You know science-y types, she wanted more explanation. And you know me, this conversation has bothered me all evening, so I'm putting it on record.
Two years ago about this time, I exercised two, maybe three times a week, and slept the rest of those particular days. My strength training moved slowly and I had to stop any standing exercises due to increasing dizziness. I went grocery shopping on the way home from work early in the week because I still had some energy at that point. I hated Thursdays because I worked a full shift, but my energy tanked by noon. And Fridays simply didn't exist. I had to be careful not to do "too much" over the weekend because I needed most of it to recharge for the coming week; if I didn't recharge enough, I'd end up calling in sick at some point during the week (thankful for the job I had at that point!). I gave up my "extra" sports. I didn't see friends much because I didn't leave the house after 5pm for fear of being too tired drive home. Two years ago, I was simply existing.
Last year about this time, I had been newly diagnosed with POTS and IST, and was trying out my first medication to keep those in check; that medication soon caused or helped along my extra balance issues, which put me on crutches for six months just so I could walk straight... I finally rather stubbornly reclaimed my cane and accepted that I run into walls sometimes. I had slowly worked up to exercising at least 3 days a week and my strength training was moving along, and I even realized rowing was helping! I started reclaiming my weekends and actually living through the end of the week. All of my improvements were in inches rather than leaps, but it gave me hope that I could keep pushing.
Now, I make my own schedule and I'm benefitting greatly from that; I'm also benefitting from my meds and supplements doing their jobs. I'm dreaming of bumping up to exercise at least four times a week.. but my goals involve work outside, so I need to wait out the rain. My strength training has been going better, despite some extra muscle problems lately. I still have to be careful with how I schedule things, especially being active, but I get to play more sports, go out with friends (even at night!), volunteer more again, and not entirely plan my days around taking naps. I can walk a couple steps on my own and walk pretty normal with my cane, still not very far and I still run into walls, but at least I don't have people following behind ready to catch me because I've made them nervous. I also don't get as dizzy when I stand, except when I get cocky and stand too long. While still pushing in many ways, I feel like I'm finally living again.
