Housebound and confused D:

I suffer from a severe case of agorophobia and anxiety attacks, meaning that I'm housebound 24/7.

I also live with my parents, which pretty much means whatever they buy, we're eating.

I'm struggling finding a way to start exercising, within the confinements of my house, and how to diet given 'set meals' every day.

I am a bad cook, but I'm slowly learning how to make proper food for myself for breakfasts and lunch.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Replies

  • i have severe anxiety so i know how you feel! what do your parents usually buy?
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    There are a lot of free workouts on Youtube, or you could order some workout DVDs. I only work out at home and find lots of ways to do so.
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    What they get is never unhealthy really, so I guess thats a plus, but I'd like alot more fruits and veg to make salads and drinks and such!

    It's alot of fizzy pop and quick fix food because I'm a very fussy eater haha!

    I'm sorry to hear you suffer from anxiety! It's not a nice thing to have :( x
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    Yeah I used to do Blogilates and the 30 day shred but its a matter of knowing where to start
    if you google theres so many results of whats best and what not to do you know?
  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    You can work on practicing portion control with the meals. Maybe you could ask your parents to buy some snacks that you want (that are on the healthier side, like fruit or vegetables with hummus)? That way, you won't feel as hungry at meals, and you filled up on less calorie dense stuff.
  • i would just ask them to buy more fruit and veggies! anixety sucks but i hear that being healthy and certain foods can help calm you?
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    You can work on practicing portion control with the meals. Maybe you could ask your parents to buy some snacks that you want (that are on the healthier side, like fruit or vegetables with hummus)? That way, you won't feel as hungry at meals, and you filled up on less calorie dense stuff.

    Yeah I guess! I think the thing about fruit is I snack a lot on it and run out by the first few days haha :)

    considering my size I actually don't over-eat, I just eat the wrong things and don't move about really :/
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    i would just ask them to buy more fruit and veggies! anixety sucks but i hear that being healthy and certain foods can help calm you?

    they can? I may have to look this up!
    I know there's something about the smell of lavender thats supposed to be very calming, have you ever tried that?
    I can't use it, the smell makes me feel ill, but its supposed to have relaxing powers

    I know sometimes my weight gets the best of me and I get tired out easier, and my medication saps my energy so i can hardly workout sometimes.

    at some point i think yoga would be on the cards, I heard thats very good for anxiety sufferers!
  • GormanGhaste
    GormanGhaste Posts: 430 Member
    I've always found chamomile tea to be relaxing.
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    I've always found chamomile tea to be relaxing.

    I just read that that can also help sleep..
    will add that to the list of things to try :)
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Maybe they don't know what to buy, so they end up buying junk? You could look at healthy recipes and prepare a detailed grocery list for your parents.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    Lavender makes me gag and makes my nose burn, I know what you mean.


    For exercise in your home, there are many exercise videos on youtube. Several hundred, probably. And there's a wonderful website called Fitness Blender which has about 250 videos, varying lengths, varying difficulty levels, huge variety of exercise 'styles'. You might want to explore things like that. Are you able to be comfortable in your yard, or only actually inside the home? If you can get out to your yard, maybe you can walk laps around the perimeter or do some calisthenics outside. The fresh air will be good for you, and some sunshine (with sunscreen of course!).
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    i like frozen fruit - its great for smoothies and mixes well with hot oatmeal etc, but it isnt all that easy to snack on...
    as for exercise, i found bellydancing gave me more confidence. dont know any good dvd's - the ones i've tried, i've always been happy that i used to take a calss....
    i just started lifting too, and apart from being sore all the time, i think it's great :-D
    good luck.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Yeah I used to do Blogilates and the 30 day shred but its a matter of knowing where to start
    if you google theres so many results of whats best and what not to do you know?


    Just pick one and start! Start using your DVDs again, or take stuff you already know and make your own routine.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Magnesium powder is also good for anxiety. Google "natural calm".
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    Maybe they don't know what to buy, so they end up buying junk? You could look at healthy recipes and prepare a detailed grocery list for your parents.

    they usually buy one or two things off the list, but yet buy things I specifically tell them to not get me, like crisps or fizzy drinks and such!
    I am seriously debating whether I could start my own shopping list with the delivery from the supermarkets around here, I'm just not sure how much your order would have to be, I may end up spending far too much D:
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    I was also going to suggest Fitness Blender on Youtube.
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    Lavender makes me gag and makes my nose burn, I know what you mean.


    For exercise in your home, there are many exercise videos on youtube. Several hundred, probably. And there's a wonderful website called Fitness Blender which has about 250 videos, varying lengths, varying difficulty levels, huge variety of exercise 'styles'. You might want to explore things like that. Are you able to be comfortable in your yard, or only actually inside the home? If you can get out to your yard, maybe you can walk laps around the perimeter or do some calisthenics outside. The fresh air will be good for you, and some sunshine (with sunscreen of course!).


    Oh I will! Thanks alot :)

    And yeah.. just about, we have this small field behind us that I want to feel comfortable either running or jogging on, but where the field is, it's overlooked by alot of neighbours D:
    But I guess walking around isnt so bad really, and it's a nice bright place :)
    I can even force the dog to tag along :)
    haha! sunshine in the UK comes with cloud cover!
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    I was also going to suggest Fitness Blender on Youtube.

    Wonderful, aren't they? They have their own site, too. The videos that are on Youtube are only a small fraction of what they've done on the site. fitnessblender.com
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    i like frozen fruit - its great for smoothies and mixes well with hot oatmeal etc, but it isnt all that easy to snack on...
    as for exercise, i found bellydancing gave me more confidence. dont know any good dvd's - the ones i've tried, i've always been happy that i used to take a calss....
    i just started lifting too, and apart from being sore all the time, i think it's great :-D
    good luck.

    well done on the confidence and lifting! :D

    I may give that a look up as well :)

    I'd love to do something like bellydancing or even some form of boxing or something like that!
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Maybe they don't know what to buy, so they end up buying junk? You could look at healthy recipes and prepare a detailed grocery list for your parents.

    they usually buy one or two things off the list, but yet buy things I specifically tell them to not get me, like crisps or fizzy drinks and such!
    I am seriously debating whether I could start my own shopping list with the delivery from the supermarkets around here, I'm just not sure how much your order would have to be, I may end up spending far too much D:

    Well, that sucks if they don't respect your request. I think you should have a talk with them to let them know how important it is for you to get healthy and that you need their support.
  • bearsfan67
    bearsfan67 Posts: 57
    I would check into seeing how much the grocery store charges where you are. Also, there are companies that send out boxes of veggies and fruits.....fresh every week.....at least we have the available where I live. I am sorry you suffer from such anxiety but I commend you for trying to eat better and come up with ideas. If you have Comcast they have some great work outs on ONDEMAND that will keep you interested as they have a ton of different ones. Good luck and feel free to add me if you want a motivator or a friend. :smile:
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    I was also going to suggest Fitness Blender on Youtube.

    Wonderful, aren't they? They have their own site, too. The videos that are on Youtube are only a small fraction of what they've done on the site. fitnessblender.com

    Yes, they are! I just discovered them recently. I can't believe they made all those videos for free!
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    Lavender makes me gag and makes my nose burn, I know what you mean.


    For exercise in your home, there are many exercise videos on youtube. Several hundred, probably. And there's a wonderful website called Fitness Blender which has about 250 videos, varying lengths, varying difficulty levels, huge variety of exercise 'styles'. You might want to explore things like that. Are you able to be comfortable in your yard, or only actually inside the home? If you can get out to your yard, maybe you can walk laps around the perimeter or do some calisthenics outside. The fresh air will be good for you, and some sunshine (with sunscreen of course!).




    Oh I will! Thanks alot :)

    And yeah.. just about, we have this small field behind us that I want to feel comfortable either running or jogging on, but where the field is, it's overlooked by alot of neighbours D:
    But I guess walking around isnt so bad really, and it's a nice bright place :)
    I can even force the dog to tag along :)
    haha! sunshine in the UK comes with cloud cover!


    Oh, ha ha. I live in the desert of Arizona. We're extremely sun-conscious here and I just came from a training session at work about sun safety and sunscreen. It's on my mind I guess, lol.
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    I would check into seeing how much the grocery store charges where you are. Also, there are companies that send out boxes of veggies and fruits.....fresh every week.....at least we have the available where I live. I am sorry you suffer from such anxiety but I commend you for trying to eat better and come up with ideas. If you have Comcast they have some great work outs on ONDEMAND that will keep you interested as they have a ton of different ones. Good luck and feel free to add me if you want a motivator or a friend. :smile:

    I dont think we ahve anything like that here, which kind of sucks!
    I'm definitely going to look it up, even if it just means buying myself some more fruit and healthy snacks :D
    And thankyou! I definitely shall ^_^
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    Oh, ha ha. I live in the desert of Arizona. We're extremely sun-conscious here and I just came from a training session at work about sun safety and sunscreen. It's on my mind I guess, lol.

    pretty jealous I've gotta say!
    We're supposed to be coming in to Summer and we've had snow this week..
    Weather cant make its mind up at all!
  • GormanGhaste
    GormanGhaste Posts: 430 Member
    If you have a staircase inside, that can be a good workout. Just take them slowly and only do a few reps at first, if you haven't been exercising.
    we have this small field behind us that I want to feel comfortable either running or jogging on, but I guess walking around isnt so bad really, and it's a nice bright place :)
    I can even force the dog to tag along :)
    I do recommend the sunshine! Always makes me feel better.
  • klnor88
    klnor88 Posts: 28 Member
    I have anxiety disorder so I understand how hard it can be but excercise helps :-). Try doing the 30 day shred since you can find it on YouTube. If you find that workout videos work for you then there are tons of options online as well as on demand if you have digital cable. As far as food goes I would work on portion sizes and calorie counting.
  • littlelady2b
    littlelady2b Posts: 104
    I've always found chamomile tea to be relaxing.

    I just read that that can also help sleep..
    will add that to the list of things to try :)

    I don't know if this will interest you but I have anxiety as well and I started meditation or just relaxaton exercises. You can do this when you sit or lay down and listen to soft instrumental music and clear your mind relaxing all your muscles from your feet up flexing and releasing your muscles slowly allowing your body to mealt into your bed or where ever your favorite spot is where there are no distractions. You can do this in candle light with your favorite scents. Some examples of music is zen or native american/canadian flutes. This gives you stress free time for you. Some music does provide the sounds of water running and birds all the sounds of nature that is very relaxing so you don't have to go outside to enjoy nature depending on if that would be comfortable for you or not if not there is a lot of beautiful music to experiment with if you're interested in my suggestion.

    Something else that is very relaxing and you can order on DVD is Tai Chi it's moving meditation I studied it until the pain in my body became too much but I loved it. You get to forget the world around you as you learn to move and it is exercise as well and you learn to breath with the movements which is very theraputic. Anyway I hope that helps.
  • zandryah
    zandryah Posts: 13 Member
    I've always found chamomile tea to be relaxing.

    I just read that that can also help sleep..
    will add that to the list of things to try :)

    I don't know if this will interest you but I have anxiety as well and I started meditation or just relaxaton exercises. You can do this when you sit or lay down and listen to soft instrumental music and clear your mind relaxing all your muscles from your feet up flexing and releasing your muscles slowly allowing your body to mealt into your bed or where ever your favorite spot is where there are no distractions. You can do this in candle light with your favorite scents. Some examples of music is zen or native american/canadian flutes. This gives you stress free time for you. Some music does provide the sounds of water running and birds all the sounds of nature that is very relaxing so you don't have to go outside to enjoy nature depending on if that would be comfortable for you or not if not there is a lot of beautiful music to experiment with if you're interested in my suggestion.

    Something else that is very relaxing and you can order on DVD is Tai Chi it's moving meditation I studied it until the pain in my body became too much but I loved it. You get to forget the world around you as you learn to move and it is exercise as well and you learn to breath with the movements which is very theraputic. Anyway I hope that helps.

    Thankyou so much for suggesting that! I will definitely have a look into that in the morning and perhaps give it a go and work on it :)
    I could easily try that! :)