Battling Stress with a Smile

We all know the signs of stress. Fatigue, irritability and lack of motivation. Stress is a normal part of life, and can come from many sources, whether external, our emotions or thoughts. At times these moments can be helpful when alerting us to danger or giving us reason to amplify our efforts in challenging circumstances. Other times they can quickly negatively affect our lives.

How Do You React to Stress?

We all react to stress differently. Some people are highly motivated by stress, others may collapse under intense pressure, but all of us can find ways to beat stress and live happy lives. Our bodies are designed to accommodate these changes, but we need to make a conscious decision to find a way to remove it before it affects our health, relationships and performance.

The Negative Impact of Stress

Stress can Lead to many Health Issues:

• Head: Issues with mood; anger, depression, sadness or bad moods. Lack of energy, appetite changes, concentration problems, insomnia, headaches, pain and in the worse scenarios anxiety and panic attacks.
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• Skin: Skin breakouts, like acne.
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• Joints and Muscles: Aches, pain, tension and lower body density.
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• Heart: Increased blood pressure, increased heart beat, higher cholesterol and increased chance of heart attack.
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• Stomach and Digestion: Stomach cramps, reflux, nausea and weight fluctuations. Digestive issues, diarrhea and constipation.
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• Immune System: Stress reduces the ability to battle and recover from illnesses.

The Good News is You Can Beat Stress!

The best way to battle stress is to train yourself to think positively and see the big picture. Many people utilize meditation, spiritual focus and positive problem solving to change their outlook. One of the best ways to conquer stress is exercise and proper health care. Go outside for a walk, run or bike ride. Hit the gym for a Yoga session, cycle class, a swim or even a kick-butt workout. Afterwards relax in the steam room and get a massage. You will definitly feel your body and mind relax and feel better about yourself and your world.

SMILE!

Smile often and share times with friends that do the same. You'll quickly find that a positive outlook focused on enjoying life will make hard times easier and improve your performance and appreciation in all aspects of life. If you don't know where to start, come on down to the gym. We'll help get you on the right path.