Exercise and Goal Setting

[MoonGal]

@Shaz51, @Former-Member, @Appleblossom, @Mazarita, @CannonSalt

Hey all - I have fallen into a bit of a pit. Back pain is roaring, brain is being unhelpful. Good news is I have lost 2 kg of weight though.

Saw my doc yesterday, in relation to my discovery (from these forums) that back pain is a side effect of a particular medication I am on. That threw me for a loop, I have (i discovered at the docs) been on this med for 13 years, and the onset of back pain co-relates well to the commencement. I will be stopping the med (managed over tme) and then in about 6 weeks will know if the medication is part of the cause for my constant high levels of pain. The doc was most encouraging and interested in helping, a particualarly good doctor I have. (But I do have to wonder how, if this is a common side effect no one 'caught' the fact over the many years I have been seeking treatment and releif from rampant daily back pain - I suspect living with a MI means people do not take self-reporting sysmptoms about physical things as seriously as they do for people who are not presenting with an MI).

As to exercise... I have been walking, a few times, but not daily, I am in a fuzzle of pain and mental jerk abouts. Being photgrpahed out walking has made me want to hide. 😞

I SO wanted to get to the swimming pool this week, but even thinking about it raises my anxiety. So I just need to pull back and settle my head again.

So glad to keep reading about the Yoga, and walks and funtional exercise. It is particualrly helpful to read others have energy slumps and lack motivation some days too - I have a cas eof terminal uniqueness that wouldhave me be the only person int he universe who 'fails'. We all are up and down, its good to see that. (not 'good' as in happy good, good as in iddentifiaction that it is normal to be up and down with motivation and actually doing the plan.

Sorry to hear @Shaz51 that you are coming down with a flu and feeling yuk. Hope you get well soon.

@Former-Member, now you know yoga works for you the $75 a month option sounds doable. Whenever I have signed up for a year though I end up falling off the perch and not using the membership but often the 12 month thing is not breakable, so end up paying 'more' than I use. If you were going 3 times a week definately the way to go though.

[Appleblossom]

We have a fabulous centre called the Body Voice Centre ...  artists, yogis, dancers and drama people do workshops there.

I think the best idea is just to keep active moving and active ... but with rehab issues and back problems ... gently and steady ... dealing with pain drains energy so it makes sense you feel a slump now and then.

There is a concept called ideokinesis which I found interesting.  Sometimes all I can do is dance on my back in bed or play recorder there ... and eventually get up using tummy muscles ... of course.

Good Job re the 2 kg. 

Cheers @MoonGal

[MoonGal]

@Appleblossom, thanks! I just looked up ideokenisis - had never heard of it. It has given me an idea for how to 'do' some exercise when I am feeling down. I haven;t danced in years - but used to love it. I Love classical music and often play Vivaldi - so, maybe I could put the music on and (gently bentley!) dance while doing other things around the house. No one here to see me looking like a hippo-in-a-tutu.
Music lifts my spirits too - so I must get some on.

[Mazarita]

Good morning all,

@MoonGal, glad to hear fast action is being taken on your concerns about the possible back pain side effect of one of your long term medications. Great to hear that you have been out walking a few times, possibly more than you were doing before starting up this thread? Every extra step is worth celebrating I think. Oh yes, the ups and downs, this thread is helping me accept them better too.

@Appleblossom, the Body Voice Centre sounds fantastic. What you said reminds me of the impromptu stretching I often do in an 'improvisional' kind of way: in a doorframe with arms stretched above my head, 'wriggling' stretches on the bed, sitting in a chair with a 'roller' going back and forth under my calf muscles, moving gently around to music, and more. As you suggest, not everything has to be about rigid structures of movement. Sometimes just doing what feels right in the body at the time may be the best we can do. All better than nothing, I agree, and this kind of exercise may even have benefits beyond the routine variety as it is responding directly to the body's own impulses.

Quite exhausted and still headachey today after big, hot day out yesterday so taking it easy with just some light housework and maybe some impromptu stretching until appointment after lunch with support worker.

Hope everyone has some good stuff happen today. 

[Former-Member]

Hi all...

Great news re losing 2kg @MoonGal... I can understand you not wanting to exercise if someone is photographing you ~ is it possible they were photographing something else ~ nature shot perhaps? I agree with you re the physical ailments not being taken seriously if you have a MI. Although my current psychiatrist is different & thinks I should see a neurologist about my headaches (I may do this once I reach the Medicare levy) plus got me to have a blood test to see if I have diabetes (unlikely as I eat a low fat vegan diet & my bmi is in the low healthy range) due to my frustrations with excessive thirst & overactive bladder (it is listed on some drug information sites as a possible side effect of the antipsychotic I take). Anyhow, I hope the back pain subsides & the withdrawals from the medication are not too difficult. Well done re still getting some walks in despite everything. Re the 12 month yoga plan ~ I have been going twice a week for 4 months now (only a few weeks only once, one week x 3) & I have had gym memberships in the past ~ sometimes I have made good use of them & sometimes I have not ~ I feel I can make good use of this membership ~ I feel motivated & yoga is much more enjoyable to me than going to the gym ~ I especially don't like the dreadmill (treadmill), although used it regularly late 2012 to mid 2013 to get back into running ~ in saying that I will see how I go when I reduce the antipsychotic on Monday ~ I think I have about 4 sessions left on my current pass ~ thank you for your concern ~ it is a very valid point to consider!

I'm planning a swim this afternoon...

Sorry to hear you have the flu @Shaz51...

Namaste,

A

[NikNik]

Hi @Former-Member

So lovely to hear from you 🙂

I did go to yoga last Saturday (didn't even mind getting up at 7am!) and my netball season starts tonight. I'm pretty happy that it's a good mixture of cardio, strength and flexibility - not to mention the lovely meditation you get at the end of the yoga session.

I also went for a quick walk after work yesterday. It was good to clear the head! I usually do this by watching TV or doing something on my ipad - so going for a walk was a better solution 🙂

It was great to read that yoga was helpful. I know we can often fall out of routines when we're feeling low, so it's great that you went to yoga!

Look forward to seeing how everyone else is going & @Shaz51 , I hope you're feeling better!

[Shaz51]

hi ,

Great news re losing 2kg @MoonGal

Ye @MoonGal, I could not remember if you stave a flu and feed a cold or is it the other way round

yes , my hubby went and mowed by himself today, I had a sleep , hubby`s is having a sleep now

we had a big thunder storm at lunchtime  but no rain today

[Shaz51]

~ I feel motivated & yoga is much more enjoyable to me than going to the gym-- this is great to hear @Former-Member

yes , I hope i get better soon

[Former-Member]

Hi @NikNik...

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yoga! Partners in Recovery may help me purchase a 6 month membership - a surprise! I hope it works out!! *fingers crossed* I was talking to my case manager today, as she is going to meet with me on Monday & help me with the daunting task of filling in housing commission forms.

Netball!! Exciting!! I played in high school & at university with housemates in 2009. I enjoy WA or WD.

Well I sound upbeat, but I'm in a motivational slump. My partner asked me at about 3:45 if I was going to go for a swim ~ I groaned & said ~ I don't know. He got dressed in work clothes & went to do something around the farm.... Anyhow, I gained a bit of motivation a little while a go, but I don't know where on the farm he has gone. I guess if I was more motivated I would of looked harder... It is too late now. The pool closes in less than an hour and it takes about 25 minutes to get there. Hopefully I'll stop beating myself up about it soon... I just feel low, depressed...

Anyhow....

Namaste,

A

[MoonGal]

@Former-Member, sorry to hear you are feeling low/depressed, it's great that you picked up a bit enough to want to go swimming, even if circumstances meant you couldn't go. I have been low too - but did manage to get up and get some clothes on and walk 1.2 km's with my doggit today even thought i really didn't 'want' to. I did it. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.