Posted by morgan miller on June 30, 2011, at 14:11:18
In reply to Meds and Exercise...Caution?, posted by B2chica on June 30, 2011, at 10:27:14
You probably need something more intense than walking to get therapeuic benefit from exercise. What medications are you taking? Unless your taking a high dose of lithium, I can't think of any reasons to be concerned about exercise.
If you have the money, you might want to higher a personal trainer at the gym you join for a month to give you a bit of an eduction on proper exercise. When you are ready, you might also want to consider high intensity interval training. Whatever you do, you do not need to do more than 20 minutes of cardio. Just make sure it is fairly intense most of the time. You won't get the neurotransmitters going and all the other wonderful benefits if you just go slow on the eliptical like so many people do. Well, I take that back, walking a few miles 3 times a week is great, you just need the other types of exercise to really feel the antidepressant/antianxiety benefits. Also research plyometrics and proper stretching. I do a meditative stretch after my workouts, without it I would not feel nearly as good. Breathing is huge too. I often breath through both nose and mouth, starting with my mouth and finishing through my nose during training. If I really get in shape and get into a zone, I find myself only needing effortless nose breathing. Nose breathing send air straight to your brain and is the way you get that "feel good" feeling in your brain. Just do it right now. Close your eyes and first breath deeply through your mouth, then breath deeply through your mouth, and feel the difference. When stretching, nose breathing is usually easy to do and very beneficial. Of course when you are stretching you will naturally find yourself breathing more slowly and deeply.
Morgan
poster:morgan miller
thread:989844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110630/msgs/989867.html