minor crisis - exercise in recovery

Hey guys,

So I just found out the pilates class I go to on Mondays is full and I can't go and I have to admit, I'm having a small, well, large, freak out!  Please, I just need some reassurance, though I'm not sure of what sort - if I don't go to the gym I will gain weight, but this is a Good Thing (keep repeating it, T)....I suppose I'm looking for reassurance that if I don't go to one class that won't make me gain 6 kilos in a day.

I'm going out of my mind, all I want to do is go to the gym or for a run...on 3.000 calories a day it can't hurt?

Sorry about my freak out, but as an obsessive exerciser not being able to do the one bit I'm semi-allowed (Nut said no until bmi of 16.5, my doctor said pilates and Yoga OK) is making me go slowly crazy and hyperactive aaaaaaaah

any good distraction techniques?  What sort of exercise do you all do? (And if you are super-exercisey please lie and tell me you're not, yet you gain slowly anyway!!)

thanks muchly

If you can't do pilates don't panic.   A gentle walk would be just as good.    Running isn't going to help you, though.  Do listen to your doctor on that one.

Distraction techniques....  Find something absorbing and calming that holds your interest.  If Monday nights can't be pilates how about finding something else to do with that time.  Learn a new skill?  Or do some voluntary work?  Or go with friends to the cinema?

The hyperactivity is a function of the illness.  As you keep gaining and improving, that will get better.

I agree with jane. Go for a slow walk - IF you can trust yourself not to turn it into a run. I was an overexerciser too so I sympathise with you. I know how hard it can get, sometimes; I still struggle with the niggling voice "Just a bit faster, just a bit further" and so on. But, as your doctor and nutritionist have noted, at the end of the day it'll hinder you.

Or, you could challenge yourself to a day of rest. Or, you could do some poses at home if it'll help you relax. If you're home alone, put on some music and dance in your room. Anything light and low activity that you won't be tempted to take overboard. :]

Hi!

Thanks for the advice guys...I went out and mowed the lawn.  Ugh, still feel yucky though...what are everyone else's activity levels like?

Anyway, my friend - the one who made the croissant comment - gave me this advice:

"Look, T, you exercising is like having your legs waxed: when you get waxed you have to let the hairs grow first for there to be anything to wax, you need muscles on your bones for you to have stuff to exercise...."

So, here's what I did today: I got up, and did some stuff in the garden, probably about an hours work, clearing out nettles, weeds, etc, then I walked into town and met my friend for coffee, did some shopping, came back, had a Freak Out over pilates, then mowed the lawn and did some digging which was maybe another hour, hour and a half, and then I cooked dinner.  That's not sedentary, right?  It's averagely active, si?  I just have a real problem eating if I feel sedentary, and like I'm just slobbing out, like I'm not worth the calories, ESPECIALLY when I'm on 3.000.  The parents have gone out and I've requested they take my car so I can't go to the gym.....argh, going crazy! I'm off to watch wife swap!

Opinions on activity levels are very much appreciated, especially from all you lotas I respect all your opinions.

Ta

hey theo! I completely understand, I went to my yoga class last thursday only to find out the teacher had canceled. I also get compulsive with exercise so i need to stop myself and yoga or pilates help me feel like i'm not a lazy slob and also relax me. I would suggest buying some videos or dvd's, I have a yoga video and 2 pilates ones that I can do at home when I get too restless. I did one this morning and then swept my floors :)

Your friend sounds very smart, I'll have to keep her comment in mind. I'm getting bored again because I'm still without cable (i'm lucky i have power though!) and none of the street lights work yet so driving is kind of hazardous. I need to find something to distract me. i wish I coudl watch wife swap!

My activity levels are pretty low and my calories are usually 3000, except for this last week that's been terrible , though I've also been cooped up in my parents house. Normally I'll do yoga about once a week and go bike riding once or twice too, but really leisurely for maybe 30 min max and at a slow pace. I just like being outside.

hi, i try and remind myself that life is not centered around food +excercise.  its great to be active but im hoping for an active socail life as well, a full time job, a family one day...hrs of excercise does not fit into this equation.  i think you have to think what will you be able to sustain the rst of your life.

i am honeslty sort fo freaekd out that it seems like everyone is so active and excercises so much.  i dont want to have spend my life excercising in order to eat. 

theo: I love your friend! I am in the same boat as you. I hate, hate, hate not being able to do what I planned. Thank you for sharing your friend's comment. I need to remind myself of that constantly!

Hi Theo,

I just wanted to post and let you know that I stopped excercising completely about a year ago and in that year I dropped to my lowest weight of 74 pounds, I'm 5ft 6in, and my BMI was at 13. I am now three weeks into recovery. I guess I wanted to let you know that not excercising won't make you gain, although I would have found that difficult to believe a year ago, I was compulsive, 6 days a week at the gym 2-3 hours a day. I still find it incredibly hard not excercising as I also feel that if I don't excercise I can't eat but I am slowly trying to relax and as long as I stay fairly active throughout the day I can manage. Charliebo, I agree your friend's comment is awesome!

Hey Theo,

Don't freak out about the exercising. That's exactly how I felt a few weeks ago when my psychiatrist and dietician told my parents that I'm not allowed to do ANY exercise. Not even going out for walks, or P.E in school (my parents had to write a note to my teachers) And I was totally freaking out because first of all I absolutely LOVE sport. It's a fun, social thing that really gets my spirits up, and secondly I thought that I was going to get obese with no exercise. But then I reminded myself,

'The faster you gain weight and reach your target healthy weight goal, the faster you can go back to having fun! (without obsessing about it xD)'

So up till now I'm still not doing any exercise. But I'm fine about it because I know that once I get back to a healthy weight and am allowed to exercise, I can tone up my body to a nice healthy shape again =)

Good luck xx