RAB source Entry #1-Kinga Zimnoch

My Research question is: How does exercise improve mental health? 

My research question is: Does exercise improve mental health? This topic interests me because for 2023 I started to eat more healthily as well as exercise 5-6 times a week mostly because growing up I hated the way I looked and ate unhealthy foods. Before 2023 I would exercise a little but would give up and I was always stressed and never felt happy. What I noticed when exercising is it helped me feel less anxious and cleared my head from distractions which lead me to prioritize myself and it was an effective way to pass time. I already know that exercise like walking, weightlifting, yoga and more can help reduce stress, depression, and negative thoughts about oneself. Exercise can also improve your health which will keep someone happier and healthier in the future. With exercise you can slowly add healthier food to your diet which can promote you to feel more energy during the day and better sleep at night. Some points I plan to explore are the science behind exercise that helps with promoting better mental health. Another point is, can exercise really improve someone’s happiness even if they don’t try? 

Source Entry #1  

Part 1: MLA Citation 

Gretchen Reynolds. “Can Moving The Body Heal The Mind.” New York Times 30 March 2022.  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/well/move/exercise-mental-health.html.

Part 2: Summary 

In “Can Moving The Body Heal The Mind?” Gretchen Reynolds interviews Jennifer Heisz who points to a study that shows exercising moderately is better than intense exercise to combat depression. According to the author, Jennifer Heisz, the director of NeuroFit lab of McMaster University, Ontario Canada studied how the effects of exercising can reduce anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues. Reynolds is informed that 30 minutes exercise three times a week is enough. Jennifer Heisz includes that it is better to avoid high intensity workouts as they may worsen your stress and anxiety. Depression is caused by the lack of serotonin in the brain which causes inflammation. Some medication do not work as good and exercise can be the medicine that is needed to fight the inflamation. Heisz mentions mental illness can happen to anyone. It may not be quick fix, but slowly exercise can help to start a positive mindset. 

Part 3: Reflection 

I agree with the information Gretchen Reynolds presented. I enjoyed learning about high intensity workout not being the best when stressed. “Aim for exercise that feels comfortably challenging so your heart rate is elevated but not racing.” I can relate to this because when I started exercising, I was always stressed, and I hated it. After finding less intense workouts, I recently do not have the mindset of having to work out but wanting to work out. I now look forward to exercising every day. Although they make medications for these mental illnesses, I find it a positive that there’s other effective ways made to help people with mental illness.  

Part 4: Rhetorical analysis 

Gretchen Reynolds is a popular “Physical Education” writer for The New York Times. Reynolds was a health and fitness reporter for Runner’s World and Bicycle magazine who contribute to Oprah magazine and women health. This style is an interview. The purpose is to inform the public of trying a different approach to help with mental Health. The author’s tone is informal and encouraging. The New York Times is a reliable source and was ranked 3^rd in the U.S and 17^th in the world by circulation in print. The author uses logos in the interview from Jennifer Hiesz by knowledge she learned and a book she wrote “Move the Body, Heal the Mind.” Reynolds uses pathos by letting Jennifer Hiesz share about her life transitions like her childbirth and divorce. It is talked about how it was not easy but cycling helped her on the right path of healing. Ethos is used by Jennifer Hiesz, a doctor who authored a book and is now the director of the NeuroFit fit lab at McMaster university in Hamilton, Ontario. This interview was also published by the New York Times.  

Part 5: Notable Quotables 

“You need to be careful with really intense exercise and anxiety. If you’re feeling anxiety, you’re already under stress. High-intensity exercise is also a kind of stress.” (Reynolds) 

“In studies, when individuals who haven’t responded to anti-depressants start exercising, they usually see significant reductions in their symptoms.” (Reynolds) 

“How much exercise you need to combat depression, compared 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week, which is the standard exercise recommendation for physical health, with a quarter of that. And both groups benefited the same. So, it looks like the exercise prescription for mental health is less than that for physical health, which is kind of nice.” (Reynolds) 

“Mental illness can happen to anyone even people who seem to be handling things well.” (Reynolds)  

“In the peaceful moments after a workout, hope is alive. You feel like the world is right again. And that’s really special.” (Reynolds)