Fitness/Self Care Check In

that sounds fun and positive

i hope you enjoy yourself

It was fun, thanks!

Finally got in my workout. Would've been yesterday, but my sleep is stupidly bad, now, and I didn't wanna make myself ill. Thank God I managed today's.

Worked on my German a little. Took a lil test online for A1 German (a copy of an old apparently official one) and got 10/15 which is a pass, for German listening skills, so that's kinda neat. Took out some dishes I had stored in my room, took out the bins, did some tidying.. nothing much, but I've kinda let these things slide and I dunno what prompted my current struggles - I was doing so well.

Did yoga, but stayed around home tidying up outside, so no bike ride, though did some maintenance on bike. Result, feel a bit lethargic. Getting used to being out every day. Must do some miles tomorrow. The bike is freedom, especially if you can escape the worst of the traffic.

Have made it through 1 week of eating healthier so far It helps that I'm busy with college

Had to really force myself to go out and do Day 3 of my couch to 5k this morning. Not because of the cold, but because I just wasn't really in the mood. Feeling a little more depressed today, and felt that way yesterday too.

As usual, am really glad that I did it. Really want to be able to do the April relay race, and maybe another 5k (or more?) this summer, so that's a big motivation.

Thank God for nature. (God IS nature).

I try to live as quietly as possible, causing no trouble. I try to have a philosophical approach to life's inevitable shxt. But sometimes I feel there is a rule that l must not be left in peace.

This is the fag end of the year. Get through it. But, like Hamlet, what is the right move? Fight your corner, or just accept life's crap. I don't want these problems. Duck.

New day tomorrow.

Training rest day today, which is a good thing since I'm sore. I'm pretty sure I posted on here about my history (long ago) of fibromyalgia. Today my arms (biceps) are sore again too even though I didn't work my arms yesterday. Could be a mild fibro flare. Nothing too bad though. Just hope that increasing my distance/time running tomorrow works out ok. I can handle a mild fibro flare. Just don't want one that knocks me on my *****.

I went out for a 30-40 minute jog, yesterday, which wrecked me, but feels like an enormous accomplishment, especially given I have social anxiety. As for today, I've just finished a 16 or so minute biking interval training session. I'm knackered, but it went a LOT better than the last time I tried it at that intensity. (max difficulty, sprinting speed going all out, the rest phase being a full stop) I've definitely lost any weight (about 2-3lbs maybe) I gained during Xmas and my lil injury.

I got my hair cut today (it had been a few years) and also got my teeth cleaned and examined (also a few years).

Nice. It has been a LONG time since I've seen the dentist. x_x Really need to, but... anxiety, and TBH, I don't really know how the hell to go about it. I've asked for my dad's help a few times, but I got nowhere.

Frustrated because what I think is a mild fibromyalgia flare (biceps and legs hurt) continues today. I think it's probably from doing Day 3 of Week 1 of my couch to 5 k running app. Very frustrating. I guess I have no choice but to make it a rest day and hope I can get out there tomorrow.

In terms of self care, well, my therapist thinks my horseback riding lessons are really important to my mental health (sorry if I'm repeating myself, but the ECT has affected my memory). I have a trust that pays for health expenses, and my therapist wrote a letter to my trustee asking that my lessons be paid for because they're so important. (Otherwise, with my current income, I wouldn't be able to afford them.) My trustee said yes, so maybe even one day this week I can have a lesson. Yippee!

That's all very positive. These things are so important to get sorted when you want to get on with life. Barriers overcome. Good work.

Next, join the rest of us with a bit of fitness? Its an option!

For myself, decided to go on a diet to get myself in shape. I'm doing yoga and exercising, and being the right weight is the thing that will bring it all together. Need to lose about a stone, (14 lbs) Take it easy. Aim to get there for the spring. Nothing drastic, but just cutting back.

Also decided to take on the council with their latest hairbrained scheme. Don't really want to expend valuable time and energy doing this, but don't want to be a passive fool either. Stand up for your rights. People went through a lot to get them. Would just rather be doing other stuff.

In fact, would rather be doing frigging ANYTHING!!!

think i'm not consuming the correct ratio of protein? i've always kept it at 0.8g/1lb. but I think I should be upping it a bit more, I notice my muscles recover quicker when I up the ratio to 0.9g or 1g. so thats my plan for things to try next. I also think I need to be doing more cardio, still working on that, considering a running machine. I would like to actually run on the roads but with social anxiety I am a bit hesitant with this. gonna pick up some running shoes. took this quiz thing;
Shoe Advisor | Runner's World & Running Times

from that i've found out I am somewhere between flat and medium arch, motion mechanics? not sure on that. but I am pretty sure I am a forefoot strike. I never knew getting running trainers was so complicated! fortunately the sports store near to me has a sale on and have absolutely loads.

Argos half price running machines in sale.

I don't work for them, honest!

Despite a little bit of lingering soreness, I did Day 1 of Week 2 of my couch to 5k program this morning. Experiencing a little more pain in the legs now. I'm told that you're sore first starting out/for the first 2 miles so trying to bear that in mind and tough it out.

In terms of other self care, have my T appointment today. It's sorely needed, as I need to talk about the limitations I'm experience with fibromyalgia rearing its ugly head again and some other frustrating things going on.

Damn fine 35 minute workout. Bit of bike and plenty of weights. Rawrgh. Still got sore shins. x_x I miss jogging. You're not the only one with leg pain, newgal2! xD We can wollow in our leg pain. I've got aches in my calves, glutes, quads, thighs, and pain in my shins.

I think I'll start with 1 jogging day a week, for a while, because I can't keep getting this shin splints thing all the time... incidentally, it's not shin plints, at least very likely not... it's a misnomer... there's two fancy names for it... anterior something and another terior. xD They can lead to stress fractures, so I need to be careful... hope I don't have that. x_x

Your leg pain is from biking? I'm kind of used to leg pain, since I started jogging a couple of months ago. I think it's an age thing for me. Never used to get so sore when I was in my 20s and 30s.

Very sore after continuing with the couch to 5k program yesterday. I think I was still at the tail end of a fibromyalgia flare and should have just gone walking. Part of me knew that but I went anyway, so it's my own fault for not listening to my body. Now the flare is worse.

My therapy appointment went well yesterday. She said I really need to accept myself for where I'm at on any given day and not always expect to achieve a grade of "A" all day long, every day. So just trying to be more gentle with myself today.

Hi newgal,

You make the essential point of being gentle with yourself.

The important thing is to deal with the situation without judging yourself.

I do this myself. "You've been doing yoga so long, you should be better! Stretch deeper. Be more dedicated."

But I have learned that the most important thing is just to keep at it. I'm not going to break any records. But, I'm going to keep going. We do what we do. We all climb our own mountains. And beyond that, I don't really care anymore.

But actually, I'm doing BRILLIANT!!! Puff puff. And next year I'll be doing better, instead of doing worse!

Took a day off of studying for self care since I've been working hard, back to it tomorrow

I have 2lb, 3lb, and 5lb weights. I'm looking for an exercise routine that I can do indoors with those, until I get my treadmill.

I've finally come to terms with the fact that, because my fibromyalgia has been acting up lately, I may not be able to continue with this couch-to-5k program, as much as I want to and it seems relatively easy to me so far. I decided that when this flare is over with, hopefully by Sunday a.m., I will try Day 1 of Week 1 again. If I get in a flare, I believe I will throw in the running towel.

If that happens, I will try riding the stationary bike and see if that works. Of course, I'll continue walking the dogs regardless.

In terms of other self care, going to an AA meeting. Was invited to have lunch with some friends afterward but just not in the mood.

A bit, mainly jogging outside, but the achey, muscular stuff, which I don't tend to refer to as pain, is also from the bike, as I did a high-intensity interval-style workout on the hardest setting. (going all out for 30 seconds, having 30 seconds rest, and repeat.. that kinda thing) Was only 16 or so minutes, but I sure felt it.

I'm not in the best cardiovascular health, but I'm working on it. I wanna go for another sesh today, but I had a crap sleep and so don't wanna make myself ill. x_x

Hopefully I'll get a decent night's sleep so I can workout tomorrow, hopefully even go out for a jog, if my shins are up to it. I think another thing is that I just need time and practice to get the right form; it's really important.

I take it the weights are low because you intend to use them for exercises in whcih you move a lot, such as jogging? If not, I would up the weight, because that's not gonna do a great deal, although I suppose it could come in use for your shoulders. Forward and side arm raises are brilliant for the shoulders.

Remember, muscle gain means body-fat loss and better long-term assurance for keeping the body-fat lost. (burns more calories because there's more muscle being used.. like how a big car needs more fuel to run) You don't have to get huge, ... you'd apparently need a load of testosterone for that anyway.

A 5KG and 7KG dumbbell would probably be ideal to start with, for working the biceps, triceps, shoulders, and what-not. (perhaps your 5lb db for these shoulder exercises, to start with)

If what you have is basically it, then here's some exercises I'd recommend:

Jumping jacks. Jogging on the spot. Pushups, squats, bicep curls, tricep dips, situps, crunches, ... there are many. Will all help to get that "toned" look and the bit of muscle you'll gain will help in the long run, as it has with me. Just keep a watch of your body, and if you find you've put on enough muscle, then ease off, maybe lower the weight a bit, (blasphomy! xD) and focus on cardio. I'm not too familiar with the idea of not wanting to gain muscle, so... erm... do some research with women in mind to get more specific advice.

If you really are against growing muscle, for whatever reason, then just focus on cardio exercises, so, swimming, cycling, walking, jogging, running, etc. I'm guessing this isn't the case, since you have those weights.

Completely lost my trail of thought, as all this talking about exercise gave me the "itch" so I went and worked out for a while. xD Felt GOOD! Rargh. So, I probably said waaaaay too much, but too much information never hurt anybody.

I took a walk today, first in about a week. It's very snowy and icy here so my 1.25 mile walk took about as long as going 3 miles. It felt like walking on a sandy beach, so hopefully it was a good workout.