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We have known this for some time but triggering neurogenesis is the hard part
mushrooms plus a hike is pretty good
It's really quite fascinating the progress happening in science with regards to furthering our understanding of neuroplasticity & neurogenesis these days, and how even the psychedelic drugs impact that.
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I kind of wonder if it would be worth it to give people opiates to exercise. As exercise clearly has numerous benefits, but for many (myself included), it is a miserable thing to do.
As a guess: Massage and salt water baths might help.

Exercise helps the body take out the trash. Massage and salt water baths can also promote that process.

Or just start really, really slow and gentle and track your progress?

People seem to want obvious stuff to happen proving it helps. We tend to be oblivious to "I can walk a little further this week than last week."

I was bedridden for some months and just worked at doing "more" than I used to do and joked about my "get out of bed more often fitness program." Over time -- a looong time -- I slowly regained function.

But a lot of people just don't feel like it matters if they didn't run five miles or lose ten pounds. So track it and over time you may find it makes a difference.

People definitely use small servings of alcohol or cannabis to alleviate the boredom of endurance exercise. I'd be reluctant to do so with opiates or anti-inflammatories because they can mask pain in a way that leads to injury.
Alcohol? F no. For any strenuous exercise such as biking or running, it's going to destroy your performance and make you feel like shit.

Weed has bronchodilator properties which can help in certain cases, but I'd advise against inhaling fumes from burning before exercise.

If a small amount can get somebody out the door and doing the exercise, then on the balance, it's better than sitting on one's couch and using a larger amount.

Also, one can take a non-strenuous approach to both running and biking. People who need to be inebriated to maintain motivation aren't going to be out there doing interval training.

The choice is clearly not between no alcohol-no exercise and alcohol-exercise. Alcohol is one of the worst things you can do to your health.
I mean, I don't even drink. But drinking a beer before going out for a run is better than staying home and having six, right? You're talking about a spherical runner in a vacuum, I'm talking about the actual decisions made by friends of mine.
It's better... in the same way that it's better to lose half of your life savings in a casino than losing it all. If I were to bet, most runners don't drink booze before a run.
You're really trying to win a one-sided argument, and completely missing the point. Enjoy your run today.
I'm trying to communicate to you that drinking alcohol before exercise is irrational behaviour and doesn't deserve the effort you put into defending it.
Did you have a nice run?
Opiates tend to make people very sedentary. Also, once you get into the habit of exercising you will not want to stop. In terms of mood, there will be days where your workout will be the highlight of your day.
I read a book called spark by John r. Ratey. Changed my perspective a lot, some of the newer research and school programs happening from the research is promising.

My biggest take away is that the brain is not wired primarily for thinking, but for moving it changed my perspective. Along with some new research about how the heart produces certain hormones that only happens under stress e.g 75% heart rate for an extended duration.

As someone who's been around a lot of people suffering with mental health and at times myself I notice movement really gets things back on track.

Need to package the beneficial hormones into a pill.
Obesity? -> Pill

Sedentary life? -> Pill

Can't sleep? -> Pill

... no.

You can't replace the vascular, lymphatic/glymphatic cleanups that come from locomotion.