Exercise, Depression...and ZOMBIES

  Laughter can sometimes be the best medicine.


Tamar and Keren, both became ZOMBIES last night during the WOD.


It must have been the ball slams....





Part of our ongoing series in which some of our CrossFitters choose topics that are relevant to them and write about them....

Exercise and Depression, by Charles Balderrama

 

"Today I thought I would say something quick about depression and how exercise has been shown to help cope with it; First, here are a few depression factoids:

 

         - Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults

         - Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression

         - 54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness

         - Multiple studies have shown that exercise is beneficial to those with depression

 

The Archives of Internal Medicine confirm that exercise not only helps maintain good health, but also may prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoarthritis, and dementia.

 

Depression is a very real challenge for many people and exercise has been known to help in many ways, here are a few:

 

         - Exercise, can help one cope with depression without using any form of medication

         - Having an exercise routine in ones schedule helps with keeping a positive outlook

         - Pure Emotion; just knowing that exercise is a positive change, is fundamentally good; it is an encouragement

         - Stress reduction, boost in self esteem, and improved sleep

 

Exercising and CrossFit go hand-in-hand. Variety in exercise is key."

Yet another reason to exercise....

From Lights Out: Sleep,Sugar and Survival, " Depressed people have more heart attacks, and people with heart disease are always depressed. Scientists know that depression and cardiovascular disease go hand in hand."

Interestingly enough, lack of sleep also plays a huge role in depression. Once again, from Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar and Survival, "...You go crazy because you have stayed up so long. You see, in nature, staying up that long means you've eaten half of the planet, which is way more than your share. And you are most likely no longer fertile from swimming in all that insulin [which comes as a result of eating too much]. Therefore, you have no business living.  So nature takes you out by altering your reality so you won't want to live anymore. You actually go crazy so you will take you out."

 

Clearly, dealing with depression is of utmost priority--not only from a survival standpoint in the short term, but also from a survival standpoint in the, "I don't want to die of a heart attack" long term. Exercise helps combat depression in the short term and strengthens our chances of survival in the long term.


Charles admits one of the reasons he exercises is to combat depression.


Do any of you have experience with this?

ALL CLASSES WILL MEET TODAY AT NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH 10438 ORO VISTA AVE., SUNLAND, CA 91040. ENTER OFF ELDORA, WHICH IS ONE BLOCK EAST BETWEEN STATE FARM AND THE FARMER'S MARKET.

DUE TO EXPECTED RAIN, THE 5:30AM AND 8:30 AM WEDNESDAY CLASSES WILL ALSO MEET AT NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH.

WEDNESDAY 6:30PM CLASS WILL MEET AT

1306 N AVON ST., BURBANK, CA 91505

WOD

"Kelly"

5 Rounds for Time of:

400 m Run

30 box jumps 24" box

30 wall balls 20# ball

MOBILITY

Center Quad Rock & Roll