Magazine Monday: admirable motivation

I featured Ann Romney from last year's Fierce List from More Magazine. This year, I'm featuring another fierce lady from this list: Misty May-Treanor. The beach volleyball superstar has a pretty cool motto. Play for all those who can't, the sick, the disabled.

As I've talked about a few times on this blog, my experience with losing the ability to walk and otherwise use my legs appropriately, had a big impact on me. I think the human body and what it can do when it is functioning properly is pretty darn amazing. As in, miraculous and very much worth celebrating. I try to keep this mindset present as much as possible, now that my legs do basically work. And I've been trying to use this as a motivation for using them - for walking, for working out, for pushing myself. I am planning to crystallize these thoughts into something more concrete, but I love the idea of exercise and physical mastery over tasks like sports and endurance challenges being done because they can be done. Running a race because you can run, and so forth. This is the spirit of May-Treanor's motto and I really admire and appreciate it. Thoughts?

On Exercise

I was a very athletic kid. Most sports came very naturally to me and I loved them all. I was always outside shooting hoops or riding bike or playing something or the other with neighborhood kids. I played basketball at school through junior high and stopped playing only because I decided to focus more on music. However, I continued to be fairly active. In college, I could often be found playing frisbee. I also got into yoga and weight lifting.

My current, post-MS activity and exercise levels are very much lacking. A few years ago I joined a gym and had a very dedicated schedule. I worked out several times a week and pretty intensely. Then I had a neuro appointment, where I complained that my pain had been consistently really bad for quite a while. It took about two seconds for the doc to figure out why - the exercise. It's a troubling catch 22. Exercise is good for overall health and helps certain MS-related issues like energy levels and constipation. BUT for those of us with the delight of nerve pain, it very much exacerbates the problem. Also, exercising too intensely can cause overheating issues which can make all symptoms worse AND can make fatigue significantly worse. After that appointment, I pretty much stopped working out totally.

I used to LOVE that post-workout feeling after a really hard, intense, vigorous workout. It was hard work and I was worn out, but somehow also totally energized and felt incredible. Endorphins are awesome. This no longer happens, ever. If I work out at that intense, vigorous level that used to leave me feeling amazing, strong, and invincible, I now feel completely and utterly defeated, a limp noodle unable to even imagine doing any physical activity ever again. PLUS I'm in overwhelming, agonizing pain.

So, I'm in a tough place. I want to and intend to work out at a moderate level regularly, but I hardly ever do. I know that I need the various positive effects of the exercise BUT I am so terrified of making my pain worse. It's already bad enough too often. And I would love to experience an energy boost from working out, but I'm afraid of not finding the magic spot where I get this boost and instead get the total system shutdown effect.

in the pool with my niece and our hippo friend

My doc recommended getting in the pool as the very best thing I could do. Too bad I'm not a swimmer. However, I do currently live at a place with a pool and I have used it and find I can get a decent workout without exacerbating my problems too much. It's still not my natural habitat, though. I need to make it a consistent, regular habit to get in the pool. I also need to consistently lift weights and do yoga. A friend and I just started an accountability program where we check in with each other once a week about our progress in certain areas. For me, it's working out. My current weekly goal is lifting weights at least once a week and some form of cardio at least twice a week. This first week I only swam once, so there is definite room for improvement.

Any tips on how to make exercise a positive part of your life?

Tuesday's TaDa!

I like the idea of having some regular "series" on the blog, like yesterday's Magazine Monday where I'll discuss an MS-related tidbit I've read in a magazine. I have ideas for all of the weekdays, and I'll try to "premiere" them all this week. Then you'll probably see them here and there, but not every day and sporadic, occasional regular non-series posts will resume.

So, for Tuesday's TaDa! I'm going to celebrate a personal accomplishment by sharing it with y'all. I tend to put down or brush off my successes and I know this isn't always healthy. I don't want to brag, of course, but I think taking a moment to be proud of something is a good thing.

Today, my mom and I took an 80 minute walk along a lovely trail that we recently discovered. We're both trying to exercise more and work on fitness and general health. I'm also trying to lose some weight. I've been counting calories pretty consistently as well as trying to fit in more exercise. Exercise can be tricky for me, because most forms of it increase my nerve pain in my feet and legs. My neuro wants me in the pool every day since that won't aggravate the pain, but I'm not really much of a swimmer and don't have easy access to a pool. I've found that taking some preemptive meds before something like this vigorous walk helps mitigate the damage. I also find being in nature to be a great distraction from the pain. Anyway, I've lost about 20 pounds and I actually weigh what it says on my driver's license, my first weight loss goal. I still have a ways to go, but today I'm going to be proud of this accomplishment.

I've reached a weight loss goal and I'm exercising somewhat regularly, like today's awesome walk! TaDa!!!!!!!!!!

my favorite spot on this awesome trail

Do you have a TaDa to share? I'd love to hear about it!!