Exercise: Brain Gains > Muscle Gains

Most people begin exercising to improve their body, to lose weight, build muscle, or get fitter.

- Rajiv Ambat Lifestyle Disorders Coach & Founder - SOLVEMyHealth

Weight loss, toned muscles, six-pack abs, or improved stamina are usually the biggest motivators. But what many of us don’t realise is that a transformation begins inside the brain long before it shows on the outside.

Long before the body starts showing results, the mind becomes calmer, mood improves, and everyday stress becomes easier to handle. I would even say that the brain gains from exercise are often faster and more meaningful than the muscle gains! And I’m saying this from my own personal experience. At the start of my entrepreneurship journey as a health and wellness coach, I went through a tough phase where my mood was constantly low. I wouldn't call it clinical depression - it was not clinically diagnosed, as I did not seek medical help then, but I personally felt I was heading in that direction. Anyway, as per a friend’s suggestion, I started working out just to feel better mentally - and thank God, I did that. I was surprised by how quickly it helped.

Today, I can say, if there is one thing that kept my sanity intact during those years of tumultuous journey as an entrepreneur, it was exercise. Workouts became the most reliable tool to stabilise my mood, clear my head, and keep me mentally strong.

I often tell the clients we coach - “In your 30s, you think exercise is mainly for physical fitness. But by your 40s, you realise it is equally, if not more, for mental health”. Once you begin to look at exercise as daily therapy for the brain, consistency becomes easier. Because every time you move, you're not just training your muscles - you are protecting your mind.

What Happens Minutes After Exercising

The first psychological effects of exercise appear within minutes of starting physical activity. As heart rate increases and blood circulation improves, the brain receives a higher supply of oxygen and glucose - its primary fuel sources. This leads to immediate improvement in alertness and mental clarity.