March 2019: Keep on moving

[Sunshine]

Formal exercise is great and a real mood lifter, or at least for me....however, note that the title of the thread is Keep on Moving—- not keep on exercising!!

And one of the examples is moving from side to side for bedridden. Anything that keeps the body from being inert is great. Doesn’t have to be formal exercise for sure....and lets not judge ourselves: this is just something to keep in mind, not to beat ourselves up for !!

This past week, I have been using the rollator more rather than R2D2 whenever possible. I don’t walk independently as much out of concern that a spasm could throw me to the ground and break a bone or fracture my skull. Thats ok, I love my Drive Rollator. I try to stand up straight, not hunch over so as to put less pressure on the back.

So, I walked 40’ to water my pool deck plants,I swept the kitchen and bathroom floors, I made a salad and some scallops, cleaned up the kitchen dishes etc., took out a trash bag, maybe did about 400 steps total, if that. Spent a lot of time on the phone managing doctor visits, call backs with docs and their nurses— too many specialists and tests in my life right now for sure.

I work very hard at trying to stay in the moment and only spend time planning for that day and the next so as to not be overwhelmed with all that has to be done medically over the next 2 weeks. It is overwhelming otherwise. Hoping all the MD appts settle down at some point....

Meditation and my cursory understanding of Buddhism has settled down my mind and helped with my pain. I highly recommend it. If at all curious, first read Breakfast with Buddha, a fiction book that will tantalize you. Then, come back and I can point to some nonfiction reading that can give you some ideas....am glad that this old dog can indeed still learn new tricks!

[Virginia]

Today I left home at 3:15 and went first to Home Depot to the back of the store to get air filters, then to Walgreens where I stayed for more than an hour just picking up different things that I needed, then I went to Lowe's Foods to grocery shop where I stayed for over an hour again. I arrived home at 6:15 having been on my feet for most of that 3 hours. The last half of which my legs were dragging. Neighbor called me over next door to look at something, walked there. Made two trips in the house with groceries and put them away. Took two bags of trash out. About 7 I went to Panera because I didn't want anything I had here to eat. I ate between 7:30 and 8 and then I tried on new jeans that came in the mail. Then tried on old ones to make sure they fit. Then tried on 3 blouses to see if they fit.

I had a full afternoon and evening.

If Ann is reading before leaving for her Mom's I had "pick two". I chose a cup of creamy tomato soup and half a turkey, bacon avocado blt. It tasted good tonight after my afternoon out.

[stillstANNding]

Sounds good, Virginia.

ANN

[Sunshine]

Virginia— whoa! That’s a lot of moving ! And, it sounds like you had a very satisfying day on many fronts :)

[stillstANNding]

Today’s exercise is walking around two airports and trying to remember not to lift my suitcase!

ANN

[agate]

You have been one busy lady, Virginia--darting around from store to store, and I think that trying on clothes can be tiring.

The day before yesterday I cleaned the stovetop,and today I mopped the floors, which really needed it because I'd spilled first baking soda solution (gritty) on the kitchen floor, and later dishwashing liquid (sticky) on it and hadn't cleaned it up thoroughly.

Today there will be laundry and vacuuming, plus cleaning the bathroom and getting ready for the inspection tomorrow. It's spring cleaning time.

[Howie]

If you ladies are in a cleaning mood, just come by here and give this place a good cleaning.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

you ladies are doing so good,, it motivates me to do more,, I am still excercising with my crunch machine and pedal machine, but trying to figure out if a tread mill which I love, would benefit me, since my left leg is partially paralyzed, and its hard to bend and move,,the pool, sounds like heaven on earth,, and I was in the pool at the "Y" taught a few classes, till my body said no more,,:-(

[Virginia]

Agate, just think when inspection is over you will not have anything to do. You might want to read a book. You are getting so much done. Bet those inspectors tell each other "now that is one clean lady".

Ann, I assume Peter is with you to carry your suitcase. He gets your hair done, does your ironing and I believe he changes the linen on the bed - what is it that man doesn't do for you? Well, you will be worn out when you get to your Mom's with all the walking.

Peg, you are a self motivater like Sunshine. You both do so much with your exercising that it amazes me.

Howie, time to get up and clean your house. I don't think anyone feels sorry enough for you to go do it for you. Good try!

[Sunshine]

Pool is heaven and earth...hoping I can keep this up....

Today I swam 666 yards for 20 minutes and it felt really good. Got some rough procedures coming up this week, so I might miss a fw days of swimming...

[SuzE-Q]

Good job, everybody! Virginia, that was a LOT of walking! Sunshine, glad you're enjoying your swimming so much! Agate, love your consistency; you too, Peg & ANN! Keeping track and holding myself accountable helps to keep pushing myself.

Virginia, I haven't done the yoga, but soon, I hope.

Stepwise, me:

M: 2,900
T: 2,250
W: 3,050
T: 1,500
F: 1,500
S: 1,800
S: 1,500

Been limping around the last few days, so needed to slow it down a bit.

[SuzE-Q]

Virginia,

Speaking of yoga, a recent review of studies found that:

Moderate evidence supports the use of yoga to decrease the risk for falls for community-dwelling older adults and people with CVA, dementia and AD-type dementia, and MS.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[agate]

Those stepcounts are great, SuzE-Q!

[Sunshine]

Today I swam 603 yards in 20 minutes. Really want to swim longer, but not taking the chance yet. Maybe in a couple of weeks...

[Virginia]

Suze-Q great step count. Thanks for the link about yoga.

Sunshine you don't need to push too much, you are doing so good.

My walking so much Saturday really was not good. I am still paying for that. I have done a little house cleaning today and plan to do one set of leg and arm exercises, but otherwise I am taking it easy. It is not good to overdo when you know you are overdoing and keep doing it anyway. I just can't seem to get it through my head that I can't go to bed for a night or even two nights and get back to my normal. I'll learn (maybe).