Week of 8/4

[Colleen-NC]

Well, I finally got on the treadmill. Did 10 mins @ .5 incline at 1.4 so better than nothing LOL I am going to go in and do a few reps with the weights for upper body.

[merryfl]

Good job Colleen!! I haven't done my weights yet today, either, but I did walk. My TM's incline won't go lower than 1.5, so I am stuck with that. I did 6 minutes at 1.2 mph, then upped it to 1.3. Stayed there to the 20 minute mark and then backed off to 1.2 again to 25 minutes.

Am I the only person who finds it a total bore to walk on the treadmill? I listen to music and try to get in some prayer time. But, my mercy, it is a bore! There is no where in my house that the TM will fit that I can see the TV from. I have to come up with something or I will quit walking again....I need to be entertained, I guess.

MaryAZ - did you start today like you promised?

[maryaz]

Hi Colleen; So glad you started a new date. Good job you did.

Merry; If you want to eliminate some of the incline someday, I was told to put a book or something under the TM. I am with you on the things to do. Mine also will not face a TV. I could listen only. I used to think it would help if I walked and watched an interesting one-half hour show.

I listen to Christian sermons and music, and other types of music. Have tried to do some memorizing. Too hard for me to read. I used to see employees in rehab on lunch beaks reading and walking. There is a Pastor on radio twice a day that I like but it is too early and too late for my walking.

How about if you get books at the library and listen to them. I never have done that. I never walked a TM until COPD and I think I might have liked it when I could breath better. It is very difficult for me.

Yes, I did get started today. Very slow, but start is all I planned to do. Being accountable works for me. Whether I do it or not, I will post.

I did 4 upper and 4 lower warm-ups of 5 each. PLB. Using 2 lb weights I did 2 different ones 5 X each. That I could even feel. I had to stop. I am really out of shape. I played 4 songs on the Harmonica; We don’t play the whole song.

TM was 3 Minutes @ 1.0. Last time I started at 1 minute at 1.2. Decided to try this. I will add at least 1 minute per day and soon jump it up.

[merryfl]

I think, until more join in, we'll do one topic per week. Is that OK? I skipped walking yesterday, but did lift weights and did squats against the wall (that burns!!). I will make sure I walk this afternoon.

Mary, the therapist at Shands told me that time is more important than speed. In other words he'd rather you do 3 minutes at 1.0 than 1 minute at 1.2. So keep up the good work! If you stay at that speed for a couple of weeks and then bump it up to 1.1, you'll make good progress.

[Colleen-NC]

Merry, good idea with the one topic per week, I just changed the name to "Week Of"


8/6:

I did 25 min. today on the treadmill YEA !! up to 1.5 and 1 incline for 9 minutes. Not too bad. I play with the speeds and incline. It takes me about 3 minutes to get to 1.4 and I find I can go farther and do more if I go slow. I do get bored. I try to do it when something interesting is on TV. I watch either HGTV or the Food Network, so far its working pretty good. I am going to try for at least 3 days on the treadmill and as much free weights in between as I can do. I did some squats too the other day, I need to do more while holding the weights, builds muscle faster.

[muffin]

Merry it is hard to walk on the TM isn't it? I have a hard time also as it is so boring. I do see people reading when they walk, but I cannot do that, I can't read in a moving auto either, don't know why just never could.

Won't be to hard at this for a while as my toenails have to heal a bit more and I also have to buy different shoes just for walking. I just paid $70 for these, dumb me I didn't know I was suppose to buy shoes that are to big to walk, doesn't make sense to me.

I did the exercise ball and the small pallates ball.
I did 20 minutes of aerobics. Hopefully by Friday night I will be able to walk, although if it is close to a 100 no deal on that one either.

We just have to remember the benefits this exercise brings and it truly does help me.

Come join us exercising it's cool inside the people are great and we all go at our own speeds, because we are all different. Hope to see you soon!

[maryaz]

Aug 6, 2008 9:34:27 GMT -5 merryfl said:

Mary, the therapist at Shands told me that time is more important than speed. In other words he'd rather you do 3 minutes at 1.0 than 1 minute at 1.2. So keep up the good work! If you stay at that speed for a couple of weeks and then bump it up to 1.1, you'll make good progress.

Merry; This is what I am always telling people. I am aware of it. We refer to endurance opposed to speed. Rather than being in a hurry, 'just get there' and doesn't matter if it takes a while.

OK, back to exercise. I did get side tracked yesterday. Spent all day almost trying to add security to my computer. Can see post in computer section. Frustrating. I worked out today. I am okay with it and made up for yesterday.

I did the warmups as before. I could only use my 2 lb weights for 7x today. Monday was 10 but I could not lift them today. I think I will go back to 1 lb where I started 6 years ago and work up again. Normally I do 5 different ones 5 times each.

TM was 1.2 for 5 minutes[/color] (remember I have a built in .5 incline if at home). This was comfortable and so I am okay with the missed day.

Good job for all the rest of you. Going to go get hair cut now.

[merryfl]

8/6 I walked this afternoon for 25 minutes. I'm maintaining my speed and incline. The 1st half is a bear, but just about when I think I have to stop, I seem to reach my stride, and the second half is comfortable. Go figure.

I can't read on my TM. I think on the really expensive ones at gyms and rehabs it is much smoother and will allow some people to read. Sure can't do it on mine. I have a friend who like the books on disc. She gets them from the library and keeps one going all day. I've never tried them, but may look into it for on the TM. 'Course, I'll have to buy a CD player first

[Colleen-NC]

Merry, just a thought here, is your PC near the TM? Does it have a cd player? I am thinking of getting books on CD at the library and the computer is right behind the treadmill in my living room so I could pop them right in the computer and listen. Just a thought!

BTW, you & everyone are doing well, we need to keep it up LOL I can fall off the routine so easy. I haven't really exercised in almost 3 months and that is bad!!

[maryaz]

Merry; Do you do warmups before doing the TM. One time I did about 10 minutes on the TM and just could not go any further. It was at home and I had been doing 20 minutes pretty regularly at the time.

The RT asked if I had done warm ups or walked around can count too but not sure how much walking. I had not. I cannot remember the technical term he used but he said if I didn't do the warm up then I would hit ____ at a certain level. This would be where it sounded like you were and where I was.

To my surprise, the next day I did it with the warm ups and went right on thru the 20 minutes. I know there is a purpose in warm up and cool down. Cool down I think also is so your heart comes down more gradually and not suddenly. We were to do more warm up exercises or walk around the exercise room once or twice before sitting down. Hope this makes sense.

[blondie]

8/7 I got my pedometer hooked up and went to the mall this morning before it opened. I walked, browsed, walked, browsed. I got in 7400 steps, 3.5 miles and 199.7 calories burned. First time out walking in quite awhile and feel I did pretty doggone good. I'm not saying I didn't get sob at times, but when that would come on, I'd sit on a bench for a couple of minutes and then be on my way. I don't like to break up my momentum.

I use to walk the TM at the YMCA. Got up to a hour before pneumonia hit me. There isn't anything more boring but I would bring a book to read. They have a bookholder that fits over the TM. Worked real well and made the time pass much faster. My membership has expired and I really don't want to go back as I am afraid that's where I picked the 'p' up. Pat

[Colleen-NC]

Pat, sounds like you had a great work out. I am hoping someday to make a mile LOL!! Can't say I blame you for not wanting to go back to the Y, not fun being that sick.

I spent 4 1/2 hrs in the car getting Amy today, I'm beat so not work out for me today.

[merryfl]

I went grocery shopping today and walked every aisle - even though I didn't need to. That is my substitute for the TM. I do the same thing when I go to WalMart - make sure I walk more than necessary to get the full exercise. It's nice to have something to look at besides the pictures on my wallls while I walk.

Mary - some days I do warm ups before I walk. I always warm up before I lift weights. I know at rehab they always stressed doing warm-ups, and I guess I should make a point of it.

Pat - did you have a problem reading on the TM? Isn't it too difficult to focus?

[blondie]

Merry, I didn't have a problem with reading, but did have a little problem turning the pages..lol Some of the men brought in a newspaper to read in the same way. It really helped the time go by faster. I do what you do Merry. If I have to go to Target's, I'll get a basket and walk all over the store just to keep moving. Pat

[maryaz]

8/7 I too was able to do my exercise. I did warmups and I did do 2 lb weights 2 different ways five times each.

TM 6 minutes at 1.2

As long as I do at least the same as day before I am okay. My main goal is to track the TM. This is one minute more.

Didn't get to rehab today, as planned. I was getting ready and Joe didn't seem in a good way. We just didn't go. I made real sure I worked out. I think he is just overdoing things and especially in the mornings.

[muffin]

Sorry this is soo late, but I just got home from my nightly walk. It has been way to hot to walk any sooner than I did tonight. Have a great day everyone

[blondie]

8/8 Put on my pedometer and went to Targets. I made the mistake of not doing a breathing treament before I went. I had to buy my grandson a pair of pants for his b-day and thought I'd walk the store while I was out. Long story short, I started feeling very tired after lunch and sob, so left and went home. I did get 1-1/2 miles in walking the store. I guess better than nothing. Pat

[merryfl]

Friday 8/8
Pat - if I could walk a mile and a half, I'd think I was cured!! LOL
Mary - Good job. You're really doing well.
Colleen - I heard a blurb on the news tonight that we can download "talking books" from the library website for free - either to your computer or to your i-pod. That would save you the trip to the library. Cool, huh? Maybe yours' offers the same thing.

Well, I was very ambitious today. I did my warmup and then walked 25 minutes. It was very comfortable and I even upped my speed to 1.4 for 5 minutes at about the half-way point. Rested for 20 minutes or so and then lifted weights. 2# dumbbells, 2 sets of 5 reps, 7 different exercises. Haven't done my squats yet - I really hate those!

[maryaz]

Pat; I gather the nebulizer makes you sleepy. It doesn't me.

Merry; You are doing good. Sounds like you are more motivated and maybe that is because of us. When I am on the TM I think of all of you. I will try to remember to look into the books.

I didn't do anything today. We had company and that was enough. I will work tomorrow for sure. I knew I would just play it by ear if the company showed up.

I think my grandkids have about outgrown me. I have a 5 year old niece that lives about 1 1/2 hours from us. I really like to see them come. She is so cute. They are cute at that age.

Will be back tomorrow. I am very late here again. I am still getting some computer issues solved, very slowly.

[muffin]

Mary thanks for your message., I just have not been around. My grandson is here from England so been spending time with him. I think he will be going home on Tuesday then I will settle in.

I have not been able to walk outside as it has been to hot, had lightening this evening and at dark it was still 94 degrees. It has since dropped to probably 75 but the dew point is 59 so the air is horrible.

My black toes are going away, I bought another pair of tennis shoes to walk in. Yesterday I walked around the mall. Today I did the treadmill for 1/2 hour, plus weights.

Hope you all have a great weekend.
God bless

[blondie]

MaryAZ, I just modified my last post. I mean't to say I didn't do a breathing treatment before I left the house..duh Pat

[maryaz]

Hi Pat; Now it seems that I should have figured that out. Never thought about it that way. I am easily confused these days.

I did good. I did warmups and the TM. I also was popping around pulling things off shelves and stuff and that can be exercise for me.

8/9/2008: TM @ 1.2 for 10 Minutes.

I am happy about that. Wasn't a big effort either. I just didn't want to push too far. I will be back later. Have to get off computer for while. Still trying to solve computer problems and been online too much.

[merryfl]

Pat - for some reason, that makes a lot more sense. LOL

Saturday 8/9/08
Did the TM with a 1.5 incline: 5 minutes @ 1.2, 10 minutes @1.3, and 5 more minutes @1.2 (total 20 minutes). Wasn't an effort, but I figured on the weekends we're entitled to take it a little easy. Will do my weights while watching the Olympics tonight.

[sue]

My library website offers free book downloads, they seem to be quite popular. I can play cd's in my computer, dont see why books on cd's wouldnt play thru the computer too. Libraries have a nice selection of them also, at least mine does.

Ok, I got off my butt while camping and walked 15 minutes every hour from the time I got up til I went to bed (6am -9pm). Plus did a trail this morning and hauled firewood in from the trees a bunch of times. I dont have a TM but they have one at work and I dont like it either.

[merryfl]

OK, Sue....now you're just showing off!! Since it's Sunday, I decided today should be my day off from exercise. Had a therapist tell me that 5 days a week is more than enough. Who am I to argue?