Topic Tuesday // Physical Activity and Mental Health // Tues 6th July, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

@Daisydreamer cycling group is a group my darling was riding with before a breakdown. (She has had a ~4 year break from cycling but was still linked on social.media) She initially linked in with them via a member of staff at boys school who noticed she was doing a lot ok k's alone and introduced her. They have been great welcoming her back and encouraging her in her.

I have noticed some towns there is usually a bike ship who have various bu ch rides catering for varying abilities from beginner to quite competitive.

me too @Gwynn

Exercise is like a foreign language to me

Thanks @Daisydreamer.

and @Poppyfriend543 you are welcome to come to the sane forums anytime, you are not alone my friend

@Oaktree I'm sorry to hear that the walks you do aren't enjoyable for you I think it's important that the physical activity we do are things that we enjoy. It's sad your local roller rink closed down. I'm wondering if there are any types of physical activity you might actually enjoy doing?

It might not even be something you'd think of as "physical activity" - e.g. I love spending time being in nature- that just happens to involve a walking! I also like things that I find to be fun/not like a chore, e.g. a game (e.g. frisbee) or an activity like putt putt golf

I do enjoy nature and have previously enjoyed hiking but have not done any recently

I have had to accept some limitations such as I won’t climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (asthma), I won’t walk the Camino (arthritic knees and covid), I won’t bungee jump (too scared).

Maybe my goals have always been unachievable but I am learning to be realistic as I am with my athletes. Parents come to me Thinking little Johnny will be an Olympian and I have to suggest we’ll start with the U10 state championships.

It can be hard to set short term achievable goals when our mh is in crisis.

@Daisydreamer @Former-Member @Peregrinefalcon @Anastasia

Thanks @Daisydreamer @Former-Member @Peregrinefalcon - thanks for running this tonight as I'm going to log off and make some food.

@Peregrinefalcon - your amazing you have encouraged me to do more exercise. Erk erk😝🦖

Are there barriers or limitations to physical activity that you notice, and what are they?

A few I notice are:

• previous injuries (yikes)
• balancing family life and exercise post work day
• physical health
• season: winter I find much harder
• finding social activities that others have time to do together
• cost for organised sport or gym memberships can also be a barrier

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@Oaktree wrote:

I want to know how to take first steps into physical activity from next to nothing. Even if it's just walking. How do I get myself off the couch and out the door? I guess I need some sort of a plan

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Yes write yourself a weekly goal can help. Plan it out. Like, on Monday & Weds I will do 15 mins walking or 15 mins gardening or 15 mins "insert something you might like to try here". Then don't overthink it. Monday comes, head out the door. Weds comes head out the door. Don't talk yourself out of it by procrastinating. The first few weeks May really suck and be boring, but give it time to become habit, I guarantee you'll start to look forward to it. Then just gradually increase your time.