Exercising with Multiple Sclerosis

Exercising with Multiple Sclerosis

Exercise? Most people are rolling their eyes right now at the thought.  Let me tell you my story with exercising. 9+ years ago when I got a divorce I bought myself an elliptical and made myself a promise, no matter what becomes of this equipment I will never use it as a hanger for my clothing. That was the only deal I made. I started slow with working out. I’d plug my iPod in and do the elliptical for a song, then two, etc.  I was up to 45 minutes at one point but I started getting bored. Then I found www.beachbody.com.  That became my workout place of choice.  I’m a huge fan of Chalene Johnson, Tony Horton and Shaun T.  I started working out in various ways 7 days a week.  I was slightly obsessed. I lost over 40lbs that I’ve kept off all this time but I still fight that last 20lbs.  I would workout with stints in my arm from steroids treatments. I’d refuse to skip days. I was a lunatic. Now you might now be thinking she loved it that’s why she did it and I’m going to let you in on I HUGE secret.  I FREAKING HATE IT.  I never got those endorphins that make you feel great, the only thing that makes me feel great is when it’s over.  I don’t get the people that love it. All these years I still do it and for me it’s about the weight nothing else. Now I don’t even loose weight from it.  Over the years as my multiple sclerosis progressed I’ve had to modify my workouts. I do boxing and Zumba in a chair. You can only burn so many calories in a chair. I bop around moving my arms as best I can. I workout 6 days a week now.  I don’t loose weight but it does, at this point, keep me mentally sane.  It’s my time. My alone time. I wish my body could do more. I make the best accomodations that I can. I will say for all the bitching and dislike of exercise it is something i never let my MS be an excuse for. I do my best and forget the rest. I just move. Find something anything that you like and just let your body move. I can tell you in the end it really does help.

Leave a Reply

Verified by MonsterInsights