[doydie]

I have been walking about .7 or .8 mile daily at a mall, park, etc but today I went to the Y. YEAH!!!!! I did it. My main purpose was to get on the treadmill since my husband is going to be doing most of his walking outside now that the weather is better. The treadmill is terrible I couldn't go the same MPH I was doing at the mall or the distance. I literally forced myself to do .4 before I couldn't do any more, rested then got back on and quit at another .1. So altogether it was .5 mile Then I had to sit about 5 minutes before I could go out to the car. I had brought my water with me so I was prepared. I will keep on trying though. I want to eventually put an incline on it so I can work my thighs and butt. Very disapointing day

[tkrik]

I don't like treadmills. Walking on them is different and I always have a hard time with my balance when I get off of them. When I went to PT a few years ago, the PT had me do 5 minutes of walking before we did the other exercises.
Maybe next time, try for time as opposed to miles.

I think it is great that you did that today. So what if it was only .5 miles. The fact that you set out to go to the Y and you did it. That's a start in the right direction. Plus, the Y has other equipment and things that you can use. And, I totally get the walking for a little bit and then having to rest.

[Sham]

I agree with tkrik, walking on treadmill is definetly different. I can walk further off a treadmill than on. I also hold on to at least one arm due to balance issues, when I step off I take a minute before I try to walk. Be proud of what you did accomplish you will get there. On days when walking is more difficult try a stationary bike, one you sit down in not on top of (i hope that make sense.) Way to go.

[SallyC]

I thought your thread said waking on a treadmill. Wow, I said,
this should be interesting.

I join the crowd in not liking treadmills, I don't do them. Walking
around the house, is the way I used to do it, when I could walk better.

[ANNagain]

Doydie,

I agree w you about treadmills- so boring. Try the recumbent bike that Sham mentioned and the elliptical. It's good to know that on a rainy or cold winter day, you have the option of going to the Y.

I have just discovered that within my walking territory there is a gym in a municipal building used as a community center. It costs $5 to join if you are 62. And they have classes that are an additional $1 each. There is a gorgeous pool that is closed for repair/remolding. Amazing that this was right under my nose.

No excuse for not getting out in winter now. See you out there!
ANN

[Erin524]

I desperately want a treadmill. I quit my gym membership last summer when it was so hot because I couldn't drive because of having numb hands and feeling really weak.

I'm doing PT now because of the flare that I had last month that was weakness and extra numbness and being barely able to walk. The girls there have been putting me on a treadmill where I can walk almost normally. Slowly, but normally. I'm kind of angling to get my dad to buy me a treadmill for my birthday this month. Either that, or I want a new ipad so that we can give my mom my dad's ipad and I can give my dad my current ipad. A treadmill might be cheaper. (iPad would be more fun tho)

[doydie]

Erin someday they will make an Ipad that doubles as a gym!

The elipticals at the Y are all placed so that they face a TV. One of them is one that is on HGTV all the time. They are all closed caption. So if I get on one I will get one that one. That is if my sister isn't already on it.

[Erin524]

My tv is almost always on HGTV too. If it's not on the History Channel, BBC America or a news station.

[NurseNancy]

i call mine the DREADMILL.
i don't like it at all but listen to music while i'm on. i used to do 15" but now i'm happy at 5".

.5 miles is REALLY, REALLY good from where i "stand". just start at the point at which you're comfortable. stay there a few days then increase by 1 minute. and go from there. it takes time to build up your strength and tolerance.

you go girl!

[doydie]

I'm finding myself pretty comfortable on the recumbant bike. I ride 5 miles a day. I stop every 2 miles for a few seconds, take a big drink out of my water bottle, put the cap back on and wipe the bottle all around my chin, face and forehead. The Y has machines from several different companies. Some are new, some aren't so!. My favorite bike is the one that I can watch TV on the bike, you just put your headphones and bike away. I'm not dependent on watching whatever TV station they going closest to me and isn't closed caption. So you are jsut watching a TV, not listening. I usually watch HGTV, since I go during the day they are all 1/2 hour shows. So I get in 2 shows. Today I watched the golf channel and then plugged in my headphones in my phone so I could listen to Pandora