Most of us exercise or rather we should be. Are you lifting weights? Male female doesn’t matter, lifting weights is very good for your health. In addition to that weight lifting can help with your self-esteem. I found a very good article here that discusses this concept at length.
From the article: “Weight training can help reduce the symptoms of depression.1 Since a common symptom of depression is low self-esteem, it’s no wonder that so many people who suffer from depression and start lifting weights report improvements in their self-esteem. Weight training changes your brain chemistry, releasing endorphins, which helps to improve your mood. And when you’re in a positive mood, it’s easier to lift yourself out of a pattern of negative self-talk.”
Self esteem is paramount to good health. Even when you have down times when you have good self esteem you recover faster. I discussed in an old blog post here, about low testosterone for men, weight lifting will help with this. I am unsure on the master hormone for women, Estrogen but I am confident when I say lifting weights will help both genders tremendously, if for nothing else the fitness value of increased muscle.
Self Esteem is a complex concept, we are all at different places in our journey through anxiety. How you feel about yourself is a hard thing to gauge as day to day it changes. When you lift weights, you build muscle, when you build muscle you APPEAR more physically fit. This physical manifestation has tremendous mental health benefits. Look, I’m not going out on a limb here, if you think you look better you are mentally going to feel better.
Don’t be afraid to go to the gym and lift to gain muscle. Women, don’t be afraid to gain muscle, thus gain weight. Its okay, you’re going to look awesome. Its good for you, and its very good for your self esteem which boosts your mental health.
You can do it, you’re doing great, one day at a time.