Why HIIT Exercises Help With Depression
Depression can affect anyone at any time. It’s more than just feeling sad or having the blues. It’s a clinical problem that requires treatment. Depression can come from mental or physical issues, so always check with your healthcare professional when you experience symptoms. Exercise, no matter what the type, can help depression. It’s become an adjunct therapy that works better than some medications. The more intense the exercise, the better. The body can’t operate at peak intensity for very long. It’s why HIIT exercises are so beneficial. It alternates the intensity between peak and recovery pace.
HIIT boosts circulation.
Exercise of any type helps with depression. Adding walks to your day can help. Studies show that even weightlifting can improve self-image. The faster you walk, the better the results. That’s because the more rapid the walk, the more it increases your respiration and heart rate. That increases circulation and sends nutrient and oxygen-laden blood throughout the body, including the brain. Increased intensity also triggers natural pain relievers that make you feel calm and at ease, like serotonin. The increased oxygen and nutrients help heal damaged brain cells and trigger new neural pathway creation.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid—GABA—and glutamate are neurotransmitters that work together.
People with depression often have an imbalance of brain chemicals. GABA and glutamate are two of those. GABA calms the brain, and glutamate stimulates it. Balance is vital to people with severe depression and improves their mood. Increasing GABA may be perfect for someone with mild depression. HIIT also increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor—BDNF. BDNF regulates mood. HIIT has shown beneficial for depression, anxiety, and mood-related disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
You may not be up to a HIIT workout.
Not everyone can run at peak speed for even a minute. That doesn’t mean they can’t use HIIT. You can modify walking to create HIIT workouts. Walk as fast as possible for a few seconds and then reduce your pace to a recovery one to catch your breath. It’s all about adjusting your speed and pushing hard for short periods. As you get fitter, you can either increase peak speed, extend the period of peak performance, or shorten recovery time.
- HIIT workouts and all types of exercise have cumulative benefits. You’ll feel better when you do, but the feeling lasts longer and is more intense the more often you do it.
- HIIT benefits also improve heart health more rapidly. You’ll boost endurance quicker and spend less time exercising using HIIT workouts.
- HIIT can burn off stress hormones like cortisol. Stress and depression are bidirectional. Stress may cause depression, which causes depression to create more stress. Eliminating stress can help lift depression.
- The physical benefits of HIIT workouts can lead to improved mood and reduced depression. You’ll have more energy and look better. Your posture improves with exercise. All those things make you feel better.
For more information, contact us today at VIP Fitness Center



One of the things I most often hear from busy people is that they don’t have time to exercise. Their life is already too chaotic to add one more thing to do. While it’s true that exercise takes time, it’s a stress reliever that can clear your head. It also helps you become more productive. That means you save time doing other things while you stay healthier. The healthier you are, the less time you spend at the doctor’s office and the more energy you have.
Many people in Fort Lee, NJ, find it a task to maintain their fitness. You have to say no to delicious treats that are unhealthy and yes to exercise. Since time began, many have struggled to make physical tasks easier. It’s almost against the nature of man to add physical work that doesn’t build a shelter or end by accomplishing a task. What most people don’t realize is that it is productive. It’s sculpting your body and keeping you healthy. Changing your perspective on exercise helps.
Illness or injury can cause pain. Exercise can also create pain if you overdo it. One of the most devastating types of pain comes from arthritis. It’s a deep pain that inhibits movement. It can cause people to take OTC drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen so they can function each day. Unfortunately, taking too many OTC and prescription pain relief drugs comes with an entirely different set of issues. You can reduce arthritis pain naturally. The only side effect is improved health.
Feel the burn or love the burn, both these phrases describe feeling the accomplishment of pushing yourself until you feel the burning feeling in your muscles. That burning occurs when the body fuels the muscles in a process known as glycolysis. It causes glucose to break down to create adenosine triphosphate—ATP. The amount produced depends on how much oxygen is available. The higher the intensity level the more anaerobic glycolysis takes place. Lactate is the byproduct. The increased lactate causes a hydrogen ion to separate to create lactic acid which causes a drop in the cell’s pH. You don’t have to feel the burn to benefit from a workout.
At VIP Fitness in Fort Lee, NJ, we focus on helping you achieve your goals. We create a workout that allows you to reach those goals quicker and focus on excellence, not average. What is the difference between an excellent workout and an average one? It’s not how much time you spend at the gym working out, what is it? It’s how efficient you are, the effort you put in, and the attention to detail, which includes ensuring you’re doing every movement correctly.
If you feel like you’re carrying enough extra weight to qualify for a Strongman Competition, don’t despair. You may have dieted faithfully, and nothing seemed to budge them. Even though those excess pounds may be stubborn, the problem may be a hormone imbalance. Some imbalances come from medical issues, so get a complete physical first. Treating the issue can take care of the problem. You can realign hormones naturally by eating the right food and exercising.
There are many reasons to exercise. Good health, weight loss, and endurance are a few. One reason people don’t mention is the effect exercise has on mood. I see it a lot at the gym in Fort Hood, NJ. Clients come in with a scowl, furrowed brow, or the appearance of stress. After they workout, they leave with a more relaxed appearance and often a smile on their face. The session helped them relax and feel better. It caused endorphins to be released. Endorphins are natural mood enhancers.
Summer can creep up on you. Before you know it, you’re trying on swimsuits and not happy with the results. This is the perfect time to start a program to get in shape for summer. You have three months until June and four until July. If you lose two to three pounds a week, you could lose between 24 and 48 pounds and tone your muscles. If weight loss isn’t your goal, you can start a fitness program to boost your energy so you won’t hit the wall doing activities that require endurance. Taking the kids to an amusement park, a botanical garden, or a bike ride will be more fun.