The first challenge was to take a 10-30 minute walk everday, and SMILE. It has been established in multiple studies that being active benefits us mentally as well as physically. Research reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that walking 30 minutes a day boosted the moods in depressed patients faster than antidepressants. Why? Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were.
And it did! It probably was those beautiful endorphins firing, but it was also the inner teacher's pet, puffing her chest out with pride, saying- "I did something good for myself today. I
walked today." And that healthy behavior led to me making better health decisions in what I ate and how much t.v. I viewed.
Tomorrow's challenge...sit in silence for 10 minutes a day. I'm going to have to get up early for this one.
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