Think you feel worse than you do???

As I was doing my mall walk this morning, my walking partner wanted to go down the stairs. I avoid this kind of thing in general, but went along. I was dreading those steps down and was just thankful I wasn't making the trek UP. As I started to descend, I realized that I didn't feel the pain I would normally feel. Nor did I feel the balance problems or anything else I used to feel when I was 100 lbs more. Then it struck me that I find myself still avoiding some physical activity because I expect it to hurt or be too difficult. I have spent so many years in so much physical pain that pretty much all activity ceased. Now I find that I am battling being a couch potato even though I can walk/shop longer than 30 minutes or go up a flight of stairs without feeling as if my legs will buckle under. Do you find yourself doing the same at all? I have a sedentary job and my hobbies include sedentary things as well - no doubt chosen at least in part by the fact that they were sedentary. So I find that although I am walking every day and trying to be conscious of moving more, that I am still a lump on a log when I'm at home. Dina

If I just had a pedal powered computer.... Joy

Agrees with Joy

YES! Girl you just scare me sometimes! I SWEAR I was thinking that just the other day!!! My son wanted to go for a walk (now granted I do work out in the gym) but for some reason a walk around the neighborhood just made me feel so ICK, like I was afraid of the pain and discomfort I would feel in walking...so I said ok and agreed to go. He was riding his bike and I was walking. I started walking and felt anxiety and when we walked a block I realized that it felt really nice actually and that I had NO pain and NO problems at all! we walked all the way around the whole development! probably a mile or 2!!! It was great. I was also thinking the other day that I DO do all these sedentary things and need to do more. I have been getting into cooking lately and baking I know the baking part is just not great... BUT it is alot of work to do these fancy meals and cleaning up afterwards and just housework and I notice that I was afraid to do all this for fear of pain and discomfort! heh...I still sit around though but have been trying to be better. I am an animal planet and TLC junkie. My husband said I should have been a vet! heh. Well that is actually what I wanted to do... but life intercepts... I digress... Elizabeth M