There is nothing more that I enjoy (other than eating cake) more than exercising. I love it, no joke. I get such a buzz from working hard and pushing my body to the limits. Seeing yourself being able to go that extra distance and lift heavier weights over time is a real achievement. I feel like keeping active has become more important for me since diagnosis. I realised that if I kept strong for all the time I was well, then if something was to happen I could recover more quickly. From a mental health perspective, that gave me a sense of being able to control, to some extent, my own condition. Ok, so I can't decide when I'll relapse or how it will last for, but I have the power to keep physically strong and battle through.
With exercise, it's really not about doing loads. It's about listening to your body and doing what feels right for you. For some time, I got so down about the fact that I couldn't feel my arm that it was hard to stay motivated. But actually, the important thing for me to remember at the time was that I could still use my legs, I could still work up a sweat and I suppose my way of dealing with it was just ignoring my arm until it decided to slowly, finger by finger, regain movement and flexibility. It's a case of making the best out of whatever you're going through. My first relapse was 5 weeks of visual symptoms and seeing clearly was near impossible. I literally didn't leave the house in that space of time and I got so down about it, making my symptoms worse and so it was a vicious circle. Eventually I got my sister to walk me round the neighbourhood for 5 minutes as I so badly wanted to be outside in the sun. The next day it became 10 minutes, until I built myself up. As I gained strength (well, my immune system was fighting itself, 5 minutes of using my eyes with poor vision and balance was exhausting, no exaggeration) the walks got longer and eventually I could see better.
More than anything, getting out and breathing in some fresh air and being able to move around was great for my personal well-being and helped shake off feelings of isolation that I was having. A positive mindset makes it easier to build up my body after illness. So, you can see both exercise and mental outlook play a part in recovery and good health. It may not be the same for everyone, but for me getting those endorphins pumping makes me feel so good. I find the routine and variety that being active can bring helps clear my head, gives me focus and forces me to concentrate on that and that alone. Drag a friend for a walk, see what you notice. Go for a run and kick up the leaves. Lift some weights and strengthen your muscles, big or small. My love for that toning burn is immense and I hope I'll always find the energy and strong mentality to keep at it no matter what.
This post is dedicated to my dear friend, forcing me out the door back at university before the sun had even come up and instilling in me a sense of competition and passion around working out. You know who you are and it's thanks to you that I use this to pull me through today. I love you.
With exercise, it's really not about doing loads. It's about listening to your body and doing what feels right for you. For some time, I got so down about the fact that I couldn't feel my arm that it was hard to stay motivated. But actually, the important thing for me to remember at the time was that I could still use my legs, I could still work up a sweat and I suppose my way of dealing with it was just ignoring my arm until it decided to slowly, finger by finger, regain movement and flexibility. It's a case of making the best out of whatever you're going through. My first relapse was 5 weeks of visual symptoms and seeing clearly was near impossible. I literally didn't leave the house in that space of time and I got so down about it, making my symptoms worse and so it was a vicious circle. Eventually I got my sister to walk me round the neighbourhood for 5 minutes as I so badly wanted to be outside in the sun. The next day it became 10 minutes, until I built myself up. As I gained strength (well, my immune system was fighting itself, 5 minutes of using my eyes with poor vision and balance was exhausting, no exaggeration) the walks got longer and eventually I could see better.
I recall posting this picture on Instagram and just enjoying the green and parting with my bedroom was amazing.
More than anything, getting out and breathing in some fresh air and being able to move around was great for my personal well-being and helped shake off feelings of isolation that I was having. A positive mindset makes it easier to build up my body after illness. So, you can see both exercise and mental outlook play a part in recovery and good health. It may not be the same for everyone, but for me getting those endorphins pumping makes me feel so good. I find the routine and variety that being active can bring helps clear my head, gives me focus and forces me to concentrate on that and that alone. Drag a friend for a walk, see what you notice. Go for a run and kick up the leaves. Lift some weights and strengthen your muscles, big or small. My love for that toning burn is immense and I hope I'll always find the energy and strong mentality to keep at it no matter what.
This post is dedicated to my dear friend, forcing me out the door back at university before the sun had even come up and instilling in me a sense of competition and passion around working out. You know who you are and it's thanks to you that I use this to pull me through today. I love you.
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