Starting Back to Exercise... baby steps

1 & 1/2 Mile walk is a really good start.  Some days, I'm only walking 15 mins!    I am nowhere near the fitness level of the ladies on that other thread.  I feel kinda depressed reading it, cuz I used to be in better shape.  Now i'm scheduled for a hysterectomy next month,, and I know I'll be starting over yet again. 

Tomorrow's plan is to do my usual morning walk,,, get some bill paying, etc done on the computer and then go to Planet Fitness for some cardio in the AC!!  Recum bike and the elliptical machine. Really have to work up my endurance on the elliptical, but gotta start somewhere!!

lespring:  5 kids! Yikes!  That will keep you busy even w/o the chemo.  Water exercises sound like a good choice with the neuropathy. Or maybe a recumbent bike would work for you. Do you have access to a gym ?

odie:  thank you for your words of encouragement. It's hard to not feel disheartened when I'm struggling to walk a mile or two, and someone over there is biking 60! I know they started at the beginning too, but they are at a whole different level now.  I kinda like this baby steps for those of us starting the journey.

I think I can, I think I can...

2ta, Thanks so much for starting this thread. I share your feelings of intimidation. Besides, where's the fun in saying I walked 2 miles when someone biked 200. I have been a couch potato most of my life. I just haven't found any activity that is fun. We used to go hiking and I loved being out in nature, but DH really can't do that now. I've been in a cast/brace for months for tendonitis in my ankle. I'm starting to wonder if it's a side effect of Arimidex. I've had 3 episodes in different places and I'm starting to get suspicious.

Thank you for starting this thread. I wish exercise was like reading, cooking, doing some craft activity or playing bingo which I love.  I want it to be like breathing or second nature where the thought of not doing it will make me mental!  I'm not even in the ball park. 

I have a sedentary job & I used to have 3-4hr commute.  The commute is gone, but the sedentary job remains (no complaints).     

I really have to change the way my brain thinks about exercising.  

I'm going to the gym & sign up on Saturday.  They have a pool and I think every type/kind of exercise equipment a person could ask for.  I'm terribly intimidated about the whole thing, but at 55 I've decided to TRY and push myself out of being comfortable, because being comfortable isn't so much anymore. 

My daughter signed us up for a 5k in October.  At this point, I can't get out to the street to pick up the mail!  I have a little work between now and then!

Here's to taking baby steps in the right direction!!!   I wish you a the best in whatever activity you choose.

Patty

wren:  hard to exercise when you have a cast!!  You could do some sitting exercises, but I know I find them boring. It ain't easy. I'm glad we light weights can be here to support each other.  

Patty:  I hope the gym works out for you. Try a recumbent bike,, nice easy way to start off. I find it's boring after a while, but it's a good place to start.  The weight machine generally have instructions on them, but be brave and ASK for help. If you've had lymph nodes removed,,, start weights VERY SLOWLY!!!  Pool exercises are great;  i wish my gym had one, ,but I'm at the $10/month gym and they don't.  If I could move up to the $48/month gym,,, I could get a pool.  And classes,, which my gym doesn't have.

shorfi:  I love that you hang purses on the bike!  Go for 5 mins,, heck,, go for 3!!  We are here for you!!

Another couch potato/sloth here!  Exercise has never been my forte.  I am lazy by nature.  In the past, I had signed up to gyms multiple different times, but I never went enough to be worth the money.  For the past year I have been trying to get into a walking routine as much as I can.  I will walk at lunch if I have enough time, and walk after work some days.  I tried to do the running thing, starting slow, but it just kicked my butt!  Couldn't run for more than 30 seconds before completely dying.  So I have been mostly sticking with the fitness walking.  I don't know how some ladies find the time to do all the exercising they do.  I work full time and need to get home to make dinner and take care of household stuff.  Maybe if I spent less time here on BCO I could burn more calories!  Ooh, I could hook up my computer to a treadmill or elliptical and multitask!  Glad to know that there are lots of others out there that aren't athletic goddesses.

Checking in - walked the last 2 days, just under 1/2 mile each day.  I was wiped, that's how much this sedentary girl could do. 

Didn't walk today because my knee's / legs were sore this AM.  Took 1 day off and will be back at it tomorrow. I know I'm going to be stiff & sore as I start out, but don't want to cause injury.

I know I feel better mentally when I walk, nothing I can put my finger on, just better.

Walk on!!

YAY!  Everyone is getting out there and doing something. It doesn't matter how much. Just move a little bit each day. I did take yesterday off, but I'll go back to my friend the Arc Trainer at the gym later on this morning.  It does help to exercise in the AC!!  It's dang hot out there.

sunny, isn't that the truth!

Anita

One wk past getting TEs out & implants in: no long walks for me due to back issues. Have to do crunches to strengthen my core so my back doesn't bother Too much (sedentary job doesn't help). Doing squats, leg stretches, very gentle stretches of arms & upper body, very light weights just to keep biceps strong without working the pect muscles.  Too shy to go to a gymn & no room in my tiny apt for exercise bike - does anyone have other suggestions for exercises to do at home for strength? 

Thanks for this forum! I'm not really lazy, but I'd much rather read during this week off work - it's more fun. But since I want the strength, I will do what it takes - as long as I don't have to sweat much. Ha, ha!