Exercising
Instead of my usual musings and gardening stories, I thought I might share some of the ideas that motivate my regimen of exercise. First of all, I do know how difficult exercising is for people with ME. Do I ever! That said, not exercising can be a trap. It feels like the right thing to do, but I believe it is destructive to the body to avoid exertion. These are my ideas, so if anyone disagrees, I never have a problem with that. For a long time, I was into "saving steps" around the house and I understand that point of view. It could be the right approach for all I know, but I don't think it is. What many don't understand about exercise is that it doesn't just build strength and endurance. When you exercise regularly, you develop bone and connective tissue too. Bone density is directly correlated with physical activity. One of the biggest problems astronauts have to deal with is decalcification and softening of their skeletons due to the loss of gravity's stress on their bodies. That's why they exercise so rigorously "out there". Ligaments, tendons, connective tissue within muscles and throughout the body change dramatically when exercise is limited. The body becomes prone to sprains, bruises, muscle tears and fractures. For example, when I took a tumble with my bicycle the other day, I was a bit sore afterward, but only for a day. Had I not been exercising regularly, the result would have been very different. Elderly, inactive people can easily break a hip just falling a few feet onto a hard floor. And statistics show that they usually go downhill from there, and in fact don't live long after an injury like that, sad but true. So it's hard, very hard for someone with ME to exercise. But we have a lot to lose by not exercising.
Replies
Just wanted to clarify my philosophy on exercise and ME, in view of the recent post on the discussion board about graded exercise therapy and the recent British court decision...I am not advocating exercise as a treatment for ME. I am only trying to make a case for us to do our best not to allow our bodies to slide downhill by avoiding exercise altogether. I have tried to exercise within the limits of my exercise intolerance as best I can, and it has helped me cope with the illness. I don\'t believe exercise has the potential to cure me of it. There does not seem to be any hard evidence that it can.
Richie some years ago, when I had been bed ridden for a time, I started to visualize myself walking. Then i started slowly, walking around the yard, when wet I did it inside up and down the hall. Slowly I did get stronger, and walked further. It was not without doing too much some days.....
I think visualization is very powerful, I find myself doing things I had just visualized years ago. We need to gently stretch ourselves I think, but only what we can do, not what others think we should do.
I agree with this. Use it or lose it. When I exercise, I feel better. If I skip a couple of days, my body starts feeling that chronic fatigue and soreness all over again. There have been many times in my long bout of CFS that I couldn\'t get up, let alone exercise. But overall, I agree we need to try and move some. Take care!
Thank you both for your supportive comments. Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I feel like I will die or collapse if I go ahead with my morning exercise. It sure ain\'t easy, but I\'m sure now it is helping me.
Use it or lose it!
I agree with you that exercise helps but you have to be very patient and not push. I love doing stretches and yoga daily and taking a short walk but I crash . It is an ongoing struggle for me. I do my exercise regime for 2 weeks,love every minute and then get so sore stiff and achy and tired and irritable I have to stop for days. I have tried every which way of moderating but it is hard. If I don\'t exercise I feel awful. If I do exercise I fee great but eventually crash. I haven\'t found the middle of the road place.
I love what fantail said about visualizing. I think what we envision can happen down the road so it is good to envision happy wonderful healing and happiness.
Thanks for sharing your exercise regime, Ritchie.
There is a program our there called PACE by Dr. Sears. He is an organic, all natural kind of doctor. I have just started this program and only worked on it for two days. Supposed to be done every other day. I do it when I can!
I do have a question and one concern only, do you lose something after every crash? Something that doesn\'t come back such as : mental clarity etc...