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Exercise a different perspective

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manji

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Without labouring the issue I had a very bad stroke a few years ago. It’s always a shock but I was in previous good health when I had the attack. I was clean living , didn’t have any recorded health issues. I will admit although I was quite mindful my food and did not drink or smoke I wasn’t an intentional exercise freak avoided gyms and jogging. My one concession was a I had a job which had a brilliant divide of sit down but stressful administration and a good deal of manual labour.
I did enjoy a good walk even in urban environments in fact I was about to finish a 3 mile walk from home to the city centre when the stroke hit
50% half left hand stroke was in hospital for about 3 months because I was in good health , yes in theory that doesn’t make sense, my ability to go home was fairly quick.
NHS community nurse plan was damage limitation. I was going to be in a wheelchair permanently and plans were in place to install stairlift etc. Luckily at the time I was financially well off and I had contacts and was referred against NHS wishes to a formidable and verified Nuero physio he cost a fortune but was ready to take the plunge. Three years hard work and paying strict attention to his instructions has paid off I can now move independently and normally I will never return to the speed I see to walk and my stamina isn’t as good as it was but I’m still improving and after the initial shock of the diabetes diagnosis I’ve made the decision to thinking the better I work at the diabetes the better my stroke recovery will be.
Nuero physio had some radical but effective strategies my recovery exercises were never repetitive exercises like any form of jogging they were initially bizzare exercises like laying flat on the floor and raising yourself off the ground clearly that was very progressive and included a lot of fails but it was slowly building up strength in a remarkable variety of muscles ,joints etc . and as well as training your brain that it was able to perform these actions.
I’m not looking for any approbation but it was a fascinating learning curve.
One of the major lessons I learnt was how varying exercise is. In the early days when I was home I would often moan about how I wasn’t getting there. He would ask me what I had done during the day I would reply self pityingly nothing. He would further interrogate me . Have I made food ? Had I been up and down the stairs ? Had I stretched down , balancing carefully to open a cupboard ? Of course I had.
That’s actually a useful and strenuos exercise.

As I’ve progressed I can move around the house with relative ease. It’s a largish house and I try and keep it clean doing a lot of housework and have progressed to working in the garden . I never considered that proper exercise but he’s not just a standard physio he can give a good reading on various activities.Apparently a couple of hours in the garden, balancing , stretching , sometimes core strength on one leg is the equivalent of a good strenuous run and in my case much better for me.
I have quite often spoken to people working on diabetes or stroke recovery and they tell me they have been lax on exercising .
A common comment is similar to “ oh I’ve been shopping and sorting out the house because a relative is visiting. I’ve been far too tired to go for a run in the evening or visit the gym “ I’m far from knocking any such activities as gym work but I think it’s really important not to underestimate how much valuable exercise is contained is contained in “ mundane “ activities.
 
A great inspiration. Well done and thanks for posting.

… and a number of us were saying how easily some gardening induces a hypo, supporting your physio’s ideas of recognising how much we do day to day. Like you I find I enjoy the variety of activity in any week. Rather than repetitive activity. I try to stick to ‘Have I done anything today? If the answer is no then go and do something. I find this particularly helpful to follow after any meal - don’t sit down for at least 15 minutes (That doesn’t mean I always do it though!!!)
 
A great inspiration. Well done and thanks for posting.

… and a number of us were saying how easily some gardening induces a hypo, supporting your physio’s ideas of recognising how much we do day to day. Like you I find I enjoy the variety of activity in any week. Rather than repetitive activity. I try to stick to ‘Have I done anything today? If the answer is no then go and do something. I find this particularly helpful to follow after any meal - don’t sit down for at least 15 minutes (That doesn’t mean I always do it though!!!)
I love your post.
Btw Im terrible for writing far too lengthy posts but you make a helpful point my first burst at gardening I was full of enthusiasm. I’m fairly sure I’m OCD but once I started strimming the lawn ( with a ridiculously heavy strimmer ) I couldn’t stop it was from the beginning hard work , balancing on very uneven ground hidden by the grass and swinging the strimmer ( I was enjoying myself but also frustrated because I would have been able to carry out work like this with ease ) I forced myself to complete the lawn but once I stopped I realised how rubbish I felt.
Nausea, weak and very shakey .
Despite my tribulations over the years even scared. Sure I should have known better but I was in contact with a regular person on this forum and managed to PM her. Firstly prior to my activity I’d had a strong coffee and a modest “ breakfast “ of raspberries and yogurt.
Much to my surprise I was advised to make a solution of water, sugar and salt.
In hindsight I was dehydrated, and working on an empty stomach , the solution really helped but I didn’t feel right for a couple of days.
Stupid of me really the amount of times my Nuero Physio told me to listen to my body.
Anyway every couple of days on top of my usual mundane activity I have have a crack at the garden . I’m better prepared and make sure I don’t overdo it. Each time my balance is improving and I’m fairly confident my stamina is getting better as well.
It’s going to be a long term task and there is no reason to rush it.
Another long post but thank you.
 
rereading my opening post I think I need to employ a proof reader. Thankfully most of my comrades on this forum made sense of it.
 
We do ignore the incidental exercise from day to day stuff. I've been taking more note of that this year, and even taking a lie down if I've realised I've gone over my limits of endurance (which tends to happen every few weeks)

For the gardening - remember we could have some seriously hot days if summer does fully arrive. Morning and late afternoon/evening only then for garden work, remembering food and hydration of course 🙂
 
So true @manji

Since being on an insulin pump with the ability to pause or reduce insulin in order to attempt to avoid low BG I have clearly seen how much effort can be expended in doing everyday things like vacuuming, cleaning, gardening, shopping etc.

Many of them need just as much or more precautionary adjustment as going for a run or doing some sit-ups!
 
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