Do Diet and Exercise Impact Confidence?

Many people who are happy, watch their diet and exercise, but many unhappy people do the same. So the question remains: Do diet and exercise impact confidence? First let's look at what confidence is. Confidence comes from self-esteem and produces the feeling inside that you are able to do what you want and need to do. If you have confidence you don't think you're better, or super-human, but you have a general sense that you can do things in life. Now, what helps make a person feel that?

Growing up with a good family foundation can help. A Mom and Dad who instill self-esteem into you as you're growing you will go far in helping you have confidence. But, even if you aren't lucky enough to have that, you can build confidence through diet and exercise, as long as the components of each are truly healthy.

Studies show that exercise increases energy levels, stimulates endorphins that make you feel good, and offers the additional benefit of making you feel productive while increasing your body image. Eating a healthy diet provides similar benefits. Improving your vitamin levels will increase your energy and you will naturally feel better. The end result will be that when you lose or gain weight as needed, you'll gain self-esteem and improved confidence.

But, what is a healthy diet?

Scientific studies have shown over the years that eating as close to nature as possible will improve your skin, nails, hair and waistline. This diet includes filling your plate with vegetables and fruit, using meat as a condiment, and avoiding corn and wheat products.

In addition to sticking to nature when you choose your food, the old adage of calories in, calories out is still true. The average woman should eat from 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day, and the average man should consume about 2,800 calories.

What constitutes healthy exercise?

More studies have shown that exercise is a very small component of losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. At least 80 percent of weight loss, or maintaining weight loss has to do with diet. That does not mean that exercise is useless but it does mean you need to do far less of it than previously thought or that shows like "The Biggest Loser" promote.

In fact, doing too much exercise, too fast, can decrease your health rather than improve it. Sticking to approximately 30 to 45 minutes of exercise per day is all you need for optimum health via exercise. By walking briskly for that length of time, each day, you will improve your heart health and lung function as well as increase the likelihood that you'll stick to your diet. Another little known advantage of walking, especially if you do it outdoors, is the fact that you'll vastly increase your vitamin D stores which is a huge factor in fighting weight gain and maintaining a feeling of well-being.