Exercise anyone?: Hi, I have just... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Exercise anyone?

JessFM profile image
15 Replies

Hi, I have just turned 29 (In June). I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in November 2021. I have today thought I would start 20min light exercise for mobility (hips and knees mainly) to do consistently to see if I find it helpful in any way. I am in pain 24/7 and only getting worse.. there are adults twice my age that are healthier than myself which is embarassing.

I have found a lady on Youtube who has some great videos that many might find beneficial. She is called 'The girl with the pilates mat' ... If you try it, let me know how you get along or if there are any videos or exercises you are finding beneficial.

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JessFM profile image
JessFM
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15 Replies
JamesPDeans profile image
JamesPDeans

Don't be embarrassed by your poor health, or lack of fitness.

If you try new exercises get into them gradually and stop when you need to, then continue. The pause button is great!

As time goes on you'll be able to do more for longer. But listen to your body, gradually your fitness level can improve and then when you've reached a level you're happy with maintain that. I find that it's best to do the same amount of exercise every day.

JessFM profile image
JessFM in reply toJamesPDeans

Hi, thankyou for responding to my post. I have a 3 year old autistic son so I can only exercise at certain times when he is kept busy preferably at nursery. I tried doing exercises at home while getting him to join in and he prefers to climb on me then we just start playing. Fun though! I used to be very healthy doing trampolining, swimming and martial arts before the age of 18 now i'm terribly rusty and stiff. I am introducing exercise again slowly and doing beginners level. I did actually do Hydrotherapy which the GP got me to go to but it never made much difference. I guess it's not for everybody. I used to be so healthy, my fibromyalgia started after I had my son .

JamesPDeans profile image
JamesPDeans in reply toJessFM

I do cold water swimming - helps the aches and pains - plus gives you a buzz

Mille21 profile image
Mille21

I use chair exercises with weights one lady is called meredith but don't know name of other lady but they are both good mine is for seniors so you might want to try a different one but they are on YouTube I also do 280 squats a day x

JessFM profile image
JessFM in reply toMille21

Oh Blimeyyyy, you put me to shame! 280 squats a day is magnificent. I can only dream! I actually have some senior exercises to do due to my stiffness I have to take it easy.

Here is the link to one of the videos for seniors if you are interested:

youtu.be/06fDbfMis1o?si=sJc...

Mille21 profile image
Mille21

Thank you I have been doing squats for a few years though I feel it really helps I'm 66 xx

JessFM profile image
JessFM in reply toMille21

I know, i looked at your profile briefly and thought you must be younger than me to be doing so many and then you mentioned senior exercises. My admiration is through the roof, good on you.. i bet you look amazing for it too! Xx

Mille21 profile image
Mille21 in reply toJessFM

Aaaw thank you I can't say I look amazing I try my best I used to run only like 5k but can't do that now it's just with a squats couner app once you start it's in blocks so you rest in-between each block have a go you will soon be doing the same xx

RustyOBear profile image
RustyOBear

Hi Jess, firstly welcome, and I hope by dropping in from time to time you find some useful tips to try out.

I’d say to never compare yourself on any level with someone else, easier said than done I know from my own experience, but it’s such a destructive thing to engage in.

Even though we all share the diagnosis Fibromyalgia and share a lot of symptoms in common, we still have differences in how we experience it and that’s where sharing rather than comparing can relieve the isolation and give us things to try out, and simply vent to others who’ll understand and support us.

Movement for anyone is key and needs to be done gently and at our own pace. Start small and gradually build up. It may be that five minutes is all you can tolerate to start with. You may find it better to do two small sessions a day.

Walking is underrated, again , pace yourself and avoid judging yourself. Being in nature for a little while can be very calming too.

Since pain is a regular backdrop I look to things that are enjoyable and will distract me, at least for a while and use the App Headspace to deal with anxiety through meditation. There are other Apps such as Calm. Calming our nervous system can help reduce discomfort in body and mind.

Good luck and drop in to let us all know how you get on.

JessFM profile image
JessFM in reply toRustyOBear

Thankyou very much, i will certainly take on board not comparing myself to others.. i tend to do that ALOT and always look for the bad in myself.

I tried the apps, i can never relax and focus enough to engage in them (ADHD).

Im going to do a back and posture exercise tomorrow so i'm going to stick to it. I roped my mother in law in to do it with me.

JamesPDeans profile image
JamesPDeans in reply toRustyOBear

I've built up my walking. Today I dis 20,000 steps = 9 miles, in easy stages on the flat

Camille1 profile image
Camille1

Before I had fibro I was in the gym most days, HIIT and weight training & was really fit. When initially diagnosed, I couldn't do anything at the gym. I put on weight and I had to build back up by swimming (combined with the sauna to loosen me up)! I steadily increased my distance and pace. I can now do a session or 2 a week in the gym too, but I know I won't get back to where I was 10 years ago 😔 but I realise I have to accept it. Best wishes ☺

Twin4Life profile image
Twin4Life

Hi,

Please don't feel embarrassed about your health or abilities. I am 26 and I probably have fibromyalgia. I also feel like there are much older people who are far healthier than I am, but I try not to think about it. I try to focus on my own health and what small steps I can take to make myself healthier.

My recommendation to you, based on what has worked for me so far is to start slowly and gently with exercise. I go for a walk once a day. Right now, I try to walk for about 45 minutes to an hour on mostly flat surfaces. But, I may try to increase that in the future. I also suffer with stiffness in my muscles, but I find yoga/physiotherapy exercises help a quite a bit. I started by doing around 10-15 minutes of yoga/physio everyday and have now increased it over several months to about 45 minutes.

But, just remember it is good to do both stretches to loosen tight muscles and exercises to strengthen them. It might seem counterintuitive to try to strengthen muscles that are already tight. But, unfortunately muscles that are constantly contracted/stiff weaken over time and need to be strengthened. So if you only loosen them with stretching you might find yourself in more pain because they won't support your body the way they should.

I wish you the best of luck on your health journey!

Labradoodlelove profile image
Labradoodlelove

weight training is the way forward start slowly with light weights then gradually increase it’s helped me enormously and I’m 69 you strengthen your muscles to protect those bones 😃

I exercise with weights 3 times per week and have 3 cardio session on treadmill or walking outdoors, I even go hiking too.

If I don't do any of these for a week or two I notice an increase in pain and my joints feel worse.

So exercise does help me a lot, I'm 55.

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