Stress Management

[whatevergirl]

Hi Cat --why didn’t I think of this when I posted…how about Pilates, or yoga? Yoga is not about eastern mysticism (unless one lets it be)…I have done yoga off and on for most of my adult life, and it’s an amazing stress reliever…and it helps you become more limber, flexible…just overall, can boost your well being. Just a thought.

I didn’t realize all that about your knees, etc (sorry for my suggestions then )…I took a nasty spill years ago in high heels…and hit the ground hard…my one knee acts up on occasion. I love to jog, but had to give it up over the past year or so due to having heel spurs. It’s like…come on, every time I get back into something, another body part fails. lol But, my foot is nearly healed, and I’m bouncing back into jogging. But, I know that many exercises can be jarring…so, maybe yoga and pilates would be winners for you??

 

[Brenda_V]

As for swimming, forget it. I can’t SEE without my glasses, and I do not find it relaxing to be unable to see.

I’m sorry, pals, but exercise it not relaxing or pleasant for me. I think I’ll do better to consider exercise a “trial” that I must do to remain alive rather than trying to pretend that I enjoy it. I really, really hate it. Sorry. Sorry.

Cat, I can’t see without my glasses either so they go in the pool with me! I swim with them on, I do water aerobics with them on - no way am I going to try and do any of that without them!

As for bad knees, I just had knee surgery in May and am just getting back to Jazzercies - specific types of classes with my Drs. permission. There are three of us who have had joint surgeries recently, two had hip replacements and then me with my miniscus tears! We are all slowly healing and slowly getting back to our exercise routines. My dr. has also said, water, eliptical, bike - pretty much in that order.

Sounds like you need to find an exercise that you enjoy - see my above statement, I was so happy to get back to Jazzercise! I do the pool when I don’t have a rash on my leg (poison ivy type rash from brushing up against a non noxious bush!) Any way, yes, exercise is good, have you thought about getting an eliptical for home and dropping your gym membership? Then you can do that while watching the morning news before you even get dressed in the morning - shower afterwards!

Oh, and I don’t have any help for stress relief other than to start eliminating activities from your life. My own BP has gotten high so I must take drugs for it. I am very peri-menopausal too. So I am a sister with you in this time of life (we are not much more than 1 year different in age)

Brenda V.

 

[Salonika]

Sailor Kenshin:

I too LOATHE AND DESPISE exercise. But I’ve gotten to the point where my body feels like someone poured plaster in it, then lit the stuff on fire.

Good to hear I am not alone loathing and despising most forms of exercise. I know exercise is necessary but especially in winter I find it very difficult to get motivated (I enjoy swimming (in the sea) and walking).

Also I have to keep in control the voice in my head that tells me that I should be doing something more important than exercise - and then I start arguing with the voice!!!

My story is much like yours. I got a free ride for many years, now I can’t sleep, can’t move, and, well, won’t bore you with the rest, apart from the fact that I couldn’t write a single word for three long, dry, barren years…

Oh, yes. And it’s so easy to try and fight the situation instead of adapting to it.

… But to be truthful, all sorts of well-meaning advice about ‘imaging yourself in a happy place,’ or deep breathing, or self-help relaxation tapes----they don’t work for me…

I only have limited sucess with these. Not surprising as I start to feel guilty that I need to do this imagining and I keep thinking I’m not doing this properly.

But I do like to read other peole’s suggestions because every so often there’s one I haven’t thought off.

I think all this stuff has more to do with the age we’ve hit than anything else.

So do I. But at times its hard to accept especially when you look at people the same age and age doesn’t seem to be affecting them. But maybe it is for some of them. Maybe they are thinking how well we are ageing??!!??

 

[dconklin]

Along the lines of yoga is tai chi. An ancient martial art that is non-contact and slow. It is all about balance - mental and physical.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Good to hear I am not alone loathing and despising most forms of exercise. I know exercise is necessary but especially in winter I find it very difficult to get motivated (I enjoy swimming (in the sea) and walking).

Also I have to keep in control the voice in my head that tells me that I should be doing something more important than exercise - and then I start arguing with the voice!!!

Oh, yes. And it’s so easy to try and fight the situation instead of adapting to it.

I only have limited sucess with these. Not surprising as I start to feel guilty that I need to do this imagining and I keep thinking I’m not doing this properly.

But I do like to read other peole’s suggestions because every so often there’s one I haven’t thought off.

So do I. But at times its hard to accept especially when you look at people the same age and age doesn’t seem to be affecting them. But maybe it is for some of them. Maybe they are thinking how well we are ageing??!!??

True, true! You never know what’s going on inside—and I must say I still look pretty darn good on the outside, so people tend to view my complaints as ‘Huh? But you look just fine!’

 

[gmarie21]

hgtv.com/organizing/get-fit-while-you-sit/index.html

collagevideo.com/exercise-videos/seated-exercise-exercise-videos-47

Both are home exercises you do only sitting down (therefore no real impact on knees and ankles). Then you can take the money you save from the gym membership, purchase the dumbbells you need and save all that money in the long run