It never fails to baffle me how on a day where I wake up at the obscene hour of 5:25 am to get to my class, I have MORE energy than on the days where I get the extra sleep that my body also needs and craves. Yesterday one of my painting tasks took two hours. Today, after my class, it only took one and a half.
I was tooling around on the net trying to find out why. I found this little study confirming that exercise is better than napping for more energy, less lethargy. But here's the answer to the question in one word: OXYGEN! Exercise increases the oxygen to more parts of your body. Also, over time, your body will build more capillaries to help deliver the oxygen to even more areas, which creates more bloodflow, hence more energy. And, go figure, all that oxygen helps you sleep better too.
So go get your oxygen fix today ladies!
I TOTALLY believe it! I seriously drag all day when I don't get my exercise in. It is crazy isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI think my body forgets to build the new capillaries when I exercise because I always feel tired afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I have more physical energy and mental focus on days when I exercise. Great post!! It's good to know why that is, and a great way to think about exercise - getting your oxygen fix.
ReplyDeleteSo funny that you would post this because I spent the last two days testing this very idea out without even realizing it. Yesterday after getting the kids down for their naps I felt tired myself. I wanted to get my kitchen clean but didn't think I had the energy to do it. I decided to stretch for about 10 minutes and then see how I felt. Thanks to stretching I had the energy to clean my kitchen. Today, however, I got the kids down for a nap and decided I would take one myself. I woke up more tired than I was before my nap. Next time I'm choosing the stretching. Great post Melissa!
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