What is wrong with me?

Actually Antonia I am full of admiration for you. I tried to do cross stich once and found it incredibly difficult. I neither have the patience or the ability and got myself in a right old mess with it. I strongly believe in doing whatever makes you happy - especially now. Ignore the boasters!

I have rediscovered my Rosemary Conley Slim and Salsacise dvd. It’s brilliant! The music makes you WANT to do it, there are three levels, level 1 is fairly easy and only lasts about ten minutes. Honestly it’s really fun and makes you feel great.

That’s the downside of social media Antonia. Chance to show off!
15 minutes round the block is a great start, and if that’s all you continue to do, at least you’re doing that. That’s how my husband started and now we get a bit further, or do it faster.
Look at avoiding people as a form of dancing. Sometimes we cross the road up to half a dozen times on one stretch of road, calling out “Hi! How are you”as we pass.
If you have something that keeps you calm and content at home, you’re better off than all those who are desperate to get out because their hobbies are all outdoors.
We aren’t supposed to be out for more than an hour so when my friend posts that she’s done a 25 mile walk today I say well done, but rather meanly think, “I bet that took you more than an hour.”

Just do what you feel like and keep happy. Let's face it a lot of us will have put a bit of weight on by the end of this but hey ho we'll be alive!

You are just normal Antonia. It is true what has already been said that some people love to boast. I live on the edge of a town so twice a week I go for an hour long hike in the quieter area. I leave at 7 in the morning as I am petrified of meeting other people particularly the ones that think the social distancing is 2 inches and then I have take evasive action. My point is I have a friend who keeps texting me about how, far she walked today, yesterday and where she is going tomorrow. She is forever asking me how far I have been and where. She knows I have one set route and it takes an hour. It has got to the stage where I tell her I have been out most days in all weathers because she is, making me feel inadequate. People should just do their own thing and not keep prattling on to others about how wonderful they are. Ahhhhhhh

I noticed on social media that people were posting times for 5k.....all I can say is there should be a slew of gold medals for us at the next olympics as some of the times are quite fantastical. lol

Dear Antonia, just ignore these holier-than-thou people, they are a pain at the best of times and particularly now and they certainly have no right to criticise you. You do not need to feel guilty or inferior. It's your life, live it as you want to

Personally, I have days when I feel quite active, although routine exercise routines have no appeal and never have had, and others when I am content to sew, or research family history - I am back to the 1700s - or just sit and read a book or listen to music. Just do whatever makes you happy. I do try to walk each day for my allotted exercise time whatever the weather which is something I have always done.

Keep smiling, Antonia. Things will get better if we all do as we are told. Sitting inside doing cross-stitch is better than joining the morons who think it is funny to congregate and spread the virus!

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The last thing you want to do is try to compete.

Any exercise has to be built up gradually.

A fifteen minute walk is fine.

It can gradually become longer.

We must be related Antonia. I want to exercise but find it so hard I hate it. If I do manage, I usually end up injuring myself so can't move for ages. Try not to be so hard on yourself and take your pleasures where YOU find them.

Antonia why are you comparing yourself to anyone else. You have answered your own comment as exercising is not your thing. And I agree trying to dodge people is hard work when out walking.
I thing it's great you can sit there and do your sewing and sounds like you are learning a new language. You obviously have interests if fitness is not one of them, so be it.

If you don't normally exercise then don't feel guilty about not doing it now. I think that it is important we all find something to do that we can enjoy whether that be cycling, walking or cross-titich. have fun with it and think of all the beautiful, creative things you will stitich during this time.

We have a dog - DH does the morning walk and I do the evening one which is often the first time I’ve stepped outside if the weather is bad. But I try not to sit around too much and feel guilty if I sit down to read or watch tv. I have actually quite enjoyed trying out new recipes and improvising with what’s in the cupboard or freezer. I can’t wait for life to return to normal but it isn’t going to be soon so we just have to accept that.

lol I just wish I could sit and cross stitch, wish I could find, online the wool cross stitch.. wish I could sit and read more than one page at a time.. wish... wish..

of course you are not doing anything wrong, wouldn`t it be a funny world if we all did the same thing?

I just lost my concentration, wish it will come back very soon, and I can sit and knit,, plain old garter stitch, wish I could read,, I have lots of books, wish I could sit at my little keyboard, deep sighs....send me some getupango go please!

Thankyou fourfour. I am almost 83 and for 25 years have been progressively immobilized by osteo arthritis. Yout exercises are about all I can do - and I need a stick and one hand on the banisters to haul myself up and downstairs. I used to enjoy cycle touring, horseriding, swimming and long distance walking. One thing is that if I reach the floor for any reason it is very difficult to get up again involving crawling to the nearest suitable furniture and struggling on all fours. I walk with two trek poles to prevent falls on the terrible pavements round here. I would love to swim and do aquarobics at least but having to give up driving means I cannot reach a sports centre unless by very expensive taxi. Before austerity, doctors could often prescribe exercise classes for free, though nothing was offered for transport. My mind is still agile, but people in my gee group are rather regarded as expendable, although I have a new grandchild aged just 13 months whom I would like to see until he goes to school if possible

i had a major op in january so i was just starting to do more when the lockdown started.
i had a couple of weeks when i sat around not doing much but then got fed up with the mess and dirt in my house. my daughter and grandaughters live with me but nobody does any cleaning!
so i started with the bathroom and toilet doing a little bit each day. it's taken me a week but yesterday i finished!
today i'm going to sort out the airing cupboard and will have a bag of old towels to donate to the pdsa.
before starting on the bathroom and toilet i sorted out my wardrobes and drawers in my bedroom and have two sacks and a box of clothes to go to charity when they reopen and possibly another two bags (sort out was rather overdue!).
next week i'll start on my bedroom and, after that, make my way down the stairs. my second bedroom will be left alone as that's where my daughter and grandaughters sleep and it's absolutely chaotic but that's up to my daughter to sort.
i'm shielded but on doctor's advice do a short walk around the block every day. i don't see anyone so i feel perfectly safe. and once a week i go to tesco as i don't trust my daughter to shop for my weekly essentials of bread, rolls and fruit.
i feel perfectly safe doing this so will continue to do it.

Dear Antonia you are doing nothing wrong, those cycling or going on long walks should ensure it is all done in 30 mins, any thing longer is wrong. You are staying safe and 15 mins around the block is ensuring that you are also getting out. Like you my anxiety goes through the roof mainly due to the cyclists that think cycling on pavement is ok, it isn't. We are lucky enough to have protected meadows, rivers and canals within 2 mins of our house. Take care and stay safe. Xxx

I can do nothing lovely Why worry, I don't care.
Staying germ-free is my goal, nothing else. I'm not interested in what others do or achieve.

Antonia, I'm exactly like you, and I've just seen something on a Facebook thingy that sums it up: "Do those people who run marathons not know that they don't have to?"

So, you don't have to do anything that doesn't suit you. 15 minutes round the block is fine, cross-stitching to your heart's content is fine, you are keeping safe, keeping occupied and hopefully enjoying yourself, which is really all that matters in these odd times.

I'd be tempted to write daft extreme lies, such as "Well yesterday I walked 35 miles and then climbed Ben Nevis. It was hard but I did it. Then walked home and cooked a 4 course gourmet dinner."

I will join you Antonia. After my stay in Hospital last year, where I could not do any exercise apart from a short walk down the corridor if I had the energy I now find that it is hard to do too much. I am also Shielded so cannot go out for a walk. When I do attempt to walk a few times round the garden my legs ache and I tire easily. I know it will be a gradual process but I do lack motivation, So you are not alone and are not an unfit frump. If that is the case then many of us are the same

Start gently. You can sit in your chair and exercise. Stretching arms and lifting legs. Walk on the spot sitting. I started doing Mr Motivator workout on BBC every morning at around 10.50. It is for all abilities. I have now bought one of his exercise dvds. I feel a lot better for it....no aching muscles now.

The key word there Antonia was boasting
That says it all

Personally, the stress associated with walking locally (and are they really saying that they can walk that far in an hour!) almost outweighs the benefit of exercising! I do walk every few days but there are other ways to keep fit. It isn’t good to sit around too much, so stuff in the garden is good if you have one, otherwise some gentle warm ups indoors would be a start. There are some online videos if you look. And I would treat it just as something that has to be done for ten mins or so a day...like showering or bathing...Try to stay a little active!

PS If you want a daily dose of mood busting join the online choir with Gareth Malone. www.thegreatbritishhomechorus.com

There is nothing wrong with you. I have been cleaning, reading, knitting and baking. I have managed a walk about every other day but the baking seems to be winning! I wonder when Slimming World will start again.......