Since BBS1951 is still mostly incommunicado due to computer problems, I am posting this thread for her, but she is still "the leader of the club that's made for you and me"!

MS sometimes makes it hard to keep moving, exercising, stretching, so we do less and less. Before long, its not just MS that interferes with our mobility and health, its also atrophy of muscle causing more balance problems and more muscle weakness.

So, we started a club to support and encourage us to keep moving --You use it or you lose it! So, what do you do-- do you stretch, do you walk, shovel snow, swim, aquacise, isometrics, lift free weights, Wii, calisthenics? Please join the club!

I ride my bike and do spinning classes. I try to do 45-60 minute spin classes at least twice a week and do a weekend ride of 40-50 miles every 2-3 weeks during the MS150 "off-season". I feel like the exercise and fitness that I have built up from riding probably helps me overcome minor MS symptoms like fatigue or muscular weakness without really seeing them for what they are. I know that if there comes a time when my MS progresses, the strength and fitness I am building now will help me to adapt to the challenges I will face.



So how about it...what do you do to ""Keep Moving"?

I do yoga for stretching and flexiblity. Still don't have the balance to do those poses that require you stand on only one leg. I fall down and go boom!

I do exercises that help with the tummy, like stomach crunchs. I do push ups, girly style of course, LOL! It took a few months, but went from barely able to do 1 push up to being able to do 10. Woohoo!

I used to strength train as a kid, and have lost a lot of what I used to be able to do. But got some exercise weights (5 lbs each right now), and started doing some arm exercises. Bicep curls and found a tricep exercise I can do lying on the floor. Took 2 months, but can now do 2 sets of twelve.

Not being able to do what I think I should was the most frustrating part. But I made myself do mini-goals. Like with the yoga, started with a pose or two and worked my way up. Same with all the others. The arm exercises, started with sets of 5. etc. etc. Slow but steady can be very important. May take longer than you want, but improvement can be exciting when it happens!

I am just getting started, trying to add some chair yoga (I can't get down to or up off the floor), and stretches. What do you do on days you hurt so much you can't function?

Fifteen years ago I worked out 2.5 hours a day, did aerobics 5 days a week, and climbed mountains. Now a trip to the grocery store wears me out . . .

I mowed the lawn this evening...it took 45 minutes...I walk quickly and am soaked as I sit here...it's a good workout for me.

I have to force myself to keep it moving, this summer. I'm getting older and older and it's getting harder and harder. But I must, so please encourage me.

Spin class last night. One hour and two minutes of intervals. Max HR was 90% of max and average was 72% of max. HR monitor says I burned 776 calories. I am going to be spending the summer working on losing weight and building more strength in my legs to improve my speed on the open road for next year. No big road rides planned until July 18...the Katy Flatland Ride. We are planning to do the metric century (100km/62 miles), but we will have to see how hot it is that day. Last time I did this ride it was nearly 100F by the time I finished.