9 Jun
Right, 60 years old and standing in my own living room feeling intimidated by a YouTube video called "gentle beginner strength" which is aimed at, I don't know, people who have never moved before. And yet. There I was. I used to be reasonably active. Years ago. Then perimenopause, then the actual menopause, then a few years of just... surviving, I think. And now my body feels like something borrowed from someone else and I genuinely don't know where to start without either injuring myself or crying. The fatigue is the bit I can't plan around. Some days I think I'll do something and then by 3pm the whole idea is laughable. I'm going to mention this to my GP actually because I don't know if there's a sensible limit I should be working within, or if pushing through tiredness is fine, or if it's making things worse. I have no idea and I'd rather ask than guess. What I have been doing is a bit of mobility before bed. Just gentle stuff, nothing impressive. Hip circles, some slow stretching. It's not fitness, it barely counts, but my joints feel less awful in the morning and I sleep slightly better on the nights I do it so I'm keeping it. I've also noticed if I have something with protein after any kind of movement, even a walk, I feel less wiped out afterwards. Whether that's real or placebo I genuinely cannot tell you. Feels real though. I don't want to become a fitness person. I just want to be able to carry shopping and go up stairs without my knees complaining. That's the whole ambition. Is that enough to build from? x