A balance of Mind-Body-Spirit

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Intro

Thank you, Cindy. I am in again. Hopefully permanently!

Anyway, I really wanted to join this blog because I have been trying to get myself motivated to start up some healthier habits. It is ironic because this New Year's I resolved not to make any New Year's Resolutions because I always break them almost right away. So what did I do? I broke that resolution and decided to try to exercise. Because the funny thing was that my children were inspiring me. My 14 year old got a weight set for Christmas and started lifting weights. My 16 year old does Irish Dance and Swing Dance and takes walks regularly. She also goes to the chiropractor and has to do regular exercises for her back. My 11 and 8 year olds were begging me to sign them up for track. And my 5 year old loves to do theseYyoga for Kids dvds, plus she dances all the time. So I have all these active children while I sit on the couch or in front of the computer in a state very reminiscent of a potato!

Then I saw that Leonie and Cindy had started this blog and I thought that it would be a great motivator too. Because I need others to keep me going and encourage me. I very, very easily slip into discouragement.

I have a slew of little health problems. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 5 years ago. I don't know if I believe it quite. I never did follow up on it. If I did have CFS, I didn't have it nearly as badly as some, but I do struggle with low energy levels, often feeling exhausted, and feeling light headed and foggy brained. I know when I'm in for a relapse because my legs starting aching like I have a fever. Then I know for the next couple of days I am going to be really, really tired. I also have IBS and suffer from lots of migraines. And I have a strong suspicion I'm developing arthritis. My joints ache and swell. So there you go! I need to lose 30 pounds too.

I figure I'll represent the wuss population of women who are trying to get fit! I tried Pilates earlier this month. I felt nauseated afterwards! I went back to the only exercise dvd that I seem to be able to stick to with anything remotely close to consistency and that is Leslie Sansone's Walk the Pounds Away. So I started doing that, but I hurt my knee and my hip! It took about a week to get over that! I realize I can't do the kick backs anymore.

But I did one really good thing. I finally got doctor's appointments. I haven't gotten a physical in years (since the CFS thing). So I am doing that. And when I feel like my joints can take it, I have been gently doing the Walk Away the Pounds dvd. And Tuesday I am going to my ob/gyn. My husband has been after me to go. Three women that he works with are struggling with breast cancer. And his own mother has liver cancer. So I finally gave in and made appointments. As you can tell, I am not one to go to the doctor's quickly!

So now that I have spilled all this personal stuff on line, I hope that it will force me to stick to some kind of routine when it comes to health. I figure if I come here and publically confess, it will motivate me to keep moving in the direction of progress, even if the progress seems really, really slow compared to others.

So there's my intro. I do hope blogger will let me on next time I try to post!

3 comments:

Leonie said...

Hi Faith,

Good luck with the medical appts. I have a number of genetic health problems but found that getting fitter made these easier to manage ( if that makes sense?).

I'd go wth the Walk Away the pounds DVds and just modify. Your plan sounds great! Also the George Foreman walking wokouts might be a little easier on the joints...

Cindy said...

So glad you are on here, Faith!

We will be your cheerleaders. As Leonie says, being fit can really help with health issues. It also can help with fatigue.

I know it is hard to start and don't give up if you can't find your perfect exercise right away. There are many ways to do it, and as life changes, so can how you find time to get some exercise in.

I just listened to an abbreviated version of the 7 Habits tape by Stephen Covey and he mentinoed fitness as one important component to 'sharpening the saw'. He said the benefits are immeasurable if you just do 30 min every other day.

He suggested to start with a bit of stretching, 20 min of aerobics (walking, jogging, etc), then about 5-10 min of strengthening exercises. That starting point will get the cardio vascular system moving and oxygen throughout the body and help all sorts of functions.

(I just finished listening to this, so that is why my narration is so good..lol)

I liked that, that it is so helpful just beginning- a giant step from doing nothing.

Then, one can add on when they are ready.

I know from experience not to push too hard (had an injury last month) but it is also fun to challenge myself.

Can you get outside for walks? I am not sure about your schedule or about your little ones, but I had a jogger I used for years and it was wonderful.. I was outside jogging/walking most every day when I lived in CA. Great weather, too.

Also a mini-tramp is a fun/inexpensive way to get some exercise- and I now hear the bouncing helps in many other ways.

Let us know how it goes!

Rachel May said...

Faith,
I'm glad you're here! I know that nausea feeling you described. I've had it many times and usually it means, slow down! It can be a real discouragement. Walking is such a great way to lose weight and get fit, and it's an exercise you can do at any fitness level and age. I hope you docor's appts go well.


A balance of Mind-Body-Spirit

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"Good friends are good for your health."

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