Let's have some fun

I love weightlifting for kids who lack confidence and self esteem because it regularly shows them that they can do things.  A couple years back, I was just starting with a grade 10 football player who fit the bill - shy, quiet, and didn't think that he could lift very much despite his size (he played offensive line).  I was excited to start training him because I knew that I could make a difference not only in his football, but also in his mental attitude.  I explained to him the importance of doing the exercises correctly, and that doing more weight is more fun.  Session by session, I gradually added weight to the exercises and each time I did, I said "Let's have some fun." As our training went on he got stronger, but I noticed that he was walking taller, smiling more and all around seemed happier.  I ran into him at the same gym a few months back, he looked at me, smiled, and said, "I'm having some fun today."

Endorphins play a large role when it comes to feeling good about exercise.The word itself is two parts: endo- and -orphin; short forms of endogenous and morphine respectively.  Endorphins are a morphine like substance made within the body, that act as neurotransmitters in the brain. They resemble opiates and therefore promote analgesia and feelings of well being. You'll need to train for a minimum of about 30 minutes to get an endorphin release.

Regular exercise will have a dramatic effect on your self confidence, because it gives you an area of your life that you have control over.  You'll look forward to having that control, monitoring your progress, and seeing that you can directly influence your results.  Once you realize that you can control your results in the gym, you'll have more confidence to try new things outside of the gym.  Maybe you'll join that soccer league that your friends have been bugging you about, or you'll try rock climbing, surfing, etc. The possibilities are endless once you feel empowered.