Who would have thought exercise helped?

This is no great revelation to me, but it is worth highlighting. Exercise releases lots of good endorphins and other “stuff” to help improve mood and disposition across the board.

Check it out.

Now if I could only get myself to act on this knowledge…

-DMR

Improving Mood And Serious Mental Illness With Physical Activity: ”
 
A new study from Indiana University suggests that even meager levels of physical activity can improve the mood of people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia.

The study, published in the November issue of the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, both reinforces earlier findings that people with SMI demonstrate low levels of physical activity…”

10 thoughts on “Who would have thought exercise helped?”

  1. And that’s why my top priority these days is getting out in the SUNSHINE (oh, glorious sun!!!) to walk a couple of miles. I might not accomplish hardly anything else, but I’ve GOT to get outside and exercise or I’m not worth nothin’. All these nice people at church today, wanting to give me a lift to the mechanic’s to pick up my car — and I’m telling them to go away and let me walk, even if it is dangerously cold. Because there’s SUNSHINE! And exercise endorphins! And I waaaant them!

    By the way, people told me for years and years that exercise would help. But I couldn’t start on it until I was in a good spell for a while and made it a habit to exercise daily. Once I experienced the benefits, it made it easier to keep up the regimen.

  2. And that’s why my top priority these days is getting out in the SUNSHINE (oh, glorious sun!!!) to walk a couple of miles. I might not accomplish hardly anything else, but I’ve GOT to get outside and exercise or I’m not worth nothin’. All these nice people at church today, wanting to give me a lift to the mechanic’s to pick up my car — and I’m telling them to go away and let me walk, even if it is dangerously cold. Because there’s SUNSHINE! And exercise endorphins! And I waaaant them!

    By the way, people told me for years and years that exercise would help. But I couldn’t start on it until I was in a good spell for a while and made it a habit to exercise daily. Once I experienced the benefits, it made it easier to keep up the regimen.

  3. Perhaps it would be good to find an activity you enjoy outside as well as inside. Join a gym if nothing floats your boat besides biking, so at least you are still in shape for when it gets warm enough to go back out and enjoy the great outdoors. You don’t have to pick one thing to stick with, either, especially when you are trying to find something you enjoy doing inside. Try something completely new- even something that you wouldn’t normally consider (yoga, pilates) because you might find you enjoy it or that it would be a good alternative to biking when it’s too cold, too rainy, or whatever! Give yourself options, including the option to say that you don’t enjoy what you chose to do and look for something new. What you shouldn’t do is give up all together on everything until the fair weather comes back to ride your bike because then you will be out of the habit of working out *and* your less likely to get back into the routine and more likely to make excuses about why the routine won’t work *now*.

  4. Perhaps it would be good to find an activity you enjoy outside as well as inside. Join a gym if nothing floats your boat besides biking, so at least you are still in shape for when it gets warm enough to go back out and enjoy the great outdoors. You don’t have to pick one thing to stick with, either, especially when you are trying to find something you enjoy doing inside. Try something completely new- even something that you wouldn’t normally consider (yoga, pilates) because you might find you enjoy it or that it would be a good alternative to biking when it’s too cold, too rainy, or whatever! Give yourself options, including the option to say that you don’t enjoy what you chose to do and look for something new. What you shouldn’t do is give up all together on everything until the fair weather comes back to ride your bike because then you will be out of the habit of working out *and* your less likely to get back into the routine and more likely to make excuses about why the routine won’t work *now*.

  5. I agree. But please, please start slow. Injuries happen because the high of running many miles and lifting heavy weight gets addictive. Start by running/walking just a few miles moving to longer distances. Start by lifting light weights moving slowly to heavier.

    injuries are a depressant. Exercise is incredible but not a cure all.

    For breakfast eat biscuits and gravel.
    For confession:, the running trinity: god the father, the road and me. Everything confessed on a run stays between us three.
    Running a poor man’s liposuction.

    Pete

  6. I agree. But please, please start slow. Injuries happen because the high of running many miles and lifting heavy weight gets addictive. Start by running/walking just a few miles moving to longer distances. Start by lifting light weights moving slowly to heavier.

    injuries are a depressant. Exercise is incredible but not a cure all.

    For breakfast eat biscuits and gravel.
    For confession:, the running trinity: god the father, the road and me. Everything confessed on a run stays between us three.
    Running a poor man’s liposuction.

    Pete

  7. Sunshine helps me more than exercise! I think after years of pain meds for a pain issue the docs refused to look into, getting my brain to release enough endorphins to make a difference is going to be an ongoing battle. I rarely get a sense of accomplishment from anything I do, even things I like. It really makes life … blah.

  8. Sunshine helps me more than exercise! I think after years of pain meds for a pain issue the docs refused to look into, getting my brain to release enough endorphins to make a difference is going to be an ongoing battle. I rarely get a sense of accomplishment from anything I do, even things I like. It really makes life … blah.

Leave a Reply to BryanCancel reply