8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise

by Christina G. Hibbert, Babette Rothschild (Foreword)

We all know that exercise is good for physical health. Improved fitness has been proven to increase longevity and stave off illness. Recently, there has been a wealth of data proving that exercise also contributes to overall mental well-being. Routine exercise alleviates stress and anxiety, moderates depression, relieves chronic pain, and improves self-esteem.


Christina G. Hibbert, an expert on women’s mental health, grief, and self-esteem issues, here offers readers step-by-step strategies for sticking to fitness goals, overcoming motivation challenges and roadblocks to working out, and maintaining a physically and emotionally healthy exercise regimen. The techniques she offers will benefit readers at any stage of life or fitness level. Whether you have worked out periodically in the past or have never hit the gym, this book will help you get moving, stay moving, and maintain the inspiration you need to reap the mental health benefits of regular exercise.

Genres: Health, Mental Health, Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2016

About the author

I'm a clinical psychologist specializing in women's mental health, parenting, grief/loss, self-esteem/self-worth, and maternal mental health. I have a private practice one day a week and spend the rest of my work time writing and speaking. I'm also write for my popular blog, "The Psychologist, The Mom, & Me" on my website, http://www.drchristinahibbert.com.

I'm a mom of six great kids, ages 6 to 17, which keeps me very busy. I still feel like a stay-at-home mom, since I work only when they are in school or asleep!

In my limited "free" time, I love reading, writing, songwriting and singing, and naps. Oh, and I also love dark chocolate--Ghiradelli 72%.

My first book, This Is How We Grow, shares my family's true story of loss and how we overcame and "chose to grow" through it. Already a bestseller on Amazon, it is a memoir with a self-help feel and demonstrates the power of the human spirit. I am currently working on my next book on the topic of Self-Esteem After a Breakup, for New Harbinger publications.

Reviews

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim from the library and it is SO HELPFUL. Before reading this, I didn't realize that "avoiding exercise because it reminds me of panic attacks" was a thing, but the second I realized it was, I realized that's what's been happening to me. I feel so much better knowing it's not just me, and I feel like maybe if I take it slow I can work some physical activity back into my life.

[Moises · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was assigned for class and that is the only reason I finished it. It just didn't do it for me. The author dragged out some sections as if to reach her target page count. The book increased my anxiety as I continued to read it. I need go for run now that I'm done.

I'm sure this will be helpful to many people. I imagine those in the lows of depression or in the grip of anxiety would be helped. This book would especially be of use to someone who has never exercised or is looking to get back into it. Unfortunately it did not help me in any way.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow in some areas, I appreciate the way the author tries to walk you through the process of setting yourself up for success with personal assessment and reflection questions. The majority of the book focuses on the mental hang ups that can make it substantially more difficult to start and maintain any activity regiment.

[Diana O'brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would be a very helpful book for people who struggle with working out. It reminded me of the things that work, and it expands the idea of what fits as exercise, so makes it easier to figure out ways to incorporate exercise into your life. I plan to use some of the questions and ideas when working with my clients to help them.

[Jodi Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't very useful for me; it may be beneficial to someone trying to develop a physical exercise routine but I already had one. I don't know exactly what I expected but this didn't work for me. I think most could skim this book and come away with all they need.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough (to the point of being almost overwhelming to my addled brain). An excellent resource, overall.

[Cloay · Rating 3 out of 5]

- available in SG NLB 616.891 (SK

[Minke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read. Most information I was already aware of, but it was helpful to know what types of exercise help improve specific mental health issues.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the most scintillating read, but it's clear and incredibly thorough. If you don't know where to begin to start improving your mental health through exercise, start here.

[Yeewei Cheo · Rating 5 out of 5]

self-esteem myth was the most helpful section of all

[Colleen Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many key pointers on how to live a flourishing life by exercising to promote emotional, mental, physical and spiritual growth.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. I hope this book is happy with killing someone. It *continuously* goes on and on that exercise is so much better for *all* mental health problems than medication is. Um....no. A simple google search will give you refutations to the studies that the author is so fond of. Most studies of mental health of exercise versus medication are self reported, so the the cause and effect are very unclear -- is it exercise that helps mental health so much, or is it just people who are more well more likely to exercise? The second is far more likely. Plus any direct studies of the effects of medications versus exercise are only done on very mildly depressed individuals, let alone anyone with any truly serious mental health problem - taking necessary medications away from truly mentally ill people is illegal.

Exercise should be a supplement to anything that your doctor recommends, not a cure-all.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved that this book discussed exercise and not diet.

[Cori Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of great information, Dr Hibbert knows her stuff.