I find that exercise helps me get out of analysis paralysis when writing software and just do something. Sometimes exercise also helps me disengage and later re-engage from a different direction. In that sense it's similar to taking a shower but it takes longer and the physical effort itself also changes thinking. The world does look different when you're pushing your body hard, as if fighting for your life.

I do strength then endurance - the two somewhat cancel out but I like doing it that way and my goal isn't to win any competitions.

Throughout the article they did mention improved working memory, focus, and a host of other benefits. Maybe IQ isn’t the best measure of these benefits.

You may be right. But all of the suggested benefits seem like they should effect intelligence:

  - Higher frequency brain waves increase 'attention, memory, and information processing'

  - A heightened visual cortex increases our ability to pick out features in our environment

  - Restocking neurotransmitters to optimal levels

  - Healthier blood vessels improve working memory

these are all forms of 'intelligence' in a piece of life. I say if our body has transformed its blood vessels into a more 'healthier' state then the overall organism is operating more intelligently. Just not the type of intelligence associated with analyzing our external environment.

It is not that you get smarter, you don't get more stupid. I think it has something to do with extraordinary energy demand of the brain. 50 year olds can restore their cognitive ability to the level of 30 year olds through physical exercise. As Jordan Peterson puts it in one of his interviews: "Your brain is a very demanding organ, and if your cardio-vascular system is compromised then you get stupid... Brain is very metabolically demanding and if you are not in good physical shape then one of the things that suffers most greatly is your cognitive function".

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29qqv-REAZk

Motivation and will to live, maybe? What good is extreme intelligence if you can't push yourself to crawl out of bed?

Correct, excercise really makes me feel better and motivated.

My anecdotal data is I am able to focus better after riding a bike to work. I may not be any smarter but I can still get useful work done for longer.