Think Movement, Not Exercise

Day 15: Getting active

There’s nothing for it; I have to get moving.

I love being active. My personal exercise of choice is walking. Somewhere outdoors is best, bonus points if it’s somewhere really pretty, hugs and kisses if it’s somewhere in the country.

At the moment though I’m getting about half way through my day before my back basically gives up holding firm. After that any movement I make comes with a heaping helping of shooting pain courtesy of a failed disc and compressed nerves.

Unfortunately that’s not the only reason I resist exercising. Some of it’s just lack of routine, but mostly it’s indignation.

In her article Health At Every Size How To Bossy Femme summed it up perfectly:

I want to make some changes but I’m not sure how. Healthy lifestyle behaviours are so similar to dieting behaviours, & the feminist, fat activist part of me wants no part of trying to lose weight or dieting or whatever.

Exactly right. I have this resistance to exercising because I don’t want to have to change myself to meet someone else’s criteria. Uh, uh, not going to do it, can’t make me, so there!

Except, well, actually I do want to get fitter. I need to deal with my back issues and that means building up my core muscles to support my lower back in a more accommodating way that ultimately removes the pressure from my poor, sensitive nerves. I personally would very much like to get through an entire day without searing pain.

Plus, well, things are changing for me and I’m keen to keep those changes going. If by some magical process I do manage to achieve even some of my goals and dreams it behoves me to be physically active enough to enjoy the outcome.

So I’ve got to get moving.

Got to say, not exactly overcome with enthusiasm.

I do not want to start an exercise program.

I do want to get fitter.

I absolutely want to get stronger and more flexible. I really long for the day when my back issues are resolved.

But I don’t want to start an exercise program. Nothing concrete, written down. Nothing that’s going to leave me feeling guilty if I didn’t do it, didn’t achieve goals that I’ve arbitrarily set.

I just want to move more. I’d really love it if that movement could be doing things I love to do, like walking outdoors and swimming. I also love to garden and I’m kind of fond of camping.

You know what else I love. Horses. I love horses. I learnt to ride when I was a child and rode all through my childhood. I haven’t ridden in years. Last time I rode was on a trail ride about five or six years ago and I was really concerned about the horse. I’m kind of heavy and I was concerned about how it would be able to deal. I’d really love to release all that and find myself a big, strong horse to ride.

There are other ways to move without getting involved in traditional exercise programs. I don’t want to do that, so I’m not going to. I am moving more, being more active. At the moment I’m focusing on weeding my garden. Next week it could be cleaning windows. I walk when I find the time and when the weather heats up it’ll be back into the pool. I have a pilates DVD which I’m working through two or three times a week to strengthen my core.

Health At Every Size is about embracing healthy habits that work for you, your lifestyle, your size, your fitness level and desire. If you have fun doing it, so much the better because then you’ll keep on doing it! It’s exercise without guilt.

Perfect.