By Harkirat Garcha, CEO of MotivatePT

Relationships on Female First

Relationships on Female First

It’s that time of year again and whether you are newly dating somebody or have been married for ten years, we all want to feel amazing on the most romantic-filled day of the year: Valentines. Whereas some of us go to get our nails done or hair prepped before the special day, our recommendation if you are time-poor is to fit your workout in. We believe it’s the most effective activity to help you look and feel your best and below, we list ten reasons why.

Make your skin glow - Exercise brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin creating a healthy glow. It’s basically like getting a mini facial in before the day.

Feel Confident - a good workout will send your self-esteem through the roof. Self worth is directly linked with our energy levels and perceived attractiveness. Feel stunning and self-assured before you head out the door.

Be in the moment – We are all guilty of being distracted, rather than savouring the moment. Many of us will still be in ‘work mode’ by the time we have rushed from the office to the restaurant for dinner. Exercise is the perfect distraction, removing all the ‘noise’ that surrounds us in our everyday, meaning you can fully appreciate your valentines date and the company!

Reduce Nerves & Stress - Anxiety and nerves before a big date can drain your vitality and dampen your mood. Exercise will alleviate anxiety by getting feel good endorphins rushing around the body. It acts to reduce the levels of stress hormones; cortisol and adrenaline.

Thinking Clearly - When you exercise the blood flow around the body increases meaning your brain gets more energy and more oxygen which helps you think more clearly - so at the end of the day you will be able to make a good and clear decision on if you want to see your date again!

Boost your Metabolism – For most of us valentines date involves a lot of indulgence! A high intensity workout before your romantic night out will boost your RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) meaning you can turn more food into energy.  

Rationalise your Mood – According to researchers at the University of Vermont, the mood benefits of 20 minutes of exercise can last up to 12 hours. Exercise is known the have the most powerful effect on us when we are in a bad mood, helping you to shake off the day and instantly get a feel-good lift.

Correct Your Posture – Too many of us suffer from bad posture without even realising it. Sitting hunched at our desks all day mean that we can end up walking and sitting with arched backs. A focus on stature can instantly make us all look thinner, taller and more poised for our Valentine. Pilates, yoga, core strengthening exercises and daily stretching really help with body alignment and helps make us more aware of how we are standing and sitting.

Sleep Better – In order to fully enjoy your valentines date, you want to ensure you are well rested and exercising during the week of your date will really help you achieve this. A good nights sleep is one of the most powerful and natural ways to boost radiance, and health. When we work out regularly our bodies become more sensitive to cortisol, which is the stress hormone. This means we are able to rest more fully.

Make Better Food Choices – It should come as no surprise that exercising makes us more aware of what we are eating. We all want to look our best on Valentines and if we have been putting the hard work in, it will come more naturally to eat better and make better food decisions, which go a long way when you want to glow and look your best.