Exercise Support Thread Part 1

[NarcKiddo]

Good for you Aphotic. Particularly on understanding just how fickle motivation can be. That is the case even if you love exercising. Making it a habit rather than relying on motivation is a sensible approach, I find.

I hope the first session went well.

As for me, I'm still plugging away. Had a lower body weights session today. I used to deadlift well over 100kg. Now I can barely do 50kg. I'm mostly at ease with that and will just keep at it. There's no point in doing anything other than accepting my current baseline and working from there. It's frustrating in that I know the absolute strength is still there to some extent. The first 50kg lift is easy. But the second is not, and it all goes downhill fast. The lungs have a long way to go. My coach says I have made better progress than he expected. It's a delicate balancing act between doing enough strength work to retain as much muscle power as possible while working on improving endurance so I can then build the strength again.

[Bach]

This week I started taking a walk every morning in preparation for the coming low light season.  In the low light season, taking a walk every morning makes a difference to my mood especially as winter goes on.  I am starting now so as to establish the habit in advance.  I really didn't want to take my walk this morning, but I did anyway. 

I have always wanted or expected that I could learn to enjoy physical exercise.  But I don't enjoy it, and with years of trying behind me, I suppose I'm ready to accept that I never will, and that I can and must do it anyway.  Just because it doesn't feel good doesn't mean it isn't doing me good.  I can do things that are difficult and painful.  I mean, I've kept myself alive all this time, haven't I?

[Chart]

Bach, I identify with you bigtime. For me exercise has always equated to "pain" and I've got enough pain on a daily basis already. Going and subjecting myself to more seems absurd. And I've never been able to stick to it. (Same for meditation.) But the month of intensive therapy I did in August got me settled into the four exercises my therapist and I agreed to put in place. It helped having her support and I've been able to pretty much stick to it, although now back taking care of my daughter I'm slipping a bit (especially the evening exercises). For me the key is that extra support. If you want to use this thread to get encouragement please do! Or start your own, but I for one would love to know how your getting on and share in your efforts to heal. I believe it can really help.

So congratulations on the initiative to get a pattern in place in advance of the coming season. That shows your true measure of strength!
Sending tons of support!!!
 

[Lakelynn]

I really didn't want to take my walk this morning, but I did anyway. 

Yeah!!! Starting is hard. I admire you being proactive with the time change.

[Blueberry]

This week I started taking a walk every morning in preparation for the coming low light season.  In the low light season, taking a walk every morning makes a difference to my mood especially as winter goes on.  I am starting now so as to establish the habit in advance.  I really didn't want to take my walk this morning, but I did anyway. 

     for almost every sentence in that para

I have always wanted or expected that I could learn to enjoy physical exercise.  But I don't enjoy it, and with years of trying behind me, I suppose I'm ready to accept that I never will, and that I can and must do it anyway.  Just because it doesn't feel good doesn't mean it isn't doing me good.  I can do things that are difficult and painful.  I mean, I've kept myself alive all this time, haven't I?

I like your way of looking at this. Maybe it can inspire me a bit.

[Kizzie]

OK, we're on page 6 so I'll lock this and start another thread (Part 2).