Re: exercise
Hi Jan,
Are you new to the bulletin board or am I having a senior moment? Surely I'm too young at 49 for that. Your name sounds familiar so maybe you just haven't posted in a while.
Exercise has been very difficult for me, also. Before I started having BEB symptoms, I was walking at least 2 miles a day on my treadmill. The treadmill, now or since the onset of BEB, makes my symptoms worse and my eyes close and I have to hold on to the bars and I seem to lose my balance. The motivational thing is a problem, also. I haven't figured out this one for myself, either, and it has been a couple of years now. I've also tried walking with my dog but the sun bothers me and the movement seems to make symptoms worse. You might try walking on a treadmill or using stationary equipment in a gym or even in a store selling them and see how you do. I'm sure that others will answer you. We do have people that exercise or do yoga.Shirley in AR.
--modified by Shirley-Arkansas-USA at Mon, Jun 04, 2001, 20:07:45
Re: exercise
I used to like to exercise with Yoga video tapes,
and I used to like to do aerobics with Richard Simmons
Sweating to the oldies video tape.
Mindy in NY
Re: exercise
I used to walk 3 miles every 4 days or so and have been unable to with
my eyes and breathing difficulties. For awhile, I went to the gym,
put on dark glasses and visor, closed my eyes and did the treadmill.
I've also given that up and purchased a stationary bicycle which has
been a fair substitute. Don't do as much as I used to but I figure
something is better than nothing. I also do yoga classes once or twice
a week. The stretching and inversions seem to help. I love dancing and
go usually on Fri. night to the local swing club if I can get someone
to go with me and drive. I am convinced we have to keep moving no
matter what but it certainly is more difficult. Good luck to you.
Joanne M. San Diego, CA
Re: exercise
Like so many others I use to do a lot of walking on the treadmill at work and in my neighborhood. My work use to require several miles of walking from the hospital to our outpatient center. Sadly I don't walk very much anymore either. Working in my yard/flowers and keeping up with my 4 year old granddaugther consumes all my energy. I do yoga stretches and stretch on a large ball to help my fibromyalgia. I have a small trampoline, which I would use while holding on to something if needed and walk in place during the winter months. Since Mikayla and spring arrived at the same time....the trampoline has been neglected. It is very good exercise for all the body(inside and out), but I could never bounce more than a minute. I found walking in place and gradually increasing then cooling down by gradually decreasing my speed was a real work out.
Delaine in Tennessee, USA where it is soggy from too much rain. Thankfully we have spurts of sunshine so I can get out and putter around in my yard a little while each day.
Re: exercise
I don't know how bad your BEB is, but I have lots of twitching on the left side of my face and my eye closes now and then (I have hemifacial spasm), and when I was having shortness of breathe I never gave up on exercise. I go to the gym 3-5 times a week through all of that. When I have shortness of breathe I just don't work as hard. You gotta keep going and don't give up! I would suggest doing exercise videos and/or join a gym. I don't like the treadmill, but I do the bicycle, cross training (sort of like you are a ski machine) and hold on tight if you seem to lose your balance. Exercising has kept me physically stronger and has given me lots of confidence. Please don't give up on it! Good Luck!
Re: exercise
I think the best exericise motivation is to work out (whatever you do) with other people if possible. My eyes and my general overall feeling of well being is enhanced by exercise and I've done it most of my life. My eyes can be closing and as soon as I start aerobics they open up wide for as long as the class lasts. I sometimes have to wear brown-tinted glasses and always wear a visor to exercise because of the lights. There has been so much going on in my life lately that I know I've been depressed, more anxious and stressed out than I should have been because I haven't been keeping up with it.I've designated June (as its my name and birthday) as my month (along with all the other June's - I noticed one on this bb recently) and promised to be good to myself (I haven't been lately!). So this week I started - on Monday I went to aerobics and today I went to acquafit - I usually go 4 times per week. Last weekend my husband and I did our volunteer walk (1-2 hours) for Park Watch at our local park - we haven't done that since last Fall. The community "took back the park" a couple of years ago and we walk in pairs carrying brochures about the park and cell phones - we basically host the park. We did a 2-day instruction session with the park staff and police to be part of this team. Its been very successful. I would just say - keep moving and do whatever you feel you can. Changing a routine keeps you from not feeling bored. Personally, I know, I can't do without it. Good luck. June in Toronto - where summer doesn't look like its ever coming!
Re: exercise
I agree with June. Keep moving. Do what you can. I can't walk down the hall in the house without hitting something but I still go out and run about 35 miles per week with the help of my best running buddies (one on each side). It keeps me sane, positive, and happy.
Re: exercise
Whenever I exercise at all my eyes shut and won't open the entire time. I feel lousy all day after that. I can also exercise only when childcare is available. I can tell I have lost some muscle mass since I quit working out in March. I am too skinny (the last pair of shorts I bought are a size 10 in childrens). I am going to try to swim more at the pool when my husband can watch the girls while they swim and maybe when school starts back I can begin yoga again. I'll have from 9 to 1 two days a week with no kids.
Re: exercise
i'll give you a couple of sizes!!
Re: exercise
I also struggle with exercise. I know I need it for overall health but it makes my symptoms intensify and sometimes it's just not worth it. I'm still searching for that perfect "something" but haven't found it yet. I used to go to a gym 3 days a week and use an olyptical trainer and weightlifting. The weights caused serious problems with my neck. My eyes close with any cardio (I almost bit it on the treadmill so I quit that a long time ago). Right now I'm busy with my little kids and hope I get enough exercise running up and down the stairs a billion times a day and just playing with them outside. I actually tried to push my 3 year old in a stroller today and roller blade around the block. Didn't work! The stroller rolled back on an incline and I fell hard and didn't catch myself because I wanted to hold up the stroller. Roller blades are going in the goodwill bag! I'm trying to be "young and hip" at 32 but I'm too old for that!! I used to do a yoga video and need to find more time for it. By the time the kids go to bed I just don't feel like exercising. I'd rather lay on the couch for an hour and eat oreos. Let me know if you find a solution and good luck.Kelly in Dallas where we swim daily in this heat, which will only get worse!
Re: exercise
swimming is also great!! but doesn't the chlorine really irritate your eyes??
Re: exercise
Definitely. Even getting splashed causes my eyes to shut for a short period of time. I just bought some new goggles but haven't tried them out yet. Last summer I would swim side stroke laps so I wouldn't have to get my face wet. I must have my husband at the pool to do this because I can't take my eyes off my children. Both swim pretty well and my 3 year old is even going off the diving board by herself now so watching them (6 & 3) is a full time job. I plan to try out my goggles and swim some laps this weekend when my husband can play with the girls.
Re: exercise
Kelly, I lap swim too and you will find an amazing benefit from wearing the goggles. If they are on correctly to create the suction needed to keep the water out you will find this also keeps your eyes wide open. I have been tempted to run and ride my bike with them on but can't get over what I would look like to others...lol
Re: exercise
well it really is super exercise and used to be one of my favorite things to do. i never could find any goggles that fit.
Re: exercise
sometimes when you are not motivated, other people are great answers to this problem. I used to do Jazzercize which is wonderful fun and the music is great, aqua areobics is great because it puts less stress on the joints and is really effective. I can't get to any of these places because i can't drive but if you can get a ride or whatever, these things are great. i used to be in really good shape and it is going to be a weight battle with me. i agree with June also on this. also with other people there always seems to be someone in worse shape than you are and this can help your determination and theirs, also. one of the most important things is NOT to overdo it, pace yourself according to only yourself, or an injury or pain will set you back and again you might give it up.
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