Exercise..making me feel worse instead of better

[JER2911]

So, for a while, (about a year) I was really good about keeping up my exercise routine.  I was feeling good and lost some weight..down to about 125 lbs.  Well, I got in my head that I was losing too fast, so I stopped exercising and...I KEPT LOSING=..CA.  So, thus began my next HA cycle, which I have been on for about 6 months now.

Well, in that six month time frame, I've had an endoscopy, clonoscopy, two CBC's, thyroid and hormone check..all came back good.

I decided a couple of days ago, to kick my own butt and get back into my exercise routine. Well, I am noticing, that after I exercise, I feel like I've been hit by a truck.  My mucles have that achy flu feeling to them..(which I tend to get anyways) but this amplifies it.  I just don't feel good. 

Is this normal? Anybody else feel this way? I thought by exercising again, I would start to focus on feeling well and living better.  But, its proving to be counterproductive at the moment.  Any advice?

[plomeli]

Well I know that being anxious really takes a toll on your body. I think it's because of the adrenaline, and of course the fact that our minds are constantly on high alert. How much are you exercising? Maybe you are doing too much?? Are you eating right??

[JER2911]

Eating good and exercising about 20 minutes a day, for now.  I was trying to slowly work myself back to an hour workout.  I don't think I over did it...Ugh..can't even exercise without having some crazy symptom, worrying about it and over analyzing!!    What is wrong with me???????

[Ymir]

You're doing it wrong. The point of exercise is to focus out. I can get the same effect from organizing books.

Physical exercise can help in the beginning because it relieves emotional tension by straining the body and giving it a reason to relax. However, once you get used to this, the pointless repetition of exercise will become mundane. Just another outlet for those horrible thoughts to build up again. Might as well sit in a chair and sulk for an hour. The effect will be the same. Find an activity with purpose and goal. Life is a delicate balance of struggle and reward. Find something real.

[JER2911]

Um, Ymir..not sure how to take your post. 

Exercise is important, just for being healthy physically.  I wasn't doing it "just" to get my focus off HA.  I was starting it back up to be healthy in general.

I don't just do mundane exercise..I do have other hobbies, singing, writing music, dancing, playing with my two little girls.  I do have things that are "real".  Unfortunately, I'm still in this HA cycle at the moment, even with my hobbies to help take the focus off. 

I just wanted to try and get back into the routine (exercise and good diet) I was in before this most recent bout with HA..which I had escaped for almost two years prior to this one.

 My question was really, "Is it normal to feel like you're muscles are really achy (like the flu) after exercise".

[christina10778]

I'm going through the same thing.
I just recently started working out and eating right again myself 

My muscles are feeling the same way, but I don't know if it's because I've been working out with the punching bag or what?
And, as a matter of fact, I just got back from a 2 1/2 mile speed walk (after doing a 1 1/2 mile one this morning) and parts
of my legs and arms have been periodically going numb/buzzy? I also feel like my heart is buzzy as well but then again,
I know it's just my anxiety because I have felt all these symptoms before.

I've decided to push through it and force myself to do the exercises that I set out to do.
And everytime I get through it without passing out, having a heart attack, etc. I get a little more confident in my abilities and realize
more and more how powerful my mind truly is.

I am not going to allow anxiety to have that much control over my life anymore.
If I want to workout, I'm going to do it. You should do the same 

I honestly believe that it's just your anxiety. Push through it and you'll be fine 

[JER2911]

Thank you, Christina! Glad to hear you are doing good! Keep at it.
I am going to keep on going too. I have wasted too much of my life worrying. Enough is enough.