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Increasing stamina

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 3/23/2017 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like there is only a certain amount of activities i can do in a day..

Somewhat, it is pacing my day so i do not get overtired..p

But other than the obvious , move more.

Any tips or ideas...i want to increase both stamina and strength..
Posted 3/24/2017 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
My stamina is pretty decent. I do have days that are better than others when it comes to stamina. It's weird. The days I do more, I have more energy and I feel buoyant with joy at the fact I am accomplishing things I wanted to do! I guess it works like it did for me when I started out walking. I could only walk a few minutes and had to turn around if I wanted to make it back home. But I didn't quit or tell myself that's all the distance I ever could walk. Instead I walked a little more each day and actually was amazed I could walk as far as I did...and do.

So I guess I've been doing the same thing that has helped build my stamina. Of course this too adds strength. I'm not really strong anymore though. I used to move my piano all by myself to clean behind it during spring cleaning but now, just picking up the bench is heavy for me. This is because when I had my ostomy surgery I developed a hernia and I'm not to lift anything over 20 pounds. I've obeyed this for years and have lost my strength because of it. The old say if you don't use it you lose it is very true.

Also remember that sitting too long does make you weaker and I think more tired too! At least it does this to me. I do sit but I'm up and down all day long doing various things.

But try to do a little more each day. If it affects you negatively of course back down and try again in a few days. As I said before, some days are better than others for me but perhaps you are limiting yourself a little bit out of fear of a flare. And do rest between projects. I do that and sometimes I feel "that's it" for the day. I do think you just might be amazed, too, as to what you can do plus you are building up strength and stamina in the process. Before you know it, you will start to notice that you really do have more strength and stamina.

Sherrine
Posted 3/24/2017 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

Like most of us with fibromyalgia, i have days i feel stronger and can work harder...then i have days i just feel weak and putter around

Overall i feel like i need to need to push to do more , because i know these bodies need to move..

I think some of it has been our rollercoaster weather here in the east

We go back and forth and for me thats very hard ..

I lost my step counter, which i liked , it just encouraged me to take more steps each day..i kept thinking it would turn back up, but i will order another...i am also riding an indoor bike on alternating days.

Just feel like my muscles are weaker..i read someone say..you can have painful muscles that are toned or painful muscles that are weak..that really hit home with me so want to gradually increase muscle strength.

I think we can do that even when we are older. Some days i feel like i am making progress, other not so much...so we will see
Posted 3/24/2017 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Lj, it sounds like you are doing everything right! We aren't going to have the stamina we had years ago because of chronic pain, fatigue, plus aging! It sounds like you are doing wonderfully well.

The bottom line is to do the very best of your ability. You can't ask yourself to do more than that.

Sherrine
Posted 3/29/2017 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately that's the nature of fibromyalgia. Good days and bad days. I walk with a friend and I have to sit every once in awhile but I only get in about 2,000 steps a day -- but I persist. I'm on a variety of meds and it could also be one of those holding me back. BP meds are designed to not let your heart rate go way up and when you exercise your heart rate wants to go up.

My daughter is having a baby and I would love to go help her but I can't. My balance and stamina aren't great.

My advice is to do what you can and go easy on yourself.

Barb
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