The Crazy-Awesome Effect Even A Quickie Workout Can Have On Your Body

A new study is shedding light on this impressive exercise perk.

No matter how into exercise you are, everybody has times when it’s a serious struggle to drag your butt to the gym. Now, new research has found a perk to keep you motivated—even a short workout can leave you feeling stronger and better about your body.The study, which was published in the journal Psychology of Sports and Exercise, took 60 college women who exercised regularly and had body image concerns, and randomly separated them into two groups. One group was asked to do 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise, while the other sat and read.

 Afterward, the researchers had the women answer questions about body image and how they felt about their own bodies. Here’s what they found: Women who were in the exercise group had significant improvements in their body image compared to the women who just read. Specifically, they felt stronger and better about their bodies than the women who didn’t exercise—and the mental perk lasted for at least 20 minutes after they were done working out. And, while exercise is known to be a mood-booster, the researchers determined that the feel-good body vibes weren’t due to a change in mood. Instead, the women’s perceptions about themselves changed.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/quick-workout-body-image