~Walk It Off~

[Potatohead]

Good For you Debi...I was a couch potato when I was losing, and I still am I will walk, but that is about it....Kudos to u for getting up and moving

[Pacificfords]

I did not reach my goal yesterday. Wow.. my body is hurting. I didn't feel like I was babying myself too much... and I got at least 1000 steps in when I didn't think I could, so that was positive. I can tell that my typical day before I started this was between 500 and 1000 steps a day. I am looking forward to a day when it doesn't hurt so much to just take a long walk. I made it up to 3000 steps yesterday.

[AlwaysAgnes]

Hi Debi

If you're looking for more in-home options, you might try Leslie Sansone's walking dvds. Some are also on youtube, so you wouldn't have to buy anything. This 1 mile is 14 minutes, and you can do it in front of your computer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndVjwkaLGDk

You can also find easy yoga routines on youtube.
Here's one, for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o0kNeOy ... ure=fvwrel
And here's another one. (The routine starts at about the 11 minute mark): http://www.melissawest.com/blog/2011/12 ... -time.html

If you have a Wii, there are some good programs available. I like Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus. These have all kinds of exercises and games for strength, balance, aerobics, etc.. There's yoga and various walking activities. You can track your progress.
Also for the Wii is Walk it Out, a great walking game for all fitness levels and people of all ages. You walk in place, following the rhythm of the music. Here's a good review of the game that shows what it's like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbvP2I1nh8s

For various workout videos and audio, you can check http://www.collagevideo.com/ You can also have them mail a regular catalog to thumb through. Tons of options there.

[Pacificfords]

Thank you AlwaysAgnes for the great video links. I have them saved and I am going to try the walking video today. I think I had one of Leslie Sansone's videos long ago and I had forgotten about her. I appreciate all of the wonderful ideas.

[Pacificfords]

Well, I am not feeling the most confident in my new exercise venture at the moment. I have been in so much pain the past couple of days. I tried very hard today to push past it. I was able to go for a short walk outside - about a half mile. I was able to do half of the Leslie Sansone walking video. I ended up with about 2800 steps. Not nearly as much as the past couple days. I was hoping to increase each day so I am feeling a bit frustrated with myself, and at the same time - I know that I am getting in quite a bit more activity than I have been for quite some time. I'll just keep trying.

[Ege Bamyasi]

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[Pacificfords]

Thank you Kirk. I appreciate your words of wisdom. It is difficult to feel such pain, but I know that this is how I got to this place... by moving less and less the past two years after my diagnosis. I am motivated. I am excited to watch the strength return to my body. I am excited to see you reach your goals as well.

[Pacificfords]

Well, we took a huge step today... my husband and I. We went and saw a health club that is right down the street. I haven't been in one for years and when I was - I hated it. I was over 100 pounds heavier then and we lived in a city where I think I was the only overweight person, so I felt like people were looking, judging, cringing... etc. It wasn't my imagination either... they were. Anyway... OZ Fitness is about a mile from our house and we decided that if we were really going to hit this fitness thing head on, we better make some big changes. A mile walk a day isn't going to do enough and I can tell it isn't a habit I will develop, especially when it starts getting super hot.

The club was beautiful and quiet. He said it gets busiest in the evenings. It is affordable and there are no contracts (which I also hate), so we are signing on the dotted line next Monday. My husband and I will be able to work out together four days a week. The other three, I can work out on my own. I am pretty excited about it. I love the variety of the machines and there was a time in my life that I did work out at a club and loved it, so I am hoping that this will be a similar experience. I think it is a good direction for us and I will start making much better progress on building up my body with weights and such, than just walking around the neighborhood. I can really focus!

[Pacificfords]

My steps are not impressive at this point. Overall, they are less the past two days than when I started using my pedometer. My body aches from making it move, but it isn't intolerable like it has been when I have pushed too hard in the past. I am motivated and excited to start working out at the club. I don't have a clue on what to do with the machines, but I am going to research that and find a basic strength training routine to follow. We start on Monday. Until then I will just keep stepping as much as I am able.

[audretoburrito]

Does the gym have people who can show you how to use the machines? I haven't been to a gym in a long time that wasn't a part of my apartment complex or school but I seem to remember when I joined the YMCA back in the stone age they had trainers that would set you up with a basic workout plan.

Audrey

[Pacificfords]

Audrey

I was just thinking about that tonight. I need to research a bit online and see what is a good way to start. They have a gazillion machines and I know how to use some of the cardio machines like the elliptical, bikes and treadmills... and a few of the basics on the weight machines, but I really don't know how far to push myself or what I should do each day as a routine. They have a personal trainer available, but it is pretty expensive so we are not going with him. I think they will show the basic use of the machine and we have to figure out the rest. It will definitely be a learning experience.

[AlwaysAgnes]

My steps are not impressive at this point. Overall, they are less the past two days than when I started using my pedometer. My body aches from making it move, but it isn't intolerable like it has been when I have pushed too hard in the past. I am motivated and excited to start working out at the club. I don't have a clue on what to do with the machines, but I am going to research that and find a basic strength training routine to follow. We start on Monday. Until then I will just keep stepping as much as I am able.

Debi, see if they have a resistance circuit set up at your gym. You might like that. We recently joined the YMCA, and they have a dedicated circuit room. Those machines are very easy to use. You set the resistance by pressing little buttons (I think they go up to 10 or 12, but not sure. I only do them on 4 right now. ) There is also a little diagram on each machine that shows what to do and what body parts you'll be strengthening. Right now I do the circuit a couple times a week (takes 15 minutes without doing the aerobic intervals between machines) and ride the recumbant bike (3 to 5 miles) 4 times a week. I've tried the treadmill a few times, but I always manage to get blisters no matter what shoes I'm wearing. I haven't tried any of the other weight machines or other aerobic machines yet except for the elliptical, which I think I did for 3 minutes. I also tried a Zumba class. What was I thinking? I was like a fish out of water. Not exactly the class for me.

[Pacificfords]

Thank you for the post AlwaysAgnes They do have a circuit set up because I remember him talking about it. I will probably start there after I do cardio each time on one of the bikes, treadmills or other fun machines in that area.

My husband was reading more on the DDP Yoga last night after we had talked about it. He was impressed because he is a fan of the guy that created it. If I am not mistaken, he is a wrestler? My husband is a huge fan of wrestling. He was just so interested in it and decided that he going to purchase it. At first I felt like I had to choose between the two because we shouldn't really do both financially right now, but as we were talking about the pros and cons of one or the other - we concluded that both is best. They are both something that we really want to do and both will be an incredible benefit to our health. I see lots of exercise in my future!

My present... I have been keeping in the range of 3500 steps a day, give or take a couple hundred. There were only a couple of days that I fell into the 2000 range due to pain, but that is passing. I feel stronger already being consistent daily. There were days before that I often sat most of the day in one way or another.... reading in one chair, computer in a different chair... lying on my bed to rest. My days of being sedentary are over. I don't like how it feels to have become such! Two years ago I was working a 10 hour a day job and on my feet most of the time...unhealthy and overweight due to my eating habits, but mobile none-the-less. It is time to get the balance back.

[Pacificfords]

4900 Steps today. I really felt good about that. We joined the health club and part of that was trying out the different machines. I can already tell I am going to love it there! We are ordering the DDP Yoga on Friday, and that is going to be great as well.

I think the greatest part of today was that we are trying to transition our family activities to things that are more healthy. Many of our family activities are centered around eating, so in an effort to do something new - we went bowling. It is the first time I have been bowling in years and years - probably since grade school. I have never felt confident doing active things in public. We had such a great time. I am very weak and I could only get through about one and a half games before my arm gave out. It is also the arm where they put my fistula in, so it is the arm I have really babies for months. It is sore but in a good way. The family outing was one of the best we have had in a while because we were all up and moving and having a great time. I plan on making many more memories like that as often as possible.