Ever since I was in eighth grade, I have made sure to save time for working out. By placing great importance on getting in a good sweat, I have seen many positive changes in my life. The obvious being a healthier weight, lower blood pressure and stronger muscles. The not so obvious...

1. More Energy

No matter how tired I am, a small workout always makes me feel better. In fact, working out regularly helps me fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.

2. More Confidence

Working out is all about improving my body and my health. When I look in the mirror and I can see a visible change, or I go for a run and set a new record, I feel great. I feel a sense of accomplishment and that in turn leads to confidence. And, if I am being honest... people noticing and complementing me on my hard work goes along way in making me feel good about myself.

3. Stress Reliever / Mood Elevator

Whenever I am having a bad day, my go-to is weight lifting. Nothing makes me feel quite as good as lifting a huge piece of metal while I jam out to a rap song or blare hard rock music. And it doesn't have to be a bad day for exercise to make me feel better. Even on a normal day, after I workout, I generally feel much happier. I feel that sense of accomplishment and from that point on my day is made.

P.S. Science has linked working out to the release of endorphin's. In fact, working out is more powerful than anti-depressant medicine in elevating a person's mood.

4. Goal Setting

Being highly competitive, I am always up for a challenge. Whether it be lifting more weight, running faster, swimming more laps or hiking X amount of mountains, I am always setting goals. Because of my dedication to my fitness, and improving my health and wellness, I have become very good at goal setting. I have a better grasp of what I am able to achieve, and how long it will take. A skill that has and will continue to benefit both my work and my private life.

5. Discipline

In order to reach my goals, I need to follow a direct plan. This involves planning out workouts, paying attention to what I eat, getting enough rest and staying consistent. Sometimes life gets busy, and I have to get up early and workout before class, or stay up late and exercise after work. Because of this, working out has taught me to make time for the things I care about, and that there is always a way to fit something into your day, you just might have to make a sacrifice.