ways to get SOME exercise for someone with chronic fatigue?

bexominglex

I get tired very, very easily (am also trying to stop drinking and smoking at the moment for health reasons so am perhaps even more tired than usual). I am 29, f. Since at least age 14 or 15 I have been chronically exhausted, fuzzy headed, and feel drained and fatigued all the time. I have medical conditions that limit my energy level.

Does anyone have any ideas for easy, VERY easy gentle exercises that can be done almost anywhere? I know walking is a good idea, but anything other than simple walking would be great. Ideas like "getting up to manually change the channel on the tv" or "pick up litter on your street" are good ideas, stuff like that?

The simpler the better.If it seems too easy to matter, i can always do more of it, or make it a bit harder. Thank you.

AnneHolland

Two awesome suggestions I was given when I was anemic and fainting on runs:
1) sit on an exercise ball at work or while watching tv at home
2) not sure what it's called (it's in the sky mall catalog), but there's this nifty dolly balance ball thing you can keep under your desk, you just put your feet on it and move it around while your working. (also helps keep your legs from falling asleep)

Hope that helps!

annabellj

try yoga, i think there are things you can find for chair exercises etc also. Never been in your sitiation so I feel for you. I would hate not to be able to run or workout. Quitting smoking and drinking will definitley help your stamina. I find that if I dont fit in a workout, I am much more tired during the day. It changes not only your metabolism but your blood chemistry and gives you good chemicals in your brain. If you have depression, exercise is the key. Even housework, gardening, etc will help. The food you eat also makes a huge difference in your energy levels. Natural, non-processed foods make me feel so much better than when I eat junk. I can totally tell a difference in energy levels.Good luck to you, you can do it!

eddyca

Have you talked to your doctor about your chronic fatigue syndrome? There are stimulant medications that may help relieve your fatigue symptoms.
Also, I wouldn't overlook walking briskly. It's a legitimate way to get exercise and lose weight as long as you do it often: something like 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week and work your way up until you build strength and endurance.

Hope that helps! Good luck to you on your new road to fitness and good health!

agthorn

A gentle yoga or tai chi class could be very beneficial for you, not just for the exercise benefits, but also in managing CFS symptoms in general. If there are no classes near you, there are some great DVDs available that you could do at home.

tumteetum

Hiya. I have ME/CFS and it's so hard isn't it? I've been looking at ways to do some toning and gentle exercises myself. I can do some gentle pilates exercises which help with flexibility/core strength - these are what most people would do as a warm up. But stretching exercises like that help and as they are all lying down exercises it's not too demanding.

I've just been looking at fitness DVD's for those which are suitable for elderly people and I've ordered a couple which include sitting down workouts. One is Jane Fonda Prime Time Fit & Strong which includes a 20 minute session which is mainly sitting down. If I find DVD's which are suitable and I'll try to remember to let you know which ones are good.

I know brisk walking is not a possiblity for me - 30 mins brisk walking would definately trigger a relapse and I'd be stuck in bed which wouldn't be good for anyone.

Yoga is supposed to be good. There is a book which is yoga for fatigue which specialises in CFS but I found it too difficult to pick out the exercises and follow them from the book because of how it was laid out. My brain couldn't make sense of it as you had to flick back and forth depending on your level of function. You might get on better with it though. Just look for yoga for fatigue on amazon.

If anyone has any great suggestions I'd love to hear them. A friend of mine of MFP who has mobility problems has had a lot of success using Wii games while seated and a peddle machine while sitting. I don't have the budget for a Wii right now and if I have the energy to peddle I could probably walk gently or stretch/do squats instead.

I know it's really tough having this illness. If you're like me you have the motivation to get physical but just not the resources in your body to do it