Fitness activities and mental health

fishgutzy

fishgutzy

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I often joke about being addicted to chlorine. But there is some truth to that, indirectly.
As y'all know, I swim a lot because arthritis in my feet limit how much impact based exercise I can do. So I try to limit that to hiking.
I have to be careful about taking too many rest days if I over do the weight room because I have found that it has a negative impact on my mood.
I notice (an y'all do too) when I'm on travel and not swimming enough I get irritable. The evidence shows in the missives I post from China.
I did an 8km swim on Saturday after a 2 day rest and having done 5 days in a row of 4 miles each. Planned to swim Monday, but the pool was closed for the holiday. So I hit the weight room a little too hard even though I tried to moderate myself. Too sore to swim last night.
This morning I could feel that cloud trying to sneak in and ruin my day.
Swimming tonight though. Maybe I'll push it past 4miles. It helps loosen up my back and shoulders when I tighten it up doing weights.

I'm sure their are tons of studies linking exercise to mental health. I just know that I live it. And for me the connection is real.
If I didn't exercise, I'd probably end up on a shrinks couch and being pump full of psychiatric drugs. I like swimming as mental health much better.

I can't be the only one who has noticed this. What say you?
 
Who doesn't feel their mood lifted after a good workout? It still doesn't motivate us to get back out there like it should.

I went to a pool last night for the first time in...decades?, hmm. Anyway I had forgotten how to swim but walked 15 laps and ran in place swinging my arms for 20 minutes and I feel great if not a little tired.
 
fishgutzy said:
I'm sure their are tons of studies linking exercise to mental health. I just know that I live it. And for me the connection is real.
If I didn't exercise, I'd probably end up on a shrinks couch and being pump full of psychiatric drugs. I like swimming as mental health much better.

I can't be the only one who has noticed this. What say you?
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Very much so. The evidence is rock solid.
 
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fishgutzy said:
I did an 8km swim on Saturday after a 2 day rest and having done 5 days in a row of 4 miles each.
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You SWIM four miles at a time?
And at least once did five miles?
Dude, I don't run twenty five miles in eight days.
Quick, everybody grab your pitchforks and torches...this monster needs killin :p

In all seriousness, swimming is a great exercise. Glad it works for you like it does.
Since I left active duty, I dont go balls to the wall with my fitness anymore, but I do maintain a small regimen.
And, YES, there is a correlation between my mental state and my exercise habits. But, like anything else, don't put your eggs all in one basket. I have multiple outlets for any pent up anger/frustration/anxiety.
You say when you dont swim and/or go on China trips, you get irritable. That says to me that you need multiple outlets, too. It might not work for you, but I have a meditation technique that only takes ten-fifteen minutes. Does wonders to clear my mind when my other coping mechanisms are unavailable.
 
draco88 said:
You SWIM four miles at a time?
And at least once did five miles?
Dude, I don't run twenty five miles in eight days.
Quick, everybody grab your pitchforks and torches...this monster needs killin [emoji14]

In all seriousness, swimming is a great exercise......
You say when you dont swim and/or go on China trips, you get irritable. That says to me that you need multiple outlets, too. It might not work for you, but I have a meditation technique that only takes ten-fifteen minutes. Does wonders to clear my mind when my other coping mechanisms are unavailable.
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My longest swim is 10km. Takes me about 3:30 for that one.
As far as other tools, I've gotten better at recognizing when I start to get a little irritable. Deep breath. And then move on and don't let it eff up my day.



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I run a mile 3 x per week.
It makes a huge difference in my sleep- which impacts my energy and metal sharpness.
Plus the physical benefits are amazing.
I'm 44, but feel 35.

Add a good diet to the mix and your cooking with gas.
 
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Slacker said:
I run a mile 3 x per week.
It makes a huge difference in my sleep- which impacts my energy and metal sharpness.
Plus the physical benefits are amazing.
I'm 44, but feel 35.

Add a good diet to the mix and your cooking with gas.
Click to expand...

I have an averaged age: I am almost 50. I feel 90, but act 10.
 
My job has been keeping me from working out lately. And yes, I get more cranky. Finally worked out this morning. That day after a day off is about the only chance I get anymore.
 
My story is a different route on the same topic.

Since 2003 i have had a bad back that has effected everything in my life. It caused me to exit the military and many more things.

Over the years i have had injury and the next, costing time, money and my weight.

This past month i finely have a proper rating from the VA. That day i felt the weight off my shoulders and now exercise every 3rd day.

Trying to get back to where i need to be. I have 60lbs to loose and now i am not afraid to go and try.
 
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JBoyette said:
My story is a different route on the same topic.

Since 2003 i have had a bad back that has effected everything in my life. It caused me to exit the military and many more things.

Over the years i have had injury and the next, costing time, money and my weight.

This past month i finely have a proper rating from the VA. That day i felt the weight off my shoulders and now exercise every 3rd day.

Trying to get back to where i ned to be. I have 60lbs to loose and now i am not afraid to go and try.
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I'm having back issues as well. I have already spoken to my Doctor and when I am sufficiently recovered from the knee replacement I'll be going back to the pain management doc for another series of shots.
 
J R Green said:
I'm having back issues as well. I have already spoken to my Doctor and when I am sufficiently recovered from the knee replacement I'll be going back to the pain management doc for another series of shots.
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Swimming can be very good for getting a workout without straining the knees or back. Generally builds strength in the core and legs too.

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I was walking one mile, running for three then walking for one. Knees hurt way to bad for to long so I stopped.

Now I try to ride a mountain bike 5 days a week on a 10 mile small crushed gravel trail thats up hill, down hill, slight inclines and flats.

Then on a woods course for 10 miles on Sundays.

Either go shoot on Saturdays or just take the day off.

Today I broke the 1 hour mark.

DFD3F3D7-0E1A-4872-9B6C-FBF9883F189C.png
 
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Mike Overlay said:
I was walking one mile, running for three then walking for one. Knees hurt way to bad for to long so I stopped.

Now I try to ride a mountain bike 5 days a week on a 10 mile small crushed gravel trail thats up hill, down hill, slight inclines and flats.

Then on a woods course for 10 miles on Sundays.

Either go shoot on Saturdays or just take the day off.

Today I broke the 1 hour mark.

View attachment 61586
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Then you may like Spinning classes too. A vigorous, yet self paced, workout. You can go as hard as the class leader or back off and work your way up.
I don't do as many spinning classes as I used to. But when I did, one of the other regulars and I would compete against each other for total calories and peak power. My peak was ~600W during 15 second sprints.
Some Saturdays, I would swim 4 miles then go into a spin class. 2/3 of a Triathlon. :D
 
fishgutzy said:
Swimming can be very good for getting a workout without straining the knees or back. Generally builds strength in the core and legs too.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Regarding the back, it depends on the stroke. The CSS/side stroke and breast stroke are the best for the back. The butterfly and crawl not so much.
 
My mantra is:
Healthy body, healthy mind.

I alternate run, lift, and core days (situps, pushups, chinups, jump rope) with very few off days. I feel like crud if I skip a day.
 
I used to run until the cartilage in my knees saw fit to tear on me resulting in surgery so I got a road cycle, monkey-butt shorts and took that up. We have some decent roads around here for riding and I wound up doing a benefit ride from Springfield to Boston (106 miles) the last couple of years. This year things have been screwy so I haven't been riding and definitely more stressed and irritable. The worst part is the time commitment, I used to be able to get in a good run in an hour, a good ride takes about 3 or 4 hours.
 
I did a swim as part of a foreign sports fitness event. Absolutely destroyed me, and I consider myself pretty dang fit. Definitely showed me what I lack in. My legs were mush after that, and I still had multiple events to complete. Finished the day successfully, but that swim was no joke.

I agree, when I don't get a scheduled workout in I am highly irritable. Happened to me yesterday. I had to apologize to my wife, and it wasn't the first time.

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IrishCannon said:
I did a swim as part of a foreign sports fitness event. Absolutely destroyed me, and I consider myself pretty dang fit. Definitely showed me what I lack in. My legs were mush after that, and I still had multiple events to complete. Finished the day successfully, but that swim was no joke.

I agree, when I don't get a scheduled workout in I am highly irritable. Happened to me yesterday. I had to apologize to my wife, and it wasn't the first time.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
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When I was in the service once a month, last Friday of the month, we'd do a 3-mile swim, a 3-mile run, the O course, a timed shoot, followed by a 3-mile swim. Last place bought beer for the platoon. I bought a lot of beer. My legs were always like spaghetti after those events.

I always feel like crap when I can't work out regularly, mentally and physically. I was out of town last week for a funeral and didn't do squat, my first workout in almost 2 weeks was this morning. I felt like sludge.
 
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Chuckman said:
When I was in the service once a month, last Friday of the month, we'd do a 3-mile swim, a 3-mile run, the O course, a timed shoot, followed by a 3-mile swim. Last place bought beer for the platoon. I bought a lot of beer. My legs were always like spaghetti after those events.

I always feel like crap when I can't work out regularly, mentally and physically. I was out of town last week for a funeral and didn't do squat, my first workout in almost 2 weeks was this morning. I felt like sludge.
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I can swim 6 miles. But I can't run 3 miles. Degenerative osteoarthritis in my feet. Specifically the big toe joints.
 
Nice 6.4km swim last night. I sometimes call it my brain function reset.
Last night was crowded in the "fast lane" with slow swimmers. Felt like a martial arts sparring class occasionally. Got kicked a bunch of times. But I just kept going.
 
fishgutzy said:
I can swim 6 miles. But I can't run 3 miles. Degenerative osteoarthritis in my feet. Specifically the big toe joints.
Click to expand...

Now I could do very little, and none fast. I *might* could do the runs, I could swim, I doubt I can do the O course. And it would all be very slow. With back, hips, and knees itsi all a struggle....
 
Hah, here is my experience for the past 3 years.

Year one-

Moved to new home. Worked a desk job. Cranky, snappy, not motivated.

Still woking desk job, started working out with the wife. Felt great, was motivated, chilled out.

Year 2-

plateau, stopped working out. Slid back a little. Got fired started working back out. Only worked out a few weeks. Things went to crap after that.

Was the adsoulte most miserable time of my life. Didn’t want to get out of bed. Life sucked.

Year 3- finally got a job that isn’t a desk job and requires me to be moving around all the time. Lost 10 lbs, and while the money isn’t great life has been a lot better mentality and a little more wear and tearing but I don’t mind it lol.

I have become more sociable but still have a strong dislike for people lol. Wife is happier, kids are happy.
 
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On my WeChat account I gave myself the title "Fitness Director." :D
I don't yet look like I can swim as far as I do. Most people would look at me and think I'm lying. But I am way beyond caring what others think.
I'll post the 12km screen capture when I hit the goal.
 
I can't even fathom (see that there) a 6400m swim, let alone 6mi. That's insane to me.

As for running, I always thought I was a crappy runner until I started running with other people. I still don't see myself as good, I just think most people downright suck and don't put forth the effort. My last 2mi was 13:10 and I really hope to break into the 12's next time. I need to start sprinting more and doing some work with a sled. I live at the peek of a big hill that's part of a 3.6mi course I like to run. Sometimes I'll just work the hill back and forth.

Need to pickup one of these:

rogue-s25-fat-boy-sled-th_1.jpg
 
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IrishCannon said:
I can't even fathom (see that there) a 6400m swim, let alone 6mi. That's insane to me.

As for running, I always thought I was a crappy runner until I started running with other people. I still don't see myself as good, I just think most people downright suck and don't put forth the effort. My last 2mi was 13:10 and I really hope to break into the 12's next time. I need to start sprinting more and doing some work with a sled. I live at the peek of a big hill that's part of a 3.6mi course I like to run. Sometimes I'll just work the hill back and forth.

Need to pickup one of these:

rogue-s25-fat-boy-sled-th_1.jpg
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Swimming distance is no different than any other activity. Technique, time, and persistence. Technique to do the activity in the most efficient manner, time to train, and the persistence to push toward a goal.
Same approach to running marathons or Mudders too.
Longest so far is 11km, (6.85 miles). Next goal is 12km. (7.48 miles). When I hit that I'll set the next goal.
Always present is the goal to look like I can swim that far. I'll never look like Michael Phelps. But it would be nice to be wider at the shoulders than the waist. [emoji3]

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I blew past 12km AMD did 13.2km.
A Monkism compelled me to complete the last 2200m set.
6x2200m.
22 meter pool length. 44meter lap length.
300 laps.

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I've been in the weight room 4-5 days a week in the last 2 months. Doing a modified starting Strength program, modified around equipment availability in the morning.

I've hit a few rough patches mentally over those two months, between stress with school and work, and having the weights clanking helps with some stress.

I do feel better day to day, both mentally and physically, with a gym visit that morning. When I can't get there, I feel weird and off.
 
Gear Head said:
The gym is my happy place.

Just me, the weights, and my music on blast. For about 2 hours a day, I can shut out the entire world.
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I know a lot of people play music while working out. About the only thing I put a play list on for is spinning. My Y has a couple of the same bike they have for the spin class out in the machine room. I use the music for cadence.
Other than that, I don't generally listen to music while I am working out. Certainly not when swimming. :D
 
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