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, swim, aquacise, isometrics, lift free weights, calisthenics? Please join the club.
!

I swim a mile a day. In 2004, I was so weak, I could not walk across a room. Now I swim a mile every single day and I do free weights twice weekly to help with osteoporosis prevention. Cherie (clinical1) was able to stop using her w/c after she religiously worked on a pool based stretch/exercise routine daily.

What do you do?

I joined a health club.

I knew I could not do the treadmill and other things as I am a bit wobbly but I thought I can go in the pool and just walk back and forth.

I decided to try the easy does it water exercise class and told the instructor I wanted to be in the back of the class as I did not want to be up front since I would not be able to keep up.

I was surprised at how well I could function in waist deep water. The class was all older ladies in their 80's and one is 92 so I am the kid!!

I go three days a week and it is so neat to be able to walk fast through the water forwards and backwards and do exercises and movements which I could NEVER do on dry land!

btw:
I exercise in the front of the class now!

I joined a gym too. So far, all I've really used is their treadmills. I just walk slowly on it, and make sure I hold onto the handrails.

I'm not sure I want to try to use their swimming pool, but I think that's just because I dont like my swimsuit and dont like it when people see me in my swimsuit. (cant find a new one that I like either) I may look at their pool tonight when I go treadmilling with my dad for a half hour. The lady that got me signed up at the gym told me their water is 84 degrees. I'm just not sure if that's too warm a temperature for me, or too cold a temperature.

Next time I have vertigo problems, I might try the swimming pool instead of exercising on the treadmill tho. At least if I fall down in a pool, I probably wont hurt myself.

Hi AZJanie, welcome to the club. Isnt that wonderful how well you've been doing in the pool. Pools are a hidden secret. I dont know why docs do not recommend them routinely to patients.

Erin, good for you for looking into trying out the pool. Here is a nice website for swimsuits and gear:

www.swimoutlet.com

I'd say take the plunge and don't worry about how you look in a suit. I am much older than many of the folks at my public winter pool,(Such as the high school swim team) but I just strut out there proud as can be that I'm participating

At the public pool, there are hugely obese people and they just put on their suit and go swimming. I'm glad they are not so self conscious that they avoid it.

Most of us don't look like we did in our teen years-- that's okay, we've been living life and it shows on our bodies

Ummmm, BBS, you're moving too fast for me......It's not August till tomorrow..

I did my usual, hard core (not) routine today.

[quote=Erin524;545602]I joined a gym too. So far, all I've really used is their treadmills. I just walk slowly on it, and make sure I hold onto the handrails.

I'm not sure I want to try to use their swimming pool, but I think that's just because I dont like my swimsuit and dont like it when people see me in my swimsuit. (cant find a new one that I like either) I may look at their pool tonight when I go treadmilling with my dad for a half hour. The lady that got me signed up at the gym told me their water is 84 degrees. I'm just not sure if that's too warm a temperature for me, or too cold a temperature.

I am extremely self-consious of this 60 year old body so I would never go to a regular pool.

I bought a very modest one-piece swimsuit and I was concerned about how I looked until I got to class and saw all the little old ladies of all sizes in the water having fun.

Compared to the ninety year old; I look fantastic.