When I was a teenager, and in my early twenties I used to be very athletic. I was a runner, did weight training to keep in shape when I had competitions, and after I was out of the running game I still kept fit by going to fitness clubs, jogging and doing aerobics.

I’ve stopped doing all of that since I became sick. No, not just since my current illness took hold, but since it first started in 1992. Or maybe I should correct myself and say it’s been a slow decline up until this current illness and now it’s at a dead stop? Yeah that’s more accurate.

I know that I’m a bit of a different case because the main reason that I’m becoming out of shape is that I’m in pain so I’m not moving about as much as I used to, but even for someone like me fitness is important. In fact it might be even more important for a person with chronic pain because exercise helps stimulate endorphin production and endorphins can help you in at least two ways- one they make you feel better, happier, and two they can also help reduce pain levels.

I have a very nice mountain bike that I bought a year and a half ago. I used it the first summer I had it, but I didn’t use it this past year at all. I think this coming spring I’m going to get on that bike and start riding. There are a number of wonderful bike and hiking trails in the neighborhood. One of the great things about living in a city like Toronto is that there are huge parks and areas of green within the city, and also the beaches and boardwalk for activities too.

Ok so I have a plan for a few months from now but I think I should start sooner than that. If I don’t I’m just going to be a blob that doesn’t want to move by spring. The weathers actually been pretty nice lately, so if I can’t ride my bike maybe I can start walking around the neighborhood. It’d be nice to get my husband to come with me. We could walk around the neighborhood in the evenings and see all the houses decorated for Christmas. I’d enjoy that – even if I didn’t feel so good during or after the walk, at least I’d be out doing something.

If you’ve been trying to come up with ideas to raise your activity levels so that you can either get in shape or lose a bit of weight I hope that a few of my ideas have helped you too. For more ideas on how to start getting into shape you can visit No Excuses Gym, a blog that’s full of great ideas for weight lose and muscle shaping activities.