More specifically, do you find that it drains your energy more than most people? That you can't push yourself as hard as others? Or, put another way, that you need more rest and recovery time than most people?
Almost two years ago, I tried Couch to 5K. I made it to week five, then burned out and stopped because it so thoroughly drained every bit of energy I had.
I remember being so puzzled and confused about it. I remember thinking, what's wrong with me? I'm eating well. I'm eating enough. I'm getting enough sleep. I'm resting on my off days. I'm not extraordinarily out of shape and I was keeping up with the program well enough until the fifth week.
In retrospect, I'm wondering if it was an Autistic energy management problem, and I'm curious about others' experiences with C25K and other physical activity programs.
@dave@actuallyautistic I’ve had a problem with moderation in sports, hurting myself because I went all out, or simply not being able to pace myself. I’ve been more interested in accidentally finding a pleasant/aesthetic way of doing something than winning or performing “well”. After washing out or getting tired of many sports, I’ve found that swimming is really great for me.
@llPK@dave@actuallyautistic the “autistic energy problem" described in the OP, i believe, is grounded inherently in sensory conditions (or the under-sensitivity of some of our senses) which has us drive towards extremes in multiple respects/ways in order to "feel” the limits that many NT/allistic folks can detect approaching earlier/sooner/with more fidelity.
To that end, i always loved swimming because it was a slower burndown on energy/resources. Disc Golf became a new FavoriteThing too
@aaronesilvers@llPK@dave@actuallyautistic
Yes for me it’s finding balance of energy and interests as fun and challenging daily. Especially when sick. Everything is relative and connected. Regardless I appreciate them and all things energy related. I love voicing and bouncing ideas around to help us all collectively.
@dave@actuallyautistic I did couch to 5k last year, and I was able to complete it. I think that exercise is a bit of a neutral activity for me: takes work to get going but I do feel better when it's done, even if I don't get a "buzz" from it. I have noticed that it's hard for me to fit in because I don't really compromise - it's not just the run, it's getting changed and warming up and cooling down and stretching. So it takes a fair amount of my day. NTs don't seem to stress about that; I do.
@dave@actuallyautistic I was always very active as a kid. In lots of sports clubs, went out on my bike, etc. The responsibilities of adulthood got in the way, but I'm on my feet at work. Until long Covid I walked the 3.5 miles to work, still enjoy physical activity, just have to take it more easy.
That "poor muscle tone" checkbox is probably another reason my autism wasn't caught by onlookers.
Emotional/social work is much more draining. Working in a team is hard. Team leading is EXHAUSTING.
I had issues with physical activity in the past, especially at school which made me HATE sports for decades (litteraly). Bully teachers, school "mates"', did not help obviously. I would have loved to see them burn in Hell.
I discovered much later that I can love this, if I practice alone (or with my son, he's a great support) and I love the discipline. Biking, running, kayaking, walking are fine.
However, I have trouble starting (executive function disorder I guess) and I think cycling became so obsessive last year that it did not help get me out of burnout (not sure if it pushed me to this, but I was so addict I was cycling 40/50kms before working almost everyday, to be able to cope). Due to this last point, my cycling is almost stopped now, which is bad but I fear getting back to this treadmill.
At the moment walking does a lot for my mental health.
@dave@actuallyautistic I've never tried couch to 5k or anything like that, because I know myself and it's not something I'd want to do at all.
But generally yes, absolutely. I hate exercise, I have to force myself to do enough to remain moderately healthy, and a big reason is that it swallows all my spoons and drains... whatever it is in my brain that allows me to maintain some kind of emotional balance.
@dave@actuallyautistic lol just the idea of a c25k program fills me with demand avoidance 😅. Something about being tied in to a program. But also I find running super hard, like it kicks off 'being chased' fight or flight vibes in my body.
I do exercise though, and it helps me tremendously. Mostly slower types of exercise, weights and the like. I find the slow focused rhythm of the weight lifting to be remarkably soothing. I mostly exercise to keep anxiety at bay, it just seems to calm my body, but also as someone who is perimenopausal, to build up bone strength in later years.
On the one hand, I have been fortunate to have generally good health through most of my life and I've been able to stay physically active and reasonably energetic even in middle age with exercise in forms like hiking, swimming, indoor rowing, and similar activities ...
... activities where I can do the same basic motion over and over again, without having to worry about it changing suddenly...
...because, on the other hand, I got the charming kind of dyspraxia that makes any physical activity requiring precision or adapting to sudden, rapid changes of focus, including pretty much every sport known to humanity but also things like social dancing, damn near impossible to do with any sort of skill.
Add comment