Post by John Knight on Feb 13, 2006 11:42:51 GMT 8
Hi all!
My first time here, g'day! I've had CFS/FMS/LGS (leaky gut) for about ten years, and am currently 21 years old. Like a lot of you, I basically missed my teens. When I was 17, I came across a fantastic form of physical and mental rehabilitation that I've been crazy about ever since, indoor rock climbing. I also do outdoor as well, now that I'm healthier, but before you all decide, "there's no way I could do that", please hear me out.
I found I couldn't play a game of soccer, footy, etc, or go on runs, or I'd just break out in a weird fever that a lot of you could relate to. But one day some friends invited me out to the Hangout (a climbing gym in Bayswater), and I found for some reason that I could climb, and really well too, hehe.
In hindsight, I now know why. The way that indoor climbing works, is climbing up 10 metre walls, while slowly working through technical moves and sequences. Because of how it is structured, it is fairly low endurance and doesn't give too much of a cardio hit, but is highly strength building and you start to look all sexy with toned fore-arms!
Each climb has a technical rating, which is the important part for me, not necessarily the climbing itself. You soon learn that advancing in technical grades is all to do with technique, and doesn't have much to do with strength (in fact people that use a lot of strength have bad technique). Within a few months, I found myself doing technical grades that I previously thought were impossible for my body, and friends and family also said I looked healthier and encouraged me to keep climbing. Needless to say, with an impressive sport that i could FINALLY do, I went nuts for it, and it's defining part of who I am now. Every technical rating I advance is another boost to my self-esteem, and now people see me for what I can do, rather than what I can't (and that's also how I define myself).
I realise that this won't be for everyone, especially those with severe muscle problems, but can I urge everyone who can to at least try it TWICE? A word of warning, you WILL be knackered the next day. Absolutely shot, and your muscles will be aching. This is normal, and happens to every climber, so please don't write it off the first time. Go a second time, and see how you are the next day. If you're even worse the second time, well, it's probably not for you, but you should be better off than the first time, and if so, try and stick with it.
After four years of climbing, I now realise that's it's entirely possible to be a world class climber (not that I am) and have CFS, it just takes persistence. Over the years, nothing has helped me more, physically, and mentally, as climbing becomes so symbolic, and you soon start to apply the discipline of climbing (which also involves discipline to listen to your body of when to rest, and when to go) to almost all areas of your life. Each climb lasts a few minutes, and most of your time will be spent resting, talking with mates, and figuring out the moves from the ground, as to how to get past that hold you got got stuck on before!
For anyone that's interested in the idea, there's a climbing gym in Bayswater (The Hangout), Northbridge (Rockface), and Carlisle (The Overhang), plus someone like the YMCA has a wall too. And for everyone else, please find a sport that you CAN DO. Even if it's something like Pool, like Gary found, just find something, and try, try, try, because it helps so much in your physical and mental rehabilitation. That said, don't push yourself too hard, your body will know what you can do.
Cheers!
John
My first time here, g'day! I've had CFS/FMS/LGS (leaky gut) for about ten years, and am currently 21 years old. Like a lot of you, I basically missed my teens. When I was 17, I came across a fantastic form of physical and mental rehabilitation that I've been crazy about ever since, indoor rock climbing. I also do outdoor as well, now that I'm healthier, but before you all decide, "there's no way I could do that", please hear me out.
I found I couldn't play a game of soccer, footy, etc, or go on runs, or I'd just break out in a weird fever that a lot of you could relate to. But one day some friends invited me out to the Hangout (a climbing gym in Bayswater), and I found for some reason that I could climb, and really well too, hehe.
In hindsight, I now know why. The way that indoor climbing works, is climbing up 10 metre walls, while slowly working through technical moves and sequences. Because of how it is structured, it is fairly low endurance and doesn't give too much of a cardio hit, but is highly strength building and you start to look all sexy with toned fore-arms! Each climb has a technical rating, which is the important part for me, not necessarily the climbing itself. You soon learn that advancing in technical grades is all to do with technique, and doesn't have much to do with strength (in fact people that use a lot of strength have bad technique). Within a few months, I found myself doing technical grades that I previously thought were impossible for my body, and friends and family also said I looked healthier and encouraged me to keep climbing. Needless to say, with an impressive sport that i could FINALLY do, I went nuts for it, and it's defining part of who I am now. Every technical rating I advance is another boost to my self-esteem, and now people see me for what I can do, rather than what I can't (and that's also how I define myself).
I realise that this won't be for everyone, especially those with severe muscle problems, but can I urge everyone who can to at least try it TWICE? A word of warning, you WILL be knackered the next day. Absolutely shot, and your muscles will be aching. This is normal, and happens to every climber, so please don't write it off the first time. Go a second time, and see how you are the next day. If you're even worse the second time, well, it's probably not for you, but you should be better off than the first time, and if so, try and stick with it.
After four years of climbing, I now realise that's it's entirely possible to be a world class climber (not that I am) and have CFS, it just takes persistence. Over the years, nothing has helped me more, physically, and mentally, as climbing becomes so symbolic, and you soon start to apply the discipline of climbing (which also involves discipline to listen to your body of when to rest, and when to go) to almost all areas of your life. Each climb lasts a few minutes, and most of your time will be spent resting, talking with mates, and figuring out the moves from the ground, as to how to get past that hold you got got stuck on before!
For anyone that's interested in the idea, there's a climbing gym in Bayswater (The Hangout), Northbridge (Rockface), and Carlisle (The Overhang), plus someone like the YMCA has a wall too. And for everyone else, please find a sport that you CAN DO. Even if it's something like Pool, like Gary found, just find something, and try, try, try, because it helps so much in your physical and mental rehabilitation. That said, don't push yourself too hard, your body will know what you can do.
Cheers!
John
