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Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

judyhodgern | @judyhodgern | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@sueinmn, I'm all in favor of taking a day off from time to time...maybe weekly? vbg..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@sueinmn, I'm all in favor of taking a day off from time to time...maybe weekly? vbg When my older neighbor called yesterday I told her I had just finished "following her good example". She and I are both yardies and have been friends for 40+ yrs so she asked "what ex?"

A few yrs ago, she'd told me that cleaning the whole frig at one time had become "too much for her so she had started cleaning one shelf at a time"...so when a drip needed cleaning, I followed her lead by just cleaning that one shelf. Not as ambitious as you but every little bit helps, right?

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Love the tips my fatigue keeps me only able to do one large thing a day and the rest the time I try to make excuses to get out of anything, so I love the tips especially like the refrigerator one!! Thank you-Judy

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@sueinmn. Thanks for sharing. I'll remember to keep this post. I'm going through some of the..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@sueinmn. Thanks for sharing. I'll remember to keep this post. I'm going through some of the emotions mentioned and I'm hoping to rid myself of negativity around me.

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Me too, @mayofeb and @sueinmn, I've given myself another tv news moratorium and using the time productively elsewhere. Whenever I find my anxiety beginning to spike over news I can do nothing about to improve or hearing too much and frequent negativity from others, I'm learning that distancing for me is the best antidote. Changing the focus onto something I can do or appreciate elevates my state of mind.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Sep 4, 2020

Hokay, fellow walkers! Read on at your own peril!!!

On my early walk this morning, I came upon Four Naked Ladies, standing straight, tall and unashamedly in a front yard. Yes, they were! These naked ladies are also known as: Amaryllis belladonna but I like them by their common handle better. Yep! Naked as a jaybird up to their lovely blooms! Smiles: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-naked-ladies-72891.html

Now off to do the annual summer wash of indoor silk greenery and rid it all of a year's accumulated dust. Once/yr whether they need it or not, yes?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "A friend sent me this and thought it great to share: "When life feels too big..." + (show)
@fiesty76

A friend sent me this and thought it great to share: "When life feels too big to handle, go outside. Everything looks smaller when you’re standing under the sky."

Just being outside is a welcome experience and early morning walks start the day "just right" for me. So far I've met my personal challenge for the year of going for walks three times per week. Not a record, but so far I've managed and setting specific days for the walks increased the importance for me. It is far too easy for me to procrastinate about some things and since the loss of my wonderful 4 legged companion, I just couldn't gear up the discipline to continue until setting this challenge.

Until March and the onset of Covid-19, during inclement days, I drove to big box stores for the walks. Now, I'm starting to wonder what I'll do to fulfill my challenge through the end of year. I'm not comfortable going into stores so I can do as I did early in the year by setting a timer and trooping repeatedly through the house and garage (if I move the car onto the drive vbg) but that has very little allure at best and certainly a dull compromise. Probably require changing out the carpets afterwards too. Any suggestions for alternatives???

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I have gotten "tough" with myself about walking in inclement weather. Even on rainy days, absent gale-force winds or lightening, I put on rain gear and old walking shoes and walk for at least 20 minutes. Yesterday my 4 yo grandson & I walked for 35 minutes in "I'm going to blow away Grandma!" wind while Mommy worked & little brother napped.
I have a goal to walk 6 days a week, and except for a few days while feeling ill, I have managed all summer.
Do you have room for a small stationery bike or treadmill? You can often find them very cheap or free on neighborhood groups - my neighbor even delivered his to an older lady nearby who couldn't get it herself.
Sue

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2 replies
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "@sueinmn Im back. Took some days off or rather, they took me. Everyone should take some..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@sueinmn Im back. Took some days off or rather, they took me. Everyone should take some time off! It’s good for the brain. I’m finally back to walking, short distances, though. Most os my walking time is spent waiting for my little friend, Poppy. He has to check everything out including every blade of grass. A friend is bring dinner over tonight so we can mask and social distance and eat! Should be good

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Really good news that you are back to walking, @becsbuddy! Oh, to still have a Poppy friend walking companion even stopping to investigate every blade of grass! I Know I could adopt an older dog but dog ownership requires more time and attention than that of Precious whenever trips are on the horizon so I yearn but don't adopt. Nothing much better than spending face-to-face time with a friend unless it is sharing a meal together especially when the friend is bringing the dinner. Best of the Best! Enjoy!

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @judyhodgern "Love the tips my fatigue keeps me only able to do one large thing a day..." + (show)
@judyhodgern

Love the tips my fatigue keeps me only able to do one large thing a day and the rest the time I try to make excuses to get out of anything, so I love the tips especially like the refrigerator one!! Thank you-Judy

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Last night I started out for a 10 minute walk to try to relieve a headache after dinner, and the weather was so lovely that I ended up going for 30 - I find my fatigue or pain often "melts" after about 5 minutes of slow strolling and deep breathing.
Sue

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "Last night I started out for a 10 minute walk to try to relieve a headache..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Last night I started out for a 10 minute walk to try to relieve a headache after dinner, and the weather was so lovely that I ended up going for 30 - I find my fatigue or pain often "melts" after about 5 minutes of slow strolling and deep breathing.
Sue

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@sueinmn I think I will have to try that technique. A stroll is better than a headache pill! Glad you were successful.
Ginger

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "Really good news that you are back to walking, @becsbuddy! Oh, to still have a Poppy..." + (show)
@fiesty76

Really good news that you are back to walking, @becsbuddy! Oh, to still have a Poppy friend walking companion even stopping to investigate every blade of grass! I Know I could adopt an older dog but dog ownership requires more time and attention than that of Precious whenever trips are on the horizon so I yearn but don't adopt. Nothing much better than spending face-to-face time with a friend unless it is sharing a meal together especially when the friend is bringing the dinner. Best of the Best! Enjoy!

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@fiesty76 I found a teacup pup I think I'm going to get Your right dogs take alot of attention I no longer have at times I saw this ad for the toy tea cup pup he does everything s real dog does you scratch his belly the paws wiggle 😜🤣

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "Last night I started out for a 10 minute walk to try to relieve a headache..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Last night I started out for a 10 minute walk to try to relieve a headache after dinner, and the weather was so lovely that I ended up going for 30 - I find my fatigue or pain often "melts" after about 5 minutes of slow strolling and deep breathing.
Sue

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@sueinmn Wish I could walk like that but my back and legs just won't let me anymore so I stick to what I can do now

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mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Sep 4, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "I have gotten "tough" with myself about walking in inclement weather. Even on rainy days, absent..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I have gotten "tough" with myself about walking in inclement weather. Even on rainy days, absent gale-force winds or lightening, I put on rain gear and old walking shoes and walk for at least 20 minutes. Yesterday my 4 yo grandson & I walked for 35 minutes in "I'm going to blow away Grandma!" wind while Mommy worked & little brother napped.
I have a goal to walk 6 days a week, and except for a few days while feeling ill, I have managed all summer.
Do you have room for a small stationery bike or treadmill? You can often find them very cheap or free on neighborhood groups - my neighbor even delivered his to an older lady nearby who couldn't get it herself.
Sue

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@sueinmn. I am giving my body a couple of days rest. I think i overdid it last week and my back and legs are screaming with protest. We are going to have extreme heat warning AGAIN, temperatures expected to be up to 100+. My daughter said it is projected to be 112° in her area. I feel drained. Saw this little fellow the otherbday obviouly not gluten sensitive, wonder where he got this from.
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