Keep on Moving Club: October 2009
 

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, Wii,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 haven't been as religious about working out the past couple of weeks due to spasticity. So I've been stretching and doing some yoga, and I get over to the gym when I'm energetic enough to do some bike or efx machines and weight training.
My neuro's nurse told me last week to get in the water...it is easier to work in the water, but I tend to push myself until I get overheated and asthma rears it's ugly head. So I have to learn to take it easy...yeah, right.:rolleyes:

You are a real energizer bunny!

Your nurse is right about getting into the water. You won't overheat in the pool, unless the pool is heated too high. Keep up the great work :)

I swam a mile in the pool today. Its refreshing. Its a pain to put on and take off the pool cover,but its worth it :)

Ok in celebration of Oct. 1st, I will do Pilates tomorrow, I think. Or maybe shoot baskets, or both. :lookaround: If I can pry myself out of my chair and get moving.

My vision seems better now, so I might try the pool at the gym later this week (the lights in their pool area are super harsh on the eyes) I'm going to go into the pool area at some point just to see if the lights are still nasty to my eyeballs.

I'm wondering if I might feel better with the numbness while in water. I'm guessing I'll be able to tell where it is easier then. (I think the numbness extends into my back, but sometimes I cant really tell)

I was thinking of just getting in and walking back and forth in the pool for a little bit, rather than treadmilling sometimes.

That sounds like a good plan Erin. Let us know if it works out well fro you.

Ewiz, did you get to do PIlates or basketball?

I swam a mile this morning, and last night I lifted weights for 30 mins while watching Kate Hudson in French Kiss. A cute movie.

No, I didn't exercise today. :o Tomorrow I go to see the neuro early for my infusion, so maybe on Saturday? I wonder if I need to have my ADs increased?

I just did a load of laundry. Does that count as exercise?

Walked a mile yesterday and another today. We even picked up the pace a bit so I am sweating! :eek:

sheesh! I need a nap. :p

Did my stretches and then changed the bedding (not an easy job for me) Thank you Lord..:)

I wanted to go exercise today, but the way I feel right now, I dont think there's any way it's going to happen. I dont feel sick, but my body just feels disconnected. (ok, the numb half of my body) I had to ask my mom to get my laundry out of the dryer for me. Just going upstairs for a bottle of water makes me feel like falling down and sleeping wherever I land.

I wonder if this is normal after having been on a steroid taper for a week. I feel almost as wiped out as I did when I was recovering from mononucleosis 15yrs ago.

I feel like I walked a couple dozen miles on the treadmill, uphill, in front of a blast furnace.

The people who told me to rest during a flare were not kidding. This flare better not last much longer, it's like having a vampire sucking the life out of me.

Yes, Erin, with you being in flare, we can definitely count that. Do rest as much as you can. Are you sure you do not have a fever?

Sally, Good Job! I hate to stretch so I am in awe of people that stretch :)

Dejibo: Good to see you on the October thread. Nice work with the walking. Walking is my downfall. I can swim a mile with no problem, but If I walk briskly for 30 minutes, I go into spastic mode the next day.

I did swim a mile this morning at dawn. Very nice swim too.

My digital temporal thermometer says that my temperature is 100.5. My digital temporal thermometer is difficult to understand because it's original directions said something about the normal temp being different and so I dont know if that's a real high temperature or not according to the thermometer. We're going to go get a better thermometer hopefully.

I'm going to assume that I'm running a bit warm and take a tylenol, or maybe an ibuprofen.

Yes, take a Tylenol and see if you feel a tad better when the temp is lower. Maybe you have a virus or a bacterial infex (UTI?)

I swam a mile today in my backyard pool.

its a chilly, drizzly rain today. I stayed inside and snuggled with the cats. no walk for me today.

Mornings are still beautiful and in the 60s. I am loving my walks and am able to walk between 5 and 10 minutes. Yeah!

I slept past noon today. :) I will exercise today even if I don't do anything else. I'll report back later on with details.

Dejibo, I hope your weather clears. I hate cold rainy days-- no fun to walk in them or even swim in them unless the pool is about 86 degrees.

ewiz: Did you get yoruself out and move around?

tkrik: Nice job. I forget what part of the world you live in!

I swam a mile this morning.

I did 20 minutes of Pilates yesterday and ten pushups, so that's a start. I need to take a break with the basketball. I few days ago I walked around the yard a bit and my right ankle gave out without warning. I fumbled but caught myself before I fell all the way down. The doctor thinks I'm having a bit of a flare up so I'm going to lay low until I feel better. I'm picking up some new medicines tomorrow or Tuesday so maybe those will help out somewhat.

Trying to get back into the swing of things now that I seem to be over the fatigue attack from last week...
today I worked out on a stationary bike for 33 minutes-did 8 miles. Then worked on weight machines for 30 minutes. I'm going to mow the lawn now, which takes about 35 minutes; I usually walk fast, so I can burn a few calories while getting the grass nice looking!

I seem to be emotional these last two days. Things that dont normally bother me, have cut to the quick, and quickly! I must be overtired.

I walked two miles today. I was lost in my own thoughts, and muttering in my head. Good thing I have a private neighbor hood to walk in, or they may have locked me up.

ewiz, you kept your word about exercising. But we don't want you to break a leg!!

Thats wonderful Debbie D and I'm glad you are over the fatigue attack.

Nice Job Dejibo: Do you think you might have a UTI?

I swam a mile this morning.

BBS,

That's the truth! One time when that happened I broke my foot! I have a cane and I might start using it if this doesn't get any better.

I just finished 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. One good thing about it is, I can hold on and also adjust the tension so even if I'm having a lightheaded day or weak legs, I can manage to get a workout.

I noticed today that with less tension, my heart rate goes higher. It was up to 158 and average about 142. I burned 358 calories too.

I feel so much better now that I had a good workout. It has been about a week since the last really good one or more, other than light workouts.

I ask you, where else in the world would you get this from a perfect stranger?

"Nice Job Dejibo: Do you think you might have a UTI?"

One's water works becomes the interest of strangers. I love it. and all of you, and the red wine I've been guzzling,

I had not thought of a UTI, maybe I should go pee in a cup...hmmm???


Walked one mile today. Will call the MD

Feeling a little better today. Didnt sleep well last night tho, so if I can get another nap after we have a visit from someone who's measuring to build me a desk and bookcases in my room, I might try to get to the gym for the first time in a month and walk on the treadmill for a little bit.

Might not do my usual half hour, but I'm going to aim for 20 minutes and see how close I get to that.

I didnt sleep well last night because I kind of overdid it again. Figured out a way to knit that was kinder to my numb hand...and then I went and did that too long, and my hand/arm was burning most of the night and just generally making me feel uncomfortable.

Hopefully I manage to haul myself down to the gym...I guess I'll find out if I can actually manage that in a few hours.

:):):)Man! The mornings have been nice and the evenings are cooling off as well. DD19 and I went for a nice 5 minute walk last night. This morning I did my 10 minute walk and will walk again this evening. Trying to work my way up to 60 minutes a day, broken in to 15 minute increments. Sorry guys, I just can't do 60 minutes at a time.:o Well, unless I want to slither home like a snake. LOL

I sometimes dream about a day when I can get up and run like I used to. Nothing better than running a few miles everyday to clear the mind. Such a good feeling. Not sure if this will ever become a reality for me again; that left leg has it's own agenda even when walking.:D

I remember when I 1st went on C. Shared Solutions sent me all sorts of stuff. Included was a DVD of exercises. I fit right in with so many of the people on there. I kind of felt better about myself as my left leg went bopping all over the place. It still does and depending on my mood and what I am doing, it's funny to watch it. It's so foreign to me and it's my own leg. LOL

Good observation, lol. :D I love this place too, and everybody here.

Erin,

Do you have room in your house for a workout machine like a treadmill or elliptical? I tried a health club for about 3 months and it was hard for me to make the trip there, and then I caught the most horrendous cold there too.

I started at home with a stationary bike, then sold that and got the elliptical after I tried one out on vacation. It's great having it here because it doesn't take a lot of time to have a good workout. It cost $600 including shipping and it's a Schwinn with a ten year warranty on the main parts. If you shop around you can find a good one for a good price and when you figure the price of gym membership, they pay for themselves in no time.

Wiz - I am impressed that you are able to do an elliptical machine. There is no way with my lack of coordination/balance I could get on it. Add in the muscle fatigue and I wouldn't be able to get off. Well, I'd probably fall off before muscle fatigue hit. LOL When I went to pt she started me on the treadmill but we had to stop that because of these silly issues.:o

Great job, Wiz! That's awesome!!!!

Nope. No room here for that. My dad gave our exercise bike to our neighbor across the street a couple of years ago. (that thing was ancient)

I do like going to the gym. I just havent had the energy to do it for the past couple of weeks, which is weird, because I'm on oral pred right now. But the pred isnt making me bounce off the walls this time. Otherwise, I probably would be at the gym, constantly walking on the treadmill.

The pred is causing me some pretty impressive insomnia (which isnt much different from my normal insomnia), I think that's what's sucking out my energy right now. (either that, or the MS trolls in my head are MS Vampires instead)

I might actually talk a short walk in the neighborhood later. It's nice and cool outside, cloudy, with a breeze. Just the perfect temperature, so I might walk down the street and see if I can tell if any other neighbors had vandalism last night (neighbor on the other side of me lost a front window last night to a gourd) Walking to the end of the subdivision isnt very far, but I think that will at least maybe wake me up, and I definately dont have to worry about overheating today. :)

I just washed my hair for the first time in a couple of days, so once I get that dried, my dad should be home. I might see if he wants to go hit the treadmills at the gym...I might have him show me how to use the eliptical machine for a few minutes. I dont think I'll have energy for doing much, but I want out of the house for a little while before I go nuts!

Hi pud, wiz, dejibo, erin tkrik. I read all of the posts. We all try so hard, don't we? Erin, maybe try ten minutes. You are still in a flare, afterall. Tell us how it goes though.

Dejibo: Yes, call your PCP or your GYN and ask to pee into the cup. Sometimes a UTI doesnt cause the usual burning, pain sensation, but in MS, will cause th symptoms you have. DOesnt hurt to check it out.

I swam a mile this morning at dawn.

Keep on keeping on everyone :)

I treadmilled!
 

I went with my dad when he got home from work to the gym. I did a little bit over 20 minutes and then went and sat down and read my kindle for the next hour while I waited for my dad to get done.

I feel a little bit better for doing it too. Some of the cobwebby feeling in my head seems to be better. I think I was getting cabin fever.

My hand got really numb as I got warmed up from the walking. Good thing the seating area that I sat at while waiting for my dad has a nice marble/stone countertop that felt really cold. I just laid my arm and hand on it while I waited and the coolness helped.

I just walked the default speed on the treadmill. Listened to Glenn Beck on the little radio gadget on the treadmill, read my kindle and walked till I felt I had enough. That 20 minutes went pretty quick. I'm tired now, but I feel pretty good. Maybe it'll help me sleep tonight?

Not sure if I'm going tomorrow or not. Stupid steroids are making me want to eat the freezer (not just the contents, but the entire freezer) and I'd like to get back into my walking routine I'd started before the flare came up behind me and whacked me around. If I go again tomorrow, I'll stick with the slow pacing.

Not going for my walk this morning. Instead, I am going to school and doing my walking there. It is on a hill and has 3 "levels" based on the hill. So I will be doing lots of stairs and hills to get to the library as well as walking through the parking lot.

Speaking of stairs, do any of you notice that you have difficulty either going up them or down them? I can go up ok but have a lot of trouble going down. Sorry, a little off topic but it does have to do with exercise.:o:p As part of my pt I had to practice this and DD18 helped me. I still have trouble.:rolleyes:

I think its a different set of muscles going down?? I dont know. Its the same for me going up and down. Both are had to do.

Erin, Im glad you felt good about exercising. Glenn Beck? If I listened to him, I'd probably end up throwing something at the TV. The man has no business being a news guy. I so much long for th day when newscasters spoke in civilized tones and not hyperbole.

I swam a mile this morning.

Trish, just remember to put your strong foot and leg down/up first.:hug:

I'm doing my stretches, even when I don't feel like it.:p

He's an acquired taste...I've been listening to him for years on the radio. I'd rather watch/listen to him than be forced to watch some of the other junk people watch at the gym. (Hmm...Glenn Beck...or really nasty rap music or The View...I'll take an extra helping of Glenn...)

Sometimes I take an audio book or just listen to music on my iPod...just depends on what I'm in the mood for and what they might have on their tv/radio thingie at the time.

Yay for Sally's stretching!

I swam a mile this morning :)

I will be heading out for my walk in a bit. It is another beautiful morning here with temps in the 50s. I love this weather!

Whew! That IS cold! Its 93 here today-- a heat wave; its even hot at night. The pool is 85 and ocean is 84.

I swam my mile at dawn today, and lifted weights for 30 mins last night while watching a Soprano's episode. Those scripts and the acting and filming were so amazing. How does James Gandolfini make his eyes go dead? Amazing.

I just finished 30 minutes on the elliptical at the 85% heart rate setting. It felt good to get it done because I know I'll feel better tomorrow. :) It seems to help my mood a lot. I hope to work in some Pilates this weekend if I feel well enough.

I have started to feel a lot better. :)