Hi everyone,
Ever since I've had lupus, I've been maaaaajorly exhausted, and it's a lot harder for me to exercise. I like to take brisk walks and such, but does anyone have any good exercise tips that are good while battling fatigue?
Hello! The first thing I want to say is "Do Not Overdo it". I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten all pumped up to workout and end up overdoing it and ending up in bed for a week or causing a flare. I have learned that lesson all to well.
I am regularly walking and doing pilates and it does help with the fatigue. I started so slow and have now worked up to a daily 2 mile walk and pilates three times a week. I am sleeping better. This has worked for me and made a huge improvement on my mood and how I generally feel.
I know we each are so different...hope this helps.
Hi Lark,For me, I joined the YMCA and swim and stretch in the water.
Hi Lark,
Like Kathy said apparentley swimming is the main exercise as my rheumo told me to do it for strengthening my muscles with the muscle wastage plus it being a good exercise anyway for Lupus but when i told him i could'nt through my seizures and being banned from swimming baths in the past he saw my point.
So i'd do that and start doing it slowly.
Love Terry xxx
I to like to walk but had to start out very slowly so as not to overdo, but am now proud to say that I am walking 4 to 5 times a week 5 miles per day. I walk with a friend which I highly recommend! Not only do you have someone to talk to that passes the time quickly but they are there if for some reason I can't make it back I have someone to go get the car for me. But any exercise that you can manage will help with the fatigue. I know how hard it is to get started when you feel like crap to begin with but just taking that first step will help! Good Luck to you :-)
Unfortunately I have been taken out of the pool for now too, partly because of the Raynaud's and not being able to tolerate even what they consider to be the heated pool, and because of muscular attacks that I suffer. I loved the arthritis classes, did so well I took swimming lessons, but like always, I get so well I think I can beat this, get so close I can taste wellness, then either rapidly slide back down or really CRASH!! I'm a hard head, don't like to be down, always get back up, it takes a good while though. This seems to be common even if in different degrees.
I have some exercises recommended by the Chiropractor, many like the ones JC mentioned. Walking is good and on exceptional days, I can still pedal a bike a bit. Just got a new front tire, actually asked for it for my B-day! HA! Just like a kid, I like my bike, even if I look at it much more than I am able to ride it!
Wishing you all my best,
SK
Swimming has always been my go to prior to Lupus dx. I think anything that has full body involvement. Don't push it but, remain active everyday. Even if its just walking around your house or up and down the front stairs to your house or walking around the block. On days when I have flares laps around my block or around my living room. Anything to keep my body and muscles active.
Good Luck
Hello Unshoreandscared,
That's one good postive reply you've done there because although we need the rest to boost we back up....constantley lying relapses your muscles even more but like you mentioned just toddling around the house in between at least your keeping muscles active in between.
P.S i hope your feeling abit better now besides.
All my love Terry xxx
Unshoreandscared said:
Swimming has always been my go to prior to Lupus dx. I think anything that has full body involvement. Don't push it but, remain active everyday. Even if its just walking around your house or up and down the front stairs to your house or walking around the block. On days when I have flares laps around my block or around my living room. Anything to keep my body and muscles active.
Good Luck
Hi Ann,
My grandson and I play those games too, we even have the Olympics! They are great fun and good movement! Hope you can soon enjoy them with him again. Life spent with the grandkids is the good life.
I am not capable of the boxing though! He has to get Pap for that one! That game wears out the young and well! Ha!
SK
Thanks everybody for all your replies! Before lupus, I was always active and when I started to get symptoms, the fact that I couldn't do everything like I had before was hard to get used to. I'll definitely look into all your suggestions!
Hope you're all feeling well today. :D
Good questions!!!!! I have polymyositis and my legs give out on just short walks. Let me know too if you get any good feed back. GOOD LUCK!!! Many blessings and hugs
Start off slow and build up to a full routine as your stamina gets better. and listen to your body.
Hi Julie,
I'm in the same boat as fighter regarding the polymyositis (muscle wastage) walking is a major issue and then your ready to drop with the pain it gives you but i do hope LARK finds something to suite her.
Love Terry xxx
Julie said:
Start off slow and build up to a full routine as your stamina gets better. and listen to your body.
I wanted to get the kinnect, because of the full body movement aspect. I like to be involved in my games. Maybe I will buy it for myself this christmas, my daughter has a wii and we play Michael Jackson's game alot, it helps with my coordination and muscle toning. I can only imagine the kinnect.
Remember that when you work out your body needs more protein to build muscle. I find I don't get as sore if I eat something small with protein before and after I work out (even just a long walk). When I don't I can barely move for a couple of days! I also have to be very careful not to over exercise. I have always been incredibly strong physically and I can still dig deep to lift, etc. but then I really pay for it. Ugh, now I even ask for help moving furniture;(
Lark, Lark!!!! funny that you are talking about this LUPUS stuff, being tired yes is all apart of LUPUS . Since Feb. 2011, i've learne how to hadle this part , my days involve that i dont have anything to do is to REST all day long , (which include NOTHING !!!!!! ) , and pleanty of QUITE time ALONE -smile .... And making sure that watever has to be done gets done on the planned days , which i make schedules out , they most of the time work out !!! But the enegry that i get from what i call POWER NAPPING thoughtout the day is GREAT . Am refreshed and have so much GET up and GO spirit , mandam rally not even really tired afterwards as bad . So maybe you could try POWER NAPPING for about 2-3 mths . and see how it works for you!!!! Think about it !!! talk with you later ..... Beverly L.
Hello Lark,
How you feeling in your health now and have you come to any exercise you think you'd like to do?
Please keep we updated Terri xxx
Hi!
I'm feeling pretty well, but really tired. How're you feeling? So far for exercise I've been doing stretching and some walking, but I hope to start up Tai chi soon or yoga! :]
Hello lark,
Same issues as usual but some days are more heavy so i take more parcetamol.
Nice to hear your doing pretty well that's always nice to hear at the least....well the stretching and walking will help but always remember not to push your body to hard as you don't want it falling back on you, that's the only trouble with Lupus sometimes you can try your hardest to help it and it still refuses to like it.lol
Yoga is surposed to be good but that "Tai chi" people do more now in the uk.
Well i wish you all the best. All my love Terry xxx
Lark said:
Hi!
I'm feeling pretty well, but really tired. How're you feeling? So far for exercise I've been doing stretching and some walking, but I hope to start up Tai chi soon or yoga! :]
I do aquatherapy in a heated pool-partially for Fibromyalgia, but I also hope to boost my energy. Do you have young children? I think I remember that you do. I have a 6 and 2 yr. old and no family around. It's tough to do anything else. We have to hire a sitter so I can go to therapy, and on some days just rest. The PT's recommend light stretching and walking; yoga, things like that.
I agree to not overdo it. I continually think I can, and maybe get buff while I'm doing this stuff, but then I suffer. Last week I traipsed around Universal Studios, went to PT, and went to a birthday party which was outside in the hot sun. I was still feeling good then, and I just had to join in on the line dancing in direct sun. It's almost a week later and I wake up in more pain, and it's hard to take care of kids and make dinner again. It was all worth it for the week of happiness it brought me, but I will not do that again for a while!
Just when you think you feel normal and do normal fun things, bam-it's back to laying around again!
I hope you get relief from the fatigue-it's horrible!