Gym is Open (Monday 3/31)

Yay, March is almost over! I didn't do much formal exercise the past couple of days, and I can feel it not only in a weight gain but I feel more bloated, too.  I think the exercise helps keep fluids moving through my body. My plan today is to do strength training at the gym, and then do either cardio or go for a walk.  It depends on how cold the weather is -- we are expecting a cooler week than last week.  I want to go downtown and just walk around, walking helps me think. What did you do to move your body today? Kix

Good Morning Kix! I'm up and at 'em and going strong this morning! 20 mins elliptical and 20 mins on the weight machines and I've got the endorphin high thing going on..... LOL

Whoa, after all that exercise, you must float through your workday! Kix

You and I are in the same boat this morning, Kix.  I did not exercise over the weekend, and did a lot more eating than usual while watching television yesterday.  I think I've gained 2-3 "real" pounds, plus I think I'm carrying around 4-5 pounds of extra fluids.  My knees are even aching...   My solution?  Back to the gym for another round of 2-a-days, probably 4 times this week.  Today, I'll do strength training for upper body and some core work at lunch, then I'll do 60 minutes of cardio after work.  I think you're right that regular exercise helps our body circulate fluids more effectively; I wonder why that happens? 

Good luck to everyone finding the time, energy, and motivation to move it today.   Kellie

Exercise absolutely helps with lymph circulation - your lymph vessels don't pump, they just pool fluid and have little gates that keep it from flowing backward.  It only moves from "gate to gate" when your muscles contract and push against the lymph vessels.  Fluid circulation is very inefficient if you aren't moving much, especially in the legs, but it works the same way throughout your body. 

Thanks for the information, Jenn!  I had always suspected it had something to with our lymph systems, but I'd never really given it a lot of thought.  I had managed to put 2 and 2 together, and figure out that I seem to retain less fluids when I'm exercising regularly.  But I like knowing why that's so....  Thanks for educating me!   Kellie

Well its good to know that teaching anatomy for a couple of semesters finally came in handy :)

Whenever I go two or more days without exercising, I can feel my thigh swell slightly in the spot where Blobby used to hang.  I think my lymphatics are slightly wonky and the exercise helps keep things flowing. We must have similar metabolisms, if I go more than two days without exercise, it's like my body forgets how to burn calories.  Ugh. Good job on the 2-a-days, maybe I need to start trying it. Kix

You and I are in the same boat this morning, Kix.  I did not exercise over the weekend, and did a lot more eating than usual while watching television yesterday.  I think I've gained 2-3 "real" pounds, plus I think I'm carrying around 4-5 pounds of extra fluids.  My knees are even aching...  

My solution?  Back to the gym for another round of 2-a-days, probably 4 times this week.  Today, I'll do strength training for upper body and some core work at lunch, then I'll do 60 minutes of cardio after work.  I think you're right that regular exercise helps our body circulate fluids more effectively; I wonder why that happens? 

Good luck to everyone finding the time, energy, and motivation to move it today.  

Kellie