Walking to the Corner

I have always loved when the previous year is over, and a new one has begun.

This year, at the top of my New Year's Resolutions, is daily exercise - EVERY day.

Last year, I started exercising in early April. My exercise was not anything fancy. I simply walked. Outdoors in the sunshine, fresh air and alone, away from the stress (and people) of everyday life.

When I began, I could barely make it to the next street, but by the time May arrived, I was up to 3 miles a day, EVERY day. If it was raining, I went to the mall; didn't care what I looked like, I was there on business, important business. If it was a hundred degrees, I walked anyway. Some days, I had to MAKE myself, in tiny increments, just get out the front door; but once I got my feet moving, I felt better and one foot followed the other.

For me, the walking made a huge difference. Sometimes, it helped keep a high from soaring off the charts, and sometimes it helped keep a low from plummeting so far down. Walking gave me time to breathe, to think, to reflect, to slow down my thoughts. Though losing weight was never the goal, I did - twenty pounds. Walking made me feel better about everything. It was wonderful.

Then, in late October, I started missing days, and before I knew it, walking was no longer a part of my routine. Makes me sad, mad and guilty to think about what I abandoned.

But, it's a new year! And, I am starting my DAILY exercise plan anew.

I started my exercise program back up too. Because I know how great the benefits are. I do always feel better afterward.

Good luck to you and keep on walking.

Congratulations on getting it back. I am starting a new program tomorrow. I am starting with a commitment of at least 5 minutes a day no matter what the weather. Wish me luck.

Good luck!

I think the idea of committing to 5 minutes is a terrific way to start. It's not overwhelming and is doable. Sometimes, when I don't want to walk, I say to myself "just make it to that tree" or "that driveway" - and by the time I get there, I say the same thing about the next tree or driveway. Before I know it, I am actually enjoying the exercise and continue willingly.

Thanks Calliemood for starting this topic. By including when I exercise in my journal notes, I realized how much it improved my moods. On December 23rd after reading exercise encouragement at another site I determined that exercise was going to be my top priority in the morning.

I drag myself out of bed with the promise that I can go back to bed if I want to after I exercise. I started with a very easy, relaxing 15 minute stretching routine and am already up to 35 minutes that includes 7 minutes of aerobic. Tomorrow I plan to tack on a 15 minute walk because I think being outside in the morning is one of the best things for not only mood, but sleep quality as well.

How is everyone doing with their exercise goals? I forget who said that they were starting with a 5 minute walk, but I wanted to let you know that a few years ago that was all I could manage at first too, but eventually I could walk for an hour and felt like I could go for another hour as well. Give yourself a mental hug for every minute.

K

Probably due to interrupted sleep and PMS, I spent the morning obsessing over a strained family relationship. All I wanted to do was pull the covers over my head and hide from the world for awhile, which I did for about 2 1/2 hours. I then reminded myself of my exercise commitment. Just 2 minutes into it I REALLY WANTED TO JUST GO BACK TO BED! My arms and legs felt like they had 20 pound weights on each of them. I kept promising myself that I only had to endure 35 minutes of activity and then I could go back to bed. Well I did make it to 30 minutes even able to do 7 minutes of aerobic!!! I couldn't push myself the last 5 minutes, but instead of crawling back into bed, I took a shower and now I actually feel pretty good and ready to get a few things done. And I'm not obsessing and crying anymore either. Sorry I just needed to share what for me is a HUGE step forward on the journey to good health.

K

Hey Kef--way to go with the excercise. This month I have made a promise to myself to do something three times a week, and thus far I have done pretty well at it. As we are in the double digit negative real temperature numbers, it usually means exercise tapes indoors but every little bit helps I guess.
I wonder tho, if I am really going with the hypomanic rapid thoughts or anxiety i find it better to wait until that passes because, for me, exercise just makes that symptom worse. Exercise helps when I am depressed and helps me stay at my baseline, but makes agitation worse. Of course, we are still adjusting my meds but I was wondering if others have had the same problem?
Callie ---I hope we can both keep up our exercise resolutions. My talk therapy person has me tracking it as well as my mood--that seems to help with the motivation part.

Yep, Lizabeth, there's nothing like accountability for me, too. Hate it, but need it. Being accountable to myself never works. Just knowing that I posted about exercise on this forum is sort of like being accountable to the whole wide world! Ugh.

Well done everyone :) I used to have such problems walking anyway. I'd spent so long in bed when I was particularly unwell that my muscles had started to waste away. I've gradually built up over time, but the real turning point was when we adopted our dog, Barney. He's pretty old, but he still has lots of energy, and he loves to spend time with other dogs. So I go out with him at 12 everyday, meet some friends and their dogs, and we walk round the park for an hour. Looking back, it's almost unbelievable that I can do that without being utterly exhausted, but I hardly even notice I'm doing it, because I'm having a good time (Barney has also played a massive roll in getting over what was bordering on social phobia). I like walking because it gives me time to think, and I don't really feel like I'm exercising, and I try to walk into town when the weather is good (living in the North England is not great for that :p). I also starting jogging occasionally last year (really need to get back to doing that), which is something I never thought I'd do.

Good luck everyone with their exercise goals :)

Go, go, go with the exercise. Hey, we could compare Northern Minnesota and New England for worst weather--this year I think it would be a tough call.

The exercise answer for me was MOXIE....our poodle mix toy puppy. My teenage girls just HAD to have her, and then were bored with her and her daily needs. "Oh, I PROMISE, Mom. WE will do it all."

I grew up on a farm and nearly always had a dog around. I had a son when I married my husband, HE had a golden retriever. We lost three of those on a busy road. He just refused to put a dog on a leash. We finally figured out a tramatic situation in his youth that made him feel this way. He has finally changed his tune and always uses a leash.

Moxie needs to be walked first thing in the morning every day. Changed my life. She is always SO happy. She loves me best. If we miss our walk, she chews up something, and may make a mess in the house. Yes, Moxie, has been my salvation to a simple exercise program.

This is just an attempt to motivate myself post. I was doing really well with excercise then I got really ill with a nasty flu and my routine was broken. Now I finally feel better, and I got a sleep med that works--so, hopefully tomorrow its back on the treadmill , not really, actually I do exercise tapes,but its the principle of it that matters.

Did you make it "back on the treadmill"? Speaking of which, I better get off of here and go get on mine.

K

Hi Kef---I made it as far as dancing around to some CDs--here in northern MN our daily high hardly ever exceeds 20degress so its inside exercise for now. I am having some complications from some med switches so dancing around is about all I can do right now---but at least I'm doing that.

I have been told by my doctor that dancing is a great form of exercise. Isn't it nice to have something fun that is exercise? Lately I have been getting movies from the library and put them on and walk in place. It's not the BEST exercise, but it beats nothing. I really get into the movies. It is hard to turn them off. I can really feel a difference after walking. My legs feel like blood is really pumping through. It feels good even if I am overexcited.