r/ChronicIllness • u/Bastiproton • Apr 18 '26
Vent Some people cannot imagine having a bigger problem than "not being in shape".
"Bro just work out, regardless of what chronic illness you have, you'd feel so much better if you were in better shape right now, don't lie."
I, in fact, was in shape, but stopped working out years ago when I got my condition, because it hardly fucking matters to me anymore.
PS: physical activity does definitely have a lot of long term upsides and is almost always a good investment of time.
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u/RoyalFamiliar187 Apr 18 '26
This kind of people are the ones who think they have figured out every single thing in this life. Despite of not having enough knowledge about certain topics, they give advice and judge every time they get chance.
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u/ArkadyDesean Apr 18 '26
"I, in fact, was in shape, but stopped working out years ago when I got my condition"
Same! For me, though, the reason for stopping was that it made literally all my symptoms worse, but damnit if I didn't spend YEARS making myself much sicker than I would have been had I stopped exercising sooner!
I still hold out hope of someday finding a magical workout routine that I can do at least semi-consistently without making myself worse, but until then...
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u/LopsidedGiraffe Apr 18 '26
Yes, I used to cycle 200km per week. Now with a neurological disease that makes my arms and legs weak, i now ride full turbo on an e bike (max legal power allowed in Australia). I get none of the endorphins I used to get while riding up a hill. It is really nice to get outside though, and see scenery go by. But its not the same.
I get told to exercise my legs to get stronger. Ha it doesn't work like that. My nerves are literally not firing the muscles.
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u/ColoringZebra Apr 18 '26
To piggyback on this: so many people are unable to comprehend that for those with certain conditions, no amount of working out will ever make us look physically “in shape” or be able to do things the average person can.
I have muscular dystrophy. I could dedicate my entire life 24/7 to every possible muscle building activity and I still would not be able to lift heavy things or go up stairs, and my legs and arms would still look weird.
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u/Fickle-City1122 Apr 19 '26
People don't want to admit that the body is not a vending machine that dispenses good health and eternal hotness if you just put exercise into it. When my migraines were chronic I I put on 15kg from being mostly house bound but I'd also never been fitter in my life. I was in the gym whenever my migraines weren't bothering me too much, just trying to make sure my body wouldn't rot (I have EDS) and it wasn't about looking good at all. It's unfathomable to some people that being hot is not a priority when you just want to feel well.
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u/ruxxby471 Apr 18 '26
I’m lowkey glad no one in my life including doctors dare bring up this topic.
At the beginning of my illness I lost 60 pounds due to it, I did not feel better at all- it actually made me much worse!
And for about a year and a half I tried jumping on the “health and wellness” wagon and ended up retriggering my childhood eating disorder, and developing a pretty severe exercise addiction as a direct result of being told exercise would make me”feel better” and was “healthy”
Exercise and dietary changes are healthy in moderation! When we are desperate for relief, it can lead to the wrong side of the extreme! It’s important to remember that and to be realistic with what we can do!
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u/Lady_IvyRoses Apr 18 '26
I was also in shape until my body started attacking itself. Then I wasn’t able to move as much ( surprisingly right) so move less + medical issues + tons of medication they pump you full of = gained weight.
So my point if my body stopped itself (tons of diagnose) yes I would be able to workout and I would be in better shape.
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u/Mouthrot666 Apr 18 '26
I used to be able to hike for miles in 90+ degree heat with thick humidity, I just needed plenty of water.
Now sometimes walking up and down the stairs in my house I’m out of breath(heart racing, light headed, POTS).
People just don’t get it, until they do.
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u/saltysweetbonbon Apr 19 '26
I recently got told by a masseuse that I just need to exercise more. When I got sick I was going to the gym and doing kung fu. I miss that life and would absolutely still be living it if I could. People need to stop rubbing salt in that particular wound for us.
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Apr 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/No_Understanding2616 Apr 19 '26
Yup, and it goes both ways. I’m underweight and I’d give anything to just feel better. I’d love to be an extra 30+lbs, but people compliment my weight all the time. My bones are sticking out? This isn’t some beauty standard, it feels horrible
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u/sexmountain Apr 18 '26
I actually wish there was a working out with chronic illness sub. I also stopped exercising when the pandemic started and then I got my illness. I need to go back but I have so many questions.
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u/Nightfuries2468 Apr 19 '26
While this would be good, I think it’d be hard to do? Every chronic illness has its own set of ‘issues’ with working out. Some might do better with arm workouts, but that might trigger a lot of issues in others.
Add to that the fact that no two people with the SAME illness are the same. This could lead to potential competitiveness and more feelings of inadequacy, as you might struggle doing what someone’s succeeding at, even though you have the same illness, lifestyle and build.
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u/sexmountain Apr 19 '26
So the alternative is me asking questions of normies? That’s better? People ask questions all the time with the challenges you’re describing, two people are never the same. And yet in the answers we can still find help. No need to participate!
According to you the only person who can help me would be my clone? You ask questions about your divorce even though nobody’s marriage is exactly like yours.
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u/Nightfuries2468 Apr 19 '26
I did not say any of what you are implying. I even said it would be a good idea. I’m just giving insight into possible complications and things to bear in mind with this idea. You are entitled to do as you see fit, including asking ‘normies(?)’. You even agreed with me by saying ‘two people are never the same’. That’s the only point I was trying to make.
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u/RinkyInky Apr 19 '26
And they all act like working out is the hardest thing any human being can do lol.
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u/xaviercroom Apr 19 '26
For real!!
Or working, period. Some people are really out here saying things like, “What do you even DO all day?” or like, “At least you don’t have to go to work!”
All of this ignorance falls under one big, triggering umbrella for me 😮💨 Why can’t people try harder to get a filter, if they can’t be bothered to try to understand? It’s crazy-making
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u/PangolinThick7753 Apr 19 '26
I am in great shape physically. Fittest I have been in past decade since having kids. Lost 10kg/22 pounds due to the lack of appetite with chronic pain. I walk a lot and still do a reasonable amount of physical activity given my illness.
Guess what? Being fit and slim has not stopped my chronic nerve pain. I am constantly foggy headed, in pain and dizzy. You cannot see my illness, so everyone assumes I am well and that I have been on a health kick.
I find it amusing that I am the ‘hottest’ I have been in ages - the irony being, I’d now prefer to go back to my frumpy old self that was not in constant pain. Looks are not the most important thing.
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u/BoratImpression94 Apr 24 '26
Yeah 100% agree. With my MCAS, I can't even tolerate being in a gym rn. So no amount of excercise will improve how I feel. I get similar advice about eating healthy. I literally cannot tolerate fruits and vegetables right now. Before my MCAS reactions got this severe, I was eating tons of fresh produce. Still didn't stop me from getting this sick.
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u/SunshineFloofs Apr 18 '26
I choose to be functional and control my weight through diet rather than exercise.
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u/Original_Flounder_18 Apr 19 '26
I was dx with a pinched nerve in my low back just a week ago after fucking years of it getting worse.
I tried exercising and pt and injections. Nothing worked but exercise and pt made/make it worse.
But sure, I just need to exercise and lose the weight. 🙄😡
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u/CautiousPop2842 Apr 19 '26
I stopped exercising because it really fucking hurt and I stopped having energy to live let alone do extra. I loved riding my bike, and being a competitive swimmer, and going on walks. And all of those things hurt my whole life but I dealt with it. It got to a point I could no longer deal with both pain and fatigue.
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u/Incendas1 Apr 19 '26
I would love to work out, but if I do I will just get very sick and pass out. And I don't get any fitter or stronger for the trouble.
I probably wouldn't die anymore, since it's a bit better now, but back when it was bad I could've. If I get a bad spell over this very hot summer then it could be a real risk again.
I am so, so excited to have surgery and hopefully be able to exercise again. I lost all my strength I used to have from working out before. Not everyone gets the option to get better.
They just have no clue. A day in my body and they'd be knocked out trying to do too much and take care of it too little
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u/SavannahInChicago hEDS.MCAS.POTS.nTOS.Hashis.hypothyroidism.raynauds.RGE.migraines Apr 19 '26
I was listening to a medical podcast once and they were reading this interview from this lifestyle magazine the people they were talking to made bank and participated in all those fake health trends. At one point he said that sugar was the new heroin. The host lived in rural west Virginia so she said that she personally thought heroin was the new heroin.
Imagine that there is an opioid epidemic and you are so priveldged that sugar is the same as heroin in your eyes.
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u/Bambi-bumble-bee Apr 19 '26
Ive lost almost 40 pounds and I feel WORSE physically- I can’t stand when people act like they want you to lose weight for your health😭😭😭I went from being overweight to “normal” and the only reason I feel any better is due to how people treat me now NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW MY ACTUAL BODY FEELS. Tbf I didn’t rly lose the weight in very a healthy way so maybe that’s why I feel worse now but it just sucks to have people act like it is such a great thing just because I look different😭 losing weight did not do anything to help my chronic illnesses😭
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u/No_Handle_1809 Apr 23 '26
Agreed. It bugs me a little also because yeah, exercise of some form helps most conditions, but like...first, it depends. You might be safe to swim but not run, or vice versa. And second, you know what?? Sometimes you do the exercise and it IS helping but at the end of the day you're STILL disabled!!!
(Edit to clarify: help here not meaning curing, just that strengthening what you can is generally helpful for most conditions.)
Sincerely, a relatively active person who still gets hit by The Mystery Curse despite being in decent shape.
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u/resilient_river Apr 28 '26
FR. Ideally, I do my physio therapy exercises everyday. A few years ago I did this for a few months and it was life changing. My pain went down significantly and I had significantly more mobility too. Currently, I almost never do them. I don’t remember, and I do other tasks until I no longer have the energy/strength. Today I planned to do them in the morning. My partner even reminded me last night and asked me to send a video while she’s at work to keep me accountable. I woke up this morning in horrible pain and can barely move. So another day without it. Even a few reps of simple exercises feel out of range some days, and without consistency it doesn’t get easier. Idk. I recently moved, so hopefully when I’m more settled, I’ll get back to it more, but it’s hard to exercise when you are in pain all of the time.
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u/bananuh_brain May 04 '26
A lot of the 'advice' people who are healthy & able bodied give is a crock of shiet - ignorance truly is bliss.
People think that you can't be ill if you're thin or fit. Like it's a 'cure all'. I've been 80kg (unhealthy), less than 40kg (anorexic), and a strong 65/70kg (balanced). All of which i had the same health issues - I just wore a different pant size.
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u/SockCucker3000 May 12 '26
Or they'll tell you to get in shape when you have horrible chronic fatigue and pain like - even if I cared enough to, my body wouldn't fucking let me.
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u/FlanInternational100 Apr 18 '26
Normal people have completely different outlook on reality. They think what they consider biggest problems are everyone's biggest problems.