|
Post by Karen on Dec 20, 2008 21:47:06 GMT -5
I've been feeling yucky since early October and am scheduled to have my first lap January 12 to see if I have endo. Before this all started, I was running about 2 times a week and went to Pilates once a week. I'm back to the Pilates again (finally) but am having a hard time getting back into the running. I'm not a morning person and have never had any luck exercising in the morning, and by the time I get home from work, it's dark and I don't feel like making the 1 block walk to the gym because I'm so tired and the pain usually starts to get worse in the afternoon. I feel better when I workout more regularly (the pain is still there, but exercise helps me feel more emotionally stable) but am having a hard time getting motivated. I want to exercise as much as I can before the surgery so I'm as strong as I can be. Any suggestions for getting my butt in gear??
|
|
|
Post by rach on Dec 22, 2008 19:14:43 GMT -5
I'm probably the worst person to be giving advice on this, because as hard as i try i am still mostly just lazy!! It's good that you're back into pilates, and i guess the thing you just have to remember is that exercising is good for you and will make you feel better- not just for endo symptoms, but for overall health and it will help you sleep better which is always good when you're sick/stressed/etc. If you're fidning it hard to get to the gym my advice is to stay home and do what you can there- do squats, lunches, crunches, push ups, star jumps and stretches in your loungeroom. I've bought myself a set of dumballs (i think thats what they're called?) so i can do strength training on my upper arms and back, and it uses your abs and butt as well. If you've got any steps in your house use them too. But most importantly don't beat yourself up over not running. Maybe try going for a walk at lunch time? As long as you're getting some movement each day you should feel good about yourself
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 22, 2008 22:59:49 GMT -5
I say stop being lazy and finding excuses not to exercise and get up and do it. You siad yourself it makes you feel better so quit finding reasons why not to go and get off ur bum and DO IT! i had a double bowel resection and went back after 6 months out even though i had to run to the loo with diarrhea. its been 18 months now and im back 5 days a week.
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Dec 23, 2008 18:37:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. I have loads of stuff I could do at home, but not the motivation... Next month my insurance company will waive a financial incentive in front of my face to go to the gym (60 times in 6 months, which would normally be a breeze) so I'm hoping that will help a bit.
Cass - good for you for getting back into it! 5 times a week now is impressive! May I ask what motivated you to go even though you weren't feeling your best? By the time I get home from work, it's dark, it's freezing cold, we've had tons of snow, and I can't even motivate myself to change my clothes. The gym is LITERALLY a block away from my house. What got you out the door?
Thanks much and happy holidays!
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 24, 2008 0:40:36 GMT -5
I exercised before i found out i had endo more than i do now and that was when i was at my worst. i would go and push through the pain cause i love to exercise. I hate the feeling of sitting at my desk all day and then coming home and sitting on the sofa blah! i like to eat what i want so in order to do that i exercise. once you start going (i think its proven that it takes 21 days to break a habit and 21 days to start one) you just cant get enough. im ultra competitive and push myself more and more. some days i do too much and i have ridiculous diarrhea the next day at work but and i wont go to the gym teh next day. JUST DO IT!! stop making excuses and just go!!!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Dec 26, 2008 18:41:42 GMT -5
Thank you for the kick in the pants, Cass! I'll be at the gym tomorrow morning. And, please, feel free to nag me from time to time. I always do better when I know someone is checking in on me!
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 27, 2008 8:22:20 GMT -5
LOL sorry if i come across as blunt, i do empathise (just not sympathise haha). im a bit of a hard ass, i guess all the years of suffering and pushing through intense GI pain until i was diagnosed made me this way haha! I went to the gym yesterday and did 50mins on the treadmill, 20mins on the bike and i tried to do some squats but my legs gave way & i had to leave haha! i didnt go today as my thighs feel sooooo bruised!! ill be there with bells on tomorrow for another intense cardio session and some weights.
what did you do???
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Dec 27, 2008 11:09:52 GMT -5
No, I NEED blunt, thank you very much! I'm typically tough and like to push myself, too, but have been losing a lot of confidence in a lot of areas because I'm not feeling good. I had a running buddy who used to roll her eyes at me whenever I tried to push us farther... She's pregnant again and promptly used that as her excuse to quit running so I kind of feel like I need to prove it to myself and to her that I CAN keep this up, no matter what! And knowing that there's someone else out there who still makes time/energy for a workout is a great motivator!
Just got back - ran 1 mile, walk 1/2 mile, 15 on the elliptical, and a few inner/outer thigh weights. Not as much as I would have wanted, but it's a start. I weighed myself and, even with the holidays, I'm still right where I was when this all started, which is good. I have about 20 pounds to lose (10 would make me happy, 20 would get me into my good jeans!), but with everything that's going on, as long as I'm not gaining, I'm content for now!
I'm going to make a list of workouts, varying from intense to easier, and I'll choose two a week to do in addition to Pilates. I always do better with a plan. I work two jobs and my part time job will be picking up soon between now and my lap so I just need to figure it all out in advance.
Nice workout, by the way! With all that time on the treadmill and bike, no wonder your legs didn't want to cooperate with the squats!
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 27, 2008 22:07:38 GMT -5
Thats fantastic!! see you can do it and you can motivate yourself by improving each week/month. sometimes i can go every day other tiems i cant make it to the gym at all, i do what i can and generally feel alot better afterwards! i lost 14 kilos after my op last year and 18 months later im back at my pre op weight. i exercise to tone and be fit but a few kilos wouldnt go a stray either let me know what your list of workouts are im always interested in varying my workout. I bought a resistance band yesterday from Nike for those days when my stomach is too sore and i cant make it to the gym, so i need to google some band excercises. keep me posted on your progress!! Keep up the good work!!!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Dec 29, 2008 22:13:34 GMT -5
My workouts will be a combo of cardio/weights. Once a week I want to get a run in - used to be able to go for 45 minutes but had a hard time getting 10 minutes in this weekend. If I can get a 20 minute run in this week and 15 minutes of elliptical (with random hills) and then do 10 minutes bike/10 minutes elliptical/10 minutes rowing and some weights, I'll be happy. A friend and I hired a personal trainer last Christmas as our presents to each other/ourselves - she got me started on the 10 minutes (or more) per machine so I don't get bored. I'll hop on the machine and warm up for 2 minutes, then crank up the intensity every minute until I've reached my peak, then go down each minute for 2 levels, then crank it back up. It's amazing how much you can sweat in 10 minutes!
As for the bands, yeah for you! The Pilates instructor I go to always incorporates some band work into class. They always kill me! There's a TON you can do with the band. (I tried to explain a few moves but after typing, I realized they made no sense at all!) I have a few here at home but, sadly, they're doing nothing more than collecting dust bunnies. I'll have to dig them out...
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 30, 2008 1:23:57 GMT -5
fantastic! let me know how you go... i went last night and did 30 mins on the treadmill and then did some weights. i just got home from work so ill be going later to do some bike and weights and maybe the eliptical.
i need a PT as everything i do is so repetitive i need some variety!! keep up the good work i wanna hear how good you feel after all that exercise!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Dec 30, 2008 20:46:59 GMT -5
Well, I had acupuncture yesterday and something must have worked (it's still new to me and I haven't had radical results yet) because today I felt the best that I have in a long time! I ran a mile and then met my preggers friend for an hour long walk around the track. Not my ideal workout, but better than noting. And I made it even though it was windy and cold and snowing out!
Yes, variety certainly helps! Did you find any good band exercises yet??
My boss was telling me about an exercise program called T-Tapp. I haven't heard about it, but it's supposed to be along the lines for people going through rehabilitation, is supposed to support your body's immune system and help your body recover better. She's the only person that really knows what's going on with me at work and she said the more she read about it, the more she thought about me. Who knows, if she likes it, I might give it a shot. I figure if anything, it couldn't hurt.
My lap is in just under 2 weeks. I hope to get at least 3 more workouts in before then, 4 if I'm lucky!
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 30, 2008 23:43:22 GMT -5
See!!! I knew you could do it! good job! i didnt go last night my stomach was horrible and every time i moved slightly i would run to the loo with diarrhea and was feeling socially retarded as a result! I cant go tonight as its NYE and i had my hair blow waved hehe!
not drinking so ill be hitting the gym tomorrow and friday.... (well fingers crossed)
congrats on finding the motivation!
|
|
|
Post by cass on Dec 30, 2008 23:44:21 GMT -5
wow 19 months exactly since my bowel op! Eep how time flies!
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Jan 1, 2009 11:53:21 GMT -5
So cute - you refer to your bowel op like a baby's age! I got a good chuckle out of that... Does it seem that long ago, or are you still dealing with the effects all the time so it makes it feel like it was just yesterday?
My boss let me borrow her new fitness video. I did 15 minutes yesterday and 15 minutes today and do I feel it... It's supposed to help kick your lymphatic system into gear to help your body flush toxins out as well as shaping and toning so I figured it couldn't hurt pre-op. I'm going to do 15 minutes of it each day (they call it 'boot camp') until my lap and will try to get a few walks/runs in as well at the gym in between.
I'm not big on resolutions, but I WILL get control over my body this year. I just have to! Are you hitting the gym today or are you recovering in bed after a long night out? (I stayed in - still not feeling all that up to socializing these days. Kind of hard to make small talk when all you can think to say is 'my girlie parts hurt!') Either way, happy new year!
|
|