Keep On Moving Club - June 2010
 

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! :D

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 . . . :eek:

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.:grouphug:

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.

Yesterday I took the dog for a short walk...it almost doesn't count, but it at least was movement.
Today I worked out on an elliptical for 25 minutes and weight machines for 30 minutes.

Went out for a bike ride between thunderstorms after work last night. Got in 17 miles in just over an hour for a 16.1 mph average. I got a flat and had to stop to fix it halfway in, and just didn't feel real strong throughout the ride. I was planning to do ~30 miles, but the time to stop and fix the flat and another Tstorm approaching made me turn around early.

My heart rate for the same level of effort was higher than usual...probably because it was so hot and humid (~93F and ~70% humidity). My avg HR was 82% of max and my max HR during the ride was 92% of max.

Sheesh, TX, I wouldn't have been able to lift a foot off of the ground, in that kind of H&H.:eek: Be careful, not to push your body too far, against it's better judgement.:hug:

TX you are amazing...

Yesterday I worked on a stationary bike for 25 min; then did 30 min of weight machines.

Today I swam for about 26 min or so until the chlorine fumes got to me...I'm paying for it now...so sleepy and sore...but it was worth it!:)

Sally,

I grew up in this heat and humidity, so I am probably alot more used to it than you would be. It definitely affects me more than it used to, but I do have a stubborn streak sometimes and I am convinced that if i can keep myself acclimated to the heat, I won't reach the point where I just can't function in it.

I definitely listen to my body and back off when I need to, both in the form of slowing down and also stopping to take a break in the shade if necessary. I also always have an extra water bottle specifically to dump over my head if I get too hot.

I've been attempting to do yoga for over a year now. I say "attempting" because I don't do it well and I need to modify most of the poses. I also walk on my treadmill 4-5 times a week for at least 1 mile. I began the treadmill 2 1/2 years ago when my Ty infusions helped so much I was able to get out of a wheelchair and walk again. At first I could only walk a very short distance but I was able to eventually increase my speed and distance. I also play on the Wii because it's fun, keeps me moving and I do the Wii Sports as well as the Wii fitness. So, when I wake up in the morning I decide what I'm going to do after the treadmill. Exercising gives me an emotional boost even when it leaves me exhausted.

We've been discussing the pros and cons of purchasing a home gym. I miss lifting weights but my arms are still quite weak :( I think a home gym would help considerably because I could do a little of this or that every day until I built up my strength. The only problem is that when we retired we moved into a very tiny house. I keep my treadmill in the guestroom ....but, it folds up when we have house guests. So, it doesn't take up that much room. And it's nice that the guest room is being used!!!!!!! My husband's concern about the home gym is where are we going to put it. I suggested the patio.....which is covered. But, our temps are so high...100+ in the summer months.....that my hubby doesn't think I'll be able to use it during 4 months of the year. I think if I set the alarm to wake me up early when it's still cooler outside it will work out. That is as long as the coyetes don't get me...LOL They prowl our neighborhood during the evenings, nighttime and early morning hours :(

I've been busy and slacking some with my workouts. I can't go for walks when it's hot because my spine and legs get weak then I'm useless. I have been doing short workouts inside though and continue with my boxing moves and elliptical workouts.

Today I did 40 minutes of Pilates and I plan to do so twice a week until vacation in mid July. Nothing like the thought of being seen in a swimsuit to get me in gear, lol.

I hope to swim, canoe and kayak as well as ride the tubes and go down the waterslides while there. :D I'm going to book our trip right now because I finally got my week vacation approved today. :yahoo::Head-Spin::Head-Spin::Dancing-Chilli:

One good thing about the Medicare advantage plan is that they provide you with a Silver Sneakers program. So I joined the local Y. I was in a Silver splash and Aqua joints classes but one of the subs one day in Aqua joints had us do an excersize that gave me a lot of back pain. Pain has been gone for a good while but I am the Master Procrastinator (nobody better try to take that away from me!) and have not rejoined the Silver splash. So now I am doing the Aqua joints regulalry and ready to make the move to take the Silver splash. That's 5 days of class, on three of those days it's both classes.

I think that the new health care bill nixes Medicare Advantage...you might want to check that out.

Anyway, yesterday I worked on an elliptical machine for 31 minutes, and pushed myself really hard...then worked on weight machines for 30 minutes.

Today I mowed the lawn at a fast clip for about 40 minutes, which left me drenched. I love getting my workout that way...the smell of newly-mowed grass and all of the sounds of spring...makes me giddy!!:D

Thanks for starting up the June Thread TXBatman!! It looks like we have some new club members: Welcome :) And some veterans too.

Keep on moving everyone-- its the key to wellness and it has anti inflammatory effects as well.

I still am swimming a mile every day. I'll try to check in again soon. Still thinking of getting an IPAD, but for now, I catch a computer when I can. Being off line, I'm reading alot, gardening more and playing the fiddle!

Say it isn't so!!!!:eek: I love my $14/month premium!!!! Plus the Y membership. Oh no.

Wow, where's everybody been?

Yesterday I worked out on the elliptical for 30 min and weight machines for 25 min.
Today I swam a half mile in 30 min.

I've been slacking. :o And I need to get in shape for vacation too. I've been working hard with short breaks and it's too hot to go for walks on lunch. I need to get my heinie out of this chair and get on the elliptical for 30 minutes before work. I promise I will too and then do about ten minutes of boxing moves. Tomorrow I need to do my gut busters too, I'm developing a muffin top, lol.

I promised myself that I would get back into the Silver splash at the Y. I was doing the Aqua Joints. I was doing both of them several months ago but after a substitute instructor had us do an excersize that made my back hurt really bad and I had to recoup from it I started back in Aqua joints only. So.....today I went back to the Silver splash. The Aqua joints is the class right after so I was in 90 minutes of class instead of 45. So I feel some muscles that I forgot I had! It will take awhile to get used to this!

Ok, I did ten minutes of shooting baskets this morning, then walked home and puttered in the garden for about 20 minutes pulling weeds, etc... My heart and muscles got moving so I'm off the hook for the day. :o Tomorrow will be Pilates and maybe vacuum the house too.

Worked for 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, then 25 minutes on the weight machines. Felt pooped afterwards, but glad I pulled my rear off the couch and did it!:)

Wow, how bad have we all been slacking that this made it down to the middle of page 2?

I finally caught a break from work and family coming to town and made it to spin class last night. We had some new folks in the class, so she went kind of easy on us, but I tried to be hard on myself to punish myself for slacking off for almost 2 weeks. Rode for 1 hr and 5 minutes with an avg HR of 72% of max and a max HR of 88% of max.

They are starting the "Tour de MAC" in honor of the Tour de France. If we do 15 classes in the next 30 days, we win a prize. We are also raising money for the Livestrong foundation and the top fundraiser gets a prize also. It is going to be tough because I will be doing alot of travelling in July. I am going again tonight, tomorrow night, friday afternoon, and saturday morning if my body will let me. That will get me a head start so I won't have so much catching up to do when I get back.

I've been working out at least every other day or more. Just not posting about it, lol.

I got a free week pass to a local gym and maybe I'll join there for six months. I get a work discount and it's a nice new place just down the road from work. :)

We'll be in Jamaica July 11-17th and I'll swim, kayak and tube each day and maybe even go on the early morning nature walks on the resort. If I do I'll make sure to take pics. It's for our 30th anniversary and I plan on having lots of fun and relaxation too. :)

Still sittin on my porch wittling, but, I'm doing it with such pazazz.:D

Haven't been posting much here lately...
Tuesday I swam 1/2 mile in 32 min.
Yesterday I worked on the elliptical for 32 min., weight machines for 1/2 hour.
In the afternoon I mowed the lawn...big mistake. I felt horrible halfway through with leg spasms, so I sat for a few minutes and drank water. I finished, but afterwards got so overheated I could barely walk...I've never walked that poorly before since my dx. Managed to get in the shower to cool off, but the rest of the evening was spent sitting...:(

Oops! It's July 7th! I worked out for 20 minutes at the fitness club today, I have a free one week pass. I'm already sore so I know the machines work, lol.

Hi all,
Sorry to jump on this thread, but does anyone know where or why BBS is not posting? I haven't seen her post in a long time. Did I miss something?
Thanks, I'm concerned.

Lady, I think she was having computer problems, but I don't know if that's still the case???:(

I started a new July thread. BBS reported computer problems a few months ago, and has been showing up less and less since then. With MS we never know when something will strike us, nor how long it will take to recover.

I say till we resee her, lets keep her wonderful idea going.