Oh how I can relate to this Denise. I think I did every one of these diets and held the same obsession (boyfriend pleasing?) with body image ... Interestingly, my daughter is so confident in her skin. I hope it stays like that. 15-20 minutes of gentle yoga 5 days a week in the morning and living in Paris with no car is my exercise. I'd love to walk in nature though...
Attempting pull-ups in a cowboy hat? Incredible. I still spend a terrifying amount of time thinking about my body, but thankfully, my relationship with exercise has changed over the years. Exercise does so much for my mental health and creativity. Nothing helps my writer's block more than a walk outside!
Definitely relate. Add how our obsession over weight actually prevents weight loss and health. Add our emotional weight. Body-mind-heart. We are a whole human being. All our parts are necessary. 💓
Exercise is one of the most potent natural tools we got for mental health, including cognitive functioning. For depression, resistance training seems best. For anxiety, mind-body-type exercise (yoga, tai chi...). And even 5 minutes of exercise can boost our executive functioning. It's honestly amazing what it can do 💪
I do about a half hour of exercises each morning primarily to stretch out the muscles rather than to lose weight. My husband and I have been doing this for over 3 years and I feel great and have much more stamina and better balance than I've had in the past. We also hike a lot and kayak in warmer weather. I'm 73 and I intend to keep my body and mind healthy and active for as long as I can.
I can relate to this piece. As my lower back has been hurting for some months (I’m 39) I realise doing some sort of Pilates will very much help it and my brain. My brain which is quite untethered to reality could use the help too. What I look like has become third on the list, to my middle aged surprise.
Can very much relate to this. Enjoyed fast metabolism and "good" genetics in my youth which disappeared around age 30 when I started having children. At the moment my exercise consists of morning walks listening to podcasts which I recognise as good for my mental health, especially since I sit at a desk for most of the day. And I'm a couple of weeks in to an "eating healthier" regime. Whether it lasts is another question - but I'll never cut anything out completely because I absolutely LOVE food and life's too short to go without the yummy stuff lol. I got aligners this week as well which is forcing me to eat mindfully. Probably a good thing but definitely a challenge for me.
I’m actually coping better than I thought in that they aren’t painful or even too uncomfortable. But everything, including eating, revolves around them and so that’s going to be a long road!
Oh how I can relate to this Denise. I think I did every one of these diets and held the same obsession (boyfriend pleasing?) with body image ... Interestingly, my daughter is so confident in her skin. I hope it stays like that. 15-20 minutes of gentle yoga 5 days a week in the morning and living in Paris with no car is my exercise. I'd love to walk in nature though...
That sounds lovely, Mel!
Attempting pull-ups in a cowboy hat? Incredible. I still spend a terrifying amount of time thinking about my body, but thankfully, my relationship with exercise has changed over the years. Exercise does so much for my mental health and creativity. Nothing helps my writer's block more than a walk outside!
Definitely relate. Add how our obsession over weight actually prevents weight loss and health. Add our emotional weight. Body-mind-heart. We are a whole human being. All our parts are necessary. 💓
So true
Exercise is one of the most potent natural tools we got for mental health, including cognitive functioning. For depression, resistance training seems best. For anxiety, mind-body-type exercise (yoga, tai chi...). And even 5 minutes of exercise can boost our executive functioning. It's honestly amazing what it can do 💪
Yes, the studies show we don’t need to go nuts. Reassuring.
So good, Denise! Can relate to all of it. And I especially love your "workout outfit!" (Cowboy hat, pajamas...!)
I do about a half hour of exercises each morning primarily to stretch out the muscles rather than to lose weight. My husband and I have been doing this for over 3 years and I feel great and have much more stamina and better balance than I've had in the past. We also hike a lot and kayak in warmer weather. I'm 73 and I intend to keep my body and mind healthy and active for as long as I can.
I feel the same way. I have not tried kayaking!
Right on. Another study confirmed the same idea: https://mooreamaguire.substack.com/p/depression-and-muscle-mass
Super interesting, thank you for sharing that!
I can relate to this piece. As my lower back has been hurting for some months (I’m 39) I realise doing some sort of Pilates will very much help it and my brain. My brain which is quite untethered to reality could use the help too. What I look like has become third on the list, to my middle aged surprise.
Yep! I hate to think about how much time I’ve wasted focusing on weight rather than health in my younger years :(
Can very much relate to this. Enjoyed fast metabolism and "good" genetics in my youth which disappeared around age 30 when I started having children. At the moment my exercise consists of morning walks listening to podcasts which I recognise as good for my mental health, especially since I sit at a desk for most of the day. And I'm a couple of weeks in to an "eating healthier" regime. Whether it lasts is another question - but I'll never cut anything out completely because I absolutely LOVE food and life's too short to go without the yummy stuff lol. I got aligners this week as well which is forcing me to eat mindfully. Probably a good thing but definitely a challenge for me.
I totally agree, food is too good! Argh I hope the aligners aren't too uncomfortable.
I’m actually coping better than I thought in that they aren’t painful or even too uncomfortable. But everything, including eating, revolves around them and so that’s going to be a long road!