Madnuss' journal

Madnuss · 09-Nov-06, 03:41 AM

As a newbie to the forum, I decided to start a journal as a way to keep me checking in.

I work out to keep sane. Sounds odd I know, but working out is the #1 thing to bust stress and keep my energy levels up. I'm 21 years old, studing at the university where I live and have previously had no experience working out ever. And then I mean _ever_. This summer however, I found my selv severly depressed again (have battled clinical depression since I was 13) on antidepressants in my parents house for the summer holiday. All I wanted was to lie in bed and watch the walls. I had to start thinking about what I'd been doing to myself all these years, and how it clearly hadn't worked for me. I quit smoking a year and a half ago, I love food and therefore cook almost everything I eat myself and try to keep it healthy. The one thing that I had neglected, was working out.

So I got myself a pair of running shoes, put them on and started running (boy, this is an overstatement. Jogging. I jog, people). Wow, was I in bad shape! I'm serious when I say that I could not run thirty seconds continuosly without feeling like I was going to die.

But jogging was better than feeling like s*** all the time. And as I got better very, very quickly, I found it an exellent way of spending time with myself without all the negative thinking.

I am much better now, though I'll have to stay on the meds for some time. I joined the gym that university supplies us students, and do strength training, jogging on treadmills and go to spinning classes there. My main goals are to keep getting fitter, faster and to be able to eat without putting on gross amounts of weight. So far, I'm doing fine.

Yesterday, I jogged carefully for an hour on the treadmill, and thanks to Pierinis advice, I was able to do so without my foot acting up.

Today I'm planning on doing some upper body strength training on the apparatus the gym has. Gotta love those machines, I find them easier to handle than freeweights and they're good enough for me.

**minime** · 09-Nov-06, 05:23 AM

Hi madnuss, welcome to discuss fitness and to the journal section.

Though i have never battled depression, i do agree that working out does a lot for my state of mind. If i don't go to the gym for a few days i start to feel sluggish and generally bad - the gym makes me happy!

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better now!

tim_mcf · 09-Nov-06, 12:36 PM

I get grumpy and difficult to get along with when I don't work out.

Actually, I have read that exercise is often superior to medication in treating depression.

Madnuss · 09-Nov-06, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the welcome and input guys!

Well tim, exercise is good, no doubt about that. Both my doctor and therapist was thrilled to hear that I'd started working out and meant it was a huge step towards recovery. However, it's easier to prescribe medication and from personal expericence I know that it's really hard to start anything constructive whilst being sick.

***

Workout today - well, what can I say? Did some decent work on the machines, but I actually can't stand weight traning at all. And since I started putting some serious effort into strength training, my appetite has been that of a wolf, and I'm putting on A LOT of weight. I'm only 5'3" (160 cm, I'm metric), so a few kilos either way does show.

Well, tomorrow I'll do my favourite: the hour long morning jog. How I wish I lived somewhere warm so that I could run outdoors all year long. Here, winter equals rain, rain and then some more rain. That's Scandinavia for you!

laura817 · 09-Nov-06, 03:03 PM

Welcome to the journal life, Madnuss!

I never battle depression myself, however, if I don't keep active I get very destructive esp. with my close relationships. Workingout is my escape goat and it also keeps me sane. Good luck!

**gymgirl** · 09-Nov-06, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minime

Though i have never battled depression, i do agree that working out does a lot for my state of mind. If i don't go to the gym for a few days i start to feel sluggish and generally bad - the gym makes me happy!

Hi, Madnuss! welcome to DF! as everyone else has said i am the same way. although i have never gone through what you have dealt with, i definitely am unhappy/mean person when i don't get to work out regularly! it really does something for the mind as well as body.

you said it best, doctors find it easier to just perscribe pills instead of working with people on tackling the real issues. good for you for taking up exercise. peronally i enjoy weight training, but i like running too. it's a great time to clear my head.

best of luck and i look forward to reading your journal.

Madnuss · 10-Nov-06, 05:35 AM

I think I'll make next week an off week. Since starting running, I've never given myself more than three or four days off. Lately, I've discovered that after workouts something new in my body gets all sore and achy. Latest thing to act up is a tendon in my hip/groin area that hurts when I take long strides or walk up the stairs. With a paper due next week, I think some rest will be in order and I won't get on the treadmill until nothing hurts any longer.

Madnuss · 12-Nov-06, 04:20 PM

Well, woke up this morning just needing to hit the gym, as the pain in my hip flexor was as good as gone. Had a nice, tough hour on the stationary bike where I tried to get my pulse above my comfort zone to see how long I could keep going. I'm no pro when it comes to intervals, but I gradually worked my way up and down the 75-85% area.

Trying to clean up my diet as well. Lately I've been eating a lot of simple carbs and sugars (my favourite guilty pleasure), and it's really starting to affect my stomach. I've been waking up with my flat stomach and gone to bed looking a few months pregnant the last weeks and I'm tired of it. I'll give the low-sugar way a try for some time.

Madnuss · 15-Nov-06, 07:54 AM

Boy, am I bored out of my mind regarding the paper. Well, It's due tomorrow and I can't squeeze out a single word more.

The last days I've been focusing a bit more on diet. I'm a foodie, and I find resisting temptation really hard, especially when it comes to sugary treats. Cookies, cakes, candy... I'm there. Well, took some pics of myself yesterday as progress shots. Not impressed. I looked huge. I know that I've broad shoulders, but when I gain a bit I suddely look huge and bulky.

I'm gonna hit the gym as soon as the open today. Can'twait! Today I'll work the machines hard.

JDR3 · 15-Nov-06, 10:39 PM

Hope your workout went well. I too have a liking for the sweets(ice cream,m&m's with peanuts).
Keep at it, all progress is good progress.

Madnuss · 16-Nov-06, 02:44 AM

It's at good to know that I'm not the only one who has a thing for the sweets, JDR3!

Woke up feeling nice and sore in my upper body. Although I get bored with the weights easily I like the feeling of soreness in my body later on.

Today I'll hit the bicycle for a real cardio session. Somehow I just love doing totally mindless repetetive tasks as it clears my head. However, I get really annoyed by those who bring a magazine to the stairmaster or bike. If you can read while doing it, you're not working out IMO. Pushing yourself and focusing on what you do in the moment is what made me love exercising in the first place.

**minime** · 16-Nov-06, 04:22 AM

Hi Madnuss! Believe me, u are not alone on the sweets thing! they are also my biggest weakness. I love chocolate.. icecream.. cake... marshmalows oh ok i am making myself drool here lol

Anyway during the week I will often have one square of 85% cocoa dark chocolate at night time - its low in sugar and helps make me feel like i am not too deprived

at the weekend i will indulge a little more, but i try not to go totally crazy!

I hope your paper is going well

Madnuss · 16-Nov-06, 12:41 PM

Paper handed in, not my best work but I'll pass and thats what matters. Thanks anyway, minime! :-)

So beat right now. Had a very intense workout on the stationary bike today, I'm getting into intervals lately. I'm really impressed by how quick my pulse goes up to like 173 in a matter of ten seconds and then stays very high through the recovery (I'm alternating between 1 minute all I can do/1 minute recovery and 30 seconds intense/recovery). Works a treat on the caloriecounter on my pulsemonitor anyways. Trying to shed a little before Christmas sets in.

I'm a bit undecided on what I should pay attention to lately. I love running/jogging for busting stress, burning calories and just think and get inspiration, but it can be a bit hard on my legs and that d*mn hip flexor keeps acting up if I overdo it, which I tend to... Biking is not as hard on the joints (although hip hurt today), but also not as fun. Stairmasters are just plain boring. I also love the rowing machine, but this is a killer on the hip (maybe I have bad technique or something). I need all the cardio I can get, as I'm a big eater and I'm afraid of gaining.

Weight training is the worst for me I guess. Some exercises I like, but overall I just do it because I feel like I have to. And ever since I started doing it regularly, I've just kept putting on more and more weight.

I guess I'll do a bit try and failure the next weeks. Maybe do shorter, but more intense workouts on the treadmill opposed to the long ones I do.

16-Nov-06, 12:54 PM

There are many alternative ways to skin the cardio cat besides running.

The heavyhands workout as created by Dr. Leonard Schwartz is a great cardio workout. Basically you walk and use a pair of light dumbells to perform a variety of arm pumping and pushing movements. Walk at 4 mph and use (as a beginner) 2-3 lb. dumbells. I use 5 lb. dumbells but I wouldn't recommend that much weight for a first-timer.

You can always do a burpee workout.

Finally you can do a superset of bodyweight exercises circuit, seeing how many rounds you can complete within a fixed time period, for example 20 minutes. Many examples can be found at www.crossfit.com and by reading the posts of several crossfitters here such as JDR3, tim_mcf, gymgirl and minime.

Keep up the good work!

Madnuss · 18-Nov-06, 08:16 AM

Thanks for the tips Pierini!

Today was a good day at the gym because I did not overdo it, but still pushed myself enough that I'll feel it tomorrow. I know many members are against doing cardio and strength training on the same day, but I think it works for me.

Did 30 minutes of gentle biking, just to get warm without upsetting the hip. Actually kept it gentle. Then I hit the machines, working on core muscles 3x 15 (and today I could put on 5 extra kilos on each!) and rounded off with 10 minutes of arm cycling. The latter one I think is great, although my expericence with it is limited. I feel how it instantly kills my arms, so there is a lot of potential for getting better, and if I give all I have, I'll get a nice increase in pulse. Will definitely do a couple of times a week.