Fatigue is a funny thing. Well not funny in the sense Tena was talking about. You may want to reevaluate your diet and the nutrients you may not be getting, or possibly just not absorbing. Also how is the quality of your sleep? I slip into bad habits like staying up too late. I get stupid sometimes and intentionally do what I know I shouldn't....just because. It's like passive aggressive behaviour directed at myself.

Yes I've heard that playing the piano with gusto can be very good exercise, and your brain gets a workout along with your body. I unfortunatly, do not know how to play. Dancing is also good and gives you the option of involving only the parts of your body you want to involve. We only have two choices: get going and move, or lay down and die. Some days I would choose the latter rather than the former. I try to apply the 80/20 rule. As long as I choose the moving 80% of the time I think I'll be okay. There is a line from a song I used to know -something about baby ducks. The line is "I love losers when they try and winners when they cry..." Anybody know the song?

I mostly do cardio - treadmill if its cold and dark outside which it usually is at 4:30am! I work full-time so this is the best time for me to workout. When the days get a little longer I go to a local park and do my run/walk there.

Occasionally I will do some light weight training or pilates videos. I like the pilates because it's a good stretch for my stiff muscles.

I did try the boxing - at Rock Steady (the same place that Paula goes) but it was too difficult for me at the time. I was trying to stay off medication at the time and I would be exhausted for the entire day after working out there. They totally kicked my butt!! I just started meds in January and haven't tried it again...maybe soon.

I will be running in a 5K to help raise funds and awareness for TeamFox and Rock Steady Boxing so I am training for that now.

Lora

I'm in the 80% crowd too because I don't give up too easily. The fatigue is the worst I've ever experienced. I had this before and the Amantadine helped it. Now I'm wondering if the Amantadine isn't doing its thing anymore. I am also known to push myself and stay up late, and that maybe part of it as well because I'm taking that blasted boring computer class online. I am taking B-12 supplements 2x per day, but they don't seem to be doing much, and I do eat quite well.

I have a good breakfast, which is usually oatmeal and fruit (good for the plumbing). My lunch is usually a good size healthy sandwich. I very rarely eat processed lunchmeat, and when I do it's perhaps once a month for my treat of an Italian submarine sandwich. My evening dinner consists of a salad, lots of veggies, and chicken or broiled meat. We very rarely eat anything fried, and a small dessert such as applesauce, ice cream or homemade pie.

I have a call into my doctor and I spoke to my medical adovcate nurse with my healthcare provider. Her thought is it's time for another medication tweak perhaps adding another thing into the mix, or perhaps reducing something. She's not a doctor so she won't commit to it. So until I talk with my doctor, there's nothing I can do except push myself to keep going.

I can't remember the words to the song either, but I can hear the melody.

John

1) One cause of fatigue with PD can be the mitochondria dysfunction that seems to go with it. Each cell in our bodies has these little generators floating around and that is where all our energy comes from. When they don't work neither do we. I am sure there are other things that help, but the combination of acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic-acid helps considerably. I notice the difference within 2 to 3 days.

2) There is evidence that suggests that music triggers repair to some extent, so slap on those headphones when you are huffing and puffing.

3) Someone mentioned Fiona. The last I heard from her was the end of January and she was leaving for the South American jungle again for a month. Probably just back. For those who don't know her, Fiona (aka Raoul) is a professional dancer and has had PD for quite a few years. Of course she has exercised all along and it has been good that she did. A couple of years ago, she had a hip replaced and had to totally relearn how to walk! How many of us could make it through that, I wonder?

Yes, I was the one who asked about Fiona. She was quite inspirational in a lot of her posts.

Fatigue is a "sometimes" thing for me. I think in my case it runs hand in hand with depression. I could be wrong but most of the drugs we take either push us up or pull us down. Sinemet is an upper in my case, I can't take the regular stuff because my body metabolizes it like candy and I get hyper. I also take some downers to help control my tremor. It reminds me of a horse race. They all come charging out of the gates at once, and as long as they don't run into each other I do fine. But that isn't always the case and I have to watch myself or I'll end up like Heath whatsizname (Ledger). the best trick I've found is the 15 minute pit stop. I just lay on the living room floor...no t.v. or music or noise and zone out for that few minutes. I had to train myself to be able to shut down quickly and I'd say it took me about 3 months to master it, but it's the best trick I've learned in a long while. I only sleep 3-4 hours some nights and that gets me through the day. I may not be bright eyed and bushy tailed, but at least I'm upright!

This is the exercise machine I adopted from a rescue last November. He drags me around the block daily and doesn't gather dust like my Nordic track and treadmill did. He also makes me smile a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncCQspfnxY

Interesting to read everyone's approach to exercise, but I can't help feeling it is crucial to know how many years people have had PD. I have had PD for nearly 17 years now, and I am 71, another crucial factor. If I think back 3 years, I could run like the wind. Now my balance is so bad I daren't risk it. Already my shoulder and kneecap are damaged with falls. Another thing that stops me running. It would help if people said how many years they have had PD, (and age?). It would help to compare with others. maybe we could add years of PD to the avatar space, where it gives location.
For exercise, I take the dog every day about 2 miles through orchards that surround our house. I maintain a half acre garden, and go to yoga every week. However, that is it, and I know it is not enough. trouble is the time factor I think Rosebud mentioned. Although retired, I am busier now than ever, rediculous when I am retired, but due to being on PD committees etc., and helping a group of PD researchers by doing their literature searches and raising funds.
Ron

As I mentioned in the recent post about boxing for exercise, I use the treadmill 3 to 4 times per week. That's my cardio workout. But there are 2 more categories we PD'ers must be concerned with: "range of motion" or flexibility, and muscle strength.

For both of these I attend a local rehab center. For flexibilty a very large and strong Physical Therapist (PT) spends about 15 minutes stretching me and twisting me around like a clown making a balloon animal! Then, a chiropractor cracks and massages me for about the same amount of time.

Finally, for strength training (hopefully to someday return the favor to the PT!) I work out on the weight training machines (Nautilus is one brand), exercising all the various "critical" muscle groups.

All three types of exercise are crucial to fighting off the effects of PD.

As I mentioned in the last post, I believe this keeps me in the best possible shape I can be in. And, while 20 years of PD has certainly taken its toll, at age 51 I'm in better shape than most of my "healthy" friends.

You just can't give in or up!
Hope this helps,
Keith

I have been reading about rewiring the brain...yes it is possible even if your 100! The bad news is you have to do a lot of hard stuff. I have taken to doing sit ups by anchoring my feet under the front of the couch when my meds are off. It shortens my off time, or at least that seems to be what is happening...the other day I made myself stand when my legs did not want to...and Yes I did get going again. If I suddenly disappear from this forum you'll know I probably fell and hit my head and have put myself in a coma. In which case disregard this post