EP. 10: Why Exercise is Important for the ADHD Brain ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

We all know that exercise is good for us – but can exercise be used as medicine? You’ll love to hear about Tracy’s fitness routine and how she incorporates it into her day. What we often don’t think of is how exercise helps with focus, anxiety, mood, etc. It’s not just for looking great! Today, we are going to learn how exercise can help us feel better and start the day off right.  Why does exercise make us feel better?  Hear how Tracy speaks to the connection between exercise and psychological help from a medical standpoint.  Tracy shares the issues with our culture – sitting for long periods of time, eating crap, and how the first line of defense for mental health issues seems to be medication. Hear how exercise may benefit our mental health. The connections may surprise you!  How does exercise help your brain? Tracy shares some fascinating facts you won’t want to miss.  Tracy has made some great strides in her exercise over the years – but hear how her motivation changed from looking good to feeling good.  Could exercise work better than medication for those with ADHD? Hear Tracy’s scientific explanation.  How does exercise improve our ability to learn? Listen as Tracy uses a scientific study to show how extreme the results can truly be. You definitely won’t want to miss this.  Hear how exercise primes the brain for learning and changes the brain’s neurotransmitters, protein growth, and neurogenesis. Hear how you can continue to grow your brain, all throughout your life.  Should individuals with ADHD become karate masters? Learn how structured activities, such as martial arts, ballet, etc. help those with ADHD tap into their deep focus.  Could exercise decrease the need for medication or get rid of the need all together? Hear the science behind it all as Tracy explains how the chemistry in the brain can vastly change with exercise.  Is exercise timing important? Hear Tracy’s discovery in her personal life, and through scientific research.  Listen as Tracy explains the importance of nature, sleep, exercise, and balancing them all together.  Can you even learn while you exercise? If you’re listening to this podcast in the gym, you may already be there!  Tracy shares how nicotine can help us focus – but since it is very commonly known to be bad for us – Tracy shares how we can cut out nicotine, improve our focus, and live our best life for a long, long time.          Today, I’m promoting my son Marcus, an NYU graduate, skilled in digital advertising and tech marketing. He's planning a solo trip to South America and seeking job opportunities in New York City. Known for his resilience and research abilities, Marcus is ready to contribute to any team. If you have leads, please reach out. Thanks for supporting this unique request. Now, back to our show.
Hi there, Tracy here. There are many misconceptions about ADHD, particularly that it equates to laziness or lack of motivation. In "ADHD for Smart Ass Women," I offer strategies tailored for ADHD minds to help leverage strengths and overcome challenges. Support the community by purchasing the book and sharing a review, helping spread crucial information and empower others.