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Excercise phobic.

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

Janine

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all. I am the first to admit that I am unfit as I never exercise. I was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago. Initially I made a huge attempt to take care of myself (for about six months) then I lost the plot and gradually carried on eating as I did previous to diagnosis. (Feeling unwell most of the time).
This January I decided to get to grips with the situation and learned so much from this site re how to reduce levels.
I have been eating healthily, lost weight and have reduced levels. Being a busy person I have found that a visit to the gym is very time consuming, alongside a job and house to run etc. Yes I know I should "make time" but I haven't.
I bought an exercise bike/cross trainer. I have been doing 3 minute workouts on it (don't laugh like my family did...... I said I was unfit) 🙂
Every evening I hop on and off, here and there and have found that it had an immediate effect on my levels after eating and morning wake. I have added up my minutes and have totalled 114 minutes in 5 days. Each 3 minute session I work enough to raise my heart rate a little. Hopefully over time I will increase time spent on the machine.
It has been a perfect start to increase fitness and reduce levels without huge effort.
If anyone is interested I bought the exercise bike/cross trainer from Tesco Direct. It cost about £80 and is really very sturdy and heavy. In fact all the family use it from time to time. The only downside it was difficult to assemble but we got there in the end.
I hope this may help someone who is in a similar situation. 🙂
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing three minute workouts to begin with, and anyone who laughed should be ashamed of themselves. My wife used to be totally exercise averse and started out running by doing 0.2 miles on a treadmill. That was in 2013, last year she ran a marathon. I'm not suggesting that you will go on to do that but you have to start somewhere and, if you are very unfit to start with, of course you have to start small. I was diagnosed in 2013 and had been active in the past so I wasn't starting from such a low base but I still started fairly small with three mile bike rides. If you are remotely interested, my account of how I got myself fit again is here:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/tiny-steps.63909/
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing three minute workouts to begin with, and anyone who laughed should be ashamed of themselves. My wife used to be totally exercise averse and started out running by doing 0.2 miles on a treadmill. That was in 2013, last year she ran a marathon. I'm not suggesting that you will go on to do that but you have to start somewhere and, if you are very unfit to start with, of course you have to start small. I was diagnosed in 2013 and had been active in the past so I wasn't starting from such a low base but I still started fairly small with three mile bike rides. If you are remotely interested, my account of how I got myself fit again is here:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/tiny-steps.63909/
Excellent that is a really inspiring story Chris. Well done to you and your wife. My family didn't laugh at me, but with me. We have a lot of banter in our house 🙂
 
Great that you have found a solution that works for you. Three minute bursts are a great start. Also, remember that activities such as brisk walking also count as exercise.
 
Every little helps (without meaning to quote Tesco!) and sounds like it was a good deal too. Those 3 minute stints all add up. Well done Janine!
 
Good to start small. I have joined a gym two weeks ago, but due to either having to work late or now this virus, I have not made any classes. Good for you that you have started exercising.
 
I bought a second hand exercise bicycle and started with 5mins with 10 secs bursts - that was all I could manage at that time - then I increased it to 10mins with 20 secs bursts - and 15mins with 30 secs bursts - I'm currently managing to do 30mins with 30secs bursts - that's all my knees hip & back will allow me to do - but I am ever hopeful to increase that - I also began walking - slowly at first just to the end of the road I live in - then began walking further & more briskly over a period of time - I walked my first 1/2 mile last week so pretty chuffed with myself. I don't think i will ever be a marathon runner but at least I am exercising & feel more fit than I have done in the last 3years. Before that I would swim 64 lengths of the pool 3 times per week until a shoulder problem & surgery prevented me from swimming. It is an activity I hope to resume again fairly shortly & return to the fitness level I once was - So Janice just carry on as you are - you are doing very well - good luck & take care x

DX Type 2 April 2016
Metformin withdrawn
Diet control and exercise only
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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