Why I exercise
June 24, 2007 6:17 am Daily lifeVanity is a powerful force and has given me many skills I would not have bothered with for any other reason; I can sew simply because I want something specific, I can pop in my contacts without holding my eyes open with my other hand because I’m sure that will cause wrinkles (Paul is amazed by that one), and I can walk without twisting an ankle in any shoe, no matter how uncomfortable, if they look good and match the outfit.
However, not even my own vanity has been able to make me consistently drag my butt onto the wonderful treadmill we have in our home. I sometimes look at my skinny legs and poochy belly and dream of being buff, but apparently I don’t want it enough to actually WORK at it.
But, one reason has worked: I am not a friendly person. This brain of mine seems to fall naturally to being cynical and solitary. Where I run into a wall is when I consider what God is calling me to. And you and I both know it’s not misanthropy, as much as I wish it were.
The fact that “I’m Just That Way” doesn’t cut it. I have to be different – even if it’s not natural. So if I’m gonna take this expectation seriously, I need all the help I can get to snap out of this mood.
Exercise appears to affect brain chemistry and brain cells in much the same way, perhaps exactly the same way, as antidepressant medications. See study results below. My point here is that if this can put me in a better mood, well, I have a better chance at being a little nicer. You smell what I’m stepping in?
(Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC - One hundred fifty-six men and women with MDD – Major depressive Disorder - were assigned randomly to a program of aerobic exercise, antidepressants (sertraline hydrochloride), or combined exercise and medication. RESULTS: After 16 weeks of treatment, the groups did not differ statistically on HAM-D or BDI scores (P = .67); CONCLUSIONS: Although antidepressants may facilitate a more rapid initial therapeutic response than exercise, after 16 weeks of treatment exercise was equally effective in reducing depression among patients with MDD.)
June 24th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I agree. For me there must be a much bigger motivator for exercising than JUST losing weight and looking better. Feeling better emotionally and having more consistency in my mood is one of the greatest benefits! I will go as far as saying I’ve learned through experience I am “better at” glorifying God if physical exercise is part of my daily life. Working out and eating right daily is a non-negotiable!