Back when I started this blog, I wrote about exercise and why it’s such an ordeal for people with CFS. To summarize, a hallmark symptom is post-exertional malaise, which means that as much as the body needs exercise, it intensifies our symptoms. Depending on the day, a 15-minute walk around the block can land me in bed for the evening, conked out asleep with a fever. For people worse off than I am, it would mean the rest of the week in bed. If this sounds ridiculous, believe me, it feels even more so, especially since even things like writing or talking on the phone can bring this on.
However, this isn’t an excuse not to exercise, for those of us who are still remotely capable of it. And if you think I’m about to get preachy, let me assure you: I’m telling myself this as much as I’m telling anyone else. I hopped off the wagon months ago; my aversion to exercise has gotten the better of me for far too long. And the truth is that since I’m likely to feel crappy on any given day, I might as well at least get the benefits of exercising. Right?
I think I need this DVD.
So I’m going to attempt to motivate myself with the threat of semi-public humiliation, by making a pledge that I’m going to do at least some exercise every day, starting yesterday, and every Friday posting the number of days in a row I’ve managed to do it. I’m counting on you guys to keep me honest — and I promise to try to not take it out on you. (It’s not a coincidence I decided to start this on a week when Paul’s out of town.)
For my day to count, I have to do a set of crunches and push-ups, and a stretching session, and one of the following unless I seriously can’t get out of bed:
- a walk of at least 15 minutes
- a short yoga practice
- a Wii Fit session
- random other exercise (for example, cleaning out a closet)
Yeah, it’s far from the time when I would spend two hours at the gym on the days when I didn’t have fencing practice, but it’s better than nothing. Wish me luck?
14 Comments
Good luck. And I want that video so bad it hurts.
I just found out it’s on Netflix. It’s now in my queue. I have tap shoes and a hardwood floor!
We can do it together
Dawn & I are starting to exercise again this week, first time regularly since we quit smoking 6 months ago. I know, weird: I exercised 4-5 times per week, 60-90 minutes each, while I smoked a pack a day. Now I don’t have the energy or enthusiasm to get back to it. I’ll wish you luck if you wish us luck 
Mutual luck-wishing! Apparently it’s THE week to start exercising.
I did this about 4 years ago and i truly think it contributed to the fact that I’m now at uni – although I didn’t do crunches etc I stuck to walking *grin* wasn’t that brave! but i did live in an upstairs flat so dreaded going out as coming in was exertion in itself.
Now I don’t exercise because I need all my energy for uni and mum duties – I daren’t do extra as I have a fine balance going on and a whole mental lot of activity.
Once my course ends though.. oh yeah – bye bye baby fat!
Wow, well done! I should have mentioned that I do have the luxury to take this up right now since mostly I don’t have a lot of activities going on. Under no circumstances could I do it if I were also juggling school and parenting! I’m in awe that you’re able to do all that.
heh no need to be in awe – i’m just about keeping my head above water – have got deferral assignments coming out of my ears *sigh*
I’d never be able to even attempt it if it wasn’t for my other half; he quit work to be a stay at home dad and carer so I could do this – I end up spending an average of 9 days a month stuck in bed unable to function but he keeps me positive and hanging in there.
I can’t wait for next year when the ordeal will be over and i can rest lol
..until the job hunt begins – I refuse to stay on benefits just because I’m knackered and in pain most of the time, have a house to save for ;0p
By all means, let us give praise to the carers, because they deal with as much as we do, only in different ways. Paul has been my rock through all this.
I bet you’re champing at the bit to get back to work. One of my dearest — and not unrealistic, I think — hopes is that somehow I’ll get better enough to work again. I wish you the best of luck with everything you’ve got going. And I’ll be in awe if I want to be!
Good luck!!!
Cripes! I’m watching with interest. You may inspire me to start my morning stretch routine again. Good luck.
Thanks Jo and Riayn!
I wish you all the best with your exercise plan.
From experience I know that there is a thin line between a really good workout and overdoing it, triggering post-exertional malaise. The only way to find out is by trail and error, but try to err on the safe side. Lying in bed due to post-exertional malaise is always a setback.
I do not know your daily activities, but if you want to add or increase the pace of an activity do so one at the time.
“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Tom Robbins. If a 15 minute walk can land you in bed, have you considered doing a 10 minute walk twice a day? This works for me. After an infection when I have a small relapse and have trouble walking 20-25 minutes, doing a 15 minute walk 2 or even 3 times a day is easier.
PS: I am thinking of buying a Wii Fit (incl. some shoot em ups
). The thing that is holding me back is whether exercising and playing on the Wii will be at the expense of outdoor activities (cycling, walking, birdwatching) and cognitive activities (blogging and tinkering with computers)? What is your experience?
Thanks, Johan. I already do split up my exercise, with a walk earlier in the day and the push-ups & sit-ups later. The thing is I am impatient to recover at least a little of my strength (small goals for now), and my body also shapes up pretty quickly due to all my prior training. So while I’m not pushing myself inordinately, I’m also doing enough that I can at least feel it — in the muscles, not necessarily malaise! — the next day. It may not be the wisest way but I think it will get easier pretty quickly, if the past is anything to go by.
As for the Wii Fit, I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking. If you mean will you come to rely on using it at the expense of other activities, then no. It’s a lot of fun and very useful but someone with multiple interests, especially outdoors, would get bored using it and nothing else all the time. If you’re well enough to cycle, I’d say the Wii Fit is great for days when you can’t (bad health or bad weather). If you mean will you be physically less able to do other things, including cognitive activities…yeah, that does happen to me sometimes, but I just look at it as a project that sorely needs my attention right now, to the exclusion of some others.
You go! I started a more challenging regimen recently myself. I read your later blog about it. I’m sorry it makes you feel so lousy sometimes, but I *know* you’re too hardassed to quit once you put your mind to something!