Exercise: anyone want to talk about (and maybe even do) some?

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

On another mh thread I wrote:

Although I'm no longer depressed, I am finding it hard to get going these days, but Ok once have got going. I think I need exercise - it occurred to me today that as my AD is a seratonin re-uptake inhibitor, the more seratonin I make, the more there should be around to have its uptake inhibited, iyswim. Exercise releases seratonin QED

My problem is getting myself out of the door in the first place, even though I know it's going to help. This was much much worse when I was depressed, but now I find I'm making excuses about the weather and/or needing a new swimming costume!

Wondered if anyone else would like to talk about the effect, if any, of exercise on their mh, and maybe even offer each other mutual support in our decisions whether or not to take some!

My preferred exercise is walking alone (or swimming alone if weather awful), I am in a nice rural area, however I thought it would be nice to share the stuff I've seen with others and vice versa, should I manage to get myself out there...

[ThatVikRinA22]

i am up and determined to walk the dog in a bit....that will be it for today unless you include a bit of hoovering and washing up!

going to get on with it while im still remotely motivated to move.

[digerd]

We don't have partners, as I do Line Dancing and it is no longer cowboy style.
Our latest is to OllyM's Trouble Maker, but we dance all different styles to all types of music. The age range is 50s-80s and we all love dancing to music.
many have arthritic problems, but it doesn't matter how you dance - we do it according to our own ability.

[ThatVikRinA22]

well - i finally managed to get out for a run today - first one since last April. managed 25 minutes, feel better for it.

might feel motivated enough to try and keep it up now. it wasnt too bad.

[HellesBelles396]

having cooked for and pre-cooked a fair bit of food for next weekend's scout camp, I say yes, silvery cooking is exercise!

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Does cooking Sunday lunch for my 'fairy-god-daughter', her OH, and their 3 kids count as exercise? It certainly felt like it

[TheOneWithTheHair]

That's a shame for you HellesBelles. :(

I've been thinking about those of you missing the daily walk to the shop. Can you maybe not buy milk in your weekly shop and then perhaps you'd have to walk there everyday for it?

I'm looking forward to the walk to school twice a day. Dcs are back tomorrow. I always miss it but I can't seem to motivate myself to do a daily walk when they aren't in school.

[HellesBelles396]

went to dance school social tonight but didn't dance . my friend wouldn't because she didn't know the steps and I didn't know the steps because she wouldn't get up and try it! Oh well, the walk there and back was exercise!

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Knees not up to much dancing, although they should be after I have walked/swum a bit as this will build up the muscle around the knee-caps.

Ugh to gyms - the ones I have been to smell vile, and have loud music on, and lots of TVs showing different bands, none of whom match up with the loud music.

I like walking in places with a bit of a view across the landscape, with peace and quiet - I find this helps me 'literally' get my life in perspective...

[HellesBelles396]

I love dancing but no longer have a partner (though there's a dance school in the village).

[TheOneWithTheHair]

I agree digerd. I've tried all sorts. I've found many that I don't like. Team sport, swimming for exercise, the gym to name a few.

I love dancing but haven't done any for years. I used to do ballet, tap, modern when I was younger thinner.

I love walking though. I once did a marathon walk and in general I feel there's so much to see when I'm walking. It also helps with the SAD.

Dh wants me to cycle with him and the dcs but I'm scared. I haven't been on a bike since I was twelve.

[digerd]

I don't like exercise just for the sake of it, and walking hurts my legs and find laborious. But I love Dancing. We learn sequences that are repeated facing a different wall in the room, as long up to 5 minutes. The music ranges from Latin, Jazz, Waltz, Spanish style, Irish, Mexican, Show Girl Style, Pop and my favourite Rhythm and Soul/romantic music which gives me the lovely feeling of floating on a cloud or a feather floating in the breeze.
Those "feel good" chemicals and adrenalin are food for my soul.
I dance for 2 hours, but cannot bear to walk longer than 5 mins .
It is most important to use a form of exercise that makes you feel good.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

I've walked today too. 1.5 miles to town and the same back. We have some rare sunshine so I feel more 'up' iyswim. I feel loads better for getting out in it.

[HellesBelles396]

That's a good point silvery I definitely do less exercise since stopping smoking as it meant HAVING to leave the house at least once a day to visit my dealer the co-op!!

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Yes that counts .

I used to walk down the same railway line as previously mentioned, 10 min to shop, then back, most days and that counted even though it was usually for cigarettes

[HellesBelles396]

Yesterday, I walked the quarter of a mile to, and then, from the shop - TWICE! (because I forgot the custard).

Not sure that counts but i'll be going back to hiking miles around the school as of Monday. Staff get free use of the school gym 4pm-5pm. I'm thinking about buying some larger gym gear to fit my recently size 18-ed self making use of it!

[AnnoyedAtWork]

Bikram yoga really helps with my anxiety. Running too but I find it boring!

[LavenderBriggs]

Oh yes, angst is terribly tiring

Glad to hear you're feeling well.

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

It's not a bad thing lavender, tis just the way I am, having made a study of myself for the last nearly 60 years

I am feeling v well, and getting on with life. The exercise is not an angst-ridden thing for me :)

[LavenderBriggs]

Why is being told what to do (even by yourself) a bad thing? Not being snippy, but I could throw lots of ideas around and you'll just become exasperated if I don't get close to what could help.

Would it help if you looked into the positive benefits of exercise? Or the best way to exercise to get the most out of it?

Let me know if anyone has been able to get out - has anyone got any exercise done?

[TheOneWithTheHair]

No exercise here either today but I'm definitely going to try tomorrow. I think it'll be easier when the dcs go back to school.

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

I'm no good with contracts, even with myself - it feels like being told what to do!

No exercise yesterday or today - except mental exercise (accounts) which I enjoy doing but stayed up way too late doing them both nights

[LavenderBriggs]

Hi Silvery. I'm supposed to be studying (hence opening threads on MN). Help me with my procrastination.

What do you think you could do when you get the "I can't go out for a walk now" thoughts? Could you do some prep work and draw up an activity log? Or could you write a contract for the amount of exercise you would like to take?

It's hard to say "just do 'this' and it will all work out", but if you want to exercise it will be possible to find something that will help you.

Have you been for a walk today or you planning on one at some point?

[HellesBelles396]

Hi silvery - good plan. I should do this as I am overweight, my SAD has been horrendous this year and I promised my cousin I would so the gnr with her next year. I'm focussing on housework at the moment though. Does anyone know if that counts as exercise?

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

My running days, such as they were, are long gone. And long distances were never for me, though in my youth I could sprint.

I walked a lot in towns for most of my childhood, teens and twenties, to school and for pleasure (am S Londoner by birth) And I think all that walking on pavement had a slight effect on my knees. Then in my 40's comfort eating and meds helped me become overweight, which led to knee and foot problems. These have cleared up now (except for the weight), but walking is my ambulant exercise.

I did ride for a bit, but knees are probably no longer up to the job, although I do plan to go ambling about on horseback at walking pace this summer. I would love to be astride a horse again :) (Am 60 btw) I

[ThatVikRinA22]

great idea pussycat - it occurred to me in a rare moment of clarity that i stopped running last April, and by May was falling apart in a big way....doctor wanted to put me on sertraline in May but i soldiered on....

i really think i need to get my running gear back on and get out for a short run, i do go riding once a week which always lifts my mood and so i force myself to go even if i feel more like hibernating....

maybe i should try to aim for a run twice a week. I was up to 10k at once time but i doubt i could do a 10 min run now...