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Brain Sex: Get Moving.
By Erica | August 15, 2010
The last few days I’ve been a slug. Seriously. There’s really no better word to describe the way I’ve been slowly, painfully dragging myself through life lately. My scale can prove as testament: I gained 3 lbs. THREE. In three days. (Keep in mind I haven’t gained weight since about 2006 & just broke 100 lbs. for the first time with this weight gain & you’ll understand why this is so monumental!)
I decided it was okay to slack off on the treadmill (I mean, I have been religiously workin’ on my fitness for weeks–we all deserve a break, right?). I also simultaneously decided that I could throw some meat back in my diet AND eat that extra 100% beef frank.
All of these things were done in a vain attempt to make myself feel better about some stupid mistakes I’ve made lately. Instead of trying to either a) accept my mess-ups or b) correct them, I decided that eating copious amounts of food & throwing my workout to the wind in an attempt to coddle myself was the way to go.
Well. Three pounds & four missed workouts later, I see that this plan of action is just not working.
So today I decided to get back on the treadmill. Which led to me having a delicious amount of energy. Which led to me deciding to go to the store to buy veggies to make a simple salad for dinner. Which led to zero-to-none post-dinner guilt.
Which has slightly lessened my depression about my mistakes.
Funny how it works, huh? But not really surprising.
If you’re feeling bad about yourself, depressed about your circumstances or just plain bored, don’t slow down. Get up. Get active. Get moving.
Reorganize a sock drawer. Take your puppy outside. Water your flowers. Turn off the TV, without the remote. Walk around the house for 5 minutes (or better yet–run up & down your stairs, if you have them). Decide to cook a meal from start-to-finish. Fold your laundry or put away your clean clothes. Just do something that engages your body. Anything.
You can’t undo the past, but you can change your future.
And the future is now, darlings!
xoxo
erica lee
Topics: Brain Sex | 4 Comments »
August 17th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Oh noooo, you make me feel so lazy! I haven’t exercised in months (sans a short run/walk here and there). ):
Doing stuff is definitely better than moping though, although my boyfriend has been good at getting me to cheer up. He won’t let me mope. Haha!
August 17th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
You’re definitely onto something. Stagnation and inactivity definitely contribute to depression and weight gain. There was another research study published recently that found that aerobic exercise was comparable to Zoloft for the treatment of depression. http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/would-you-trade-your-antidepressant-for-exercise-1824566/. Get up, get active and get moving is good advice for all.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:15 am
True facts ;)
August 28th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
[...] DO Something. Get up. Get active. (Read my latest Brain Sex column where I talk about the benefits of just doing it-no matter what it [...]