Mental Illness

[Cattypuss]

See, this continues to confuse me. Exercise NEVER makes me feel better. I don't EVER get a high or anything from exercise by exhaustion and a sore back. I hear rumor of an endorphin high and stuff, but I think it's just something that skinny people make up to try and get the rest of us to work out. *sigh*

I wanna endorphin high when I exercise.

You have to be reasonably fit (not thin; fit) before you can get close to runner's high. Sad but true fact. But with consistency anyone can get to that level of fitness in around 6 weeks max. Basically you just need to be fit enough to push your heart to near its safe maximum for 20-25 mins straight, without pausing or slowing down. It's worth the work to get there. I was very lucky when I started gymming in that I already walked at least 6 hilly miles a day (had been doing for years, with my dog), so I already had the muscles and stamina to do that 20-25 min high heart-rate thing, even though I'd never done it to that heart level when walking.

 

[Cattypuss]

Bunny, I think the question I'd be asking myself is "What do I or the other person have to LOSE if I make a simple, no-strings, heart-felt apology?". I'd also be tempted to do it by letter/email so that it was clear to the other person that there were no strings.

You are being very, very brave in looking at yourself so honestly. I admire you.

 

[BiBunny]

Bunny, I think the question I'd be asking myself is "What do I or the other person have to LOSE if I make a simple, no-strings, heart-felt apology?". I'd also be tempted to do it by letter/email so that it was clear to the other person that there were no strings.

You are being very, very brave in looking at yourself so honestly. I admire you.

You're right about the first paragraph. You're totally right.

As for your second one, I don't think I'm brave at all, but I thank you just the same.

 

[Netzach]

You have to be reasonably fit (not thin; fit) before you can get close to runner's high. Sad but true fact. But with consistency anyone can get to that level of fitness in around 6 weeks max. Basically you just need to be fit enough to push your heart to near its safe maximum for 20-25 mins straight, without pausing or slowing down. It's worth the work to get there. I was very lucky when I started gymming in that I already walked at least 6 hilly miles a day (had been doing for years, with my dog), so I already had the muscles and stamina to do that 20-25 min high heart-rate thing, even though I'd never done it to that heart level when walking.

Maybe so. I have a feeling you and your dog walking would leave me in the DUST even at this moment. I did my first 3.8 lake walk the other day in which I did not feel wrecked at the end of it.

I am definitely not fit, though chipping away at. I've been even more fit in the past efforts to get to this point. It's like something has switched on - the only thing that makes sense to me is "shit changes, you're pushing 40, so maybe your head chemistry is just playing along all of a sudden."

 

[FurryFury]

That sort of exercise works well for my girl too. However, she is currently in, "If I can't do X, nothing else (exercise wise) is worth doing mode. Ugh. X is not currently easily available for her right now.

I had a pretty bad childhood and a lot of issues, especially rage issues. When I was in a foster home they wanted to put me in karate. The social worker didn't like the idea. I would fight at the drop of a hat and did they need to teach me how?

But they took me anyway and I loved it. It wasn;t about learning to fight, but about discipline and respect(especially self respect) and I felt like I was part of something.

I've now been practicing for 30 years and when I start having bad spells from my past, nothing makes me feel better than working the bag and a good hard training session. If the body feels good the mind will usually follow.

 

[FurryFury]

This always amazes me, how medical professionals expect people with mental illness to do whatever they tell them exactly how they tell them.

My mother who has often tried to O.D. was given so many drugs and still is. They expect her to take them correctly and not drink. Yeah. That's happening.

My sister and I both suffer from loss of initiative when we get depressed. Can't move.

The nurses blithely tell us to exercise, and both of us have had to explain that not exercising is one of our warning signs of depression. It's kind of bizarre how hard that is for people to accept.

 

[Cattypuss]

I am definitely not fit, though chipping away at. I've been even more fit in the past efforts to get to this point. It's like something has switched on - the only thing that makes sense to me is "shit changes, you're pushing 40, so maybe your head chemistry is just playing along all of a sudden."

I wonder if there's something in that, Netzach... I first got brain-chemistry benefit from hard exercising at the age of 43 (having tried it unsuccessfully previously - and not having tried it for probably 6 or 7 years)




(Oh - and those 6 miles a day are not as impressive as they sound - they are 3 daily walks that each come in at a tad over 2 miles.. I do often do 10-mile walks in the hills at weekends but to be fair I do need a very long sit-down in a country pub at the end of those ).

 

[graceanne]

You have to be reasonably fit (not thin; fit) before you can get close to runner's high. Sad but true fact. But with consistency anyone can get to that level of fitness in around 6 weeks max. Basically you just need to be fit enough to push your heart to near its safe maximum for 20-25 mins straight, without pausing or slowing down. It's worth the work to get there. I was very lucky when I started gymming in that I already walked at least 6 hilly miles a day (had been doing for years, with my dog), so I already had the muscles and stamina to do that 20-25 min high heart-rate thing, even though I'd never done it to that heart level when walking.

I wasn't always fat. I was in track in highschool (never got a runners high) and after my sister was born (I was 16), she and I would take several mile walks every day. I used to be in VERY good shape, the lack of shape is all due to my crohns disease and getting sick enough, three times, to be stuck in a bed for a month or so. Bed rest KILLS muscle tone, by the time I was able to walk again I'd lost so much muscle that I couldn't crouch without falling over, I couldn't stand on my tip toes AT ALL, and walking from room to room got my heart rate up and I'd get dizzy for over exerting myself.

 

[ultramarineblue]

I expect nothing. It would be stupid of me to do so. I'm not asking to be allowed back into this person's life. I just want it to be known that I know I was wrong, that I am sorry for the pain I caused, and that the things that I did to this person were completely undeserved.

Anything that happens after that is entirely up to the other person. I expect it to be our last communication, and I want it to be known that I am truly sorry because I fucked up tremendously. That's all.

I think the expecting nothing in return is very important in showing that you're truly sorry. Good luck.

You have to be reasonably fit (not thin; fit) before you can get close to runner's high. Sad but true fact. But with consistency anyone can get to that level of fitness in around 6 weeks max. Basically you just need to be fit enough to push your heart to near its safe maximum for 20-25 mins straight, without pausing or slowing down. It's worth the work to get there. I was very lucky when I started gymming in that I already walked at least 6 hilly miles a day (had been doing for years, with my dog), so I already had the muscles and stamina to do that 20-25 min high heart-rate thing, even though I'd never done it to that heart level when walking.

I can second this for own experience. I'm so sadly out of shape right now it will take the 6 weeks minimum for me to get back there again.

 

[Cattypuss]

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I have a BMI of about 34 at the moment. I am a fatso.

But I am also pretty fit.

Fitness and fatness are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Cattypuss]

I can second this for own experience. I'm so sadly out of shape right now it will take the 6 weeks minimum for me to get back there again.

Yep, but the great thing is that once you've gone from totally unfit to fit, you know it's possible and I think that is a great motivator if you need to do it again. All the vibes in the world coming at ya as you launch back into this

 

[livin1971]

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I have a BMI of about 34 at the moment. I am a fatso.

But I am also pretty fit.

Fitness and fatness are not mutually exclusive.

That is true I worked with a few guys in the Army that were fat but could run, ruck, and do all the Army things we do all day with no problems.

 

[ultramarineblue]

Yep, but the great thing is that once you've gone from totally unfit to fit, you know it's possible and I think that is a great motivator if you need to do it again. All the vibes in the world coming at ya as you launch back into this

This means a lot. Thank you very, very much!

 

[Cattypuss]

This means a lot. Thank you very, very much!

 

[BiBunny]

In honor of this thread, I am going to start doing my yoga-for-fat-people video again. I don't feel crazy, but I do lack motivation and energy to get things done, so I figure it can't hurt. Maybe I will start walking again, too, but I think I'll just start with one thing at a time.

 

[livin1971]

In honor of this thread, I am going to start doing my yoga-for-fat-people video again. I don't feel crazy, but I do lack motivation and energy to get things done, so I figure it can't hurt. Maybe I will start walking again, too, but I think I'll just start with one thing at a time.

Good idea

 

[Marquis]

I don't know how we started talking about fat but I'm disgusting and should probably kill myself.

 

[Tryharder62]

No

Your not disgusting just because you are heavy. But you're giving your power to things that could hurt you. That is what I tell myself. I have been up and down with my weight. But you are special Marquis and are needed here right now. I might go Sweat to the Oldies with Richard Simmons. You should see me dance. That would be enough to make you laugh. I can get down and boogie. It just doesn't look like it does when other people get down and boogie. LOL But we are all different. I am trying to learn to embrace that.

 

[FurryFury]

Did you watch it? What did you think?

Learnt loads reading this thread, and gonna watch that Stephen Fry documentary tonight.

Cheers xx

 

[FurryFury]

Glad to hear it.

Yes, huge comfort.

 

[FurryFury]

Yesterday I took both my kids to the psychiatrist.

One has ADHD, Depression and probably other things that haven't been diagnosed.

The other one is my "easy" child in comparison but has social anxiety and depression.

Today, I'm feeling pretty beat down at their level's of depression which are as high or higher than they've ever been.

We will see if the new drug protocols help.

I did find it interesting that the words "weight neutral" was used yesterday in regard to two drugs. I've long suspected that certain drugs make you gain weight. One 'weight neutral" drug that was mentioned, my mother was put on twenty years ago. It wasn't good for her. Made her more suicidal but it also wasn't weight neutral for her she lost tons of weight on it. Doctors never seemed to care.

 

[livin1971]

Yesterday I took both my kids to the psychiatrist.

One has ADHD, Depression and probably other things that haven't been diagnosed.

The other one is my "easy" child in comparison but has social anxiety and depression.

Today, I'm feeling pretty beat down at their level's of depression which are as high or higher than they've ever been.

We will see if the new drug protocols help.

I did find it interesting that the words "weight neutral" was used yesterday in regard to two drugs. I've long suspected that certain drugs make you gain weight. One 'weight neutral" drug that was mentioned, my mother was put on twenty years ago. It wasn't good for her. Made her more suicidal but it also wasn't weight neutral for her she lost tons of weight on it. Doctors never seemed to care.

I was put on Paxil and gained almost 30lbs in 3 months because it makes you crave carbs. Every med has different effects for each person. Thats something most docs don't really think about. Keep your head up. I'd give you a hug if I could. I hope that the new meds work for your children and things get better.

 

[Marquis]

Lithium supposedly makes you gain weight, that could be the case with me, hard to say until I get other aspects of my diet/fitness under control.

I took Zoloft briefly before I knew I was bipolar and I lost tons of weight on it.

 

[Marquis]

Had a follow up appointment with my nutritionist today. I gained a little muscle and lost a little fat since our last appointment. Pretty stoked.

 

[livin1971]

Had a follow up appointment with my nutritionist today. I gained a little muscle and lost a little fat since our last appointment. Pretty stoked.

Congrats good to hear.