Officially a gym member!

Shock horror. A girl with ME/CFS has joined a gym.

It's absolute madness I know, so hear me out;

Yes, I am constantly fatigued, in pain and all the fun symptoms that you have with having MECFS. However, before (and the first few years that) I was unwell I was also incredibly... dare I say addicted? to exercise. I absolutely LOVED dancing. I even took up martial arts (had to drop it quite early on however...). I used to compete nationally in a team. I'd be dancing three days a week and then practice when I wasn't at the studio! I used to go on long walks, help muck out stables, I even (last year) took up horse riding but unfortunately money and Perrin treatment collided and I had to stop.

So anyway, I've always been an exercise nut, I enjoy the workout, the feeling you get after pumping your body. Especially if it's dancing, or with animals. Heck, if I had a dog you could count on me doing agility trials with them!

The exercises I'm doing at the gym are quite light. Least resistance, short times etc. Mainly walking exercises, such as the cross trainer. I'm also quite taken with the rowing machines and used that for the first time in a very long time yesterday!

So overall, my gym work outs are going to test me, but they're going to be incredibly 'laid back' work outs. I just feel that I need to get fitter. I can climb a set of stairs and then be out of breath and I honestly don't think it's helping my MECFS with me being so unfit! So I'm hoping I can hit just the right amount of balance for me to not kill myself at the gym, but to get fitter and improve my symptoms.

There is also a pool there which is fantastic as it helps ease the pains in my joints etc. After the pool you can also use a jacuzzi... the warmth is SO SO soothing after doing a work out... and the finally a steam room. My boyfriend said I was practically glowing after being there.

I've signed up for 6 months for a whopping £38 pcm. Eeek! So my pay slips are taking quite a bashing. But I'm thinking that it will be worth it. It also gives me and my boyfriend a chance to do something together away from the house; we struggle to find time for each other at the moment so it's nice to set a few hours aside for us to work out side by side (occasionally ignoring each other for music!). It's great so far and I love it.

I just need to invest in some real gym clothes as mine arn't really that appropriate!