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Background: This study aims to explore the psychological effects of chronic exercise on mood and well-being in adults. Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from Iran who engage in regular exercise routines for at least six months. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 58 years and represented a variety of occupations and exercise preferences. Data were collected until theoretical saturation was reached and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the psychological effects of exercise. Results: The analysis revealed several key themes: psychological benefits, barriers to exercise, motivational factors, and challenges in sustaining exercise. Participants reported significant improvements in mood, self-esteem, emotional resilience, and cognitive functions such as focus and memory. Barriers to exercise included time constraints, physical barriers, lack of motivation, environmental factors, and financial constraints. Motivational factors were primarily health benefits, personal goals, social influence, psychological benefits, and habit formation. Challenges in sustaining exercise included monotony, physical fatigue, balancing life demands, health setbacks, lack of immediate results, and accessibility issues. Conclusion: Regular physical activity is associated with numerous psychological benefits, including improved mood, reduced anxiety, and enhanced cognitive function. However, barriers such as time constraints, lack of motivation, and financial constraints must be addressed to sustain these benefits. Community-based exercise programs, educational support for instructors, and public health campaigns can help overcome these challenges. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples and explore the long-term psychological effects of chronic exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining an optimal weight is essential for wrestlers, given their competition in weight-classified categories. However, many wrestlers resort to unhealthy methods of rapid weight loss, such as drastic caloric restriction and dehydration, which can adversely affect their overall wellbeing. Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of a two-week increase in exercise volume on weight loss, serum oxidative stress, and inflammation in young wrestlers. Methods and Materials: Twenty wrestlers (aged 15-19, weight 63.47 kg) participated in a 2-week exercise intervention in addition to their regular weekly wrestling drills. The intervention consisted of resistance training, high-intensity interval training, and speed training. Wrestlers weighed daily over 2-week span. The participants' superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured both before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test conducted through SPSS software, with a significant level set at p < 0.05. Results: The 2-week intervention resulted in significant weight loss (p<0.001). Within group comparisons found serum levels of IL-6, SOD, and TAC significantly increased from pre-to-post testing, but MDA did not change significantly. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that a two-week increase in exercise volume can be an effective strategy for promoting weight loss and reducing oxidative stress in young wrestlers. The findings suggest that the improvement in antioxidant status is likely a result of the body's response to increased inflammation, as indicated by changes in inflammatory markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]