Been dealing with similar exercise limitations due to unexpected side effects of recent surgery. Fortunately I was only shut down for about 8 weeks. Now slowly getting back to it. Atrophy of everything! But I'll keep at it and hopefully get back to pre surgery level. I'll be 80 in a couple of months so consider this crucial to living whatever healthy lifespan remains.
Tom, I'm glad you're back on the training circuit. The atrophy after missing time using your muscles is difficult, indeed. I remember back in July, riding two minutes on a stationary bike, heaving for breath and feeling like..."I'm so far behind where I was, why bother?" But of course the reasons are clear.
Keep at it Tom. Great to hear that you’re determined to get back to pre-surgery levels.
I had a bad knee injury in 2020 - amid everything else going on - and was off all exercise for months. Slowly but surely , I worked myself back to full fitness and strength.
I had my first episode of atrial fibrillation at the age of 58 this Thursday. Really scary.
I’m generally fit and well but almost exactly the confluence of things you mention built a level of stress in me that I hadn’t noticed.
My 91-year-old father had recently gone into care because of unmanageable dementia and is contacting me 10 times every day with the same questions. I am obviously changing my routine to get to see him as often as I can but that’s a 250 mile round-trip and it’s only happening once a week. And then of course there’s the constant worry about making ends meet in a world that’s so rapidly changing.
There were a whole bunch of other small events that happened to increase my stress levels and I’ve been so busy that my normal gym routine of three or four sessions a week had been non-existent for a month.
These stresses combined with that lack of exercise is likely what tipped me into a first episode of atrial fibrillation.
I’ll get back in the gym as soon as I get the all clear and I will do my very best to never think that I’m too busy to push away that plaque through some physical exertion.
Ian, I’m really glad this is helpful to you. You’ve got a lot on your plate and you don’t need a-fib as a side dish. It’s astounding how much stress we can carry, like visceral fat on our souls, and not notice. Keep moving your body.
As a practicing therapist, I couldn't have loved this more. It's a great reflection and even better reminder for all of us right now - whether we approve of what's going on right now in the collective, or not. We are swimming in the soup of disruption and social, political, economic chaos. Little moments of quiet, reflection and - yes - movement, help so much.
Heather, thanks for your thoughts here. I’ll take affirmation from a professional therapist every day of the week. Thanks for listening and responding. Keep going.
Well said, Paul, thank you. Managing stress through fitness is huge for me and it keeps my fear of rehab alive and well. Traveling is also a stressor and gets more challenging as I age. It not only interferes with fitness, but healthy eating and sleeping too.
Marsha, I'm glad this was helpful to you. I was curious to know more about what you mean, exactly, about how traveling interferes with sleep and fitness. Obviously, multi time zone changes are challenge. Are you doing that often, I assume?
Been dealing with similar exercise limitations due to unexpected side effects of recent surgery. Fortunately I was only shut down for about 8 weeks. Now slowly getting back to it. Atrophy of everything! But I'll keep at it and hopefully get back to pre surgery level. I'll be 80 in a couple of months so consider this crucial to living whatever healthy lifespan remains.
Tom, I'm glad you're back on the training circuit. The atrophy after missing time using your muscles is difficult, indeed. I remember back in July, riding two minutes on a stationary bike, heaving for breath and feeling like..."I'm so far behind where I was, why bother?" But of course the reasons are clear.
Keep at it Tom. Great to hear that you’re determined to get back to pre-surgery levels.
I had a bad knee injury in 2020 - amid everything else going on - and was off all exercise for months. Slowly but surely , I worked myself back to full fitness and strength.
You’re an inspiration !
Thanks
This couldn’t have come a better time for me.
I had my first episode of atrial fibrillation at the age of 58 this Thursday. Really scary.
I’m generally fit and well but almost exactly the confluence of things you mention built a level of stress in me that I hadn’t noticed.
My 91-year-old father had recently gone into care because of unmanageable dementia and is contacting me 10 times every day with the same questions. I am obviously changing my routine to get to see him as often as I can but that’s a 250 mile round-trip and it’s only happening once a week. And then of course there’s the constant worry about making ends meet in a world that’s so rapidly changing.
There were a whole bunch of other small events that happened to increase my stress levels and I’ve been so busy that my normal gym routine of three or four sessions a week had been non-existent for a month.
These stresses combined with that lack of exercise is likely what tipped me into a first episode of atrial fibrillation.
I’ll get back in the gym as soon as I get the all clear and I will do my very best to never think that I’m too busy to push away that plaque through some physical exertion.
Don’t leave it as long as I did.
Ian, I’m really glad this is helpful to you. You’ve got a lot on your plate and you don’t need a-fib as a side dish. It’s astounding how much stress we can carry, like visceral fat on our souls, and not notice. Keep moving your body.
Thanks Paul. I am going to manage it into negligible effect!
Works every time🤗💞🫂
Indeed, it does.
As a practicing therapist, I couldn't have loved this more. It's a great reflection and even better reminder for all of us right now - whether we approve of what's going on right now in the collective, or not. We are swimming in the soup of disruption and social, political, economic chaos. Little moments of quiet, reflection and - yes - movement, help so much.
Heather, thanks for your thoughts here. I’ll take affirmation from a professional therapist every day of the week. Thanks for listening and responding. Keep going.
Well said, Paul, thank you. Managing stress through fitness is huge for me and it keeps my fear of rehab alive and well. Traveling is also a stressor and gets more challenging as I age. It not only interferes with fitness, but healthy eating and sleeping too.
Marsha, I'm glad this was helpful to you. I was curious to know more about what you mean, exactly, about how traveling interferes with sleep and fitness. Obviously, multi time zone changes are challenge. Are you doing that often, I assume?
Good one Paul!!!
Thanks, John. You were fast!