Lena Dunham Talks About Making Running ''Sexy'' and Why Working Out Is More Important to Her Than Ever Before

Actress recently posted an Instagram about her love of running

By Lily Harrison Sep 22, 2015 12:47 AMTags
Lena DunhamRon Asadorian / Splash News

Lena Dunham is a changed woman.

The Girls star opened up to ESPN about how running has transformed her relationship with her body, and how working out consistently has improved both her physical and mental health.

"I have never been a physically engaged person. Like, I was not an athletic kid. I was the kid who came up with a thousand excuses not to take a gym class. Even now, if I could, I would do all my work from bed," she joked.

"My boyfriend [Jack Antonoff] always says that I'm the most mentally energetic, physically lazy person he's ever met. And it's true."

Dunham admits she was hesitant, to say the least, at first of learning how to run properly.

"I started from a place of, 'I'm so annoyed I have to do this.' It was the last thing I wanted to do. When it became something that actually gave me pleasure, I was shocked."

She added, "Endorphins are real. You run with someone for an hour, you feel pretty good. Running for an hour does not make you feel worse. I feel so much stronger and more capable than before."

But the Emmy winner also wants her fans to know that she doesn't take her newfound workout confidence for granted.

Watch: Gwyneth Paltrow Guest Starring on "Girls"?

"My relationship with my body is constantly evolving. I'm going to be 30 next year. I had to learn, as you age, you have to move. You have to move so you don't die. You have to move so your brain doesn't atrophy. You have to move so that you look a little bit like a person that you might want to be," she shared.

"There are a thousand reasons why exercise is important, and I've had to find ways to make it sexy for myself."