Fall is a busy season and I am finding it hard to get enough movement time. How about you? Does your ability to stay active shift during the fall and winter season? How do you deal? Since Lyme disease I make it a point to stay mobile and move every day.
I know daily exercise helps me stay in touch with my body, movement tells me how my joints are doing, and helps me understand my level of inflammation. Strength, hardening exercise, flexibility and balance softening exercise and mobility in aerobic exercise are part of the rotation. I schedule the time to workout into a busy schedule, Have to, it is too important.
It is simple to take the ability to move for granted, since Lyme disease I don’t. When I was first diagnosed, my mobility, strength and balance were all significantly impaired. It was all I could do to get to the bathroom. As part of my recovery I set some simple fitness goals.
One key goal for me is that I want to walk with ease on the day I die (after a long life). So I need to walk every day to support that goal. Gentle consistent movement is beneficial for bodies, healthy or recovering. Check in, get the okay from your health care team, then begin to build movement into your day.
6 Reasons to Stay Mobile and Move Every day
- Muscles. Activity moves blood into the tissues and extremities from the core of the body Movement also triggers the muscle cells to release toxins (Autophagy) which the blood carries to waste disposal.
- Heart The heart is a muscle and aerobic activity makes it stronger.
- Lymph Lymph is interstitial fluid pumped by muscles in the body to remove waste and infectious agents. Movement prevents stagnation and thickening of the fluid.
- Synovial Fluid Our joints get lubrication and nourishment waste cleanup when
they move through their healthy range of motion. - Nervous System Regular movement calms the nervous system and can help you stay more relaxed and better able to heal.
Sneak Movement into Your Day
There are so many ways to sneak exercise into your day and build health into your habits.
- Get a walking desk
- Plan trips up and down the stairs
- Carry of grocery basket instead of pushing a cart.
- Park at the back end of the lot.
- Walk out to the mailbox to get the mail.
- Do your own yard work.
- Get a dog or walking buddy
- When in doubt walk at the local Mall.
Plan movement everyday
“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” – Henry David Thoreau
Schedule time for morning movement or lunch movement every day. Even when you are busy follow your schedule. Vary the movement for fun and fitness; I do aerobic movement 4 days each week and yoga for flexibility and Pilates for strength each week. Plans are not perfect, but you are much more likely to move with a plan than without. If you make a plan like this then if occasionally you miss a day you will still stay mobile, fit and strong.
What is your favorite way to sneak exercise into your day?
The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.