We are told that exercise is good for fibromyalgia, but then we go out and do it, and we feel terrible. Megan was a dancer and competitive athlete until she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In her 20s, she felt like she lived in a body that was 85 years old. Over the last ten years, she has learned to listen to her body and retrain herself into competitive condition. Her advice can help you ease into a routine that is right for you and your body, no matter how big or small your fitness goals might be. Key Points There are specific ways that people with fibromyalgia should approach exercise that may look a little different than the general population, but even the general population could benefit from a slightly more finessed entry into fitness. If you are starting a fitness program and have chronic pain, make sure that you know how to help your body recover from whatever exercise you do, and take baby steps all along the way. We may have to retrain our brain’s response to pain in order to progress. How to know the difference between productive pain and pain that means stop. Be cautious of stretching because stretching can actually cause us to flare more than strengthening or mobilizing. The process of getting stronger and building athleticism or building cardiovascular health is not linear. The biggest gift of having fibromyalgia, if we can see it that way, is the hypersensitivity and the increased body awareness that we get to have. Disclaimer While Megan is a trained fitness instructor and has all the certifications to tell you what to do with your body, please know that this podcast episode is designed to give you general information only, and this information should not be considered medical advice nor should it replace consulting directly with your doctor. About Megan Densmore Megan went from debilitating fibromyalgia symptoms to being able to realize lifelong dreams of competitive athletics, and along the way she has become an advocate for chronic pain and invisible illness. She is a working actress and indie film producer, she is an experienced Pilates instructor, and she is a proud distributor of Shaklee products. She is excited to speak out about the freedom she now experiences in all avenues of her life, and she is committed to teaching others to find their own freedom! Links & Resources FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Get a free copy of Tami’s book, Take Back Your Life: Find Hope and Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain at FibromyalgiaPodcast.com/books. Tami will be teaching LIVE, one class each month, for the entire year 2020. This is the same information that she teaches her Coaches, clients, and students. These classes will not be recorded, so we hope you can join us LIVE. Go to FibroWorkshop.com to find out what Tami is teaching on next. Get Megan’s free e-book! Learn more about the “Zero to Hero” program and other ways to connect with Megan at MeganDensmore.com. Learn about Invisible: The Film at Invisible-Film.com. Fundraiser for Invisible: The Film in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25th. Contact Megan through her website for details. The symptom log mentioned in this episode can help you understand what is happening in your body and whether the things you are doing are helping or hurting. Access this tracking tool and all of our bonus materials using this link. Download this special handout that will outline some of the things to keep in mind if you want to begin exercising with fibromyalgia. Your warm-up is critical in preventing injury. Consider this warm-up routine that was designed by Dr. Ginevra Liptan (Episode 5, Episode 18). This is something that she uses with her patients at The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia.