FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#1
Physical activity used to be hugely important to me. It raised my energy level enough to cope with some horrible life circumstances. Then I seemed to have a few years of intermittent injuries or illnesses.
Now I have the fantasy that I'm still fit, but I'm actually not. I would like some support for enjoying physical activity again. I'm not really sure what I'm able to do: body and energy level certainly declining. I would like to find something to do because I love being in my body... So far this year I signed up for two classes - badminton and flow yoga - then found that one takes place on a night that I have a commitment and the other is freaking impossible to get to without your own transport. I know I can do this. I do exercises most days. More energetic stuff I need to build up and be sensitive to my limitations. There is some sort of inner conflict involved, as in "I want to be loved for myself, not just because I'm energetic and slim". "I'm tired of doing what is good for me". I do love to dance, but it's ages since I found a peer group that dances informally - so that is another missing pleasure. Hope it would be ok to use this thread occasionally as a check-in with anyone else participating who feels moved to do so? Saidso |
Reply With Quote |
Skeezyks, Travelinglady, unaluna
|
Disreputable Old Troll
Member Since Oct 2015
Location: The Star of the North
Posts: 32,762
(SuperPoster!)
8 17.4k hugs
given |
#2
I've never been much into exercise or any kind of sports. I've also struggled with a bad low back since I was a young adult. Over the years, I learned some physical therapy exercises for my low back. I've also done yoga as well as some simple Tai Chi. But every time I would get a good routine going, I'd re-injure my back (either doing my exercises or doing yard work or home maintenance projects.) And by the time it would heal I'd have lost the motivation to continue on.
The best thing I did for my low back problems though was simply to walk. And that's what I still do. We have a small dog. But we don't have a yard. So he goes for long walks a couple of times a day regardless of the weather. Our doggie is getting older now & I don't know how much longer we'll have him. (Hopefully a long time yet.) However, once he's gone (assuming I'm still among the living) I may try to fire my old yoga practice back up. I'm a reclusive old geezer. So I have no interest in classes. __________________ "I may be older but I am not wise / I'm still a child's grown-up disguise / and I never can tell you what you want to know / You will find out as you go." (from: "A Nightengale's Lullaby" - Julie Last) |
Reply With Quote |
saidso
|
saidso
|
Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Sep 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 48,148
(SuperPoster!)
13 22.9k hugs
given |
#3
Hi, saidso. Sure, this thread is a great idea! I can't run or even walk very well right now because of a bum knee. The doc says a knee replacement is in my future. But I try to walk some anyway.
Dancing sounds like fun. |
Reply With Quote |
saidso
|
saidso
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#4
Thank you both very much for your replies. I actually went backward (!!!) after posting this because I found an excuse to only do one third of my exercises. I'm decorating the house so there is always some wonderful hole waiting to be filled so that I can paint over it next morning.
But really, exercising every day is a "rule" just like tooth brushing. Not just a rule, for me it's about choosing to take time for myself even when I'm angry, or miserable about something. As I get older, I figure that these good or bad choices affect other people around me for better or worse also. So I am very thankful for your attention and contributions !!! |
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#5
Hi Travelling Lady,
I managed a full day of decorating and later exercises and I think with your encouragement I might put on some music and dance for five mins. Will you join me? Sorry if you don't like my new avator. I was looking for something dancing but they all looked daft, so I got a Chinese new year lion dance mask. Not perfectly what I wanted but just for now. I see people getting older around me, and I am lucky to have energy and fitness if I take care of myself. Need that energy to fight for a better life plus as people around me get this and that I need the energy to stay with them but not get sucked in. I was with some kids last month in a big room and we just put on music and danced. At first it seemed weird, but later it felt nice. Part of what gets me stuck is that people take my energy for granted, and don't realise that it takes motivation battling against the "what's the point"... so I specially appreciate you here. ((((((((((Travelling Lady)))))))))))) If you accept hugs? |
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Travelinglady
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#6
Hi Skeezyks,
Pleased to meet a reclusive geezer! Nice to hear about your dog companion on walks, and sorry to hear about your back. One reason that I try to exercise regularly (daily?) is to appreciate my body. I had injuries - knees - I was on crutches but didn't want to be operated, so I said to my knees every day.... thank you (lol). The only thing that I could think of was the superstitious idea of telling them how much I value their contribution. Plus I exercised as much as was comfortable and the docs said it was impossible but it worked. I also snapped a bone last year but it healed fast. Bodies are amazing. I probably spend the same amount of time tuning my body that men spend tuning their cars. If I exercise then my mood gets better and my body tells me to eat healthy. The opposite is withdrawing to the known universe inside me. Hugs and thanks! A pat for your dog - I love dogs! Saidso |
Reply With Quote |
Legendary
Member Since Mar 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 10,760
(SuperPoster!)
6 10.6k hugs
given |
#7
Hi saidso,
I wish I could find physical activity as helpful as you do. I have tried it and it just makes me miserable. I know it is good for my body though, so I am trying to find something I enjoy doing. Have you tried some low impact stuff like walking or swimming? |
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Sep 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 48,148
(SuperPoster!)
13 22.9k hugs
given |
#8
Sure, saidso, I'll dance and I love hugs.
As we get older, moving hurts! But up to a point we need to keep moving, don't we? I try to do some housework and count that as exercise, too. |
Reply With Quote |
nonightowl
|
Desert Kitty hates titles
Member Since Jul 2008
Location: TARDIS
Posts: 9,481
15 6,892 hugs
given |
#9
Quote:
I know you're supposed to do it, but it's a chore for me. And contrary to what's touted as a cure-all for what ails you, or give you energy, etc., it doesn't do that for me. I end up exhausted, hot, sweaty,and irritable. I go to the gym 3 times a week and I try to walk when I can. But it's not nice to walk around here; it's so busy and so many signals/cars to watch out for. This is why I prefer the treadmill at the gym, where I feel safer. On Sundays I try to walk/jog/run on it for about 2 miles. Sunday is the most boring day of the week for me, and I find jogging/running blows off steam better than other cardio stuff like the stairclimber. People piss me off so much lately. Most of the time I keep the incline at zero, but sometimes I try to raise it a bit so I'm going up hill for a bit. But then I have to decrease the speed.... Yup, housework is exercise, though I don't do that as much as I "should" either as it's downright tedious and tiring. Supposedly the less we do, the less we will be ABLE to do so moving is important. Still, I find it hard, as it's a chore like I said. It's flossing or doing laundry, two other tasks I hate but that one needs to do. __________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
|
Reply With Quote |
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#10
Flossing and doing laundry, hah! The thing that gets me wingeing is ironing double duvets after having visitors. They always say that they will bring sleeping bags and forget.
NoNightOwl you are an inspiration. What kind of dance did you do in your trenties? I did acrobatic dance - it was an eruption of rebelliousness after being mocked for dancing as a young child. If I could get to running 2 miles I would be ecstatic! Big smile coming your way. I don't know whether I can still run at all because years ago my knees were injured. But that was years ago and knees are painfree now. I run for buses and suppose that if I can't run I could stumble jerkily around which would pace my heart rate a bit. I see a lot of runners in my neighbourhood and some are not in lycra and have white hairs. I am just not-motivated. So thanks very much for inspiring me by your efforts! Sometimes exercise for me feels like flossing, but once I get a regular routine going then exercise is more like washing up the cups while I am brewing coffee. It becomes something that I do automatically, and I like having the reserves of energy to fall back on. Gym 3 times a week hah - good effort ! At least I've done exercises again today - without motivation but I didn't give way to distractions. Will be off line for next few days but will look forward to exchanging more about this at the weekend. |
Reply With Quote |
nonightowl
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#11
Dancing as we go, Travelling Lady!!!! I'm probably not fit enough for more than 5 minutes at the moment, but I could get into dancing if my mind would stop arguing about it and let go .
|
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Travelinglady
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#12
I hope that you can find something that you enjoy DownandLonely! Perhaps lazing in a jacuzzi: I don't have such a luxury and find socialising with my friend's family in their jacuzzi odd in the extreme - but there are as many possibilities as there are personalities?!
|
Reply With Quote |
Desert Kitty hates titles
Member Since Jul 2008
Location: TARDIS
Posts: 9,481
15 6,892 hugs
given |
#13
Quote:
I've run to catch the bus many times, and sometimes I made it and sometimes I didn't. I'm not looking forward to walking to the library during the week because of the damn roadwork they are going to be doing. They say to use an "alternate route" but there is no alternate route. It's impossible to get here without driving down this busy, main street. No cross streets close by to get around, and that stupid creek is in the way. I'd like to drive across it if if it's dry, LOL. Walking is good but the streets are so busy and noisy. Too many signals. And I'm sick of the scenery. And too many people whizzing by me on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. I missed the gym for a week cause of a bad cold that just hung on, and when I went back it was SO HARD to do! I just missed a week, not a month!! Yet I couldn't go as fast or exercise as long as I usually do. I had to do lighter weights with fewer reps, and I did a shorter cardio workout at a lower speed. All cause of one week!!! __________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
|
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#14
Thank you for your post NoNightOwl. You made me realise that I have to get on with it again - just came back from a walking trip where I was too tired and too cold, and there was too little space between my bed and the wardrobe to exercise.
You do sound very demanding of yourself. Considering that you had a bad cold, I think you were amazing going to gym at all and it was a good idea not to do all your usual routine. I find that when I have a virus exercising hypes me up, makes me feel "better" and then my body crashes down hard afterwards. Do you find that ever? I am now back to exercising this evening, and I have something to say about that. Some people have mentioned on this thread that exercising makes them feel bad, and for me it's true that exercise often brings up emotional pain that I've been suppressing. That's both good (I get a sense of contacting my real self) and not rewarding of my effort. But sometimes also, exercise gives me a clean, pure emotional state - like my body wants to sing. Not often mark you. I am thinking lots about who I am (???) when I'm not doing something, or being useful for someone else - and exercise helps me a little with that. Wishing all of you well! Saidso |
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Travelinglady
|
Desert Kitty hates titles
Member Since Jul 2008
Location: TARDIS
Posts: 9,481
15 6,892 hugs
given |
#15
Quote:
Exercise never makes me feel better. I can't wait to take a shower and crash on the sofa. There's no "high" from exercise, just sugar. __________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
|
Reply With Quote |
saidso, Travelinglady
|
saidso
|
Veteran Member
Member Since Oct 2018
Location: Europe & UK
Posts: 575
5 165 hugs
given |
#16
Quote:
Second, because I recognise sadly that sometimes all I really want is to collapse with my mind and emotions switched off on the sofa... but I remember that doing only that drives me crazy. Nice comment . |
|
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Desert Kitty hates titles
Member Since Jul 2008
Location: TARDIS
Posts: 9,481
15 6,892 hugs
given |
#17
Quote:
__________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
|
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Member
Member Since Dec 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 125
5 27 hugs
given |
#18
Has anybody tried Tai Chi? I did before my hip arthritis got too bad and I really liked it. It's great for core strengthening and balance but doesn't leave you hot and sweaty. If there is not a class nearby there are lots of beginning tai chi videos on you tube. When I recover from my hip replacement I plan on starting up again.
|
Reply With Quote |
Travelinglady
|
Legendary
Member Since Mar 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 10,760
(SuperPoster!)
6 10.6k hugs
given |
#19
@Monticello I have tried tai chi but found it too easy. It doesn't get your heart rate up so it didn't seem like a workout to me. But if you are recovering from an injury or have an issue like arthritis I can see how it would be helpful.
|
Reply With Quote |
Member
Member Since Jan 2019
Location: CA
Posts: 273
5 838 hugs
given |
#20
I like walking my neighborhood. On bad weather days I do tai chi. Since there was no instruction offered in my area I taught myself from utube videos. There are quite a few people teaching on utube. It is easy to learn and helps with strength and balance. Especially like being able to stay home and still engage in movement.
|
Reply With Quote |
Monticello
|
Reply |
|