Anti-Depressant Medication Side Effects Include: possible weight loss, increased happiness, reduced stress, muscle gain, boosted confidence.

               Most people probably don’t know that depression is something I’ve struggled with for about 13 years. I’ve had good days, bad days, and everything in between. I’ve been on almost every medication you can name at some point or another, but there is one medication that is FREE and has none of the negative side effects of most medicines, AND you don’t have to go to a doctor to obtain it.  Want to know what it is? Exercise. My motivation for going to the gym like I do is not all to lose weight, a great chunk of it is mental.

               Physical activity is proven to decrease the effects of depression, and will boost your moods. I didn’t really buy into this much until I started working out on a regular. I discovered that on days I didn’t go to the gym I was down in the dumps and it took a lot of effort to be “happy”, whereas if I went to the gym my spirits seemed lifted. When I start feeling really crappy or stressed I head to the gym. It releases endorphins which naturally make you happier. It also allows me to have a way to get out all my pent up anger or stress.  Last week was one of the most trying weeks I’ve had in a long time. My business, merged with another business. I felt like my world had been turned upside down, and I didn’t know what was going to happen to my future. All I wanted to do was curl up under my blankets and remain in my bed until it all blew over. Would that help the situation? No. And I knew that. I knew I needed to get up and get working, but how when I felt so bad? I did the only thing I know how to do anymore, since I don’t take medications, I went to the gym. I ended up running 3 miles that day, the most I’ve ever ran, but the anger and the stress pushed me to go harder, push my body to its limits.  During the time of this run my mind was clear. I didn’t think about the merger, I didn’t think about my stress. I just ran. I finished my run, exhausted but happy.  I collected my thoughts, organized them and realized it was going to be okay. I now had the energy to push through the rest of my day and get stuff done.

               I understand running is not for everyone, and trust me it’s not ALWAYS my go to, and before a year ago it would not have even crossed my mind. However, any form of physical activity can greatly help with you depression. Whether it be lifting weights (this is my 2^nd favorite, because I hulk out and \ push myself to my limit), walking, elliptical, doing a class. Whatever it may be if you are getting your blood pumping and your body moving, you are going to help with all that imbalance in your brain. I know it sounds crazy, and I know it can be hard to motivate yourself to get up and go get it, but I promise it works. Would you rather just medicate yourself and put chemicals in your body that you really don’t know what they are, or would you rather get your booty up and help reduce this problem naturally? I know my answer. Plus think of the benefits of working out. Not only is it going to help with your depression, stress, anxiety, etc, but it’s got great side effects. You might lose some weight, gain some muscle, build your confidence, and the list goes on. Does your Lexapro do that? No… That can make you gain weight, reduce your sex drive, and a list that goes on and on and on.

               I suppose the moral of this little rant here is to motivate you to get out and get moving.  You’re not the only one struggling through these issues, the difference is how we handle them. I promise if you push yourself you’ll see a difference in your mood. There’s plenty of days I don’t want go to the gym or workout, but once I do the high is incomparable to anything else. I stopped taking my medications and replaced them with extra gym time, I’ve never felt better a day in my life. I’m not suggesting you just stop your medication- obviously talk to you’re a doc about that- but I am saying at least get moving and you’ll notice a major difference in your mood and attitude. 

Give Time, Get Results

Happy New Year! I know now that the New Year is upon us many of you are looking to get fit. It’s a common resolution, and a very great one as well. The problem is most people won’t stick with their resolution. Many will work out in January, not see results in February and quit by March.  I really hope this isn’t you! I want to share a little story with you, to show you that it’s not instant. It’s not overnight. You may struggle for MONTHS, but if you keep at it, keep pushing, you’ll see results. Whether you are trying to lose weight, build endurance, or gain muscle.

               I started my fitness journey around December of 2013. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was about 315 lbs at the time… I started with a light 30 minute routine, some weights and cardio. Nothing too difficult, but it worked for me. I also made adjustments to my eating habits. This is HUGE. If you are working out every day but still eating Taco Bell every day, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE RESULTS…. I continued this routine for about 6 months.  At this point I was seeing results. I was trimming down, and my clothes were too big.  I added in 30 minutes of an Arc Trainer (this is a cardio machine with low impact) I really liked it, and loved that it was LIKE running, but wasn’t running. I hated running. 

               Last January I started training with my boyfriend. He informed me one day, “We’re going to start running.”   Uhhhhhggggg… Even though I’d been working out every day for a year I had yet to take my hand at running. Running is dumb. I never understood it. I thought it was boring. I didn’t enjoy it as a kid, I sure didn’t enjoy it as an adult. I felt like a failure, because I wheezed and couldn’t catch my breath. Why would I purposely do something I wasn’t good at???  I made all sorts of excuses. “My knees won’t take it.”  (I’d had knee surgery that summer). “My ankles.” You name it. I tried. But he held strong and forced me to run 20 minutes each day. I HATED IT…. In 20 minutes I struggled to run for more than 2-3 minutes straight. My lungs hurt. My legs hurt. My ego hurt. 20 minutes, barely ever hitting a mile.  What a punch to the pride. I wanted to quit so many times, but he wouldn’t let me.  I’m so glad he didn’t.

               After about a month it started to get easier. I would make little competitions for myself. I’d have to run for an entire song straight. Then 2 songs. I’d see how fast I could go. Suddenly a day came where I didn’t get to run for a few days.  I felt the weirdest feeling ever. I was sad. I WANTED to run. I’d realized it cleared my head. The ONLY thing I thought about when I ran was either how much I hated my life at that second, OR what little competition I could make for myself next. Either way I wasn’t thinking about life or anything going on outside of me in that moment. It was refreshing.

               In the last year I’ve started almost every single workout with a run. It’s become one of my FAVORITE things. If I know I can’t get a big workout in, but I can get a run in then I’ll do that. I worked every day to improve and get better. I’m not a marathon runner in a year, and I probably never will be. However; I am good enough for me, and I plan to continue to work at it and improve my distance and my time.. Remember when I was running for 20 minutes and not even making it a mile? Well here we are, 12 months and hundreds of runs later, I run a mile with ease and no stopping in about 12 minutes.  It’s not the fastest, and I don’t care, but it’s MY progress. Not only that but I can run 2 miles with ease! Yeah that’s right, 2 of em! I still take a few 30 seconds brisk walk rests, but I’m still doing it. My next goal is to master 3, and then do them all without stopping.

               What I’m trying to show you here is that you may hate it at first, but don’t quit. The only person you are cheating is yourself. It takes time and patience to get good at anything, but once you do it totally pays off. I feel so strong after I run. And there really is no better feeling than feeling strong.