Our Pre-Workout & Sleep Supplement are in Stock on Amazon!
Our Pre-Workout & Sleep Supplement are in Stock on Amazon!
by Tony Gjokaj September 08, 2021 3 min read
When I was overweight, I was inactive, depressed, and had insomnia.
I would isolate myself from social interaction, which led me down a dark path where I contemplated suicide.
Eventually, fitness was my salvation, as physical activity led to me sleeping better, eating better, feeling better, and thinking better.
Prior to exercise, I was stuck in what was deemed an Inactivity Trap.
So in this post, we are going to go over an article that was written in 2009 with the same name, called "The Inactivity Trap". This article included studies that supported their claims from a psychological standpoint which intrigued me as well.
So let's dive into what the Inactivity Trap is.
The author of the Inactivity Trap article argues those who need exercise the most are those with depression.
Depression and physical inactivity have a bi-directional relationship where the following occurs:
This is the Inactivity Trap. Our psyche can be our worst enemy in that our life experiences can impact your motivation to exercise and vice versa.
From an evolutionary standpoint, scientists have proposed that there was a benefit for depressive symptoms in some individuals in a tribe.
Based on the Evolutionary Adaptation Hypothesis, depression may have provided a survival advantage as a result of social isolation. Individuals who isolated themselves would encounter less conflict or harm from the tribe.
In addition to this, a reduced appetite of food and libido led to less competition with others in the tribe. Changes in sleep patterns would also allow depressed individuals to be more active in times where other are not.
While we some may have used depression in the past as an advantage for survival, depression can be more harmful today.
Depression and physical inactivity in our more sedentary world today can be a silent killer. With isolation comes worsening of depressive symptoms and can lead to contemplation of suicide, self-harm, and more.
I can personally attest to this if you read my story in our previous post.
So with that being said, let's explore the various benefits of physical exercise.
For starters, frequency of exercise can lead to reduced all-cause mortality and minimizing the chance of getting other diseases (such as heart disease).
Adding to that, exercise can eliminate some bad habits and poor eating choices. For example, exercise can potentially lead to the cessation of smoking. As smoking is used as something to treat stress and anxiety, exercise can fill its place overtime.
Exercise can also lead to improved cognitive function, such as memory improvements, focus, and more.
Ultimately, exercise will improve psychological wellbeing, as it reduces stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
To conclude, we wanted to give you some habits and other recommendations that may help you with physical exercise:
We hope that this either gave you some insight on the benefits of mental health on physical exercise, or it inspired you to get active.
If you need more insights on strategies you can utilize to improve your wellbeing, be sure to subscribe to our email list.
Our latest eBook, Anti-Depress, is included as a free download if you subscribe to our email list.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at support@reforgedperformance.com or message us on Instagram.
Until next time, Reforged Warrior!
Tony is the Owner of Reforged. He is a PN1 Certified Nutrition Coach and has been in the fitness space for over a decade. His goal is to help millions exercise their way out of depression and anxiety.
by Tony Gjokaj October 07, 2022 4 min read
Men, I know what it is like to be overweight and depressed.
Not having the energy to do anything but relax and sleep.
While relaxation and sleep are incredibly important, they can make us feel like we are not making progress in our lives.
And when depression hits, it’s very difficult to push through with exercise and weight loss.
But did you know that even though it takes time and some effort, you don’t need to get obsessively crazy over it?
In fact, with just a few small adjustments, you can lose weight, fight back against depression, and take your life back.
If you're serious about shedding pounds and pushing away those depression demons, here are five tips that can help get you started.
by Tony Gjokaj September 05, 2022 4 min read
A few weeks ago, my buddy Grant and I talked about nutrition.
We talked about how he's lost over 120 pounds so far with the weight loss progress he's been making.
This is all because he has been making healthier decisions over time.
One of the newest challenges he's facing right now is he's got a new job. He's working 10 to 12 hour days with physical demanding labor.
And what's been happening for him is that he's been super exhausted, he's not motivated to meal prep, he's having trouble trying to sit down and cook foods doesn't have the energy doesn't have the time.
So what I propose is five tips that you can use to live a more on the go fast food healthy eating lifestyle.
by Tony Gjokaj July 27, 2022 4 min read
Have you ever experienced anxiety that drains all of your productive energy?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults in the US each year.
If you're someone who suffers from anxiety, you know that it can be incredibly debilitating. It can hold you back from some positive experiences and opportunities as a result.
The good news is that there are ways to overcome it!
In this blog post, we will discuss eight best tips for overcoming anxiety, from an expert that has been there themselves!
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