People are always asking me what race I’m training for because I run several days a week. And while I do run races, my primary goal is training to improve the quality of my life.
I’ve been researching the connection between positive mental health and exercise. Several studies have shown that in many cases exercise is as effective as medication or therapy in dealing with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Patients have reported a change in their outlook after just one week of exercise. Immediate changes in the brain of a person dealing with stress and anxiety take place within the first five minutes of a workout.
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I believe this because I am living proof. Exercise keeps my fuse long and my stress at bay. It allows me to cope with daily chaos and walk away from negative energy in my life. Without it, I can’t imagine dealing with the level of stress I often face.
I believe in this so much I have enlisted my family in my daily workout routine, including my 15-year-old daughter who is now, by choice, training for a half marathon. Secretly, I hope that I am training her to make exercise a way of life. I didn’t begin to do regular exercise until I was in my 30s. I am hoping to help my daughter develop good habits way before that.
So, how much is enough? It’s important to set realistic goals. Most people quit exercise routines because they start out at an unrealistic level they can’t maintain. Find something you enjoy, find a workout partner or partners, and make a plan you will stick to. Get outside if you can. Nature combined with exercise has incredible healing powers of its own.
Doctors recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, or 30 minutes a day for five days. If you make the time, you won’t regret it. We make time for the things that are important to us.
So, if you see us running and ask us what we’re training for, it’s pretty simple. In the words of Prince: “To get through this thing called life...”
Amanda is the mom of two, a reporter for WRAL-TV and the author of several books including some on motherhood. Find her here on Mondays.