GET moving!

Yes, it is time I started sharing, treatments and helpful knowledge with you all.

Exercise is the most important part of my condition management plan. this may shock some of you, but exercise creates energy and that’s what we lack, so harnessing the power of the right kind of exercise with pacing and care is so important.

Now don’t go thinking about running a marathon, or 100 press ups, every morning, think small and start with minutes. This is where the GET comes in, Graded, Exercise, Therapy!

Now if we lived in a decent world, we would access a personal trainer with anatomical and medical knowledge, who would work us through a personally designed programme, with support. this would be the ideal treatment, we are entitled to such from the NHS along with dietary assistance, but hands up how many of you have been referred for any of these.

Maybe you are a lucky one, with an actual CFS clinic existing and operating in your area, for most of us we are left to negotiate the demonic depths of this diabolical condition alone, with merely the notion of such treatments.

Following a physical treatment plan is hard enough, having to devise the plan from our own imaginings in the first place is beyond hard. There will be those amongst you who lived their lives with exercise at the core, for you this sudden lack of ability may seem tortuous, but you must forget all you knew and start again from the beginning, as if Newborn to the world.

In my world I exercise daily, I started from nothing and built up over years, now I can almost look like a normal person exercising at the gym. Looks are deceptive.

Remember pacing? This is a must, if you are starting your own exercise programme start in seconds, up to minutes, from one, two and up to three. Less is more, make each small amount a part of your daily life, never be tempted to go for it, that way madness lies.

Yes, it is frustrating beyond frustrating, depressing too if you compare your efforts to other well people, but over time, in time, you can do much.

So, my recommendations? Stretching, gentle movement, repeatedly. Pilates was my lifesaver, I joined classes, my first goals were to get there, lying down is the perfect exercise, and I would do a little and rest, now years later, I can do all kinds of exercise and it is part of my life.

Major tip, if it hurts stop! Never work through the pain, your body is telling you to stop. Separate that all over general pain and get used to working with it.

Always do too little never too much. a little can be increased, too much can put you out of action and send you back to the beginning.

Exercise however you choose, indoor, outdoor, find what suits you best, find your own limits, most of all enjoy it, only do things that you like. Don’t miss who you were, think of who you are going to be, a warrior, survivor of CFS.

Good luck.

Chrisx