Serotonin
Sunlight has a profound impact on our bodies, particularly on two hormones that control mood and energy: serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin tends to boost mood and energy, while melatonin tends to make you feel sleepy. Too much melatonin can even lead to depressed feelings in some people.
Serotonin and Melatonin
When sunlight is plentiful, such as during the late spring and summer months, you will produce more serotonin and less melatonin. When sunlight is less available, during fall and winter, you will produce less serotonin and more melatonin. The result can be a dramatic shift in your overall feelings of well-being and energy; you will likely find that you have more energy and motivation when the days begin to lengthen.
Do you struggle to work out in the winter? Is your motivation weak? Less daylight may be the reason. If you don’t head into fall and winter with a solidly entrenched fitness habit, you may have lost motivation and spent the winter merely wishing that you were working out.
Do you need a “push” to get through your workout? Want a second wind? Take Ignite, a caffeine-free natural pre-workout for energy and focus.
Long-term fitness is the result of having a fitness program and sticking with it. Once a habit becomes part of your life, it is easy to keep it up, even if your motivation and energy drop from time to time, as they surely will, particularly in fall and winter.
Spring and summer are the perfect times to begin building healthy exercise habits. The increased serotonin in your body will boost your mood and energy, giving you the motivation to create an exercise routine. Get serious about this routine, so that when fall rolls around, you will be firmly entrenched in your healthy lifestyle.
A solid fitness habit will carry you through the dark days of winter when energy and motivation lag, and you will finish the winter strong. Get started now!
