Forced Exercise

By: Dr. Craig Anderson email

You have heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink”. When it comes to your health this is so true.

In the business of healthcare it’s hard to force someone to be healthy. Smoking is a great example of this. Everyone knows why they should not smoke. Telling someone to stop smoking isn’t going to get them to stop. The decision has to come from within. The same is true with exercise. Yes you can force someone to exercise. To get the full benefits, the person has to WANT to exercise.

I came across this little study looking at the difference between forced exercise and spontaneous exercise in rats and I think it has some applicability to humans.

If someone is forcing you to exercise you will get a lot of benefits such as weight reduction, muscles tone increase and good feelings of accomplishment. There is one piece that maybe limited if your not having fun with the exercise. The hippocampus doesn't get the same benefits.

The hippocampus is a structure deep inside your brain. It has many roles one is building your brains architecture. If it’s not working properly stress and anxiety can be the result.

So if you want to get the most from exercise start between your ears then get moving.

Learn More:

• Is Your Mind Ready for Exercise?
• Exercise Helps Make Insulin
• Physical Activity Might Be Better For You Than You Think