Exercise, Nutrition and Mental Health
Explicit content warning
02/10/25 • 79 min
In this episode Preston and Margaret take a deep dive into the complex relationship between exercise and mental health. They discuss the science behind how movement impacts the brain, debunk common myths about fitness, and explore the psychological barriers that prevent people from incorporating exercise into their lives.
Takeaways:
Exercise Impacts Mental Health Bi-Directionally: Movement not only improves mental health, but mental health conditions can also act as barriers to engaging in exercise.
Fitness Advice Often Lacks Specificity: Many healthcare providers acknowledge the benefits of exercise but rarely provide concrete strategies to help patients incorporate it into their lives.
Movement Should Be Enjoyable: Finding a form of exercise that brings joy—whether it's dancing, hiking, or lifting—makes it easier to sustain and integrate into daily life.
Setting Small, Achievable Goals is Key: Utilizing SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can help create consistency without overwhelming pressure.
Exercise Isn't Just About Weight: Shifting the focus from aesthetics to function, strength, and mental well-being can create a healthier and more sustainable relationship with movement.
—
Watch on YouTube: @itspresro
Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.
—
Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Preston and Margaret take a deep dive into the complex relationship between exercise and mental health. They discuss the science behind how movement impacts the brain, debunk common myths about fitness, and explore the psychological barriers that prevent people from incorporating exercise into their lives.
Takeaways:
Exercise Impacts Mental Health Bi-Directionally: Movement not only improves mental health, but mental health conditions can also act as barriers to engaging in exercise.
Fitness Advice Often Lacks Specificity: Many healthcare providers acknowledge the benefits of exercise but rarely provide concrete strategies to help patients incorporate it into their lives.
Movement Should Be Enjoyable: Finding a form of exercise that brings joy—whether it's dancing, hiking, or lifting—makes it easier to sustain and integrate into daily life.
Setting Small, Achievable Goals is Key: Utilizing SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can help create consistency without overwhelming pressure.
Exercise Isn't Just About Weight: Shifting the focus from aesthetics to function, strength, and mental well-being can create a healthier and more sustainable relationship with movement.
—
Watch on YouTube: @itspresro
Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.
—
Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
ADHD In the Media
In this episode Preston and Margaret tackle one of the most talked-about topics in mental health today—ADHD. From the historical roots of the diagnosis to the impact of modern social media trends, they explore how our understanding of ADHD has evolved over time. They discuss the challenges of diagnosing ADHD in both children and adults, the role of social media in spreading information (and misinformation), and the real-life impact of the disorder.
Takeaways:
ADHD Has Deep Historical Roots: The first observations of ADHD-like symptoms date back to the 1930s, when stimulants were found to improve focus in children originally treated for other conditions.
Diagnosis Isn’t Always Simple: ADHD symptoms can overlap with anxiety, depression, and other conditions, making proper evaluation and history-taking crucial for an accurate diagnosis.
Social Media: Help or Hinderance? While platforms like TikTok can offer community and validation, they can also contribute to misinformation and oversimplified self-diagnoses.
Early Treatment Matters: Research shows that children who receive appropriate ADHD treatment, including medication, often have better long-term outcomes and lower rates of substance use.
ADHD Is More Than Inattention: The condition impacts executive functioning, emotional regulation, and impulse control, which can affect relationships, careers, and daily life beyond just focusing.
—
Watch on YouTube: @itspresro
Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.
—
Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
Treating Back Pain and Trending on Tik Tok
In this episode Preston and Margaret welcome their first guest, neurosurgeon and content creator Dr. Betsy Grunch (aka Lady Spine Doc), for a deep dive into pain—how we treat it, how we misunderstand it, and how the system often fails those who experience it.
Takeaways:
Pain Is Not Just Physical: Chronic pain isn’t just about physical damage—it involves neurological, psychological, and emotional factors that make treatment complex.
Back Surgery Isn’t Always the Answer: Failed back surgery syndrome is common, often because patients receive the wrong procedure or aren’t properly prepared for surgery.
Empathy Improves Patient Outcomes: Research shows that patients who feel heard and understood by their doctors have better surgical and pain management outcomes.
Social Media Shapes Medical Conversations: Platforms like TikTok have transformed how patients and doctors discuss pain, sometimes for better—but also with risks of misinformation.
Medical Training Can Be Dehumanizing: The culture of surgery often discourages emotional connection, but rediscovering empathy is key to being a great physician.
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Want more Dr. Betsy Grunch:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ladyspinedoc?_t=8rhZfY7LgLe&_r=1
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ladyspinedoc
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ladyspinedoc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyspinedoc
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ladyspinedoc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgrunch
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ladyspinedoc
Watch on YouTube: @itspresro
Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.
—
Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: howtobepatientpod.com
Citations:
Chapters 1.16 and 27.15. Sadock, Benjamin J, et al. Kaplan & Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer, 2025.
Oliveira CB, Maher CG, Pinto RZ, Traeger AC, Lin CC, Chenot JF, van Tulder M, Koes BW. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. Eur Spine J. 2018 Nov;27(11):2791-2803. doi: 10.1007/s00586-018-5673-2. Epub 2018 Jul 3. PMID: 29971708.
Stanford Center for Chronic Pain and American Chronic Pain Association Guide.
https://www.acpanow.com/acpa-stanford-guide.html#/
George SZ, Fritz JM, Silfies SP, Schneider MJ, Beneciuk JM, Lentz TA, Gilliam JR, Hendren S, Norman KS. Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Nov;51(11):CPG1-CPG60. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.0304. PMID: 34719942; PMCID: PMC10508241.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30265840/
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