Part one: When I sold real estate (one of my many career adventures) I went to an appointment one nite with another agent because we were listing this couples house. Around 9:30 the guys wife says "excuse me" and leaves the kitchen table. We were in the middle of finalizing details, and there were still some papers to sign. Well, 15-20 minutes went by and she didn't come back. Finally my partner says "Where did your wife go?" The husband says "Oh, she went to bed." as if it was the most natural thing in the world. We thought he was joking! Then he told us she goes to bed at 9:30 EVERY nite. No-one told US that, and we were in the middle of finishing up...... We just looked at each other. We had to go back the next day to get her signatures. It was a truly strange experience, and I have never forgotten it. My point is: sometimes you have to ignore the world and do the thing you gotta do. I'ts amazing how the rest of the world will accomodate you. I learned a valuable lesson that nite, and I'm about to ressurrect it and use it again. Part two bathroom break if you need it) As many of you know, I'm a sugar addict...I have been monitoring my blood sugar this week and apparently my diabetes is back. When I had gestational diabetes I learned all about being a diabetic, so I know the routine. The rule I lived by was the "Eat and Run" rule: The diabetic nurse told me I had to walk after every meal. I said, "How soon after every meal?" She said "The minute you put down the fork from the last mouthful." I dubbed it the Eat and Run rule, and everybody knew I had to do it or God (or the diabetes nurse) would get me. I did it for 3 months and was 10 pounds lighter at the end of that pregnancy than when I had started, and had great looking legs!! Well I've ressurrected the E&R rule... and come hell or highwater I've committed to living the E&R rule. When I put the last morsel of food in my mouth from that meal, I go to the door, put on my shoes and go walk for 20-30 minutes. I know somedays I will be doing well to get to the front gate and back. I liked Wendy's comment about what she was willing to do because she loves her spring hike. That's how we have to be. I aint gonna preach about this cuz I aint earned the right...YET
**Burkle:What was that quote you sent me from the first headmaster of the B.Y. Academy for boys? I wanted to use it here but can't find it!!!

Rosebud. It was a quote from Karl Maeser, the first Headmaster at Brigham Young Academy (which later became Brtgham Young University).

"Whatever you do boys, don't do nothing."

At that time Brigham Young Academy was a boys school. When I was teaching I used it frequently.

All the best,

Lloyd

Some really interesting thoughts in this thread....

After months of procrastination over the last month I've finally starting dragging myself to the gym three times a week.

I definitely find exercising in the morning wipes me out for the day, and try to exercise in the late afternoon or early evening. In my case it also exacerbates my tremor immediately afterwards, but in the medium term I have felt great benefits in well being, strength and flexibility.

One question - my main symptoms include a tremor in my right arm - and if I use this arm with weights the tremor gradually becomes more noticeable. Should I avoid using the arm if the tremor is present? Its not so bad that there's any risk of dropping things or losing my balance, but will it do more harm than good to the muscles?

The medication that I'm on has helped a lot with rigidity, but the tremor always seems to creep back in...

Cheers,
Toob.

1- while i am just beginning to research the blood sugar questions, two things of note are that ldopa interfers with our muscles role of soaking up excess sugar and another is that using a muscle restores that role;

2- dance; make it part of every day. you can dance when you can't walk. you don't have to let anyone see. rent "mrs doubtfire" and watch robin williams cleaning house.

I find walking for 30min or longer if you can is great. My arm swings a little better and I sleep better.

Hi Alstro and welcome!
Like Toob I too have started... well same really, dragging myself to gym 3 times a week lately.
I have to say I feel fantastic afterwards much more energy and I guess the sort of high that comes with exercise. Definitely not during though at this stage!
I don't have offs anymore (had DBS) but other members might have an answer as to whether they go off more easily post exercise.
I can't remember doing much before apart from swimming when symptoms were still mild so I can't really answer that one.
Cheers,
Lee

Hi, regarding exercise for folks with PD, is there a web site that shows strength (weight) training?
Thanks, Lou

Hello Alstor,
If you have PD, exercise is probably one of the most important things for you after proper food consumption.
I was an athlete (gymnast) and have worked out all my life, and when PD hit me at 53, it became more and more difficult to move, run, walk etc. My right hand is shutting down slowly but surely, but I find that no matter how much this condition, PD, makes you feel like not doing anything, working through it always feels better than giving in and not doing anything. It really is a mind over matter thing... PD doesn't kill, what PD discourages you from doing will kill you, and that is using your body... Medicine as it is today, does not cure PD, but masks it at best and is addictive at worst... Unfortunately, unpleasantly true... I am staying away from any medicine as long as I can. I get massages from my wife when my muscle spams, cramps are severe, and I stretch like an athlete gymnast, which helps a lot... I work on controlling my thoughts because bad thoughts depress dopamine production... I work on controling my drive, because over drive produces too much adrenaline which also suppresses domine production... It is a hard balancing act to learn... I have not started acupuncture but do receive acpressure, which seems to calm down my tremors...
To sum it up, you have to think like and become a kind of health athlete, because until anyone gets a handle on PD, the medicine could be worse than the cure...
Alagna.
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At the Seattle HOPE conference, Dr Becky Farley & Dr Cynthia Fox of LSVT-MOVE BIG & LOUD showed an example of two sets of monkeys:

(1) one set that did NOT exercise - just sat and watched

(2) one set exercised daily

When both sets got parkinson's symptoms, they did brain scans of both sets of monkeys:

(a) set #1 showed brain damage

(b) set #2 showed NO brain damage!

You can see this presentation on line at the nwpf website:

www.nwpf.org/presentations.aspx

I agree. The best thing one can do is exercise. Stretching,resistance training,something aerobic(walking,running,cycling,hiking). This all helps with cardio vascular,PD symptoms , cognative function and it just makes me feel better. Also seems to make meds work better and require less meds. There is alot of research going on in this area right now.
An excerise program can have an immediate impact on your quality of life.
Like Todd I do something ever day. Just makes me feel better in general.
If you start a program start slow and build on it.