Just watch me!

My co-workers wonder why I go to the gym - they are not gym people - as I have so many ailments. But I tell them that I am much better off because I go three times each week, and was a regular gym person before RA and fibromyalgia. I think this is very true - my exercise habits put me in better shape physically before the onset of both of these.

Now when I have a training session with a physical therapist, we talk about my goals of keeping flexibility, balance, and range of motion. Face it, I am old enough that I need to think about these. I switched to one of the physical therapists last year from one of the trainers (there is a difference) because I wanted more direction with RA. The PT was somewhat wowed by my ailment list and the fact that I did come in and work out like a semi-normal person. He had no idea I had so many issues before then.

However the problem with my working out is sometimes my three times a week workout is compromised by my body revolting - with pain. I have a chart where I track my workouts. I put in little notes as well. Things like 'foot pain', 'back pains', or, my other favorite, 'fatigue', cover my chart by the time its full. Some days I start my workout with a pain pill.

The rule of thumb at the gym is 'if it hurts, stop doing it'. But if I followed that rule, I would never get a full work out in. But I make an effort to get there and do as much as I can.