Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Paul.

I don't think Ninja means they it's really crap. I think he means that he's making the exercise counter productive for himself by stressing out and thinking negative about it because while hes working out the stress is causing those nagative chemical reactions, instead of the good stuff that we supposed to get from exercise. In that way he says it's crap for HIM.

deedee,

yeah, i figure as much.

motivation can be a hard issue, especially with expectations and such.

i think that the trick is to pick a positive, achievable goal, and then to pursue it; almost machinelike in the beginning.

not to beat oneself up, and something that is wanted.

i mean, i know its tough to get started. but once you get some momentum, it is so worth the rewards.

Luv you just helped me out so much!! Honestly I have an issue with working out and have had for years. I used to be a fitness fanatic and got out of it over the past 5-6 years. When I try to get back into it, I feel like I never left and try to do too much at once. I end up burning myself out and quitting. I get down on myself for letting myself get so out of shape, comparing myself to how I used to be, and just blaming myself for quitting. I need to find something I enjoy and do that a few times a week. I am not going to set unreasonable goals for myself. Thanks so much for the post, it helped alot.

I'm trying to get into a routine. I have gained about 10lbs in the last couple months since I went on the pill to help balance my hormones. I am now about 135 and 5'6" tall. . . I have been about 125 for many years. All 10lbs went to my butt and all my jeans look awful.

I got a treadmill but I'm going to return it because when I get off it I get this really weird feeling for like 20-30 minutes like the room is moving faster than I am. I hear that goes away but I can't bring myself to get back on the treadmill!

I also want to be more fit arobically so hopefully the heat won't bother me so much this summer. I just need to figure out how to start. I don't like walking when it's cold outside, which is why I got the treadmill. I am wondering if a stationary bike would work for me. . . but I'm thinking of trying a few things in a gym before buying something.

LOL!!!

I luv you Paul R.!!!!

You usually are "on point" with your responses, and I love reading them, but when I read your resonse to mike, I was like, "uh, okay". Now I know you were just being funny.

I made it to session 5 about 3 weeks ago, but got stuck when it came to exercise and diet. Here I go for a second try. Today I sat on the bicycle without resistant for 20 minutes and did 25 sit-ups. Whoo Hoo!!!!

I dont feel like working out today... But im going to anyway... I know I will feel better after and after the 1st 10 minutes... It feels good doing something healthy and positive for myself.

"Motivation comes fr doing". That statement is particularly true when it comes to "exercising". There are a lot of times that you just need to DO IT - not think about it & YES, inspite of feeling tired & depressed. From the daily repetition of that "singular act = doing it any way" will come the motivation one seeks. Why? As God is my witness - you begin to feel better. I am no long lost relative of Jack Lalane, aka LENORE LALANE . I don't wake up every day totally excited to excise. However, I DO do it anyway - I owe, in part @ least, my recovery fr both anxiety disorder & depression to consistent exercising & healthy eating/portion control. I know fr only my very own experience of not only being a FORMER SUFFERER of BOTH disorders - but also fr being formerly very overweight.

Do you remember that tv show in the 80's FAME? In the beginning of that show, Debbie Allen(I think) is the dance teacher & she say's to them, "you want fame? well fame costs & here's where you start paying in sweat". Well, recovery fr anxiety disorder + depression & exercising can apply to that statement. Respectfully, I say(as I have said to myself mannnnnny a times) "you want recovery? You want to be healthier? live healthier? feel healthier/stronger/more energetic? Well, it costs & here is where you start paying in committment(to you/yourself) + consistency + time + dedication to exercising & eating better/healthier.

I know how hard it is - trust me, I know. I was diagnosed w/ major depression in March 2007, after spending almost 2 yrs recovering fr anxiety disorder + panic attacks + ptsd + severe sleep deprivation. I thought it was some sick joke(my depression). My case was extreme/severe enough that I required medication. To say my body/soul/spirit felt totally depleted would be an understatement. The existence depression created for me was one of a constant, 24/7 DOOM/GLOOM EXISTENCE - w/o will/drive/desire - depression was wanting to take it all fr me. It honestly felt like someone tazered me w/ a NEGATIVE STUN GUN type of thing - cause it was so extreme & so very opposite of all that I was. I never had depression b/4 - so this was foreign. I needed to address some things. They included my food issues + my weight. I was fat + had gotten lazy & lived to eat, NOT eat to live. I was 5'3 1/2 & 212lbs - size 22- almost size 24. I had a choice - FIGHT LIKE HECK - or allow it to envelop me. I chose to fight.

Oh yes, many a times I cried fr how hard it was - said a few bad words in between too, lol . Fortunately, I had something on my side quite valuable. Recovery fr anxiety disorder dictated I get to know myself - trust myself - love myself. So, when depression was fixing to tell me allllllllllll them lies, I didn't believe them. I did the opposite of what it was telling me - exerising included. I so didn't understand depression - however, I knew 1 thing. Whenever I did do "a little something", I FELT BETTER. So, so desperate for relief fr depression was I, I did that little something 1 DAY @ A TIME.For me, an analogy I honestly had on my journey, was this: everytime I put on a little SWEAT, I was sweating out the poison that was in my body, that was depression. I was going against the grain + I was doing for me - what was in my best interest - I was loving me & for the 1st time in my life, I WAS MAKING "ME" my #1 priority. I wanted & DESPERATELY needed to get healthy - so, I set out on that journey, 1 day @ a time.

There were more days than I can count, where I begged God to help me do this - no, not do it for me - but be my strength when I could not. I was a world of hurt, physically & emotionally. When I tried to exercise, it was like I was doing so w/ HUNDREDS OF LBS OF HEAVY METAL CHAINS ON ME, while SIMULTANEOUSLY hit an invisible FORCEFIELD w/ every single darn step I took. I cried & I took that step, CHAINS & ALL. I even cried & shouted in anger, "You shall not have me - I am a child of God & he loves me & I love him. Jesus claimed me a long time ago".That was an actual event that took place w/ me on my journey. You know how Lucinda says to let go & let God. Well I did. He couldn't do it for me & he wouldn't. He did guide me toward where I needed to go - I heard HIS WHISPERS opposed to the lies depression was speaking. So, me & my stubborn self - started: initially walking that 1/2 block + progressing to around the block + to an hour w/ my ipod on around the neighborhood + to the treadmill + to the gym + to Weight Watchers. My motivation, as I have said many times - WAS/IS/ALWAYS will be cause I WANTED TO FEEL BETTER. The more I did, the better I felt - as I progressed, the depression lifted + the med's lowered + the weight came off + the clothing sizes got smaller. Yes, I had to fight for it - darn hard & yes I cried OFTENNNNNNNNNNNNN. However, my reward is not only my recovery - but also my physical health - I've lost 70+ lbs - size 6(some size 4's). I don't need any med's - including cholesterol.

My motivation is 2 parts:

1) Being in the pits of emotional hell/despair & climbing my way out.

2) The REMINDERS. I got real honest w/ myself. I think back - I recall that I used to think that way + react that way + act that way + stress that way + eat that way + don't exercise any way + think negatively all those ways + get angry that way - & look where it got me. Then, I think about all the changes I've made in me/my life & the positive domino effects of those changes - & how my life & me have changed for the better - as result of the actions I have taken. So, if I stop - allow things to fall by the waist side - that will cost me what I hold dear = my mental/emotional/physical/spirtual HEALTH + INDEPENDANCE + WELL BEING. I love me too much for that. Yes, I allow myself to acknowledge how hard it all is. I then remind myself how good I feel now & get to stepping.

I was home, not working yet, when I was diagnosed w/ depression. I had every opportunity in the world NOT TO. I didn't want fancy things or material possessions - I just wanted to feel better. I do get support fr family + friends + hubby + weight watchers meeting members - INVALUABLE. However, it is me who has to WANT IT - IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN IT.

Your friend,

LENORE

I used to work out all the time and felt great but I stopped once the weather got cold. I lost almost ten pounds (not good when you're a guy). I can't bring myself to go to the gym because of all the people.
But you don't need a gym to work out. You don't even need any equipment. I start with stretching. Sometimes that's the only thing I do- but so be it. Something is better than nothing. Try using your own body weight for exercises- sit-ups, push-ups, squats, lunges, ect. It keeps things simple. Start small- one or two sets of five reps. And work your way up.
If it's cold outside, do something aerobic inside. dance, walk up and down the stairs, clean- anything that gets you moving.
If you only start with exercising for 5 or 10 minutes, that's perfectly fine. I guarantee that eventually you'll want to do it for longer.
Make it fun too- watch tv, listen to music, have someone do it with you.

I only lift weights 2x a week... Today I am going to stretch and do yoga for 30-45 minutes... My muscles are sore from working out this week... dnlsnow how old are you? The last time I stopped working out and lost weight, I was 20-21... I'm 29 now, and when I stop working out, my weight stays the same or goes up... When I workout and do lots of cardio, it goes down... That's interesting how that is...

But anyway, I just love stretching... It just feels so good and I actually do get a nice relaxation response from it... What goes through my mind is:

I'm increasing circulation to my muscles, relaxing them and perfusing them with rich oxygen-saturated blood and getting rid of the broken down muscle cells and metabolic waste-products... I also feel my joints becoming more lubricated and more pliable... Stretching is my fountain of youth... It just feels good to correctively re-balance muscles and bring improved body alignment... Stretching just feels good and it is good for us... I also like how stretching reduces pain and improves recovery.

Here's my logic: All exercise feels good to me, but I have various reasons for doing a variety.

Weight training for stress relief and I just like the pump. Also, the sense of accomplishment of lifting heavy weight, and lastly, I like the cosmetic benefits.

Cardio for stress relief and I like the heart-health benefits. It is the best exercise for our heart and lungs.

Yoga/Stretching for stress relief and a healthy body. It does not do much for heart health, or maybe it does. I do like the relaxation response I get from stretching and just the time to myself to unwind and be laid back.


I always like how I feel after any form of physical activity. Today, I will stretch before I start training clients. Just stretching, but I love how I found an activity I can do on my rest days. IT definitely helps control my anxiety. I remember 2-years ago, I felt I had to workout hard everyday to get through my day. Now I can workout with weights twice a week only, do cardio 1-2 on other days and stretch on non-cardio or weight training days... This is why stretching is so important and valuable to me. It is great for anxiety relief and great for the body in creating balance and enhancing injury prevention.