My Physical Activity "Do"s and "Don't"s





Image courtesy of  Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the page that I will use to keep track of how my physical activities effects me. It's more for my benefit than anything else, but maybe it will give you a place to start looking if you're trying to identify your physical activity "do"s and "don't"s. The lists will fluctuate over time, I'm sure. I'll try to keep it as up-to-date as possible.

I have split this page into 2 categories: Physical Activities that Hurt and Physical Activities that Help to make it easier to find specific items at a glance.  Physical Activities  that Hurt will be any physical activity that makes me tired, changes my mood negatively, gives me IBS-type symptoms/nausea, etc.  Physical Activities that Help will be any physical activity that improves my mood, gives me energy, improves my health, etc.

{Note: I am not a doctor.  This page is just intended to share my personal experience.  Any decision you make to change your exercise program or lifestyle should not be made based on this information alone.  Please discuss any lifestyle or exercise changes with your doctor or dietitian before you try them!}

Physical Activities that Hurt 

1. Not getting enough rest. I need to make sure I get enough sleep at night (8 hours is ideal, but with 6 or 7 hours I can at least function) or I hurt more, have more fatigue, and am moody.
     
2. Overdoing the physical activities. If I do too much housework, I get exhausted and achy. If I am on my feet too much, I hurt. It can even make me physically ill at times due to the exhaustion.
    
3. Doing the wrong kind of physical activities. Aerobics is bad. Running is bad. Long, strenuous hikes are bad. Basically anything that requires a lot of energy in spurts or lasts a long time is a no-go.
     
4. Sitting too long/being lazy.  That's a sure way to get stiff and sore and crabby.

Physical Activities that Help

1. Doing low impact exercises/activities and stretches. I need to have some physical activity daily or I'm in bad shape. Walking, doing light housework, stretching, etc. are great for me and help my flexibility and keep me focused on what I can do instead of on what I can't do.
       
2. Taking time to relax. If I take time to relax and unwind at the end of the day or during the day as needed, it helps me sleep better, helps me stay positive, helps me not over-react, etc. which makes Fibromyalgia a lot easier to deal with.
         
3.  Asking for or accepting help when I need it. Pride has no place with Fibromyalgia. If I need help, I need to ask for it instead of stress that I can't do it alone. If help is offered, I need to take it and not worry about if it's done "just right". By doing this, I feel less stress because things get done and I get to see others happy because they were able to help, and that makes me smile.