You must be really chuffed with yourself Pipp! You just reel off all of your activities 'matter of factly' - are you beginning to feel fitter now?
Thank you, Bebo321
I am not that chuffed really, as it is such a struggle at the moment to actually make up the 30 minutes. I would love to be able to keep moving for the full 30 mins, but for now that is not going to happen. So I will have to be satisfied with what I am able to do.
I am not sure I am feeling fitter, unless I compare how I was at the start of the challenge to how I am now. At the start I had had over a year being very dependent on others, due to having two surgical operations, in the space of a year, on my abdomen that had been rather traumatic. So my exercise had been almost zero for too long. Immediately prior to that, I had been exercising in water for at least an hour at a time, five times a week. I have perhaps tried too hard to get back to that level too quickly, and set myself back. A lesson painfully (physically and mentally) learned, that we need to listen to our bodies and take note, and act accordingly. I had a little demon in my head telling me to exercise for an hour a day, or be dead for 24 hours a day, which is far too extreme, even though I get the message to move more.
Prior to becoming disabled in an accident 20 odd years ago, I was very active, would drop the kids at school, then go and swim a mile or so before work. Would walk in Lakeland fells, swim in lakes rivers and sea, run, dance, gymnastics. Happy days! Now apart from the water based stuff, I won't be doing all the other activities. I have to admit that I feel envious when my husband and family go off to do these activities, even though I encourage them to go without me. Even something simple as a day out to the park is often not achievable for me. Despite,hopefully, conquering my T2, I have other degenerative conditions, including a rare, incurable blood disorder, that wicked Mother Nature has designed to be exacerbated by strenuous exercise. Not looking for a pity party here, though. I guess I just got old and infirm earlier than I should have. Would just like to say to those who are able, get out, walk, move, cycle, swim, whatever, enjoy the environment, because you will miss it if you suddenly find you can't.
Oh well, I have discovered Pilates, and I can do that without even getting out of bed.
As for being 'matter of fact', I think that could be a reaction to getting 'burned' in a couple of other threads recently. Thinking the best way for me to avoid that is to be more objective In things I say, rather than giving opinions that some people, who don't agree want to turn personal.
Conversely though, this thread gives me hope. Your kind words have made me open up more than I intended. Maybe only kind people exercise, eh? The '42' challenge has provided the impetus to start working towards an achievable level of activity, that I can sustain and vary, as much as my knackered body will allow. I think there is always some sort of innovative way to make moving about an integral part of daily routine. I am enjoying, so much, hearing about ways people on here are meeting the 42 challenge, and the daily exercise/activity will be embedded in my routine for ever now, thanks to you guys.
Cheers
Pipp