I laugh. A LOT. All the time really. I have friends who tend to introduce me as "This is Meredith. She'll laugh at anything.".....I'm not always sure if it's meant as a compliment?? But hey, I think of it this way, I like it when people laugh at my jokes, so surely everyone likes someone who thinks they're funny, right? AND, if I'm laughing, surely I'm burning more calories than if I weren't laughing. And guess what folks, IT'S TRUE.
Not only does laughing burn calories, but there are lots of other health factors as well:
First off, and probably the most obvious is Mental Health. Laughing helps protect you from emotional issues like depression. Don't get it wrong, depression is both a chemical imbalance as well as emotional issue. The laughing comes in to helps as a buffer against the negative things in life.
It also helps with your Physical Health. The article I found this in also said that laughing is a common therapy used with cancer patients. And there have been studies done that show people who laugh regularly are in better health and shape than those who don't.
And finally, Heart Health. When you laugh, there is an increase of oxygen-rich blood flowing into your body, possibly due to endorphins, which, as we all know "Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands. The just don't." Thank you, "Legally Blonde". Endorphins are also released during a good workout as well.
So, it can be concluded that a good workout = endorphins and laughing = endorphins, so working out = laughing......am I right? Am I right?!?!
Soooooooo guess what comes next?!?! That's right!! MY suggestions for a good laugh:
- Talk to Me. I will make you bust a gut. haha, jokes.
- Watch a funny movie. I suggest the classic "Dumb and Dumber".
- People-watch. Trust me. It's HILARIOUS.
And, yes everyone, there is also such thing as a "certified laughter teacher" (I've clearly missed my calling) and an entire Laughter Movement afoot! Including Laughter Yoga, finding a Laughter Group (because it's no fun to just laugh alone), and practice "Woohoo!!! Time" everyday. That's right, if you look at the clock anytime at 20 past the hour, yell out "Woohoo!!!" and then you can't help but laugh (or at least make everyone around you laugh at you).
