Exercise and Goal Setting

[Mazarita]

@CannonSalt, I've seen you around the forums but our paths have not crossed very much. Since we are both now contributors to this wonderful thread I thought I'd say hi. I had to look up on Google what 'planking' even is. It sounds quite difficult and it seems you are doing well to keep on attempting it.

@MoonGal, I so relate to what you say about initial enthusiasm giving way to slumps. I'm guessing this may be just one of many complications of mood that often goes with bipolar. In addition, I think you are doing so well to push yourself at least some of the time when you are experiencing significant pain. Don't feel obliged at all to be up and motivating to the rest of us. We will all go up and down in this exercise journey.

I've been experiencing a great deal of anxiety recently. I'm finding it exhausting and I'm not getting enough sleep either. This morning I woke up feeling pretty awful. However, I'm happy to report that, because my support worker is coming today, I started in on cleaning up the place (so as not to embarrass myself with the state of it) while I was still in my nightie. Bit of vacuuming, bed making, kitchen cleaning and other odds and ends first thing in the day - almost unheard of for me until just recently.

After that I was still feeling bad with bubbling nerves churning me up inside. So, again semi-miraculously, I started in on some exercise: physio stretches, whole-body limber-up of the joints (an Alexander Technique routine I learned about 35 years ago in drama class), exercise bike for 5 minutes (better than nothing) and some breathing exercises.

I really do feel better, both physically and in my nervous system, for managing to push myself gently into doing these things. If the weather holds out for this afternoon's low tide, I hope to get myself out for a solid beach walk too. Still not really meeting goals but I think goals are more something to reach for than to necessarily attain. I have to say this to myself because otherwise I beat myself up too hard about not meeting my own expectations.

Hope things unfold in a good way for everyone here today.

[CherryBomb]

Hi everyone!

Just dropping in to see how everyone is going. @MoonGal I agree with @Mazarita, its ok to have exercise slumps. You can't stay up and enthusiatic all the time. It's particularly draining if you're in pain too.

 I've had a few days of yoga. Traditionally, I don't practice during my ladies holiday so had a couple of days off, and now I'm sick with some cold/bug virus.  So just doing a very minimal session of yoga. It's also miserable weather where I'm at. So. much. rain. which means no climbing for me. 

Thinking of joining the aquatic centre to enjoy the sauna. I like the idea of sweating with minimal effort. LOL  Might nice to start swimming too. Though I'm not a great swimmer. Anyone got any tips on how to improve swimming?

[Appleblossom]

Start with breast stroke under and above the water and imagine you are a fish.

Enjoy the centred and streamlined feeling in your body as you push off the edges of the pool.

Or do you want serious stroke correction?

[MoonGal]

Just had a memory of being eleven years old and swimming in a swimming competition! I am built to swim, well used to be, classic swimmers body - huge shoulders, slim hips (well, when I say slim... they are smaller than my shoulders, well, when I say smaller, they USED to be smaller than my shoulders!). These days I have a classic floating body.
My GOAL this week is to get myself to the pool for two 15 minute sessions, now my cold sore lesions have healed.
I am about to head out on a 1.2 KM walk with doggit. Although - truth be told I am sure I am being surveilled, which is ramping up my paranoia. Me (and me and my dog/s) have been photographed over the past few weeks - it is just weird I look up and some guy is taking my photo 😞 .
(I am in the midst of a TPD claim, I have tried to write off these as coincidence, but three separate incidences in the space of a fortnight... who wants to photograph me? I am hardly Angelique Jollie... Need to be very "in myself' to not let this phase me, I am doing nothing wrong! Just living to the best ability with a myriad of health issues.

[Mazarita]

Hi, @MoonGal,

How awful to have people taking your photo while you are out. Is it the same person each time? I really hope it is not what you suspect, though I think it is reasonable to wonder about that. As you say, you are doing nothing wrong. On the contrary, you have been doing everything you can to improve your condition. Even if there is the possibility of evidence gathering by your insurance company, I don't want to believe that just going for walks could invalidate your claim. But I really feel for you with this. I hope the claim is resolved as soon as possible so that you don't have to experience this understandable anxiety.

I often stay in my own 'zone' too while out walking. Occasionally I pass people and smile or say hello but mostly I prefer to keep my focus on the natural environment around me minus direct contact with people. Even when partner and I go for beach walks together (much less often than I go alone), we often walk at different paces and in our own space with it all. It's great that you have doggits company on your walks. I love seeing the antics of dogs on the beach and feel so much less anxiety around animals than with people.

Latest update from me is that I haven't been for a walk on the beach for two or three days but have had shorter walks to and from the shops. It's been very warm and humid here and we are getting supercell storms which are likely to continue for the next few days at least. Not good walking weather just now but will be back into it again very soon. My support worker has also suggested that I start a very gentle yoga class before too long and I think this is a good idea. Will keep you posted when it starts and how I go with it.

Good on you for your plan to swim this week. My new bathers have had a couple of workouts recently, one in a pool and one in the ocean. So refreshing!

[MoonGal]

@Mazarita - thanks for the reality check - i have wondered if it is just paranoia, but it does make sense that this could be the case. I will not stop doing the little bits I can to keep my body moving, I have felt better for walking (although I have also felt a lot worse for walking in other ways!).

I stay in a zone too - but once I am on the shop stretch of my local area - I do engage with lots of people because my doggit is adorable and everyone wants to pat her and say hello. She is a rescue so I use those opportunities to advocate for rescue.

Walking in oppresive humidity is hard work @Mazarita, so understand the lack of walks while the supercell is coming through. Wish for you a break in the weather soon. 

My eating plan went well for a week, and then I just had to have some (soy) icecream, so have halved the amount and added fresh fruit too. Although, Saturday is Donut Day! Yay. So on the way back from today's walk I will be getting myself a (vegan) donut which will undo the walk but ... it will make my insides smile.

Hope the swimming goes well @CherryBomb. I hope to report my own pool activity. Having you all here does help me stay on track!

One thing I am learning is that it is important to "START" - and if I stop, it is important to START again. Keep on starting!

[Mazarita]

@MoonGal,

Waiting for the moderators to let the photo through, sometimes takes up to an hour. But just wanted to say I reckon you come up with some great quotable quotes:

"One thing I am learning is that it is important to "START" - and if I stop, it is important to START again. Keep on starting!"

Yes to that! 

[Former-Member]

@Mazarita I also really love that quote! Such a positive way to look at things!  @MoonGal

[CannonSalt]

@MoonGal - have you talked about your fitness goals with your GP? I'm sure that you could get some kind of a note saying 'if she's walking around a bit, then that is to manage XYZ and is not in itself proof that she is fit for whatever'.

[MoonGal]

good idea @CannonSalt - I see my gp tuesday so will mention it ask that a note be made on file.