Vote in This Week's Poll: Does exercise boost your mood?
Monday June 23, 2008
We spend a lot of time talking about how exercise can improve your health and make your body strong. But, more and more researchers are looking into the mental side of exercise - namely, how exercise can improve your mental health. A number of studies have shown that even a little exercise can improve your mood, but not everyone responds to exercise the same way.
In one of my older posts, I mentioned one reader who felt that exercise actually caused depression. As you can see from the comments on that post, a number of readers feel the same way.
I'm curious about your response to exercise. Does exercise boost your mood? Vote in this week's poll and leave a comment to tell us what affect exercise has on your moods.
Poll: Does exercise boost your mood?
1. Yes
2. Sometimes
3. I've never noticed
4. No, my mood stays the same
5. No, exercise makes my mood worse
6. I don't exercise
7. Other - please explain in comments
Sources:
Lane AM, Lovejoy DJ. The effects of exercise on mood changes: the moderating effect of depressed mood. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2001 Dec;41(4):539-45.
Comments
It really depends for me. Sometimes it puts me in a great mood. Sometimes it doesn’t significantly change my mood, and sometimes it even starts to make me feel really depressed.
It doesn’t really change my mood. But I do feel better when I’m exercise and usually when I feel better, than I am in a better mood.
Yes, it puts me in a great mood..puts a smile on my face, my head is held a little higher..I can take the days stress and let it all wash away.
Even when I’ve had a terrible day, and I feel tired and unable to to the work, and don’t even really want to exercise, when I’m done, I feel great.
Test reveal a strong link between a positive mental state and regular exercise, along with concommitant greater health overall. I concur, from personal experience.
I believe exercise can wear you out while your doing it, however, seeing that scale drop and fitting into smaller clothes can really boost my mood so in the long run exercise is a mood booster.
Exercise always makes me feel better, even when I don’t want to do it. My motivation is the fact that my body can perform those exercises, and move the way it does. I always ask myself, “how many other women my age can do this?” I know we’re out there, but being part of that minority always kicks me into gear. I’ve read recently that exercising regularly slows the aging process, and I believe it!
I find that when I exercise on a regular basis my overall mood is good and I’m less likely to feel depressed. Exercise makes me feel good and I feel like I’ve accomplished something especially, on those days when I really want to skip my workout. Exercise makes me feel better about myself which has an effect on my mood.
When I`m working out on a set routine and schedule, I feel great.Sometimes when I have to skip a day or more, due to other circumstances, I feel guilty and depressed. I`m addicted to exercise and really hate not doing it.
Yes exercise helps me with my mood. The key for me is to get the breathing going. The more I am able to deepen my breathing the better I feel.
I would have to say YES. I have noticed that when I exercise I am happier. I guess it is because I know I have done good for myself that day. I feel better physically and emotionally. I have realized that I get along better with others and want to be around people more. Actually, I truely just realized that. NEATTO.
I hate exercise. It makes me tired and I feel like garbage.
I feel like exercise increases my mood and curbs my appetite. That might just be my self talk but so be it.
It depends on the exercise. A good run can be relaxing and lifting weights can improve my mood, but usually my mood is the same afterwards.
The exercise I do with family — hiking, playing tennis, and kayaking — is the most likely to make me happier. Except, of course, when family squabbles break out.
If I exercise several hours a day, most days of the week, I will begin to experience an elevated mood after several weeks. If I do only an hour or so a day most days of the week, no mood change, even after months.