Exercise...

I on week three of the new exercise regime. So far I've lost 3 lbs... right on track for my 5 lbs a month, I'm moving better, and I feel clearer mentally. The skirt that was a bit! too tight a couple of weeks ago was actually loose enough to move around!

I also hurt like heck. I didn't even know I had muscles in some of the places I hurt. I am having attacks of edema almost every day but that may be due to the heat more than the exercise and that hurts also as my skin gets much to taut and my feet HURT!

The majority of the pain is later in the day so getting up and hitting the gym before work is a good strategy for me. I've been riding my bike in to work except when the afternoon temps are over 85. I almost gave myslef heat stroke the other day. The last mile and a half has no shade so I got much too hot. In keeping with my determination, I just ride 3 miles on a bike at the gym on those days instead.

I THINK there is an improvement on the migraine front but it is too early to tell. I need to give the whole thing a few months before I really tell. My appetite is much better and I'm eating earlier in the day and less at night which is key to being able to get back in shape. I do feel like I'm eating all day as I have something to nibble on every couple of hours. I'm trying to eat foods that increase Serotonin and Norephinephrine (sp) production as those are the two neurotransmitters that I know are part of my problems.

It's not easy but since I grew up with Catholic guilt I am using it to my benefit this time. Since my bosses are paying for the gym and the trainer, I'm allowing myself to feel guilty if I don't show up. And since it is first thing in the morning, I'm not giving myself enough time to talk myself out of going. I've learned a bit about myself over the years. It's time to use that to my advantage.

Woohoo!!!

That catholic guilt is tough stuff. My Dad was a lapsed Catholic all his adult life. Refused to go to Church. On his death bed, with him semi comatose we had to scramble to find a Priest for last rites.

It was only after we finally got one (had to pull strings with my influential Catholic friend to get one here) and Dad had his final confession and last rites he was much less restless and quietly slipped in to a coma....

Exercise? What's that?

I get on my treadmill once in a blue moon and then remember why I don't do it more often. It makes my head explode!

I am very happy to hear about your success. Any chance I could mail you my extra pouns and have you work them off for me? ;-)

Yay Alli!!!!!

If the pain in your body is from the newly used muscls, then it will subside soon enough.

I only get sore (the bad kind, not the satisfying kind of sore that makes you remember you worked out) when I do something too hard or I try to use a whole new group of muscles.

Sadly, I can't say it's been helping my head. I feel much better when I work out, but my head does not...if that makes sense.

Either way....awesome for you!!!! Yay! Keep it up!

Okay, Les, I'm with you. Excess lbs are to packaged and shipped to Alli and Milo. Thanks Ladies for the help!

Actually, the two of you are an inspiration.

fantastic! the m.a did do a discussion on excercise and migs, it can only make you feeel better. gym here i come ..... well maybe tomorrow!!!

Yay Alli..that's awesome.

Good for you! I myself can't handle much exercise, but I did get in the pool today. However, I didn't do much exercise in it, other than playing with my cousin's 6-year-old daughter. My aunt was holding my cousin's 3-year-old son and spinning in circles with him to sing "Ring around the Rosie," and of course on "We all fall down," she went under the water with him. He was giggling so much that Maya wanted to do that too, so I had to play it with her, albeit going more slowly in circles than my aunt could handle. For one round, they insisted we all four go at once, and my aunt's pace nearly made my head get too bad, but I just barely hung in there enough to stay in the pool another 15 minutes or so. My problem is that although we have a pool, which is perfect exercise, I can't handle being in the sun much, even with sunglasses on, and I can't handle putting my head under water, or the cold on my ears will trigger my head, which is a strain on the neck. I'm just not good with exercise of any sort!

One thing did come to mind, though. When I took a migraine awareness class, as a prerequisite to seeing a headache specialist I once saw (because of Ronda's and books I've read, I could have taught the class, but everyone else learned something new), the RNP who taught it suggested that sex is a great way to exercise and even quoted how many calories people typically use up doing it! Of course, there are those people for whom sex is a major trigger!

Alli and Milo,

I finally did something with all that inspiration you're giving me. I walked about half a mile tonight after the sun went down and it cooled off.

I know it doesn't compare to what you two are doing, but that's the farthest I've walked in months. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that my thighs are doing that little electrical, tingling thing. It feels good, knowing I stimulated my muscles, but not so good that it happened after such a short walk.

Yay!! Keep it up. The first few times are the hardest especially as the muscles ache a bit after exercise, but in now time that feels better.

Sex is great exercise and endorphins are a great pain reliever! I just have to find someone worth exercising with!

Alli, well done and for keeping it up. Even if the migraines don't improve dramatically (which hopefully they will), it's doing you a whole lot of good.

You're making me feel a bit guilty too, which is good!! I start things, then discontinue when the migraines intervene and then lose all enthusiasm.

Thanks for the kick up the *&%£

Liz

Way to go Char! It does compare. For each of us, doing what we can do is doing our best...so it most definately compares!

This weekend I managed a total of 20 kilometers of walking, 2 running (it's really hot here right now), about four hours of nasty gardening (made the bushes into shapes) and a whole lot of weights and stretching. (Remember last December I was a total inactive couch potato).

You would be amazed at how quickly you can progress to more. We all know our body's well, so we know when to stop and what our limits are.

Just listen to your body. Each tiny little bit adds up to improved health. It may not take your headaches away, but it will certainly help you overall, AND ward off some of the nasty side effects of our meds.

I just biked to and back from work. Was tough but it feels good. It`s an extra 350 calories burned, saves gas and reduces my carbon foot print. The down side is that I start work sweaty. argh

I count my workout for the week as lugging my bags through the airport and walking up the bank at the Lowes Nascar track in Charlotte. My superfit DIL said that little hike affected her hip points(?).

Oh, oh...plus I spent about two hours walking around a outlet mall. Not conventional exercise but I was up out of bed.

Yay! Milo, Charlotte and Vicky!

If my gym wasn't across the parking lot from my office, I couldn't bike to work. Way to sweaty! My legs are looking better and even though my body is protesting all this work, I am seeing real improvement. Both my mother and my sister told me they can tell I am doing better just by the way I sound over the phone. I have a lot more energy and am feeling more positive about life.

Sooooo.... if you can, get out there and walk, lug those bags, ride that bike, swim... whatever. You will feel better!