# 107 on the list of why the outdoors is my gym...

SRH7

Last year I ditched my gym membership and spent the money saved on more hiking gear (and recently running gear thanks to the C25K programme). After years of chronic anxiety and depression, I finally feel like I'm moving forward. And, as if I needed proof, now there is evidence that exercising outdoors may have more beneficial effects for your mental health than the gym.

*** Jogging in forest twice as good as trip to gym for mental health ***

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9344129/Jogging-in-forest-twice-as-good-as-trip-to-gym-for-mental-health.html)

Researchers found that anything from a stroll in the park to a run through woodland can have a positive effect on people suffering from depression and anxiety.

The study also showed that the positive effect on people's mental health was 50 per cent more than they might expect from going to the gym.

The researchers at Glasgow University looked at natural and non-natural environments for physical activity, including walking, running and cycling, and found that being around trees and grass lowered brain stress levels.

The study, led by Prof Richard Mitchell, polled nearly 2000 physically active people in the 2008 Scottish Health Survey.

Only activities carried out in a natural environment outdoors were found to be associated with a lower risk of poor mental health.

Prof Mitchell said he was "surprised" by the scale of the results, adding: "There was around a 50 per cent improvement in people’s mental health if they were physically active in the natural environment, compared to those who weren't.

"These aren't serious mental health issues, more struggles in general life, things like mild depression, not being able to sleep, high stress levels or just feelings of not being able to cope.

"It seems that woodland and forest seem to have the biggest effect on helping to lower mental health problems.

"That makes sense with what we thought we knew. That is, the brain likes to be in the natural environment and it reacts to being there by turning down our stress response.

"Being in areas that have lots of trees and grassy areas help to calm us down, and obviously a forest has this.

"I wasn't surprised by the findings that exercise in natural environments is good for your mental health, but I was surprised by just how much better it is for your mental health to exercise in a green place like a forest, than in other places like the gym.

"The message to doctors, planners and policy makers is that these places need protecting and promoting."

He added that taking a decision to exercise in a natural environment once a week could be enough to gain some benefit, and any additional use could have a bigger effect.

The study revealed that local streets were most commonly used for physical activity, followed by the home or garden.

Previous experimental studies have shown that exercise in natural environments has a positive effect on "biomarkers", which indicate general health, and on an individual's view of his or her levels of stress or fatigue.

Around 50 per cent of the sampled group exercised in a natural environment at least once in the previous month.

iplayoutside19

Here, here.

SRH7

Here, here.

Love your name!

I know so many people who love the gym but I only see it as a way of getting fit. I'd much rather get my backside up a big hill, breathe in the fresh air, watch the wildlife, work my core wobbling across a stream... and, of course, have lunch at the top with a big flask of coffee. And burn up to 3,000 calories at a time. The fitness and calorie burn is simply a bonus alongside something I love.

TK266

for me a weekend camping in hiking are better mental health them just lifting in the garage. But as I cannot hike and camp I must continue to use my garage gym.

also I set up the garage gym because people bug me and real gyms have people in them. :laugh:

strawberrygashes

I absolutely 100% agree!!! I suffer/suffered with chronic depression and anxiety, I say "suffered" as although I still struggle with anxiety, my depression is now almost non existent. I thank my discovery of outdoor exercise. I feel its been my lifeline, I used to belly dance but indoors and although I always fancied running, I was too scared to go running outdoors. Since moving to Wales, I just thought I have to make the most of the beautiful scenery and area that I now live and so glad I did. I adore getting out, particularly to run, in all different settings. I haven't felt this happy in a long time.

Great post

jickalina

Can't agree more! As much as I love my group fitness classes at the local studio, it's always a chore getting there and staying committed to going to each class. But when I set out for a run in the park I get downright giddy. I just love feeling the fresh air, sun on my skin, seeing and hearing natural sounds. It's a total reward. And I especially love when my friends join me on the weekends for a hike by the coast. No where else I'd rather be!

secretlobster

I bought a great bike for the same amount as two years at the gym... I'm lucky enough to live right near the ocean, but even still, being outdoors is way more fun than being a gym rat.

Jacwhite22

Hey OP. Nice pic.....

SRH7

Hey OP. Nice pic.....

Ha ha! Saw a chap running past me the other day with the T-shirt on. Googled it and saw it was Gold's gym. Sadly they don't do that version in a girlie T

Made a commitment recently not to worry about the scales and working on getting strong instead so the new avatar seemed appropriate