Update on exercise experiment

At the beginning of the summer, I radically upped my exercise in an experiment to see if I could jump-start my energy. Over time, I have noticed that the more sedentary I am,the more achiness and the lower energy I have. My exercise had fallen off during the previous year, and my gym membership had lapsed, largely due to finances. So, a new gym and a new start.

I am pleased to report I am now regularly exercising for over an hour at least 5 times a week for the past three weeks or so. I started at 30 minutes, with breaks, and have built up time. I keep the pace comfortable. I also check in with my body every 10 minutes or so. Excess pain or energy drain leads me to modify and quit early. I do the elliptical and the exercise bike through the work week, and take a long bike ride every weekend (15 plus miles.)

My energy level has been fairly good, and my endurance has improved greatly. Pain has largely been manageable, and recovery is getting easier. Yes, there is always some pain, but it is momentary or reduced so long as I keep the pace steady and not overly taxing. Afterwards, I deal with stiffness and increased pain but do get an energy high afterwards.

Key to all of this is listening to what your body tells you. On days after I do not sleep well, I have to do less time, or if I feel flare-y,I do not at all.

It sounds backward, I know, but fibro pain is not going to get better by becoming more sedentary. Instead, taking it easy will increase pain, aches, low energy, lack of balance, loss of stamina, etcetera. Exercise is not a magic bullet or a cure, and clearly has to be developed based on level of fitness and age and other maladies. But regular movement will lead to more movement,not less.

Thats good that you have the consistency going with the exercises.

I have always been good at what i call , my floor work. I have back exercises and stretching exercises..

I bought an indoor recumbent bike a while back, when i am really busy with housework or gardening, i skip it... But when i am in a normal routine ..i get back to the bike and trying to work up slowly.

I like the bike, it super comfortable, and increases my leg strength.
I get a bit sore from it, but not pain..so i know its good for me and i will still be able to do it over the winter...

Keep up the good work !

Tango--I was originally at the YMCA, and had been a member since 2008. I was diagnosed in 2004. My preferred exercise is the pool, where I did deepwater aerobics. Challenging finances necessitated a change of gyms--now I am at a Planet Fitness. No pool and no sauna (which I MISS,) but it does have clean facilities and a variety of machines.

Note, I do not do the weight machines. I have tried on several occasions to include these in the workout, but it is just too much intensity, even at a low weight. Now I do cardio only, and monitor by heart rate instead of intensity.

LJM-I also prefer the recumbent bike. I have developed lower back issues (a touch of arthritis--my GI thinks is linked to UC,) and a regular exercise bike really puts a hurt on after too long. When we are trail riding, my philosophy is slow and steady, staying in lower gears. BF rides on and comes back. I also have adjusted bike so I can sit straight and not hunched over. A little soreness is normal, even for 'regular' people. I recently bought a hydration pack specially constructed with lower back support, and then helps so much.

I think that, sometimes, due to fear of a flare, an overly-cautious lifestyle develops. I come at it from an opposite POV. Try things and see what happens. The only way to know is to try. The worst thing that can happen is pain, which I was going to have anyway. Pain management is the best solution to the problem.

Thanks, Debbie! I am nothing if not persistent.

Wow, that's great! Good for you, and very encouraging for us all!

I did a rather long walk yesterday. Felt great, good to be outside. But today, I feel like I am back to zero. Woke up with a horrible headache, legs feel very weak, wobbly. Really don't know what is going on right now. Oh well.

Hope

That's awesome ! I would love to get there too. I've been doing a very gradual increase. I hate going slow but if I push too much I end up flaring up longer.

I've been doing cardio(light jogging) every other day with stretching intervals only at 18 minutes. I can't wait to go longer. I also have SI joint dysfunction and I wonder if that's my big culprit when exercising.