The payoff for a regular weight lifting routine is enormous benefits to your body and mind. This includes increased muscle tone and optimal body functioning.

Here are three reasons why lifting weights reduces stress and negative thoughts.

First, the act of lifting weights helps you shift focus off of others and on to yourself. You'll have a mental and physical break from rising energy prices, taking care of your children and working marathon hours wondering if you're getting downsized. You'll find it very tough to think of other things while moving weight.

Try to find a secluded space at home or limit socializing at the gym. Your outlook will change on many things. As weight lifting becomes your hobby, allow extra time to focus on yourself by planning your workouts ahead of time in a journal. A journal helps your set goals for your workout while you forget about your daily grind.

Next, exercise makes you feel good. Meaning, you can have an overall feeling of happiness that you may have been missing lately.

During weight training (and almost any exercise), endorphins are released into your body. Endorphins provide an effect similar to pain relievers and anti-depressants. Also, working out can increase antidepressant chemicals in your brain. In other words, if you feel depressed from a discouraging day, weight training can make you feel better.

Finally, weight training builds self confidence. Confidence is the key to achieving your goals. After completing your work out you'll have a sense of achievement. Achieving goals helps you build confidence in yourself.

If you don't have confidence in yourself, you'll make it impossible to achieve your dreams. The more workouts you complete the more you start believing in yourself. You will set the tone for your life.

Starting a weight training program will help you with stress overload. It is very easy to start your own program. However, talk to a doctor on how exercise can help you ease your mind and body of stress and make sure you are physically able to start weight lifting.

All you need is a standard weight set and maybe a weight bench to get started. If you can afford a gym membership and/or a personal trainer, that will benefit you greatly. You may be surprised that you can reduce your stress levels.