A small success

[kmwondering]

I committed myself to exercise in the new year for both my physical and mental well being. I have been doing  cardio at home (cardio phobe here) and ignoring my heart rate. Afraid of panicking or passing out in front of people (no evidence for that fear, it has never happened) Today I went to the gym for the first time for a full workout. I thought my heart was Going to beat right out of my chest but I stuck it out. I'm fully cleared to exercise btw. Even if you feel like your heart is going to explode, it won't.

[LindaRK]

Good for you for taking that first step!  You will NOT regret this.  You will start feeling better and wonder why in the heck you didn't start this sooner! LOL

[smmaho]

Hi kmwondering well done on the success. I'm going through the same thing ATM. This morning I did a circuit/weight session with my person trainer, third time I've done it and after each sessions I've had nausea and loose stools. Have you experienced this before?

[kmwondering]

I haven't but exercise will stimulate digestion and anxiety will add to that. Running to the bathroom is definitely part of my anxiety

[rr2005]

Good for you! Has it seemed to improve you anxiety?

[floridaguy65]

First, this is not a small success....there are no small successes in our journey. Embrace it and give yourself kudos! Nobody is doing this for you....you are doing it for yourself and all you love and for all that loves you:) You can make this into a positive affirmation, if you like, that you say to yourself while you are exercising.

"I am defining my own well-being. I do this because I love myself and I love the people in my life and I am loved back by many! Anxiety will not dominate me. I accept that I will continue to help myself - no matter what!":)

Or something to that affect:)

Exercise is vital to our healing path. I will never believe or say anything otherwise. It was (and still is) a critical part of my own healing path. I, too, was a raging cardiophoibe, back in the day. I was 99% sure that my heart was gonna just blow up in my chest or that it would, simply, quietly quit working as I was casually walking around or in my sleep. 27 years later, my heart is a freaking machine - it is a powerful, beautiful piece of art. One visualization I have used is that I would picture my heart getting stonger and 'growing' and I would literally picture it in my mind, while exercising, as having two powerful arms coming out of it, flexing with bulging biceps:) Nothing is 'out of bounds' as far as making us feel good, I have learned:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

P.S - My heart was a freakin' machine 27 years ago, too....I just didn't believe it:)

[Calamy]

I'm also a cardiophobe and still working on exercise. The best I can do is moderate walks for about 20 or 30 mins and freaking out the entire time which makes these walks extremely uncomfortable.

Congrats on doing your training, that's a huge achievement! I hope to achieve that one day soon:) Keep it up. You're doing a great job controlling your fear!

[gcalex]

You rock!!  Over time you will desensitize and you won't even think about your heart.  This is exactly what people need to do, on so many levels. 

[gcalex]

I'm also a cardiophobe and still working on exercise. The best I can do is moderate walks for about 20 or 30 mins and freaking out the entire time which makes these walks extremely uncomfortable.

Congrats on doing your training, that's a huge achievement! I hope to achieve that one day soon:) Keep it up. You're doing a great job controlling your fear!

Nothing wrong with a 30 min. walk that is great.  Has the fact that you can do it with no consequences helped at all yet with the fear? 

[kmwondering]

Thanks everyone! It is nice to be understood here.  I definitely think it is helping.

[mollyfin]

To the person with tummy trouble: runners often have to stop mid-race (well not a short race but a marathon or the like) to poop because exercise like that stimulates your digestive tract or bowels or what have you.  Totally normal!