Exercising for mental health too

Kingacat

I go to the gym before work each morning, luckily we have a gym onsite. I meet with my personal trainer two days, go to circuits one day, spin class one day and run on the other day.
I find that the exercise sets me up for the day and always puts me in a really good mood. (even though my trainer almost kills me in our sessions!)
Exercise helps me cope with a stressful job and makes me feel good about myself. Since I've been exercising regularly I hardly ever get bad moods or feel low.

katinachaos

I dragged my butt to the gym yesterday even though I was in a crummy mood, and was about to call it quits after 15 minutes, but I pushed for another 15 and when I left I was in a seriously better mood than when I started. I'm slowly learning that even if I'm not getting that "runner's high" or whatever, I'm doing something good for myself and my brain and body thank me for it.

tasharock

Starting off the day with a sense of accomplishment is a reward that gets the day off right. We walk our dogs early in the morning during the summer and I love starting my day this way!

ninaereed

Going to the gym was one of the best things that I have ever done for my mental health. I feel the effects pretty quickly if I have to miss two many days in a row.

hippikris

Good for you!!!
I started going to the gym occasionally a few years ago to help level out my mood as I have some Bi-polar traits which I was not medicated for. I work in the Mental Health field, and I Knew, and have read all about working out and the mood. I did not do it as often as I should have so I did not have a great response at first.

Now that I have changed my diet and I go to the gym or do some sort of work out at least three times a week. I am calmer, my mood swings are not as bad. my anxiety is down, and I just feel better about life, myself and well most things.

as a mental health professional. I know first hand the benefits of healthy eating and good exercise. and personally I have seen the effects in myself. I encourage it for everyone. it is not just about looking good, But it is all about feeling good.

StefPayne

I walk/run 4 miles every morning before work and I love it. It's hard to get up and get going some mornings but it makes such a difference in the way that I feel mentally and physically and I just let that motivate me on the days that it's hard to get started. It does help with stress in my life, there is no doubt abot that at all.

bammer4560

I'm finding that on the days I don't work out, I feel worse emotionally and physically. Going to the gym clears my mind. On the weekends, I go in the morning to an on-site gym. It gives me a burst of energy to get things done around the house. And I actually want to socialize more, I was beginning to become a hermit on the weekends. During the week I go after work. It helps me to get rid of the stress that's built up during the day. If you had told me 6 weeks ago that I would feel this way about the gym, I would've thought you were crazy. Going has really become something that I look forward to.

hippikris

I agree that doing the gym in the morning before work, makes me feel much more productive and calm at work. and when I do not get the the gym enough I start to feel it. I am sluggish and my mood starts to drop.