Question of the Week: Exercise and Breaks From Routine

Hi John....hope your having a wonderful time with you family.  Since I started weaning off of Seroquel ( I am sure you've read my post).  This is under my Pdocs supervision, I have dropped 8 pounds, and 8 inches.  I am feeling so MUCH better.  I walk on the treadmill everyday two miles at 30 miles per hour.  I also ride the stationary bike for 20 min's at 13.8 miles per hour.  I have been doing this for 3 weeks.  Before coming off Seroque I tried doing this...but it had no effect at all.  Today I have started doing a regular work out with the weights.  Forunately my husband is right by my side helping me.  Just like he has always been by my side with my Disorder.  This has been the best decision I've made in my life in a long time.  I am not trying to tell people to go off med's.  I am coming off of Seroquel for health reasons.  My parents both died of pancreatic cancer...and I was starting to show problems with my pancreas.  Plus twitches.  So I have gone from 600mg at bedtime, now I am at 350mg.  In a week I will go down to 300mg.  Seroquel is a great med and it saddens me to have to go off.  I responded so well to it. So I will continue to work out.

I found it interesting that you implied that exercise was a break for the routine. My exercise regime is so structured - it IS the routine!  The only way I got a break was reconstructive surgery on my right foot - 6 pins sticking out of my toes, unable to move.  I spent two weeks in addictive withdrawal, miserable, moody and depressed because I had to break my exercise routine, 4 weeks not caring, and then having to attack the entropy and re-establish the routine, which my body was resistant to - From addiction to entropy in 6 weeks.

So 5 weeks later, I am back to an hour of outdoor cycling 3-4 times a week, and weights 3 times a week.  Anything less, and the joints start to dislocate, the whiplash comes back, and I turn into a monster.  I have been doing this for 3 years now - since I needed to lose weight for my liver problems, and was diagnosed with oestopenia - now normal bone density, as well as making the whiplash normal.  I kept up the weights, even in bed for the upper body, and was rewarded with no return of the severe neck pain. Last year I went on holidays, and stopped the upper body weights for 2 weeks, although I rode for 2 hours a day.  My neck acted like I had never strengthed it in my life.  How easy for old people to get out of shape

Should I last another 30 or 40 years, I wonder how a manic, speed freak cyclist, passing everyone will look to people - I will be over 90.  I can't see how I can stop, I need it so much.  I would love to walk, but my feet are too deformed, but I am happy I can at least do this.

I also play flute for a few hours a day, should I have time, like lately since surgery. I was very curious about the circular breathing you mentioned in another post. It is supposed to be very good for professional flautists, to sustain notes.  I wonder if having a blocked nose from allergies, and asthma would make it more difficult? Any comments or suggestions on how to get started would be appreciated.  LOL

For a break from routine - I read books - which actually is also a ritual I have been performing since age 10.  I have to wonder if there is actually anything spontaneous I do anymore?  Even visiting friends means interrupting the routine, which I have to fight the impulse not to obey.

I know - occasionally I draw. I am a poor artist, but it is a very different activity for me.  Interesting thought - I have sought discipline, and excluded fun and a break from the routine.  I must be getting old. I will have to think on this concept for a while.

Angie