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A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

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Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#141

Post by haswell »

paulpauper wrote: post #95
hisnameisjimmy wrote: post #3

A key unlock for me was doing exercise where at some point I was trying so hard and breathing so aggressively that I couldn't really think anymore, I could only focus on the task at hand. For me, that's been biking up steep hills. I like biking because I get to see a bunch of cool stuff and if I go up hills I get a dope view. I joke that doing these rides feels like I'm re-boring my arteries because my heart pumps so…

not really a fan of overly strenuous cardio. I am not sure how it makes you better. i tried it and it never did much for me. it doesn't even help for weight loss due to metabolic adaptation and increased appetite.

Strenuous cardio agitates me. It’ll put me in a weird uneasy mood for a few hours at least. Apparently this is the effect it can have on some people.

I’ve found Yoga and cycling to be the right fit, and they allow me to challenge myself without feeling too hyped up later.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#142

Post by fasterik »

hisnameisjimmy wrote: post #3

A key unlock for me was doing exercise where at some point I was trying so hard and breathing so aggressively that I couldn't really think anymore, I could only focus on the task at hand. For me, that's been biking up steep hills. I like biking because I get to see a bunch of cool stuff and if I go up hills I get a dope view. I joke that doing these rides feels like I'm re-boring my arteries because my heart pumps so…

I have to agree with the other comment about intense cardio. I got into long-distance running last year and it was a big mental shift for me to go from fast to slow running. Before that, I had always approached exercise as if harder is better. I was surprised to learn that even elite runners are doing 80% of their training at a pace that's really slow relative to their race pace. Of course training plans will vary depending on the target distance, but I think this still applies if you are training for shorter distances. Training at max effort is a recipe for getting injured, and it prevents you from putting in the volume necessary to develop good cardio.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#143

Post by ehnto »

c0nsumer wrote: post #101
hinkley wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was trying to integrate a definition of “flow” that covered my many experiences, it wasn’t biking up hills per se, it was those moments where bad shit almost happened and I saw a way through and just did it. Riding through gravel, loose dogs, when the “fast guy” tried to drop the pack and found me on his wheel. I think I agree with you that these experiences are pivotal, because they are moments when you just…

This is what mountain biking does for me. It's not hard, and it's pretty safe, but maintaining decent speed while navigating trails... it's a flow state. Heck, a week ago I did a 100 mile MTB race, with the goal of finishing and being happy. While bits and pieces are there, some chatting with folks and things I saw along the trail, but I honestly do not remember most of the ~9 hours I was riding. It was just a thing…

MTB has pretty much all the good stuff in one. You're outside, in nature, breathing fresh air, it's cardio and mindfulness on the climbs and flow and focus on the descent, add adrenaline to taste.

The community is pretty rad too, it has the atmosphere of surfing and hiking combined.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#144

Post by HKH2 »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #135

When I was less wise, I remember suggesting exercise to someone suffering from depression. Didn't go so well. You reach an unfortunate point when depressed that makes it difficult to listen to actually useful advice. It's an unfortunate state of mind to say the least.

You wouldn't dare call it pride, would you?

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#145

Post by annie_muss »

I am affected quite badly by ADHD and related anxiety/depression issues. Absolutely get out there and do some exercise. There are so many benefits it's untrue. I exercise every day and I think it's one of the most important things I do.

That said, don't expect magic. There are no silver bullets. I often see people asking about ADHD and related issues being told to go out an exercise. In my experience you'll be a slightly fitter, slightly healthier, slightly happier person with the same ADHD issues as before. Absolutely go do it, but keep your expectations realistic.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#146

Post by ehnto »

paulpauper wrote: post #95
hisnameisjimmy wrote: post #3

A key unlock for me was doing exercise where at some point I was trying so hard and breathing so aggressively that I couldn't really think anymore, I could only focus on the task at hand. For me, that's been biking up steep hills. I like biking because I get to see a bunch of cool stuff and if I go up hills I get a dope view. I joke that doing these rides feels like I'm re-boring my arteries because my heart pumps so…

not really a fan of overly strenuous cardio. I am not sure how it makes you better. i tried it and it never did much for me. it doesn't even help for weight loss due to metabolic adaptation and increased appetite.

This is a can of worms for sure, lots of points could be discussed, but my main one is making sure you're somewhere you like doing something you enjoy. If you are on a spin bike in a smelly gym spin room to get your cardio that is definitely an acquired taste.

I also hate cardio but it is much more palatable if I'm on a mountain bike and climbing up for a descent trail.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#147

Post by vhcr »

formerly_proven wrote: post #9
comfypotato wrote: post #4

I’d never seen “an overview of systematic reviews” before — I would have thought this was already common sense, but it should be now more than ever. I was a little confused about the “less is better” part of the article. I think it just meant diminishing returns with more exercise, but it says that less is actually better.

WHO recommends at least an hour of moderate+ activity per day which virtually nobody with an office job in the 1st world manages to do. The notion that you could accidentally do too much exercise is ridiculous unless you go all-in-gym-bro.

Just doing your daily commute on bike or walking is enough.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#148

Post by ehnto »

throwaway22032 wrote: post #43
hisnameisjimmy wrote: post #3

A key unlock for me was doing exercise where at some point I was trying so hard and breathing so aggressively that I couldn't really think anymore, I could only focus on the task at hand. For me, that's been biking up steep hills. I like biking because I get to see a bunch of cool stuff and if I go up hills I get a dope view. I joke that doing these rides feels like I'm re-boring my arteries because my heart pumps so…

Yep. Another example - it's pretty damn hard to think about doing the laundry when you have 100+ kg on your back.

I can barely think for a good few minutes even after heavy squats/deads.

I have found my biggest mistakes were all when I had gotten comfortable with a weight and ended up losing mental focus. Thanfully no injuries. It seems I have to be nearing my edge to be forced into focus. I am better at opting in to focus now thanks to lifting I feel. Similar to downhill riding, all my crashes have been on easy stuff as I lost focus.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#149

Post by vhcr »

ryanSrich wrote: post #23

It’s a bit cliche at this point thanks to people like Joe Rogan, but Jiu Jitsu is, imo, the best possible form of exercise. It’s not only physically exhausting, it’s also mentally very difficult. And not just because it requires deep levels of knowledge to be good, but it also resets any preconceived notions of strength. It’s not uncommon for a new white belt male that weighs 200lbs to get absolutely waxed by a 100lb…

The best kind of exercise is the one you stick to, glad you found one you enjoy! For me it's dancing.

Re: A new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate anxiety and depression

#150

Post by codr7 »

xyzelement wrote: post #116
mudita wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing that made me transition from a mindset of “I have a body” to “I am a body”, was actually Zen meditation. This was surprising to me. Before I tried it, I thought of meditation as a purely mental thing, I didn’t expect that the first really noticeable effect of regular meditation would be a changed relationship to my body, Much later I discovered contemporary dance, quit my phd in machine learning and became…

I appreciate your story and at the same time I don't agree with fully identifying with just the body. In fact in my yogic training, we learned to apply the 'i have' vs 'i am' as much as possible - directly opposite of what you are saying. As someone growing religiously right now, I like the framework of the body being a vehicle for the soul (or at least, the mind) resonates a lot more.

Breaking the identification is a big part of Yoga from my experience.

But so is being fully within your body and not fighting it.

As well as disciplining it and removing any disturbances.

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