Cycling with Fibromyalgia – Motivation for Today

 

Cycling and fibro

Cycling and fibro

From the maker of this great video

“Today I decided to ignore my headache, take a pill, and get on my bike. My goal was to beat my record of 24 miles. I did 25 miles. I’m pretty excited about that. My reasoning by getting out and exercising while in pain is “I can be in pain in bed or I can be in pain doing something I love.” I want to encourage you to get out there and do whatever it is you want to do regardless of your circumstances. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t, not even yourself. Stop making excuses for why you shouldn’t do something and use those same reasons as stepping stones to help you achieve your dreams. Life is short and it’s best lived to the fullest. I want to encourage you and motivate you to think big and do big things. You can do it! You are capable of doing it. You are awesome! You are enough! You are worthy! You are special!@

Why you should ride to work or school on a bike?

Full disclosure! I’m a born again cyclist. I was told by my doctor to lose weight a couple of years ago and took up cycling.

In the last two years I’ve lost pounds , got fitter and seen loads of places I’d never thought I’d go.

Next month I’m riding down the Rhine with a old college buddy.

So check out the benefits and join us!

Bike to Work Week
Via FitnessforWeightLoss.com




Doing my bit! A couple of charities you might consider supporting.


Cycling for charity

Cycling for charity

By the time you read this I should be in bed asleep!

Why? I hear you cry!

Well, if all goes according to plan I will have just completed a 100k cycle ride around London. Called Nightrider which should increase the pulse of those of us born in the 80s. Yes I know a different spelling but who cares!

This year I am raising money for a UK based charity called Refuge which helps the victims of domestic violence. You can make a small donation here.

In previous years I have also cycled for the autism charity Dimensions UK. One of the reasons I like these guys very much is that they organise film showing at cinemas especially for families where a member is on the autistic spectrum. As the father of a son with autism I can tell you that they deserve your money. So please give them something here.

Thanks for listening and thanks very much for donating!


What are your New Year’s Resolution for 2015?


New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

Yes it is THAT time again.

Half way through the eating and drinking too much time of the year our thoughts should (and sometimes even mine do) turn to getting more healthy in the New Year.

There is plenty of useful advice out there like this interview we conducted with Pete Cohen looking at weight loss, sensible drinking and getting fitter with better exercise.

But I was wondering what New year’s resolutions have you made for 2015? It would be great if you could share yours in the comments section below. This will, hopefully, give inspiration for other people reading the post.

So I thought I would share by kicking off with a few of my own.

a) Lose weight, 20lb in my case over the year. Here are a few tips that may help.

b) Cycle 180 miles coast to coast across the Pennines. You can check the route here

c) Have a dry January. Sounds boring but it works really well for me.

d) Be able to run 5K without a break by the end of the summer.

e) Eat at least one portion of leafy green vegetables each day!

That’s my list. So what’s yours? Please share below.

Thanks and good luck.


Exercise for people with chronic pain.

Smithsonian Yoga ManuscriptExercise if good for you!  Well yes we all know that but how do you take exercise when you suffer from chronic pain?  This blog will give you a few tips and pointers on  how to get fitter and not increase your pain at the same time.

Exercise promotes general good health as well as weight loss which are important for people suffering from chronic medical conditions.

The key principle to keep in mind is that you want your activity to be “low impact”. This means that it will not harm your joints.  This is vitally important for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis.  It also means that you are less likely to suffer from an ankle sprain or cartilage tear.

So what are some good types of low impact exercise which can be easily carried out by people who suffer from chronic or acute pain?  Well here are a few:-

a)      Walking.  Pretty obvious and easy.  All you need to do ii to step out of your front door.  Oh yes and you don’t have to spend all that money of gym fees.  Doctors often recommend a 20 minute walking session 5-6 times a week.

b)      Yoga.  This ancient Indian system of exercise is great for core strength and helps improve balance. It is often used by people with multiple sclerosis. We recently discussed this in a blog which you can read here  https://patienttalk.org/?p=571

c)       Cycling.  Becoming more popular each year cycling is a great way to get fit and to do a bit of two wheeled sightseeing.  You might think about cycling to work. A helmet is very much recommended especially if you live in London!  See https://patienttalk.org/?p=109 for more information.

d)      Pilates.  Developed in the early years of the last century Pilates is great for back pain as it helps strengthen the spine as well as improve  muscle strength.

e)      Swimming.  This low impact sport is great for both people with mobility issues and for those who suffer from obesity. You might also want to consider water aerobics.

f)       Gardening.  A bit of relaxed gardening is great way of dealing with stress and taking exercise at the same time.

 

It is worth mentioning that you should speak with a healthcare professional before embarking on any type of exercise regime.

Finally – what have we missed out?  Please do use the comments box below to share with your fellow readers the kinds of exercise which have worked for you. Any links would be great as well.

Thanks in advance!