Finding Balance With Fibromyalgia

Tami wrote this personal story for the Gentler Streak app’s Stories from the Community, where it premiered as an App Store event for Fibromyalgia Awareness Month.

Have you ever felt like your body has a mind of its own, leaving you exhausted and in pain without warning? Ever wished for tools to help you manage your energy better? That was my life when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2007.

To manage my symptoms, my doctors suggested “pacing”—a strategy that balances activity and rest by breaking tasks into manageable chunks, setting realistic goals, and avoiding overexertion. But honestly, I really struggled. How could I pace myself without knowing my energy levels, the cost of each activity, or how today’s actions would affect me tomorrow? It felt like I had to predict the future!

After months of frustration, I received a pedometer as a birthday gift. Immediately, I started wearing it, tracking my steps to figure out my activity level. With time, I hoped it would help me understand how my activities impacted my symptoms.

After a particularly rough few days, I checked my pedometer for answers. I discovered that two days earlier, I had walked nearly 6,000 steps while “golfing” with my family (basically just driving the golf cart). That was six times my normal activity level at the time. No wonder I was so exhausted and sore!

Looking back at my step count helped me understand my symptoms and inspired me to look forward with my steps as well. My pedometer became a tool to help me budget my energy more effectively and better predict when I was doing too much. I started budgeting my steps the way you’d budget money with step goals that matched my energy levels. I’ve used this technique for the last eighteen years and teach it to all of my Certified Fibromyalgia Coach^® and Advisor students.

Instead of pushing for more activity, I teach my students to view their step count as a daily budget. They have a maximum number of steps they can “spend” each day as they plan their activities. When they stay under that maximum, they avoid overexertion and ending up in a fibro flare. This, my friends, is pacing in action!

Many strategies and treatments have worked together to help me keep my fibromyalgia in remission for the past seven years. (No fibro symptoms since 2018!) My step tracking method of energy management has been crucial in achieving and maintaining this. But remission is the beginning of the story, not the end.

Once my fibromyalgia was in remission, I started working to build physical strength and endurance through exercise. I needed a tool to help me know when I could exercise harder and when I needed to pull back and rest. Exercise is tricky with chronic conditions, especially fibromyalgia. We need to start small, build slowly, and rest more than the average person. Most exercise apps I found were made for people without chronic conditions and ended up hurting me more than helping.

When I finally discovered Gentler Streak in the App Store, I decided to give it a try. Right away, I noticed a difference. Gentler Streak didn’t push me beyond my limits and accurately reflected how I felt during and after exercising. It warned me when I was about to overdo it and often recommended rest. It was exactly what I needed.

Gentler Streak has helped me live a fuller, stronger life by allowing me to exercise without fear. I regularly teach my students how Gentler Streak can help them as well. Every student who has used the app has found it helpful in increasing their fitness while staying within their energy budget and allowing adequate recovery time.

I’m thrilled that Gentler Streak is adding a step tracking feature to their app. This is a game-changer for me and many others, as it means we can access these pacing tools in one place. No more switching between apps or devices—everything we need is at our fingertips.

The app has been such an important tool that I include it in all my classes and on my Fibromyalgia Podcast^® (check out Episode 121: A Gentler Way to Exercise with Fibromyalgia).

If you’re struggling with fibromyalgia or another chronic condition, consider incorporating these tools into your daily routine. Start by tracking your steps to manage your energy and use Gentler Streak to balance your activity and rest.

Remember, managing a chronic condition is a journey, but with the right tools and strategies, you can take control of your health and live a life you love—even with fibromyalgia.