10 reasons to smile today

This post is sponsored through my partnership with Invisalign® clear aligners. If you’ve been considering treatment, check out the details here, and be sure to check out the “It Starts With a Smile” campaign to enter for a Smile Grant.

My active treatment with Invisalign® clear aligners has been completed for a few months now. I feel so happy that I did the treatment, especially since I’d been on the fence for years. I only had a handful of orthodontist appointments, hardly any pain, and I felt like they were inconspicuous. Since you can take the aligners out to eat and drink hot beverages, I didn’t feel like my everyday activities suffered in the least. Before I had Invisalign treatment, my teeth were fairly straight since I’d had braces two full times (plus one half a time when they put the wrong type of braces on me. Cool bro), but I was still really concerned about my overbite. After Invisalign, my overbite is just about gone (ortho wants it to move about 3mm before I switch to retainers) and my teeth are noticeably straighter.

Here’s a pic from a couple of years ago:

IMG 7996

(Sigh. Liv was so little! Also, going back, it was interesting to see how many pics I used to take with funny faces or a close-mouthed smile, just to hide my overbite.)  

and a recent one! 

The girls 3

A bright confident smile is always a great accessory, and I thought that I’d share 10 benefits and little things to make you smile today:

10 reason

1) Smiling can improve your mood. Smiling increases the production of endorphins, which are the same feel-good neurotransmitters we release during workouts. Even if you don’t *feel* happy, I like to fake it till I make it. I try to still feel and act pleasant on my grouchy days and find that it quickly turns around. 

2) Somewhere in the world, baby goats are wearing pajamas.

3) Smiling can make you more creative and potentially increase productivity.

4) Smiling can decrease pain. Even with no emotion behind the smile, it can help to tolerate pain. I should have known this one during labor haha.

5) Smiling can reduce stress. Even though it can be challenging to smile in stressful situations (if I try to smile when I’m stressed, I’m pretty sure I look like the Joker), it can reduce your heart rate. 

6) Smiling strengthens your immune system. It can stimulate the immune response by helping you relax. 

7) Smiling makes you seem more approachable. It’s funny because I’ve mad a couple of close friends just through being friendly, smiling, and saying, “Hello.” It’s funny what can happen when you make an effort to be more pleasant to others. 

8) Look younger? In this study, participants looked at photos of smiling faces and guessed that they were years younger. 

9) Video clips of men trying liquid eyeliner. This always makes me smile. 

10) Smiles are contagious. This study suggests that just by seeing someone else smile, you’re more likely to return the expression and enjoy all of the benefits listed above. 

It’s funny how much a simple thing like smiling and happiness can transcend across multiple areas of life. 

It starts with a smile

I’m really excited to share a new campaign with you for the chance to win a free Invisalign treatment. “It Starts With a Smile” is a great way to share your story and how Invisalign clear aligners would improve your confidence. You can read all of the details here!

What’s something that has made you smile lately? 

If you’ve been considering Invisalign, go here to find a doctor near you.

xoxo

Gina 

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13 Comments

  1. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on June 28, 2016 at 7:27 am

    I had braces for five years as a teenager and my teeth are still not straight. I’ve been wanting Invisalign for years but I’m on a student budget and they’re expensive. It’s been hard though because I feel much less confident in myself because of it. I don’t like to smile or talk a lot because I feel like people are looking at my teeth. If there is one thing I wish I could change about myself, it would be my teeth. Maybe one day!

  2. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on June 28, 2016 at 11:18 am

    So glad you had a good experience. You look great.

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      thank you, friend!

  3. Danielle on June 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    I just got Invisalign yesterday and it has been interesting so far. I’m hoping they will get easier to take in and out? Did you drink beverages besides water when you had them in? I love to enjoy an iced coffee slowly (well and wine) but don’t want to leave them out for long.

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      yes, they will get easier! it took a few days before i really felt like i had the hang of it. it made me decrease my coffee all day habit, but i still had wine each night. i took them out to drink anything colored because they stain so easily

  4. Sam @ Barrister's Beet on June 28, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    Your smile looks great! Anything that makes you feel better and gives you more confidence is worth it in the end.

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 12:21 pm

      thank you, friend! so true!

  5. Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth on June 29, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Wait – baby goats wearing pj’s. I can’t even. Ha!

    But seriously, super fun post. I love that blogs can brighten out day and spread positivity to the world. 🙂

    Have a happy Wednesday!
    XO, Jessica
    http://www.semisweettooth.com

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 12:20 pm

      hahah the best ever.
      thank you so much, friend! hope you have a happy wednesday too <3

  6. Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! on June 29, 2016 at 9:10 am

    Lololol! It always helps to know that somewhere in the world, a baby goat is wearing pajamas!

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 12:11 pm

      it makes me happy for sure 🙂

  7. Andreya on June 29, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks for sharing that video of men trying eyeliner! Had me smiling the whole way through. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on June 29, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      it makes me laugh every time! haha

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