more on beauty: exercise is not just good for your figure!
Hey Y’all!!! (translation = hello all, for non-southernese speakers)
here’s a question: what are some benefits of exercising that DON’T fall in the “losing weight” category? what are some other great reasons why you exercise?
i ran across this blogpost yesterday @ Christianity Today’s blog i was quickly reminded of all of you who responded to my “calling ALL ladies” survey who are exercising and taking care of your “temples”….
Struggling with depression? Try getting some exercise
While an apple a day may (or may not) keep the doctor away, a growing body of research indicates that exercise may keep the psychologist away. Alessandra Pilu of the University of Cagliari in Italy and other investigators reported their conclusions in the online journal of Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health.
“The study found that depressed women who started a supervised exercise regimen had significant improvements in their symptoms over the next 8 months. Those who didn’t exercise showed only marginal improvements.
“Before the study, all of the women had tried taking antidepressant medication for at least two months but had failed to improve.
“A number of studies have found that physically active people are less likely than couch potatoes to suffer depression. Some clinical trials have shown regular exercise can help treat the disorder, and perhaps be as effective as antidepressant drugs in some cases.
“The new findings suggest that exercise can even help people whose symptoms have been resistant to medication, according to the study authors.”
Since an estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, high rates of mental illness shouldn’t surprise us. Mental illness is not just mental. We are integrated, living souls, and approaches must be holistic, treating mind, body, and spirit.
Perhaps being overweight is a largely unexplored factor in the epidemic of depression afflicting children and teens in the United States. Observers say that about 5 percent of adolescents suffer from clinical depression, and suicide is said to be the third-leading cause of death among teenagers.
Combine those figures with statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the number of overweight children has tripled in just 30 years, with 12.5 million teens considered overweight, and you’ll see how significant the problem is. No wonder the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a $324 ad campaign aimed at stopping obesity.
So if you’re feeling down, depressed, or blue, turn off the TV, computer, or video game, get off the couch, and take a hike. Exercise will not solve all your problems, of course (and you may need to check with your doctor first). But for a healthier and happier you, it may be a great place place to start.
Hat tip: Christine Guthrie
i can definitely relate to this article… exercise was a VERY successful way for me to fight that monster called “Seasonal Affective Disorder” during my first (and painfully long) winter in New England. growing up in Georgia, i couldn’t imagine being stuck indoors due to cold weather for more than 3 weeks….. so exercising up here keeps my happy chemicals going in my brain!
Tags: christianity today, exercise, lose weight, weight loss, health, fitness, emotions, seasonal affective disorder
I agree totally about the ‘happy chemicals’ thing; I always feel good after a workout, even if I have to reeeaaaally motivate myself to exercise in the first place. Especially after a hard day at work or a bad week or something. It helps me think clearly.
Exactly what my doc told me when I was unwell for a time…go out and have a walk everyday!
I work out to be healthy,I also workout for fun too. I agree with you that walking get’s those happy chemicals rolling. It is even better when you have a friend to workout with! I look forward to that time of day!
Endorphins, honey!! Sometimes a stressful situation can be managed best my praying AND walking at the same time.
I always feel better after working out but my time to do so is fewer and far between with these two boys of mine. So i try to make play time exercise time! The oldest loves it the youngest looks at us and laughs.
wow…
sounds like my dad.
Yes, Exercise helps you to walk it off, instead of walking on someone lol.
By the way, loved your comment. And Donuts…where’s the coffee? LOL:)
Great article. And Mandy since you’ve been doing these posts on beauty it has totally opened my eyes to what the media is throwing out to us. Just this morning I had Rachael Ray (her talk show) and it seemed as if every other commerical was on weight loss pill, comestic surgery or beauty products. One was even called Fig. It’s a tummy tuck without the surgery and the women advertising it did not even need it in there before pictures. So sad.
Thanks for the hilarious comment. I would have passed out laughing. I also pulled up Francine Rivers website. Which book should I start with?
hey girl! I cant wait for you guys to go to the bandb. that is so good of the Lord! Go God! I love Him so!!!