When "fitness" isn't an option

I know many Jedi feel fitness is an important part of being Jedi, and I can definitely understand why, however I rarely see the topic of disability addressed. I've lived with Fibromyalgia since at least my early teens, and also have diabetic gastroparesis which can cause a great deal of weight loss. I do my best to try and keep my blood glucose under control and still get nutrition that I can properly digest - though it is a challenge, I do try - but physical fitness as it is so often defined is incredibly impractical for me, and in some instances could even be considered reckless.

I really am at a loss for ideas in this regard. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

We are not all the same, and while there are some Jedi who believe that fitness is a requirement to being a Jedi, I think it's more important to play to your strengths.

If you're already having troubles with disability, don't put the added pressure on yourself to 'be fit' to live up to someone else's idea of a Jedi. Do what you can do, but don't injure yourself or push yourself in an unhealthy way.

Be the best you, whatever that means to you.

I would say that Jedi should be concerned with being healthy rather than "fit". I believe I should not do things to intentionally harm my body and I should look for ways to improve my overall health. That does not mean I have to bench press a certain amount or be able to run some arbitrary distance according to "fitness" standards.

You clearly have challenges that others do not face, so you should focus on what is healthy for you. You'll never see any judgment coming from me.

Cryo,
I have CP and struggled with the same issue when i came to the community in 2012. In the end though, there is more to being a Jedi than working out. Health is imperative. Knowing one's own stregnths and limitations is imperative too. Every Jedi will be different. Thats ok. But don't get into the mindset of "I'm not a Jedi because..." You are here. You are living the principles. As far as I'm concerned, you are a Jedi. Let no one tell you different. Not even yourself.

Your OP really touched me.

I have physical limitations, it has been a long journey for me to find the fitness options for my body. I have cried many times due to physical pain and trying to do what others do. Even just 10 of this or just 10 that from physical therapists, I could not do. And they were supposedly the experts for my conditions!

I have learned for myself that not all fitness planning is for weight loss or produces weight loss. Not all fitness is cardio or strength training. There are things like range of motion, chair exercises, etc., stretching, etc.

For me, I had to start at scale less than 0 so to speak. It was appropriate for me. Perhaps, I am now at 0, lol, three years into my effort. For me that is better. Whereas, before, I just suffered and did not know where to start, or started and hurt myself and became discouraged.

It seems fitness for the Jedi is a baseline where the Jedi is physically. That is what makes it Jedi versus "Shape" or "Fitness" magazines.

Certainly be safe and healthy.

Also be focused, disciplined, and express the Code through your actions. I've heard said before, "The way you do anything is the way you do everything." There is truth to that in terms of our actions indicating the intangibles within - the true strength behind any great undertaking. That truth is cyclic, to my mind. If the strength of my spirit has bearing on my actions, then the hardship of my actions has bearing on my spirit. We all have our limitations and constraints, but it is also incumbent upon us to push against those from time to time in order to grow and discover more of ourselves. With that, it is not important for a Jedi to be able to run a five-minute mile or do a standing backflip. 'Fitness', regardless of how you define it, is a mechanism to further spiritual growth - as are other methods of self-mastery. It is the focus in the Japanese tea ceremony, the commitment to excellence in the fleeting Buddhist sand-painting tradition, the presentness of an athlete who finds herself in the zone, or the ingenuity of an engineer working on the Apollo mission. Entirely different disciplines that are mechanisms for touching an intangible part of yourself. If that is how you approach 'fitness', you are doing it right. Athletic performance is an entirely separate matter - take care not to confuse the two. You may both be running, jumping, or lifting - but you are operating on differing planes for different purposes. The novice who must dig to find the personal strength to continue during a run did far more internally than the hardened triathlete trotting comfortably alongside him.

Anyway, if you have a clear understanding of this delineation you will know during ANY endeavor when you are short-changing yourself - and when you can walk away with confidence.

In that sense, no one can set standards higher than the ones you set for yourself.

When I'm weight lifting, I'm not there to compete against other lifters...I'm only there to compete against myself.

Taking it in a mental focus direction, I know I'll never be as smart as Akkarin or as clever as Jestor or as well-read and versed as Alexandre Orion. But I can, just maybe, be a little stronger and smarter than I was yesterday, today.

Hopefully that helps a little. You know your body best and how best to take care of it. As long as you're doing that, you're being just as good a Jedi in the physical department as other Jedi posting in the fitness tracking thread.

Yup, its not a competition against other people.

I always divide it into functional exercise and health exercise. Functional being about able to do some nature of activity at a higher level more safely, and health just being about as healthy as possible. These are both very restricted in scope to the individual. There is a lot of info out there these days which means an individual can research and tailor programs to suit their particular needs.

Fitness fad's are probably more a vehicle for social interaction then best practise. From what I've read if you go to a sports academy the first thing they do is assess where you are, and then design a plan from that which revolves around your specific sport - rather then just expecting each person to do rote programs where every muscle group is exercised etc.

For me learning about health is really quite important to my Jedi path - not because I'm trying to be superhuman and save the world, but because I'd like to be at 'my' best, and that means recognizing the unique things which hold me back in some areas and realistic about what I can and cannot achieve which through exercise becomes part of the learning experience about myself.

Hey there OP. I've got type 1/A/juvenile diabetes and as such I also have to pay close attention to my blood glucose. I would suggest maintaining a level of reasonable health by eating right, cutting certain things from your diet most of the time (such as soda), and lightly jogging or hiking a few times a week for as long as you're comfortable just to keep your cardio up (if that's an option). Physical fitness is, in my opinion, relative to the physical potential that each individual has.
If weight loss is a concern, then just eat when you get done walking/hiking/jogging for the day. I did that and (unfortunately for me) didn't lose a single pound while jogging 5 miles a day over the course of 8 weeks!

Edit: Then again, it does depend on how many calories you take in. You should be able to get away with steadily becoming healthier just by hiking, walking, or jogging, though. The low impact of walking or hiking shouldn't (as far as I know) mess with your Fibromyalgia too bad. But I'm not a doctor, so you should consult your doctor if you're planning on starting to jog or hike or whatever you want.

It should also be noted that Rosalyn actually learned how to do a martial art with her CP. It's pretty awesome from what I'm told

That said, fitness is more than a work out. Mental Fitness is a form of fitness, and just staying healthy is a form of fitness, even spiritual fitness. What you're talking about isn't fitness- it's a work out. Are work outs important? In my belief, they are- to a degree. I don't expect someone to do a work out that is outside of their ability. Physical Therapy can be considered a form of workout.

For a long time I saw paraplegic as being one of the exception (stuff like that), but I think it really depends on the individual, as there have been cases where paraplegics have made partial recoveries and continue to work through it. But I could see someone with an extreme disability substituting a workout with a proper diet of your choosing.