just got my own bac!
Hi Rudy
Well, you've pressed my "importance of exercise" button (again), so I have to respond by saying what's on my mind.
We rent a house in VT (about 4.5 hours from "home" in CT). In December and January and most of February, its cold and gray and it often seems like such a long drive to torture ourselves in the preternatural cold. And even once we get there it seems too windy, or cold or cloudy or all of the above...or its RAINING...but invariably if we go up the mountain we find that our layers keep us perfectly warm and the snow has been groomed and there is something edgeable and fun to ski on. My wife usually has had enough of this "fun" after 3 or 4 runs and then I often stay out and ride the quad as a single and usually have a great time meeting the young and the old, the locals and the tourists and the weekenders and the skiiers and the boarders and the college students who ski at our area. Its not exactly a "community" but it gets me out of the house and out of my shell and connecting in some small way with others. All of which makes me feel better.
The other thing you mention is that the 'upliftment from exercise lasts for hours'. This is exactly what I experience. The persistent anxiety that floats along with me (like the cloud of dust surrounding Pigpen (remember him?) in Peanuts cartoons) dissipates within minutes of starting exercise for me. When I'm running (outdoors or on the treadmill) I KNOW with absolute certainty that I will feel calm and normal in no more than 5 minutes running and that within 10 minutes my head will clear (no fog) and my thoughts will become organized and practical. For the rest of the run I float in a kind of stress-free zone of sharp focus and well-being and concentration. It is a great, great "happy" feeling. I wish I could bottle it and save it and keep it going but after some hours it dissipates and I often feel the anxiety leaking back in again. If I exercise in the afternoon or for most of the day, the good feeling often lasts up to and including bedtime. The bummer is that while you would think sleep would be refreshing, its often the early morning when the anxiety insinuates its way back into my brain and I wake up already worrying about all kinds of things (many that are in the past and many that are in the future but exagerrated). I don't like to go to the gym early in the morning so this is often the hardest part of the day. Shower, dressing, coffee and getting outside to go to work often help take the edge off.
Lastly, and interestingly (to me, anyway) I think I need the exercise more now that I don't drink. For better or worse, my evening martinis regulated the anxiety pretty well and without them I find that I have to get regular exercise (almost like a replacement for the alcohol). I think I may be nearly as addicted to the chemical benefits of exercise as I was to alcohol. I haven't read anybody else say this, but its what I'm experiencing.
Sorry for going on and on.
I've got my fingers crossed for more snow before next weekend!
Cass
RudyB;1261128 wrote: i virtually dragged myself there, hardly inspired but knowing it would come to some good. i've been sorta depressed and loagy as hell, no joie de vivre in me these days. but, of course, as soon as i started sliding around on that board, joy took over. it was also so much fun to interact with people, like on the lift when i always went in the singles line (i was riding alone, and i went up the quad and the six pack lift mostly). people are light-hearted and friendly (for the most part): everyone outside in beautiful nature, having fun being active. i kept feeling enormous gratitude that i found this extremely fun thing to do in the winter, a season that can be dark and dreary and doesn't invite one to go outside. and thank god for snowmakers. today, same thing: i dragged myself to zumba class, and as soon as i started in on those spirited moves i felt better. the upliftment from exercise lasts for hours. lately, as little impetus as i have to move at all (i feel like a swath of thick rubber), i've managed to get myself moving a few times and it always improves my outlook. ...
xo rudy
xo rudy
Hi Rudy
Well, you've pressed my "importance of exercise" button (again), so I have to respond by saying what's on my mind.
We rent a house in VT (about 4.5 hours from "home" in CT). In December and January and most of February, its cold and gray and it often seems like such a long drive to torture ourselves in the preternatural cold. And even once we get there it seems too windy, or cold or cloudy or all of the above...or its RAINING...but invariably if we go up the mountain we find that our layers keep us perfectly warm and the snow has been groomed and there is something edgeable and fun to ski on. My wife usually has had enough of this "fun" after 3 or 4 runs and then I often stay out and ride the quad as a single and usually have a great time meeting the young and the old, the locals and the tourists and the weekenders and the skiiers and the boarders and the college students who ski at our area. Its not exactly a "community" but it gets me out of the house and out of my shell and connecting in some small way with others. All of which makes me feel better.
The other thing you mention is that the 'upliftment from exercise lasts for hours'. This is exactly what I experience. The persistent anxiety that floats along with me (like the cloud of dust surrounding Pigpen (remember him?) in Peanuts cartoons) dissipates within minutes of starting exercise for me. When I'm running (outdoors or on the treadmill) I KNOW with absolute certainty that I will feel calm and normal in no more than 5 minutes running and that within 10 minutes my head will clear (no fog) and my thoughts will become organized and practical. For the rest of the run I float in a kind of stress-free zone of sharp focus and well-being and concentration. It is a great, great "happy" feeling. I wish I could bottle it and save it and keep it going but after some hours it dissipates and I often feel the anxiety leaking back in again. If I exercise in the afternoon or for most of the day, the good feeling often lasts up to and including bedtime. The bummer is that while you would think sleep would be refreshing, its often the early morning when the anxiety insinuates its way back into my brain and I wake up already worrying about all kinds of things (many that are in the past and many that are in the future but exagerrated). I don't like to go to the gym early in the morning so this is often the hardest part of the day. Shower, dressing, coffee and getting outside to go to work often help take the edge off.
Lastly, and interestingly (to me, anyway) I think I need the exercise more now that I don't drink. For better or worse, my evening martinis regulated the anxiety pretty well and without them I find that I have to get regular exercise (almost like a replacement for the alcohol). I think I may be nearly as addicted to the chemical benefits of exercise as I was to alcohol. I haven't read anybody else say this, but its what I'm experiencing.
Sorry for going on and on.
I've got my fingers crossed for more snow before next weekend!
Cass
I know that fear of posting and not having a response. It's worse the higher in my dose I am. I've come down a bit recently, so I'm feeling a little relief. I know you're going up, or so I think I read. 
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