We are beginning a group chat today about the book by Tina Vindum (2009) entitled Outdoor Fitness. You might wonder why, especially for us Oregonians, we are going to cover a book like this as we head into the winter season. There are a couple of reasons for this particular choice:
The first reason is that, here in the Pacific NW, we have a whole lot of gray and damp winter weather. Since many of us feel more pain due to the dampness, we resist moving and that choice makes our pain even worse in the long run. Remaining a little physically active is important in managing the pain and flexibility, but I know staying indoors doesn’t work for me when there is a sofa beckoning me to watch another movie. This particular book brings out ways to physically move in everyday outdoor spaces that gets us out of the house, hopefully offers us social opportunities to share it with friends and family, in addition to getting us moving without thinking of it as “exercise”.
The second reason is also about the weather. I know how much rain we get and the fact that it will be flu season here shortly. If you have lupus, even if it isn’t technically discoid lupus where skin is involved, the sun creates some trouble for us if we are out in it too long. As with even ‘healthy’ people, a sun tan is your body’s natural defense system – and one in which alerts your other ‘systems’ that there is a pending threat. This response may not cause you rashes or lesions (as it does with individuals with discoid lupus), but it still gets your immune system in an uproar and will potentially cause you harm wherever your lupus presents itself.
Choosing cooler temps and less ‘stressful’ conditions to challenge your body while exercising makes good sense. You can choose morning and evening workout times during the summer, but I know many with physical pain find they loosen up and move better later in the morning or early afternoons. For those who struggle with fatigue, waiting until after work or exercising in the evenings just taxes you more than you are already feeling after a long day. Yes, there will be rain – but we don’t melt when it hits us, it is easier to remain cool and the air is easier to breathe without dealing with pollen. Gyms will be festering with recycled air and bodily fluids – sound inviting? We aren’t talking about aiming to build lean muscle – unless that is what your goal is. What this group chat is about will be to get us moving, even a little, and doing it in a way we feel a part of something good for us, active within our local neighborhoods and living with lupus out in the open on our best terms.
I know that our illness – the fatigue, the weakness, the medication side effects, the clots, migraines and sometimes constant chronic pain – can get in the way of our seeking to remain physically limber, flexible and as healthy as we can be. Fact is, we with lupus have increased risks of diabetes and heart disease and that is a sobering reality, but sometimes still not enough for us to push ourselves more than we already feel pushed around.
This book may have an athlete talking about getting into the best shape ever, but the concept intrigues me. I also want to become less secluded, more social and begin really appreciating the place I live….but at my own pace. I think her ideas or recommendations on using every day outdoor structures such as parking meters and trees are inventive and cheap. How many reps will always be up to me, but I need a little kick to my flabby tush in getting going.
Thus, this group book chat. I envision that we will read, discuss, critique and set an agreed upon individual target for each week – personalizing those activities based on our health, our doctor’s okay and our own goals for what ‘activity’ means to us. It will also offer us a chance to meet more locals who will be joining in and maybe looking for a buddy to keep us honest.
No pressure, but perhaps a little spark of motivation – I want to keep this fun. You don’t live here in the Pacific Northwest? No problem – hearing from you and what you’re doing in your neck of the woods only adds to learning more innovative ways to move, no matter what your address. We look forward to hearing about your adventures, too!
So, here we go! Looking forward to meeting and moving with all of you!
