Exercise

Have a look at the 9 minute video clip-it’s amazing 
The cartoon gives a fairly comprehensive account of how exercise can boost your health and reduce your risk factors for an impressive list of illnesses.
Some added thoughts:-
  1. Looking at our physical construction and physiology we are clearly designed to move...quite a lot!
  2. Our brain contains a ‘MAP’ of the different parts of our body. When we reduce our physical movement this map begins to alter, so that we feel physically weaker and a disconnection with our body can develop.
  3. Exercise helps us cope with stress. We produce endorphins which lift our mood and burn off excess adrenaline produced by stress. Exercise also helps to balance our cortisol level-an important hormone in managing stress.
  4. Exercise helps us to sleep, especially if we use gentle exercise instead of extended afternoon rests.
  5. Exercise can help with mild to moderate depression, utilising endorphins in a similar way to helping us cope with stress.
 
Useful Linkshttp://www.ivillage.co.uk/exercise-and-depression-how-working-out-can-help-fight-depression/77804http:/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Depression/Pages/Depressionexercise.aspx
Did you know?Moderate exercise can help boost our immune system. http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/why-exercise-boosts-the-immune-system.html
Exercise can help increase circulation to the brain in a way that helps support  cognitive abilities such as memory, focus and concentration. This has been shown in studies with people over 65, who have participated in a walking programme.
Can you see how resting for EXTENDED periods cannot reduce your levels of fatigue, or help you regain strength? Ironically even though it seems counter intuitive to move, PROLONGED rest will contribute to you feelings of fatigue in the long term? It is physiologically impossible that extended rest will build stamina.
Just to be completely clear, I am not saying that if you move more you will become athletically fit and healthy. You may have a significant health issue which will compromise that process. However, could it be that you can explore ways to reach your own level of optimal fitness and health?

If it takes TEN weeks to recover from THREE weeks of bed rest in a fit and healthy young person what does that mean for you? What degree of patience and gentle determination will you need? What level of self awareness, and understanding of your health condition?
You may already see that the issues are complex, particularly as you try to build your stamina within the constraints of your health and the demands of your daily life. Never the less, it is important to contemplate the information above, and decide how it may apply to your circumstances. Then you can begin to find ways to enjoy moving and keeping fitter, not out of a negative sense of fear, but from a point of enjoyment and genuine self care.

Have a look at the video clip in the ‘what exercise can do for you’ section!

Keeping an
​exercise record

Many people find it helpful to keep an exercise record. here's a sample exercise record sheet.
Microsoft Word Document
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: docx
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