ZUMBA! Finding something I loved to do~
I'm "Ocean"~
And lets just say I was your average kid. Never a girly-girl, but a "tom-boy" at heart. I was always the "active" kid! Running, playing, sports as a child. You name it, I did it!... Baseball, Softball, Dancing and then as I got older, Cheerleading!...
But, then I grew up, and "Life" began to happen. I got older, and less active, and Then I became a "mom"! And I settled into my life comfortably. Only.....as life went on, It wasn't so comfortable any longer. And the weight gain started, not to mention still not having lost the weight from becoming a mom as well. So, after MANY countless weight loss efforts, diets, programs etc...etc... and many FAILED attempts at "exercising", I once again gave up.
Flash forward years later, when my own kid became a teenager, and being laid off from a job that I had worked at for 10years (after being bought out by another company) I found myself with MORE time on my hands. And it was then i decided to do something for myself! I started to walk more, began yet another program , only this time it was working! I kept up with simple things like walking the track, or walking on the treadmill while listening to my favorite music at a local community center. And the IT HAPPENED!. As I was leaving, I noticed a "dance" class! As an AVID LOVER of Dance, It caught my attention for sure! I found out it was something called "ZUMBA'!! After my FIRST class, I was HOOKED!!! A few short months later, I had lost MUCH weight from just dancing and eating right! WHO KNEW WAS THAT SIMPLE!!?! Just EATING RIGHT ,and MOVING!! 6 Months after my FIRST class, I became a Licensed ZUMBA instructor myself!! Helping many others to reach their goals as well. ZUMBA has swept the nation! Have you ever tried a class? If not, Let me tell you, when you find the "right" one, YOU will LOVE it! You want activity that makes you feel like you "aren't" working out? Then ZUMBA is it. I figure, find something you love, or can do, and it will never seem like a "dreaded" workout again!
I tried one class. I thought I was pacing myself fairly well. I put in way less exertion than I typically would. I often dropped the arms. I tried to drop the bounce despite it feeling natural. I did my best to keep it as low impact as possible. I took extra breaks in addition to the ones the class did.
On the drive home, my mouth was aching. I don't know if that was an attack itself or what, but I have since had that symptom from doing activities I shouldn't have. The next day I had a throat attack following a fairly typical trigger to attack timeline. My feet were also swollen.
I miss various forms of dance.
@AffyAvo
Thank you for sharing that Affy! It is great that you gave it a try! I know your condition can make various activities difficult for you. I love various forms of dance as well.... always have. What activities are you able to do safely at this time?
@PoliteOcean
It's really tough. I haven't found anything that is completely safe. I did a series for people with health conditions. Most of the participants were about 40 years older than me. That worked out well, I was also in a fairly good period for me but I think I had triggered at least one attack from it.
Some days going for a walk is ok, sometimes it's not. I've done yin and restorative yoga and some of the classes were ok, some were not. Yoga mats are out I discovered after having knees swell, I need something softer.
I've really enjoyed gardening, but I have also triggered attacks doing that.
I have found there is very little available for people with health conditions like mine. I like group activities the best, but I can't find anything that's suitable other than yoga. The one series I did is not meant to be an ongoing thing.
Even if I did find an activity, there are other things I need to worry about. Environmental factors can be triggering. I also need to work things with my medication schedule, so I can only do 2 days of week of moderate activity max and they need to be spread apart appropriately. I also need to look at how I'm doing and all my other activities as well.
With figuring out what's safe it's like I have to rank a whole bunch of factors in my head at once. How do I feel right then, when was my last infusion, how have I been doing, what have my allergies been like, how is the weather, are there scents or smoke, have their been any physical stresses, what other activities have I been up to.
Then sort that all out without any known formula.
@AffyAvo
Great post, and great awareness to those with Health Conditions (yours and others alike). I really want attention and awareness on these issues brought in the discussions as well. We also have a thread for discussion ideas if there is anything you'd like to see. Feel free to let us know.