Back on the treadmill

I don’t think of myself as a sickly person, but in the past two or three years I have sought medical help for several conditions/symptoms: Depression and anxiety, of course, but also irritable bowel syndrome, hay fever, excessive fatigue, and “female” problems. In each and every case the doctor or nurse, in addition to prescribing appropriate treatment or medication, has suggested that exercise would help.

Last week, once again, I heard from my gynecologist that exercise would make me a new person. I am famously sedentary, but this time I was so sick of hearing about the wonders of exercise that I vowed that I would take his advice seriously and exercise my butt off from here on out. Apparently medical science has discovered that exercise cures all ills, and I will be cured! So I went out the very next day and plunked down $800 for a treadmill.

Here’s the funny thing: I’m enjoying it. I set up a magazine or a recorded book, put in a load of laundry (my treadmill is in the basement), turn on my Healthrider, and walk my heart out for 30 minutes. I thought it would be boring (my husband doesn’t understand why I don’t do all my walking outside), but the dullness is part of its appeal. It’s mindless, like brushing my teeth. I can just stare into space and think, or I can read (not with close attention, obviously), or I can listen to a book, and thirty minutes later I’m done and no one has really missed me and the day goes on as usual.

My mood continues to improve. I still don’t know what to do with my life, but right now I’m concentrating on getting through the day in a reasonably productive manner. I’m able to socialize a little without coming off like a yeti. I can concentrate better. Like I said, it’s good to feel better, it’s great to feel fine. But we’ll see.

~ by irishtraveller on March 25, 2007.