Keep on Moving Club: August 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, 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 joined a health club.

I knew I could not do the treadmill and other things as I am a bit wobbly but I thought I can go in the pool and just walk back and forth.

I decided to try the easy does it water exercise class and told the instructor I wanted to be in the back of the class as I did not want to be up front since I would not be able to keep up.

I was surprised at how well I could function in waist deep water. The class was all older ladies in their 80's and one is 92 so I am the kid!! :cool:

I go three days a week and it is so neat to be able to walk fast through the water forwards and backwards and do exercises and movements which I could NEVER do on dry land!

btw:
I exercise in the front of the class now! :D

I joined a gym too. So far, all I've really used is their treadmills. I just walk slowly on it, and make sure I hold onto the handrails.

I'm not sure I want to try to use their swimming pool, but I think that's just because I dont like my swimsuit and dont like it when people see me in my swimsuit. (cant find a new one that I like either) I may look at their pool tonight when I go treadmilling with my dad for a half hour. The lady that got me signed up at the gym told me their water is 84 degrees. I'm just not sure if that's too warm a temperature for me, or too cold a temperature.

Next time I have vertigo problems, I might try the swimming pool instead of exercising on the treadmill tho. At least if I fall down in a pool, I probably wont hurt myself.

Hi AZJanie, welcome to the club. Isnt that wonderful how well you've been doing in the pool. Pools are a hidden secret. I dont know why docs do not recommend them routinely to patients.

Erin, good for you for looking into trying out the pool. Here is a nice website for swimsuits and gear:

www.swimoutlet.com

I'd say take the plunge and don't worry about how you look in a suit. I am much older than many of the folks at my public winter pool,(Such as the high school swim team) but I just strut out there proud as can be that I'm participating :)

At the public pool, there are hugely obese people and they just put on their suit and go swimming. I'm glad they are not so self conscious that they avoid it.

Most of us don't look like we did in our teen years-- that's okay, we've been living life and it shows on our bodies :)

Ummmm, BBS, you're moving too fast for me......It's not August till tomorrow..:p

I did my usual, hard core (not) routine today.:D

[quote=Erin524;545602]I joined a gym too. So far, all I've really used is their treadmills. I just walk slowly on it, and make sure I hold onto the handrails.

I'm not sure I want to try to use their swimming pool, but I think that's just because I dont like my swimsuit and dont like it when people see me in my swimsuit. (cant find a new one that I like either) I may look at their pool tonight when I go treadmilling with my dad for a half hour. The lady that got me signed up at the gym told me their water is 84 degrees. I'm just not sure if that's too warm a temperature for me, or too cold a temperature.

I am extremely self-consious of this 60 year old body so I would never go to a regular pool. :o

I bought a very modest one-piece swimsuit and I was concerned about how I looked until I got to class and saw all the little old ladies of all sizes in the water having fun.

Compared to the ninety year old; I look fantastic. :p

tonight after I got done on the treadmill, I went and checked out the swimming pool at our gym.

I wont be using it for awhile. When I walked in there, the fluorescent lights made my eyeballs want to jump out of my head. I swear, I could almost hear my 6th cranial nerve screaming for me to close my eyes. I wasnt able to drive home. (good thing my dad was there, he drove)

I was only in the pool area for a couple of minutes. Long enough to look at the pool, check out the primordial ooze pool (hot tub) and look at the steam room and the sauna.

I'm still feeling woozy from those lights, and it's been about 20 minutes since I got home.

I'll probably have to wait until my eyes are healed a little bit more (if they even do that) from the latest exacerbation (cranial nerve 6 went fubar in late June) before I can use the pool at the gym. I really really hate fluorescent lighting!

I took one of those aquacise classes mainly for people with arthritis. Temp of the water was fine and none of them looked any worse in their bathing suits than I did. But MS society would only pay for one 6 week session.

I haven't seen my PCP in a good while. I mainly see his nurse practitioner. But I have enough issues with my legs and feet when walking I made an appointment to see him next week. I am also going to ask for a nutritional consult. I think since I'm on Metformin that medicare will pay for it. But I need help.!!!!!!!!

I didn't ask if I was a charter member. I just jumped right in and assumed! You can kick me back if you want. It might be good excersize for you all to do it!

LOL Doydie. We are ALL Charter members right now because it is such a new club.

Erin, re the lights--ouch! I have goggles that are tinted which helps since I swim in the bright sunlight. Do you think that would help you?

I am huffing and puffing. I just got back from my morning walk. My DH has been so supportive, and when he is done with his morning hike (about 10 miles) he calls me on the walkie talkie to ask "you ready?!" drat! darn! no no no! after a minute of radio silence he says "come on! you can do it! put your lil shoes on, and meet me at the mailbox." I begrudingly put on my shoes, and drag my morning butt to the mailbox. He is usually just walking up on it. This morning a neighbor joined in with her two westies. The pace was more brisk than I am used to, but I suppose its good to be pushed a bit.

I am home, wiped, sweaty, tired, and glad its over. There are some days I just DONT want to go! I am thrilled I am up and walking again, but have those slow lane days that I am not motivated.

Tomorrow will be better. it will be great when the humidity leaves us.

What a sweet man :)

On those tough days, can you jsut do a partial walk, like half or 3/4 of the amount so you arent so wiped?

MSnewengland.org is sponsering a walk in our area on Sept 12, 26th, and 27th the DH wants to walk. He thinks I can do it, but its 5 miles! :eek: I dunno, I dunno, I dunno...my lil gremlin that talks me out of things is working overtime. I will have to see if I can train to do this. Wish me luck.

ohhh new month, I turned 40 yesterday, I worked full shift so did not get workout in..

but this morning I was feeling good, had great sleep, think the new med for pain made me sleep so deep.. tramadol... anyhow got up and did Yoga... good stretch too for anyone who suffers with spasticity try yoga... or stretches...each day..

hugss all, sarah

80 minutes of the 80s this morning in spin class. Max HR 90% of max, avg 78% of max, 1026 calories burned. The instructor actually showed up in heavy 80s rocker hair and makeup and a flashdance style top over her cycling jersey. She made it alot of fun so we could forget we were riding 20-30 minutes longer than normal.

Checkin' in:
I went to water aerobics today and we all went to breakfast afterwards as we do each Saturday.

Classes are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays and it's a small friendly club and we all share bounties of fruits, veggies and sometimes sugary treats so we can work them off!

Today the manager brought figs from his fig trees and they were so good!

He brings healthy things when he comes in and frowns at the donuts and cookies but I tell him it's what's keeping him in business. :cool:

The club has two new pieces of equipment which are like a recumbant bike but has handles which go back and forth and pedals if that makes sence (sp).

I have no idea what it is called but easy for me to do since I can sit and it does give a pretty good upper and lower body workout as I can now tell.

Love, love, love the trekking poles! I'm about to head out on my day's first of two hikes. Yippee skippee, I love being able to hobble around again!

We have such an active club!

Good Luck Dejibo on your training for the big walk. Do you have a cooling vest to keep you cooler while you walk?

Happy Birthday sabimax: Good for you for doing your yoga on your birthday.

TXBatman: Thats a great image of your instructor... you burn so many calories, what are your favorite foods to replenish your stores afterwards? Cheese? Peanut butter? Steak?

AzJanie: Figs! Food of the gods :) On the days you dont have watercise classes, do you do it independently> At our public pool there is a small group of women who do it independently together on the days there are no classes.

Aftermynap: What is pole trekking???

I finished my mile swim just now and it was delightful. Up kindof late because we were out late with DD who flew into town for two nights. Alas, she left early this morinng ...

Trekking poles are just poles for use when hiking, they offer support and balance on rough terrain. I decided to try them because I need to break bad habits I've developed using a rollator.

They are very similar to ski poles but are typically widely adjustable for length, have carbide spikes to bite the earth, and come with alternate tips for various surfaces. I have mine adjusted to about as high as my elbow to force my back to return to active duty. It's working very well for me.

There are different styles of use, I use the basic Nordic stride style, but at a much slower pace. My PTs call it "four-point walking".

I have deplorably poor balance and have been able to keep from falling pretty well with them.

Videos of the different trekking/walking poles, for those of you who are interested.

Anything to help us to "keep moving"..:D

http://www.boomyah.com/c-11-instruction-video.aspx

What a great idea, thanks for the explanation. And, to SallyC, thanks for the video clip.

Well since you asked, my favorite post-ride/post-workout food is reduced fat chocolate milk. There was actually a study on recovery drinks that showed that drinking low fat chocolate milk after a workout was better than drinking a sports drink at helping you recover and work harder the next day. I am still working on losing weight, so I try not to "recover" all the calories...but I do try to put some carbs and protein back in within about 20-30 minutes post workout when my muscles can make the most use of it.

Ah! Chocolate milk--- who can argue with chocolate milk? Or for that matter, anything with chocolate in it?

I swam a mile today. It was great and now I get to eat peanut butter on banana :)

Yum, BBS1951! I used to love peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

OK, here is my "keep on moving" exercises for the past few days. It is too dang hot out to even attempt anything outside. Pool water is warmer than bath water so swimming is out. So, I am dog/cat sitting for DBF. While here, I am detailing each room in the house - 1 room a day. Again, paying close attention to my core and posture. It is hard to do that as you get going and concentrating on the what ever you are cleaning that you forget about the posture. Trying to make ever move count.;)

Today is a day of rest for me. I overdid it yesterday as I got going and did more than 1 room. Had to have DD17 help me in to the tub for my epsom salt bath.:rolleyes:

Wasn't that Elvis's favorite sandwich? Careful, it made him fat..:D


I'm moving a little slow today. I don't feel so good, but, will still do my stretches and stuff, and will veg out for most of the day.

:grouphug:

golfing tonight, I will walk some parts of course instead of being in cart hehe
although I might take tramadol to help keep pain away tonight...haha hugss,sarah

I was dusting floors, end tables, all the knick knacks and DH's Gordon room cars all morning... aka Swiffer aerobics.

I had the radio oldies station on and I move to the music while cleaning so it doesn't seem like such a chore.

This afternoon I plan to do visual exercises reading the stack of magazines before passing them to the neighbors. :)

Tkrik: are you in Phoenix area? I know someone with a pool in Phoenix said her pool gets over 90 dgrees (yuck)--you have some good creative ideas of moving around.

SallyC: Good for you for stretching even though you are feeling fatigued.

Sabimax: Its great that you will walk some of the golf course, more than what most of America is doing for sure.

AzJanie: Swiffer Aerobics! What a fun concept and name :)

BBS, if our course here at home was not so hilly we would walk all of it, we used to walk the courses in Boston area.. as they were all FLAT.. this one you have a hill up down or sideways thru the whole thing lol, sarah

did good too, and tramadol helped, I am not hurting, well not hurting badly hehe hugss all, sarah

Good for you sabimax. Hills are my downfall. Luckily, in Florida it is completely and utterly flat :)

I swam a mile this morning and it was fun. The chlorinator is on the fritz though, so its going to be a challenge to keep the water healthy while we argue with the company over the warranty...

Well it was spinning class again last night. We had several first timers in the class so she took it easy on us. Even so, a couple of them only made it for about 40-45 minutes before they bailed. My #s reflect that we didn't work as hard...mainly because she gave us longer recovery intervals to help the beginners. 1 hour and 5 minutes, Max HR 87% of max, avg HR 72% of max, 743 calories burned.

That's still awesome. Can I assume that the MS has not affected your legs?

Swam a mile today and enjoyed it. Seems like DH has fixed the chlorinator for our pool--Yay

So far, by the grace of God, I seem to have had a very benign course of MS. My only 100% no doubt symptoms were my initial hearing loss in 2004 and the increase in the number of lesions in 2006 that got me a dx. I have some nagging things like intermittent facial numbness and tingling, some cognitive memory issues that seem to be getting a little more pronounced, and my congitive function testing suggests that my processing speed has been affected; but other than that, physically I have no real issues that I can pin on MS and I am doing my best to try to keep it that way.

(((((TXBatman)))))), whatever keeps you strong to ride for MS, is OK by me..:) :cool:

golfing again tonight, yeahhhhh

other than that taking the little ones in double stroller for a walk...hugss,sarah

txbatman, I hope your course continues to be relatively benign.

Have fun sabimax golfing :)

I swam my mile today and my DH totally overhauled the pool today :)

Getting My Move Back
 

Me too BBS...me too.

Clean Pool! Woohoo!

So do I have a sick mind or is this normal: Every time I hear somebody talking about cleaning a pool, I think of the Eddie Murphy Beverly Hills Cop scene where he is coming in to clean the pool at the Playboy Mansion because "somebody got drunk and had a little 'accident' in the pool"..."do I need to spell it out for you?..."

http://www.motomed.de/medizin_01_gb/..._start_01.html

Is that the one? BTW, welcome to the group!

Ladylurk: thats a pretty amazing gadget. Does it get your heart rate elevated? I assume it keeps your muscles toned to? Tell us more about how it helps you and affects you. Good going girl!

Well, TxBatman, I loved that movie, but I dont' recall the scene. I suppose men and women might not always remember the same scenes from movies :)

My DH pressure washed the pool deck and furniture, changed the filters, generally made a big mess of the pool while cleaning the area up. Hopefully, by the morning, the filter system will have taken care of all of the debris that got into the pool! I'm not one to miss a day of swimming afterall :)

It may have been Beverly Hills Cop II...anyways, Eddie Murphy and the two Beverly cops followed a vehicle from a crime scene to a party at the playboy mansion. Eddie Murphy is trying to talk his way into the party by claiming he is there to clean the pool. He keeps trying to insinuate that somebody got drunk and pooped in the pool without actually saying that, but the hostess is very dense and doesn't get what he is trying to insinuate. It is just a funny scene because he is trying to be discreet and she just doesn't get it at all. He finally has to come out and say "somebody got drunk and pooped in the pool alright?"