Keep On Moving Club !
 

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, I want to start 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.

This is a chance to be a charter member :) If it catches on, I'll start a new thread every month.It was a big hit at Braintalk and I hope it will be a big hit at Neurotalk too!

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?

My motto is: I cannot control my illness, But I can Control my Wellness!

I think this is a great idea, BBS :)

What to I do?

Currently I use an Elliptical - Most days I am on it for 30 minutes (give or take) which equals 2 miles. I use resistant bands and hand weights.

I am also in Physical Therapy.

I am going to be looking for ankle weights - the kind that have pockets to put small weights in and add more as needed.

lately i have started walking again. I can average about 1 mile per day now. that is if its not hot out. Last year I couldnt make the mail box.

This is a great idea! I need motivation to keep on using my treadmill. Maybe this will do it! :)

Well, I'm a little older than most of you guys, but I do stretching exercises before bed to relax muscles and I do stretches and other exercises before rising (Even after a nap). I find that it keeps me a little looser and a bit stronger.

I don't have the strength to take more than a few steps now. I am still able to stand and hold on to something and I want to be able to keep transfering from scooter to place, to place, to pot, to shower and to my chair lift to basement, so I keep it moving as much as possible.

Good thread, BBS, thanks..:)

Snoopy, that is awesome! I can swim a mile, but the elliptical beats my butt. I can maybe do a minute on it. You are the elliptical star!! I use the ankle weight and have worked up to 20 pounds--impossible! But True! Keep on moving :)

A mile a day is wonderful--its more than most Americans do in a year, it seems! You are a testimony to perseverence. You went from not being able to get to the mail, to a whole mile. Truly, an inspiration for folks to try to move a bit more each day.:cool:

Kitty, dust off the treadmill and join the club :) Keep us posted on how you do each day on it. we are totally behind you on this :)

Good for you for stretching Sally. Even people in the wheel chair can find some way to start moving more each day. Yay for you! welcome to the club. We are all charter members :)

I had just started walking on a treadmill everyday/every other day last month when my left 6th cranial nerve had the TILT! light start blinking. (had diplopia really bad)

Ended up with really bad vertigo and was walking into walls and doors and tripping over things at home because my mom keeps putting stuff on the floor that shouldnt be on the floor. (like her purse, in the middle of the doorway)

I started back up doing that last week. I'm not quite back up to the half hour I was able to do before the cranial nerve went fubar. (I had 3 days of IVSM to speed up the recovery of the nerve)

Erin, I'm sorry you had such a rough go of it. Its brave of you to start back up: many would just give up permanently. I know you will get back to where you were with your walking, it just takes time to build back up. Welcome to the Club and Charter Memebership :)

I'm in! Now that it is 100+ degrees out (maybe 110 right now) I do stretching exercises everyday and make housework a workout. It is too hot for me to walk to the pool to swim. I get so fatigued just walking the 50 feet to my car let alone walk up to the pool.:o

During the cooler months, I walk every morning. I don't go for distance but go for time. I can do anywhere between 5 minutes to 30 minutes a day. I hope to start this back up in about 2 months. The mornings should start cooling off by then.

Hi, BBS, I remember you! :Wave-Hello: Welcome back to NeuroTalk!

I'm joining your thread too, I've been reacquainting myself with long-lost muscles for the past month and am seeing many benefits.

This is a great idea!

You are now officially inducted as charter members too tkrik and afternap :)

tikrik, are you in Phoenix? or Sacramento Valley? Thats plenty hot.

Thanks for the nice welcome afternap :)

I did my weights tonight for 30 minutes. Thats the only exercise that I dont really like that much. I like how it makes my muscles stronger, and helps the bones, but otherwise, I much prefer swimming. I watched Spiderman3 tonight while doing the weights :cool:

It was just the vertigo that the diplopia was stirring up that was keeping me from walking on the treadmill...and driving...and sleeping...(stupid MS trolls!)

I still get some double vision, my eye doctor told me yesterday that the double vision should start to really improve in the next couple of months. He thinks it should go away completely now that I've had the IVSM.

I'm noticing improvement in some sensory symptoms today (numbness) So I'm pretty happy right now. I just wish my left leg would stop burning. (it's start to itch now too...wonder if that means that normal feeling will be coming back soon?)

Just finished my second hike for the day and I'm pretty pooped. More tomorrow!

Cindy, two naps in one day earns you the medal of honor today :)

Erin, I hope that it does mean that you are gradually regaining feeling. When I have burning in my legs, I wrap it snugly in a towel and it seems to reduce the brains ability to process pain--the pain greatly lessens. Cant lose anything trying it?

I've been putting a heating pad on the burning areas. (not too hot)

I noticed that anything cold on it (shower water) made the burning worse, but heat made it feel better. Weird, that heat would make it feel better.

hi,

i started walking about 2 yrs ago.
my neighbor sold me her treadmill for $50 when she moved and now it's sitting in my living room (i have a 1 BR apt :eek:). i call it my Dreadmill :D.

i walk almost every day and do 8 min's. now i'm up to 10.
i long ago said to make a reasonable goal and that's it for me. otherwise i'm still walking and i drive. so i get around. it's just harder and harder.

thanks for the thread.

My recovery has been moving forward. For the last 7 weeks, I have been using my treadmill for anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes per day. Two weeks ago, I added cycling to the mix and am now doing 2 rides a week, about 15-20 miles at a pop. I'm officially training for the MS Bike Ride this fall.

Some days are harder than others. And in the 100+ degree heat here....it can be killer.

Next week I am graduating to using the elliptical.

Gotta keep moving!!

~Keri

Keri - You have come a long way and I am so proud of you! I read your update and was thrilled to hear how well you are doing.:hug:

Nancy, good for you for sticking with the Dreadmill (Thanks for the new great word!). My sister uses hers as a place to hang up clothes... Keep us posted on your walking! Is there a form of moving around that is more fun for you than the dreadmill?

Red Penguin: Cycling is an amazing sport and its wonderful that your legs still allow you to do that. It takes real grit to stick to it, especially with your heat and MS. I hope you keep checking in each day to let us know how it goes.

To all Club Members: Since there seems to be big interest, I'll start a new thread each month so that the threads dont get too long---

if it's like BT, it will be amazing to see how it keeps us on track, and how new people will be inspired to start moving around more.

Edited to add, : I got my mile swim in this morning--just love this Florida weather in the morning :)

Did my stretches this morning. Today is house cleaning day and I will be making it my workout keeping my posture correct, tummy tucked and concentrating on my core as I do the work.;)

What's everyone else done today?

Hi Trish... did my stretches, so I could get up..LOL and then I did my leg lifts...up nd down and side to side. Then I pull my knees up to my chin and stretch out the ole back. My back has a tendency to go into spasms and that helps a lot.

As I sit, throughout the day, in front of my TV and PC, I do leg lifts and stretches to keep from getting too stiff....If I don't, I can't get up when I have to..:eek:

Keeping it moving..http://home.earthlink.net/~sal.pal/s...ctures/mat.gif

hey I am in, yeahhh

walked today, not sure how long but BIG walk with the two little ones in the double stroller... we went down by the lake too, they jumped in in clothes..lol.. while I rested, struggled on way home due to humidity creeping but made it... I always have cell phone on me in case of emergency...

I have to start doing something daily for my muscles... I do work full time on feet at McDonalds... so having troubles with spasticity... on baclofen but getting worse... (OH UNDX PERSON HERE LOL)

anyhow... glad to join the group.. thanks for the encouraging, helps... with wroking full time, my symptoms, and five kisd... gets tough..hugss,sarah

Great Idea BBS!

Most folks on the stumble inn know about my cycling, but for those who don't, I started riding my bike about 2 years before I got my dx (after not riding for about 12 years). I had gained alot of weight and decided to get back in shape. On the day I was supposed to go to my new gym for my orientation, I had my first MS attack (total hearing loss in my left ear). It took me another 2 months to go through all the tests and recover from my spinal tap, but I eventually started going to the gym and ran mostly on the ellipticals 2-3 times a week for about 6 months.

Then I dusted off the bike and started riding...my first ride was about 2 or 3 miles and I quickly ramped up from there to 15-20 miles 3-4 times a week and after 6 months, I rode in my first MS150. That was in October 2005. I got my MS dx on the day that I turned in my final donations from riding in my second MS150 in 2006. Since then, I have ridden in 3 more MS150s and ridden roughly 2000-2500 miles on my bike.

Right now, with it being so hot outside, I am mostly doing spinning classes indoors (45-60 mins of high intensity intervals on a spin bike). They are doing a "Tour de MAC" promotion at the gym, where you get a yellow jersey if you complete 15 stages (spinning classes) in the month of July. We had family in town, then went out of town early in the month, so I got a late start, but I have finished 13 classes so far and will do #14 tonight and #15 tomorrow night.

Starting probably next weekend, I will be back on the road getting ready to ride in the Tour de Pink for the Susan G Komen Foundation. I sure hope it cools off soon...

Tkrik and Sally--good going on the stretches. The housework core stuff sounds like a good idea.

Sabimax welcome to the Club! Running around after little ones is quite a workout in and of itself :)

Txbatman, your cycling is so awesome. You remind me of my BIL who cycles about 30 miles several times a week even though he has a serious cardiac condition. He used to be able to do more, but with cardiac, limits it to 30miles max.

This club looks like it will definitely be a keeper. So at the start of each month, I will start a new thread for that month. Try to check in frequently as it inspires others, keeps us going, and keeps it interesting :)

Well, I made the walk... actually a big one around town... went to the boardwalk by the lake, and we stopped at one point to cool me off... was getting humid and hot... dizzy... the two little ones played at the beachy area we found... and ended up in the water in the clothes... fun fun... it was relaxing... the walk home.. well I almost called for a ride... it was a struggle..

when I overheat my body, and on humid days, I get weakness in right side and balance issues.. also can get dizzy. But I kept on.. made it home and rested a bit.

woohoooo I will be doing something today, golfing later maybe... and when we do although we have a cart... very hilly long course... I will walk quite a bit of it for my physical body woohooo sarah

I need inspiration. I use to have an exercise routine but .... I am fairly consistent with my workout on a motomed weekly. I wish I owned one. I love it and would use it daily.

I have been trying get back into a daily routine. I have not done any thing today unless walking upstairs to use the computer counts. I usually do my my workouts later in the day and will be doing more later because I have exposed myself here and will have to make a report later. :)

Hi BBS and everyone!

I'm glad to see this thread here also, coming from braintalk, lol

So, I didn't get to yoga last night because it was way too hot! I knew I would probably not be able to drive home if I went there and took a class in no a/c.
But, I did go early this morning and take a walk with the stroller for a little over a mile!

Hoping to get to the gym to lift tomorrow morning.

Deb

I love this thread! Congratulations to everyone who is working to keep their body moving.

I worked in the yard yesterday -- does that count?

I'm just not a committed exerciser. I need a trainer with a whip, I think! :o Actually, if you dangled a donut in front of me (just out of reach) I'd run after it for quite aways. :D

Yes, twinkletoes, yard work definitely counts--nice to see you in the club.

abimax, I love the image of you jumping in with your clothes on. Have you tried a cooling vest too?

Deb, nice to see you here and welcome to the club. Keep us posted on your progress.

Ladylurk, brave of you to expose yourself. Yes, do report in after you move around. Every time someone reports in, it inspires someone else to get moving.

I swam my mile this morning and it was very refreshing since the sun wasnt completely on the pool

On August 1st, I will start an August thread -- each month, a new thread.

This thread sure is a breath of fresh air!!! :)

I'm off to the Health Pavillion to do my pole walking, they have an ER on site in case I wipe out, and the staff know me from my routine blood work, etc. The other cool thing is that the building is measured for distance and I can use those markers for tracking my progress.

I've decided to commandeer them as my new cheering squad, I realized yesterday at the end of a month's PT that I will miss the boundless encouragement and sense of accountability. This bunch will unwittingly become my new support group. ;)

55 minutes of spinning last night. Max heart rate 83% of max, average 76% of max. HR monitor said 803 calories burned. It was kind of cool because they brought in a big screen and projector and showed a video shot from a car driving slowly down a country road in Scotland, played scottish music, and had us pretend to be riding up and down the hills in the video (with commensurate changes in resistance levels and pedalling tempo).

It was the first time they have done it, so I will cut them some slack. It was fun, but they could improve it alot by having the instructor do a better job of keeping up with what we are seeing on the screen when giving commands.

Planning another spin class tonight...its a "Race Day" which means trying to keep HR at or above 85% for most of the 60 minute class. It will be class 15 for the month of July, so we will get our "yellow jerseys" at the end of class. Saturday is a "80 minutes of 80s". The instructor has threatened to wear leg warmers and a flashdance shirt...

Aftermynap: What is pole walking? Is it like pole dancing :eek:

Tx: Your cycling really stuns me--I so wish my legs could do that! 800 calories in 50 minutes: Much better than 400 calories for my mile. Think of how much peanut butter I could eat if I could burn 800 cals!

I love hearing about it all.

Even tho BT is back up, I'd like to stick around and keep the Keep On Moving Club going. Its my passion-- to support and inspire people with MS to keep moving.

I would love to do something! We are going to Disney World 10/10 So even though I will be in a scooter most of the time some weight loss would help the fatigue level. I am sure I am at least 80 pounds overweight. Right now about all I do is use my right finger to roll down the little roller on my mouse! So you see I have a long way to go. I love carbs and any kinds of sweets and they are definitely comfort foods.

Do stick around, BBS, it's pretty nice here.

I've just begun using trekking poles as an alternative to a rollator. I have a long way to go but have already found it a huge relief to my shoulders and hands. My posture is improving and I find it far less fatiguing than even a cane.

My balance is extremely poor but since I started with the Bioness L300, it seems to be slightly improving and the poles add to that.

I'll be off for my hike in just a bit here. :)

Am I Welcome???