression", showing a correlation between over-prescribed antidepressants and strokes. This article proves exercise as the best way to overcome depression, while slimming down, and shaping up naturally.

For those of us dealing with additional stress, and have trouble sleeping through the night, the best prescription is to exercise during the day. Even a little exercise is better than doing nothing at all.

Exercise is the Best Sleep Aid

Whether you find an active sport to occupy your free time, or simply enjoy taking walks, you will find it easier to fall asleep, and stay asleep, if you are active at some point during the day. In fact, anything you do in the form of exercise will release (chemical) endorphins, enabling a sound sleep naturally.

If you still have trouble falling asleep cut out coffee past noon (or alcohol completely) as they will impede your body's innate ability to fall asleep with the setting sun, or wake with the sunrise. To insure you are getting the appropriate amounts of exercise needed to insure a sound sleep, why not get an inexpensive pedometer, and make sure to walk the recommended 1,000 to 10,000 steps per day, or incorporate swimming and yoga stretches, for stress-relieving mind/body workouts.

Exercising Options

There are no more excuses for not doing something as easy, yet effective, as fitness trainer Bob Harper, from NBC's "Biggest Loser" reality TV show recommends, an "Ultimate Cardio Body '" High Knees Challenge". This simple yet effective, standing exercise, elevates the heart rate and burns off fat, while toning and firming arms, legs, and torso.

Below are exercising recommendations from members of an online social-networking health and wellness group. Their preferred methods of daily, or weekly, exercise routines and workouts are noted.

Recommended Exercise Activities

Some of the respondents preferred gym memberships, and working out with weights throughout the week. Others preferred jogging, hiking, dance, yoga or Pilates. Several others cited strenuous physical-work requirements both on-the-job, or at home with family responsibilities, running around after children or grandchildren.

Still others in the group stated their daily exercises consisted of walking dogs, tending gardens, running up and down house stairs, and coaching their children's sports teams. Anything we do toward fitness is considered exercise, and will help to strengthen the heart muscles.

Exercising the heart muscles keeps the body's engine going strong, enabling us to sleep more soundly at night, and help to overcome depression. Better sleep means more energy to burn up extra calories throughout the day, which guarantees weight loss and toned muscles. No more excuses, so get up and exercise!