Exercise
key to keeping both mind and body fit
Jessica
Brewer, LMH Health
Published on July 24, 2020
“If
exercise could be packaged in a pill, it would be the single most widely
prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation.” – Robert Butler, National
Institute on Aging
Maribeth
Orr, a family practice physician at Eudora Family Care, said this is one of her
favorite quotes. What many medications can help with, exercise can help with too.
“One
of the best things about exercise is anyone can do it,” Dr. Orr said. “Even
those who may not think they have the physical capabilities or the time to
exercise can do it. It can be so impactful on many positive levels. It can help
you mentally, physically, socially, economically and spiritually. Exercise
leads to healthy minds and bodies.”
Orr
said with so many things consuming us, especially during the pandemic, things
can cultivate and become very negative. It is important now more than ever to
take care of yourself. A good outlet can often be exercising. This provides you
a time to be outdoors or alone on a treadmill, doing a workout routine or
lifting weights. Exercise gets your endorphins going and gives you the sense
that things will be ok.
“Especially
in 2020, life keeps throwing us curveballs and exercise can help manage these,”
Dr. Orr said. “The curveballs will keep coming even post-pandemic and exercise
can help us continue to manage these. I hope a silver lining is that we will
have eye-opening experiences across the world. I hope people see how important
your health is and how precious life is. You are only given one body, one
heart, one spine. Take care of these one-time gifts.”
Our
bodies are precious, and some invest more in their cars and homes than they do
their health. Dr. Orr said the human body deserves the same loving care that so
many give to other things. We need to keep it in tip-top shape for it to
continue operating properly.
“On
a personal level, exercise has provided stress relief,” she said. “When I have
my heart rate up, my worries, anger, sadness, anxieties and emotions that can
so easily take us in a bad direction are controllable. It is how I care for my
body. When I feel I need to be in control, exercise helps me lay that down and
realize it is ok not to be in control.”
One
major common misconception Dr. Orr said there is about exercise is a myth that
the standard for exercising is you have to sweat a lot, get your heart rate
going like crazy until you almost pass out and you have to hit a high-intensity
level each time you work out. However, these are immensely inaccurate. She said
exercise and movement can be from a chair, a hospital bed, anything from
lifting small weights to shoulder shrugs and low-intensity levels. There is no
one-size-fits-all workout.
“I
remember when I first began running all I wanted to do was jog one lap,” she
said. “It was hard and exhausting, but when I got it, I celebrated it. I said
ok now two laps. Someone asked me if I would run a 5K and I thought they were
nuts! That is 3.1 miles, no way. As I grew and worked and strived to achieve my
goals, I got better day by day.”
Orr
is a three-time Ironman finisher and continues to build up and inspire women to
work towards their goals, to celebrate the small wins and never give up. She
says that exercise is personal and each person has to find what they enjoy.
While Dr. Orr is an accomplished athlete, it took her time to figure out what
exercise worked best for her.
“Be
true to yourself,” she said. “If you do not enjoy it, it is not a good idea.
Don’t by a treadmill because you feel the only way to move is if you run.
Invest in yourself and find what you love to do, find a group or a buddy who
likes the same thing and do it with them. Encourage each other. You can do
this. When working out gets hard and exhausting and there are many things you
could complain about, just remember how much of a privilege it is that you can
move like that. Whether that is running, biking, swimming, lifting, how amazing
that you can move!”
One
group Dr. Orr mentioned, in particular, were moms and caregivers. She often
sees moms, caregivers and women who spend so much time giving to others that
there is little time to give to themselves.
“Being
a mom, I know, is the toughest job in the world, much harder than being a
doctor,” Dr. Orr said. “You care for others so much and must make sure not to
lose yourself in that. Find time to give back to yourself and sometimes the
best way to do this is through exercise.”
She
said as stress builds through the day from taking care of children, especially
now when they may be home with you much more often, you want to make sure you
are the best for yourself and your family.
“As
a mom, there are so many demands,” Dr. Orr said. “Find yourself through
movement. Don't forget who you are and that you have to give back to yourself
and exercise is the best way to do this. Exercise can energize you and protect
your cardiovascular system which in return helps you keep up with kids, keep your
cool and it provides a wonderful outlet.
What
she hears most is that women cannot get out because they have to stay home to
take care of their children and babies. Dr. Orr’s best advice, take them with
you! Carve our 10-20 minutes for yourself and if you can’t go alone, have your
kids join either in a stroller or walking with you. Not only are you taking
time for you, but setting a great example for them as well.
“The
harder a goal is to achieve, the sweeter the reward when you’ve reached it,”
she said. “You can do this. And remember, I wish I wouldn’t have exercised…said
no one ever!”
Brewer, J. (2020). Exercise key to keeping both
mind and body fit. LMH Health. Retrieved as of
July 27, 2020 from: https://www.lmh.org/news/2020-news/exercise-key-to-keeping-both-mind-and-body-fit/
