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Exercise and Goal Setting

Exercise and Goal Setting

Right. I am sure every one of us struggles with various aspects of life, one being physical strength and looking after ourselves.

I know I am feeling like a weather baloon in an El Nino weather event, large and unpredictable. I am unhappy with my weight since being desexed and being on an anti-psychotic which has me feeling hungry all the time and has changed my metabolism. I have gained a lot of weight, already have a back injury and live with chronic sensistised pain syndrome. I MUST start a do-able exercise regime. Gentley Bently.

I know goal setting is important, start small, short. Have longer term goals also important. I have decided to NOT have weight loss as one of my goals per se. Just concentrate on doing the exercise every day. I find it hard to account just to "myself" - if I am under supervision of a physio or psych I tend to do what I set out to do, like having someone to check back in with and 'report' to is important otherwise I shuffle off into "i don;' want to" or "it hurt once so never again" land.

Having given it much thought about what is doabale, what I SHOULD try to tackle without going totally overboard and extreme... And doing myself in before I acheive even a tiny modicum of self-care...

My plan is this.

Days 1 to 14 (next two weeks) Jan 7 to Jan 19 - 15 Minutes a day excercise (plus 15 min walk)
2 days a week in pool (15 mins only) doing hydro exercises and a very small and short swim breast stroke to look after my shoulders.
5 days a week doing a 15 minute Qi Gong set (I learned Qi Gong about 10 years ago and have just found the best little 15 minute Qi Gong video to 'follow" along with.
15 minute walk ever day (slow and shuffley though it might be.)

Days 15 to 30 (Jan 20 to Feb 2) 20 Minutes a day excercise (plus 15 min walk)
Same as above but for 20 minutes for each exercise.
Celebration goal on 2nd February.... Buy a new top.

Next Goals to be advised to make sure I get these ones done. Wish me luck and focus!

341 replies

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In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

We have a fabulous centre called the Body Voice Centre ... artists, yogis, dancers and drama people do workshops there.

I think the best idea is just to keep active moving and active ... but with rehab issues and back problems ... gently and steady ... dealing with pain drains energy so it makes sense you feel a slump now and then.

There is a concept called ideokinesis which I found interesting. Sometimes all I can do is dance on my back in bed or play recorder there ... and eventually get up using tummy muscles ... of course.

Good Job re the 2 kg.

Cheers @MoonGal

In response to: Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

@Appleblossom, thanks! I just looked up ideokenisis - had never heard of it. It has given me an idea for how to 'do' some exercise when I am feeling down. I haven;t danced in years - but used to love it. I Love classical music and often play Vivaldi - so, maybe I could put the music on and (gently bentley!) dance while doing other things around the house. No one here to see me looking like a hippo-in-a-tutu.
Music lifts my spirits too - so I must get some on.

In response to: Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Good morning all,

@MoonGal, glad to hear fast action is being taken on your concerns about the possible back pain side effect of one of your long term medications. Great to hear that you have been out walking a few times, possibly more than you were doing before starting up this thread? Every extra step is worth celebrating I think. Oh yes, the ups and downs, this thread is helping me accept them better too.

@Appleblossom, the Body Voice Centre sounds fantastic. What you said reminds me of the impromptu stretching I often do in an 'improvisional' kind of way: in a doorframe with arms stretched above my head, 'wriggling' stretches on the bed, sitting in a chair with a 'roller' going back and forth under my calf muscles, moving gently around to music, and more. As you suggest, not everything has to be about rigid structures of movement. Sometimes just doing what feels right in the body at the time may be the best we can do. All better than nothing, I agree, and this kind of exercise may even have benefits beyond the routine variety as it is responding directly to the body's own impulses.

Quite exhausted and still headachey today after big, hot day out yesterday so taking it easy with just some light housework and maybe some impromptu stretching until appointment after lunch with support worker.

Hope everyone has some good stuff happen today.

In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Hi all...

Great news re losing 2kg @MoonGal... I can understand you not wanting to exercise if someone is photographing you ~ is it possible they were photographing something else ~ nature shot perhaps? I agree with you re the physical ailments not being taken seriously if you have a MI. Although my current psychiatrist is different & thinks I should see a neurologist about my headaches (I may do this once I reach the Medicare levy) plus got me to have a blood test to see if I have diabetes (unlikely as I eat a low fat vegan diet & my bmi is in the low healthy range) due to my frustrations with excessive thirst & overactive bladder (it is listed on some drug information sites as a possible side effect of the antipsychotic I take). Anyhow, I hope the back pain subsides & the withdrawals from the medication are not too difficult. Well done re still getting some walks in despite everything. Re the 12 month yoga plan ~ I have been going twice a week for 4 months now (only a few weeks only once, one week x 3) & I have had gym memberships in the past ~ sometimes I have made good use of them & sometimes I have not ~ I feel I can make good use of this membership ~ I feel motivated & yoga is much more enjoyable to me than going to the gym ~ I especially don't like the dreadmill (treadmill), although used it regularly late 2012 to mid 2013 to get back into running ~ in saying that I will see how I go when I reduce the antipsychotic on Monday ~ I think I have about 4 sessions left on my current pass ~ thank you for your concern ~ it is a very valid point to consider!

I'm planning a swim this afternoon...

Sorry to hear you have the flu @Shaz51...

Namaste,

A

In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Hi @Former-Member

So lovely to hear from you 🙂

I did go to yoga last Saturday (didn't even mind getting up at 7am!) and my netball season starts tonight. I'm pretty happy that it's a good mixture of cardio, strength and flexibility - not to mention the lovely meditation you get at the end of the yoga session.

I also went for a quick walk after work yesterday. It was good to clear the head! I usually do this by watching TV or doing something on my ipad - so going for a walk was a better solution 🙂

It was great to read that yoga was helpful. I know we can often fall out of routines when we're feeling low, so it's great that you went to yoga!

Look forward to seeing how everyone else is going & @Shaz51 , I hope you're feeling better!

In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

hi ,

Great news re losing 2kg @MoonGal

Ye @MoonGal, I could not remember if you stave a flu and feed a cold or is it the other way round

yes , my hubby went and mowed by himself today, I had a sleep , hubby`s is having a sleep now

we had a big thunder storm at lunchtime but no rain today

In response to: Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

~ I feel motivated & yoga is much more enjoyable to me than going to the gym-- this is great to hear @Former-Member

yes , I hope i get better soon

In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Hi @NikNik...

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yoga! Partners in Recovery may help me purchase a 6 month membership - a surprise! I hope it works out!! *fingers crossed* I was talking to my case manager today, as she is going to meet with me on Monday & help me with the daunting task of filling in housing commission forms.

Netball!! Exciting!! I played in high school & at university with housemates in 2009. I enjoy WA or WD.

Well I sound upbeat, but I'm in a motivational slump. My partner asked me at about 3:45 if I was going to go for a swim ~ I groaned & said ~ I don't know. He got dressed in work clothes & went to do something around the farm.... Anyhow, I gained a bit of motivation a little while a go, but I don't know where on the farm he has gone. I guess if I was more motivated I would of looked harder... It is too late now. The pool closes in less than an hour and it takes about 25 minutes to get there. Hopefully I'll stop beating myself up about it soon... I just feel low, depressed...

Anyhow....

Namaste,

A

In response to: Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

@Former-Member, sorry to hear you are feeling low/depressed, it's great that you picked up a bit enough to want to go swimming, even if circumstances meant you couldn't go. I have been low too - but did manage to get up and get some clothes on and walk 1.2 km's with my doggit today even thought i really didn't 'want' to. I did it. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

In response to: Exercise and Goal Setting

Re: Exercise and Goal Setting

Thank you @MoonGal...

Well done on your walk & I'm sure your dog was grateful. I understand not wanting to do it, but doing it. Sometimes you aren't even glad you did it!

I did manage a small (but big for me) amount of "functional exercise" - I cleaned the shower & did the dishes...

Tomorrow I am going to Brisbane to see my psychologist ~ hopefully I've finally found the one who can help me make breakthroughs to managing my MIs...

I will also be catching up with a friend.

Friday will be Hatha yoga.

Namaste,

A
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