Weights Class is Benefiting Students More Than Some Would Think

A student, Kelton Towery, from West Lincoln High School in 2020 was made valedictorian for his school. Not only was he valedictorian, but he was also a star pitcher and infielder for their baseball team. Physical exercise is crucial to being successful. This is why having an advanced weight training class benefits a student’s functionality in and out of school because it increases student’s academic performance, it increases student’s energy and focus, and it increases mental health.

Having a weight training class benefits a student because it increases the student's academic performance. The US CDC claims that physical activity has an impact on cognitive skills such as concentration and attention, and it also enhances classroom attitudes and behaviors, all of which are important components of improved academic performance. Exercise increases blood flow in the brain, causing students to want to learn and to engage in their learning.

A German study in 2007 proved that students learned 20% more vocabulary words followed by exercise. Through this study, the researchers were able to see that the students had more energy to focus and hone in on the material that was being taught to them.

Weights training classes and other exercise classes have been shown to reduce stress and increase a student’s desire to learn.

The number one problem is that exercise causes soreness and increases the risk of physical injury. However, this problem has simple fixes to prevent these scenarios from happening. Taking extra safety measures such as double checking all clips, clamps, or other locking mechanisms are in place, working in an environment designed for the specific exercise, running on padded surfaces, taking extra time to slow down from exercise to lessen the chance of inflammation of muscles, knowing personal maxes and staying within their strength limits, following a workout plan or sheet, getting enough sleep, and many more solutions.

Having a weight training class benefits a student’s functionality in and out of school because it increases student’s energy and focus. Physical activity boosts energy levels, and releases Dopamine and Serotonin. Dopamine and Serotonin are two chemicals released by the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that is responsible for allowing one to feel pleasure, happiness, satisfaction, and motivation. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for controlling your mood, emotions, appetite, and digestion. Both chemicals or hormones are important for people to enjoy life.

Regular exercise, found in a weights class, promotes better sleep. Thus leaving individuals more energized during the day. When exercising during the day, another chemical the brain produces is melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone responsible for the circadian rhythms (internal 24-hour clock) and the body’s sleep cycle. The more melatonin produced, the higher quality of sleep people can get at night.

Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues and helps the cardiovascular system work more efficiently. The heart and lungs are two of the key organs in the cardiovascular system. They are also used when exercising. When the heart and lungs improve, the more strength, endurance, and energy people have to get about with their daily tasks.

Unfortunately, consistent exercise causes the body to produce endorphins, which are hormones secreted by your pituitary gland to block pain, decrease anxiety and create feelings of euphoric happiness. But endorphins are chemically similar to the drug morphine, and so for many people, compulsive exercise can be psychologically addictive. For many people, if they stop working out continually, it  can increase stress and anxiety. This could turn into people missing family obligations and social gatherings because of an intense “need” to exercise, and a worry that fitness will be lost or weight will gain with a day of missed exercise. Having the only desire to exercise turns from a way to experience the beauty of nature or spend time with friends to a feeling of going to work or being stuck.

Having an advanced weight training class benefits a student’s functionality in and out of school because it increases mental health. Strength training can majorly boost self confidence. It can help people overcome challenges and achieve their goals. A 2017 study found that individuals “that had the highest level of activity had the highest levels of well-being and the lowest levels of depression and anxiety. When exercising, individuals will see more self worth and value. Again, as stated in another study above, the levels of depression go down, as well as the levels of anxiety.

A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that Generation Z pollees reported they were nervous or anxious almost twice as much per month as Generation X. The Generation X was more active and exercised more than the Generation Z. Technology advancements, social media, video games, movies, and other things have become a distraction to the Generation Z, and causing them to be less active. Due to their lack of activity, their levels of anxiety and nervousness were much higher than the more active Generation X.

Studies say that exercise leads to higher levels of confidence and self- esteem. People look better when they exercise because it burns extra calories and excess amounts of fat. It makes them appear skinnier, slimmer, less bulky, more muscular, stronger, toned, etc. They also feel better about themselves because they can go about doing things they couldn’t do earlier. People will also feel better because they are being healthier. They’re producing hormones and neurotransmitters that help their functions throughout each day. But, heavy exercise patterns are often what causes people to stop healthy lifestyle changes. They get too excited about changing their daily routine, eating better, and exercising more, but don’t prepare for the consequences that come with it. Heavy exercises cause food cravings that make it impossible to adjust to a healthy diet, the individual becomes discouraged, and simply quits  the whole concept of working out and dieting altogether.