I woke up at 5 o'clock this morning, just like I have every morning for the past three weeks to happily watch the Tour de France live on OLN out here on the West Coast.
After putting on the coffee, I turned on OLN partly out of force of habit and curiosity. No Phil or Paul. Just some guy sitting there wearing a “gimme hat” talking about how to catch big-mouth bass.
That was the final realization. The Tour de France is over. So, after trundling my daughter off to day camp, I jumped on the bike for ride instead of prying open the laptop.
Now I'm OK. Are you OK?
After the ride, I found an article at DepressioNet that espouses physical activity, especially bicycling, as a good treatment for depression.
Alluding to research studying the effects of endorphins and serotonins on brain function, author Kate Mytanwy writes that physical activity improves mood, reduces tension and anxiety and produces a feeling of well being. Bicycling produces these benefits in spades, she reports.
For instance, biking comprises both aerobic and anaerobic exercise — there's not only the pedaling stroke but pulling on the handlebars. She cites studies that anaerobic activity acts as an anti-depressant.
Also, cycling usually occurs in natural light, which has been proven to be a mood enhancer. Finally, she writes that bicycling doesn't normally result in the same stresses and pains, which can cause worry and concern, as running or impact sports.
Here's another reason: I met up with a guy who organized Bike Around Washington for a couple of years. He recognized me and we recalled how my son and I used to take the week-long ride. That brought back a flood of happy memories.
So those are just a few reasons why going for a bike ride is better for your mood than plopping down in front of the TV or working on the computer — unless of course the Tour de France is on.
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