Weekly challenge: get moving on those low-energy days

By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff

When you’re feeling low-energy, tired, or stressed out, exercise is often the last thing you want to do, but guess what? It’s probably one of the healthiest ways of boosting your energy and lifting you out of the doldrums.

Research suggests sweating for 30 minutes of more induces a rise in “soothing” brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that helps reduce stress and increase your energy.

And exercise is also an effective antidepressant: Those who worked out at least 30 minutes three times a week were able to reduce symptoms of depression about as effectively as medication, according to a study from the Cooper Institute.

Not convinced? Take five minutes right now to get your heartbeat up: march in place, take a brisk walk around your office, or do some “flying crescent lunges” from the creator of the P90X home exercise program.

To do the flying crescent lunges, stand straight and step your left foot back, dropping into a lunge position; keep your front right knee over your ankle. Pushing off with both feet, jump straight up into the air, switching your foot position as you leap so you land back in a lunge position with right foot back. Repeat 12 to 25 times. Feeling better yet?