Exercise making me anxious

[Seryn]

I need to exercise. My mobility for a 39 year old is awful. I get out of breath going up the stairs and I struggle to bend even to put on socks or get off the floor. I am over weight and classed as "obese" due to my BMI but if I lost 3.5stone I would be in the healthy weight so not massively overweight.

I've started doing some simple exercises at home. Just a stretch workout and some cardio. Planning to start going swimming next month. This is the problem though I hate it. The physical symptoms make me think something is wrong. Everyone knows I'm struggling with lower legs aches and inflammation. After stretches today the bottom of my feet are burning. My back feels a little sore and stiff and inflamed. Exercise makes me feel awful but I no I need to do it.

How long does it take to stop hurting. I hate it when it makes me out of breath or my heart beat faster. That feeling is terrifying and makes me have panic attacks. Exercise for me makes me feel like something awful is about to happen. What do I do? How do I get over that fear. I'm only 4 days in I can't give up!! But it's making me paranoid even more about physical symptoms.

 

[AuntieDee]

Yup me too, I absolutely hate exercising, as soon as I get to the point where apparently it’s suppose to be doing good, increased heart rate etc, I start to panic, then the muscle ache becomes all kinds of weird and wonderful things. It’s horrible. Like you I know I need to exercise, I spend way to much time at my work table sitting, but when I try the more “strenuous”exercises” panic sets in. It sucks.

On the positive side, I did find one thing that seems to be working for me, I started doing “chair yoga”, 15 mins a day, it’s seems to easy to be helpful, but I have noticed that compared to when I started (about a month ago) to now. I am feeling better, my legs hurt less, I’m not out of breath as quickly, and my sleep is more comfortable. Because I’m an artist and crafter, and work on my computer designing, I spend a lot of time sitting, so now I set an alarm and at least ever hour or 2 I make sure I get up and walk around my house. Even if I do a couple of laps around the living room or just stand in place and stretch. It seems to be working for me. It may not be going to the gym and having a “work out” , but for me it’s something I can manage and seem to be sticking too. Good luck, I hope you can find something that works for you.

 

[Seryn]

Yup me too, I absolutely hate exercising, as soon as I get to the point where apparently it’s suppose to be doing good, increased heart rate etc, I start to panic, then the muscle ache becomes all kinds of weird and wonderful things. It’s horrible. Like you I know I need to exercise, I spend way to much time at my work table sitting, but when I try the more “strenuous”exercises” panic sets in. It sucks.

On the positive side, I did find one thing that seems to be working for me, I started doing “chair yoga”, 15 mins a day, it’s seems to easy to be helpful, but I have noticed that compared to when I started (about a month ago) to now. I am feeling better, my legs hurt less, I’m not out of breath as quickly, and my sleep is more comfortable. Because I’m an artist and crafter, and work on my computer designing, I spend a lot of time sitting, so now I set an alarm and at least ever hour or 2 I make sure I get up and walk around my house. Even if I do a couple of laps around the living room or just stand in place and stretch. It seems to be working for me. It may not be going to the gym and having a “work out” , but for me it’s something I can manage and seem to be sticking too. Good luck, I hope you can find something that works for you.

That's really interesting thank you! I'm also an illustrator and crafter so I spend a lot of time sitting at my desk. Do you follow anyone specific for the chair yoga classes? That's really good to know it's helped your legs. I'd do anything to feel normal in my legs again right now. I feel like I'm always fighting inflammation but my legs look totally normal? I go on rotation that I'm convinced I'm either diabetic, have PAD, thyroid problems or MS. Good old Google. When infact I'm probably very anxious and recently slipped into the obese category for BMI with an awful sugar addiction and can't stand the physical symptoms of exercise!

 

[peronny676]

I understand it completely. I guess seeing exercise as something that can be daunting or stir up some anxiety is the only way to understand how horribly scary it can be. That’s great you are trying to start moving whether it is basic stretching and cardio in your house. Oh yeah, you feel like something is wrong, if you are not used to exercising – our bodies are such great drama queens, aren’t they?

You may find that it takes some time for the body to be conditioned to the new kind of training that you are doing , nonetheless it is good that you are not relenting. Have you ever discussed your anxiety and exercise with a doctor or a therapist? They may be able to share some suggestions or techniques through which one can feel that it is not so bad.

 

[AuntieDee]

Do you follow anyone specific for the chair yoga classes?

I was using a program called ‘Better Me’. The exercises were easy to follow, short sessions 15 or 20 mins each. I liked it. But there are plenty of YouTube videos you can find as well.

 

[Joshua1]

I love working out and testing the limits of my faith and mindset. You should too because it makes us more aware and active in life and have higher expectations.