Week of September 22 - 28

[merryfl]

Well it's Monday again. I am stubbornly keeping these threads going in hopes that someone will come back.

Rehab today - walked 24 minutes at 1.5 mph, then did the leg press: 12 @ 90lbs, 10 @95lbs and 10 @100lbs. Then did 3 sets of squats with the medicine ball (5 reps each set).

The leg exercises are much harder on my breathing than the walking - Get me more out of breath and take me longer to recover.

[AnnB]

Well, Merry, I keep reading if not posting lol. I am doing rehab now, but it is not as intense as your are doing.

I have another question about the leg exercises. How do you lift the weights? Why do you do so many reps? They have me stopping at 20/ When I can do 20 easily they increase the weight not the reps. Since you posted about being able to lift 80% of your body weight I upped the weights on the machine. I don't know how to describe the weight machine at rehab. You sit on a chair, put your feet on a board and push the board. Not a very fancy piece of equipment. The weights are plates that you stick a pin in to increase. I currently am lifting 4 plates and that equals 88 pounds, today I am going for 5 bars.

[sue]

I've been lazy I guess Merry...
For a few days I didnt do much as I had this head cold starting. The last few nights at work, did the usual housecleaning, mopping, etc. I hope to get out for a walk after a nap.

[merryfl]

Ann - that machine is called a leg press. It is what I use, but mine goes in increments of 5 pounds. The plate is stationary and the seat slides. By lifting 3 different weights, it is easier to work your way up. So I lift (press) an easy amount first as a warmup, then I do a weight I am comfortable with, then finish up with a hard one. Once a week I increase everything by 5 pounds. So right now I am pressing 90, 95 and 100. Wednesday I will increase the amounts and go up to 95, 100 and 105.

As far as the number of reps, they have me doing a total of 30. I do one set at each weight
Easiest weight - 12 times
Middle weight - 10 times
Hardest weight - 8 times (If I feel able, I do 10 of this one, too)

After all that, I do what I call squats - for lack of another name. I hold a 2 Kg medicine ball level with my chest, Then I sit down and stand back up as quickly as I can 5 times. Get my breath back, and do it again 5 more times. I don't like this one

I can't imagine having to increase my weights by 22 pounds at one time. That must me really hard.

[sue]

Can I count crossing my leg, then bouncing a 25 lb toddler on each foot for 5 minutes as an exercise?
I walked 15 min last night also.

[merryfl]

Sue -- anything done with a toddler (especially a 25 pounder) counts double. However, my RT yells at us anytime she sees one of us cross our legs. It is a major no-no for her. She says her sister almost died of blood clots in her legs that went to her lungs. Therefore, you get no points for that today, despite having a toddler on your foot at the time. Better luck tomorrow.

I did 26 minutes on the TM today. I am hoping that when I get to 30 she will stop increasing the time. Of course, she'll probably start increasing my speed then. I did the leg press at 95, 100 and 105 pounds (yay me!!) and did 3 sets of squats.

I am wondering when my muscles are going to say "enough, already" to a weight increase. I expected it to happen way before now, and I'm very pleased that it hasn't.

[merryfl]

Friday: Another week goes by and nobody is exercising. Shame on you!!

Today was a repeat of Wednesday, except I put in 28 minutes on the old TM at 1.5 mph. Leg press at 95, 100 and 105 pounds (total reps 32) and 3 sets of 5 squats with medicine ball.

[sue]

Merry, I thought you had to worry about leg clots if a person sat alot and didnt get up and move around. I know I watch it as I have 2 neices that have Factor V (5 in roman #) Lieden (leiden?). That is a blood clotting disorder that is hereditary.

Ok, the last couple days, chased toddlers, hauled them in and out of a 2-door car. I mopped at work, did a few loads of towels. I am counting shoving TED hose up the legs of 2 people. if you dont know what those are, they are those very tight stockings folks wear with bad leg circulation and are a huge pain to put on. I think I will go take a walk in after supper since the weather is nice yet.

Mary, hope you are ok.

[merryfl]

Sue - I know I posted here yesterday, but have no idea where it went! LOL My mom wore TED hose for a while and bob-oh-boy what a job to put them on. I don't think my lungs would take it. I don't know how you do what you do.

I haven't done any aerobic exercises this weekend. But I do stretches most days and lift some dumbells. My arm is so sore from my flu shot yesterday, I can't even do that today
I'll make up for it tomorrow. I promise.