Fitness/Self Care Check In

Oh dear........a 10 minute walk to the bus stop
An afternoon nap for self care although I'm having trouble getting off to sleep now.

I took a much needed nap.

Today, I did some walking today with my boyfriend! We have done it before, but never kept at it because he and his mom moved last year. Hopefully, I will be able to keep at it and use my free time walking before going to work.

Good job, ladytiger ! Keep up the good work !

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;.

Or close the wall up with our English dead.

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man.

As modest stillness and humility:.

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,.

Then imitate the action of the tiger;.

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,.

Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;.

Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;.

Let pry through the portage of the head.

Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it.

As fearfully as doth a galled rock.

O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,.

Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.

Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,.

Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit.

To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.

Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!.

Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,.

Have in these parts from morn till even fought.

And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:.

Dishonour not your mothers; now attest.

That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.

Be copy now to men of grosser blood,.

And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,.

Whose limbs were made in England, show us here.

The mettle of your pasture; let us swear.

That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;.

For there is none of you so mean and base,.

That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,.

Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:.

Follow your spirit, and upon this charge.

Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!

Time to get up!

If you have health anxiety, this may be triggering.

As some of you know, I've been out of action for a while due to some sort of injury, ... at least I presumed it was an injury, but it turns out it might be something else... it's groin and leg related. ¬_¬ NOT PLEASENT. Just had an exam (invasive... EEEEW!!!) and so far so good, but having an ultrasound done on my boys to make sure everything is OK.

But, the good news, is the doctor said I can get back to exercising and didn't seem too worried, ... 'though I can't say I'm convinced, I will get back to it, because GOD how I miss those weights. x_x Oh, and I've taken to jogging/running some of the way when I go visit my parents 15 minutse away, so the more I'm doing that, the more into it I'm getting. It feels amazing to run.

Also, I got a weighted vest (10KG) for Xmas, so I'm really looking forward to doing some chinups, situps, pushups, etc, with some extra weight! RAWRGH!

Sorry if that was TMI.

I just noticed this thread today. In my 20s and 30s I was in great running shape - - able to run 6-7 miles at a fast pace. Now, at age 49, I want to get into running again, partly to combat my persistent bipolar depression (now mild due to ECT). I started about a month ago doing the walk/run method for about a mile 3x per week. Just yesterday I registered for a relay race that takes place 4/25 and has a minimum leg of 3.4 miles. I really need to work my way up to 4 miles or so over the next 4 months to prepare.

This morning I was going to run as far as I could but it's about -15 with the windchill where I live so I decided to take the day off. Tomorrow for sure because it's not supposed to be as cold.

Self care for me involves better eating, as I used to be anorexic and still have food/body image issues. Today so far I've had a bowl of cereal and plan to cook spaghetti for dinner.

So good to see you on this thread again. Thanks for letting us know how it's going. It wasn't too much info for me. You explained it well. Sending good wishes.

Well, that's good news. Apparently, according to an article here on PC, yoga provides all the benefits of aerobic workouts.

There has been some debate in this matter, and I do both kinds of 'workout' to keep the bases covered. Just good to know that yoga is providing more benefit than I supposed. Will definitely not be giving up the bike anytime soon!

Also, this year I am going to try everything to change my sleeping patterns for the better. When I used to drink excessively, this was no problem. Get drunk. Collapse in heap. Wake much later with hangover. Now, I'm constantly waking in the hours of doom, 3, 4, 5, and falling asleep when I should be stirring, and waking up later than i want to, feeling groggy. One thing is, I really enjoy napping in the late afternoon. If I'm a bit tired, just to nod off is just the thing, apart from that I'm sure that it prevents me sleeping properly later on. Realistically, is a regular 8hrs too much to expect? So, change #1. No napping!

I never nap! Screws with my ability to sleep properly later, and it just makes me feel horrible as I have to get woken up earlier than I'd probably like, not to mention make myself sleep when I'm not really tired. I've never been a napper. xD

This morning I jogged a mile and literally only walked for about a minute in the middle of it. I went with our golden retriever Belle. It was lightly snowing out so it was cool. My right leg started hurting but that's what happens when you're 49 I guess lol. Tomorrow I will do the same thing to get my 3x/week in.

I'm sure if my life depended on it I could jog a mile. I go pretty slowly at this point but I get it done. I will work my way up to a mile with no break soon. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to do 3.4 miles by 4/25. I think this is very do-able if I just put some effort into it!

I'm sure if my life depended on it I could jog a mile. I go pretty slowly at this point but I get it done. I will work my way up to a mile with no break soon. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to do 3.4 miles by 4/25. I think this is very do-able if I just put some effort into it![/QUOTE]
Good work. Just take it easy. Think long term.

Good work. Just take it easy. Think long term.[/QUOTE]

Wow, am I really getting sore already just from increasing my mileage a little bit today from what I've been used to! As I've said before (I think), I'm really feeling my age big time as I try to get in shape!

Hi newgal,

I'm really into yoga, so you can think I'm a bit biased, but stretching those big muscles for a few minutes both before and after your workout is essential. That's why the professionals do it, every day, before they stress themselves. It ain't time wasted. Stretched muscles work better, and don't hurt! Sorry for nagging.
And... Becomes more important as one 'grows to maturity'! Speaking from experience.
In fact, I would say that getting this right, care of flexibility and mobility of joints, should be your primary concern, more than mileage. This will grow naturally. Just keeping injury free. Get that right. Run for ever!

Thanks Tony. I've been stretching a little before jogging. I will stretch afterward now too. Thanks again.

I'm going to begin eating healthier starting tomorrow, and use a journal to record what I eat and exercise

No jogging for me today as originally planned because my middle-aged legs are pretty sore from increasing my mileage yesterday! I will take the dogs for a walk a little later after it warms up though for a bit of exercise for all of us.

Also seeing my therapist today. She told me last time to keep my dreams in mind for us to talk about. Sorry, but I really don't believe in that dream interpretation stuff. I don't remember my dreams anyway. She also wanted me to think back to what I was afraid of in childhood. I only remember one thing, and I honestly don't see how that one thing could be affecting my life today. I will try to keep an open mind about it though I guess.

I found a cool app that I use on my tablet to track healthy habits. Eating vegetables is getting easier and easier. My clothes are fitting looser!

I'm struggling to get back on the metaphorical horse. x_x I still feel that urge to do that stuff and what-not, just need to push myself to actually do it. I do still run and/or jog now and again if nobody's around. Like today, saw my dad in the car on the way to his, so I decided to screw with his head and sprinted to his house, so when he got back, he'd be like "How did you get here so quickly?" xD Unfortunately, he was on to me the minute he went through the door. ¬_¬

So I made it through 1 day of eating healthier, I'm very proud of myself. Usually getting started is what's difficult for me, getting over that initial period of not giving into whatever cravings I have, eating in moderation.

Well done, Blue. Xmas has kinda screwed my healthy eating a bit... ¬_¬ All the chocolate and stuff... people got much so much. x_x I'm still trying to eat the odd healthy thing so at least there's maybe some sort of balance, even it's slightly tipped in the favor of crap food. I feel a bit angry at people, though... like, people know I'm trying to lose weight and am into fitness and all that... yet they get me tons of crap that's clearly bad for you? 'o.O Why?! Just because something tastes nice and all that doesn't mean it's worth eating. But if something like that is mine and there... then I just don't have the willpower not to eat it, and there's two reasons: 1, it tastes amazing and is "easy", and 2, very specifically 2, is that it would be a huge waste not to eat it, and I would feel guilty as heck just chucking it.

Doesn't XMas mess with all our routines

It's no big deal, pal. A couple of weeks, and we'll have burned off all the excess XMas adipose tissue.

No need to feel guilty ! It'll be gone in no time.

I'm with you there. The midwinter lethargy creeps in. I've just been keeping my routines going, but definitely not in the best shape. Also, the flu knocked it out of me. Ended up pushing my bike up 'The Big Hill', and that hasn't happened before.

But, at least I'm showing effort. Should be easy to re-establish healthy living now the festive season is over, with all its temptations.

Also, making plans for a long distance hike in June, so I want to be really up for that. Something to motivate myself for.

We have my side of the family's holiday gathering today so one last pig out. Kind of bummed out that my legs are still way too sore (2 days later) after my increase in jogging mileage the other day to go this morning as planned. Hopefully tomorrow. It'll be a bit of a challenge because we're supposed to get snow tonight and it takes them a while to get to plowing the streets around where I live, but that makes it more fun/challenging.

Oh dear. I'm' here with exercise thoughts not so much action. Thinking about enrolling in a weekly swimming class at local pool. Tomorrow is enrolment day.
Sleep care - sleeping in today on Sunday.