We all know resistance training can make an incredible impact on our physical health. No one can dispute how lifting weights can improve body composition, numerous health markers, and muscle mass. Whether you decide to pick up weights for aesthetic, performance, or health reasons (or a combination of all three), you are bound to see improvements when in conjunction with a well-rounded, nutritious diet, and proper sleep.

What we don’t talk about often is how lifting weights can lead to substantial improvements in mental and cognitive health. The mechanics used to lift weights can seem pretty straightforward, but the processes that are occurring in your body to execute a simple bicep curl is pretty complex.

Physical health and mental health are not separate things–they are intimately intertwined. When we get anxious or frazzled, our heart rate goes up, we may sweat, and then it can sometimes be difficult to concentrate. It’s all connected.

The reason why we are able to move our bodies is due to the relationship between the central nervous system and our muscles. Motor nerves, or efferent nerves, move from the central nervous system to the muscle to produce an action, while afferent nerves communicate information from the muscle to the central nervous system. Afferent nerves may relay to the central nervous system that moving your shoulder a certain way hurts, or touching a hot plate is unpleasant. Over time, we learn from these messages!

Something that we can learn through movement is how therapeutic it is for our minds. Activity in general, including lifting weights, has been found to heavily influence how we feel. When we exercise, endorphins are released. Endorphins are hormones secreted from the brain and nervous system, which activates the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect. So it’s not surprising that after a good lifting session or breaking a PR, you feel REALLY good. Some studies even suggest that in some cases, lifting weights is as effective as antidepressants. Picking up a dumbbell or doing some heavy squats is a much more positive solution to reducing stress and anxiety, instead of turning to junk food, drinking, or other unhealthy habits.

Something else fascinating to note is that cognitive function tends to improve when people start to consistently lift weights. Some studies show a positive correlation between an improvement in muscle mass and brain health, and that resistance training seems to elicit a positive response in brain function. It’s not something we really think about when lifting weights, but taking care of our body leads to a happier, healthier brain.

And just think, how many times have you felt sluggish and unmotivated, only to feel more energized and generally happier after exercising? It’s not in your head–lifting weights really does impact our mood and emotions, positively!