Lighten Your Limbs With Friends

I also made a chart and hung it on the wall by my treadmill so I can check off the days as I complete them. I am right on track with the walking. Our local hospital has an aquatic center. In addition to walking, my wife and I have been doing three 30 minute sessions at the aquatic center each week. I often tell people that other than diabetes, pancreatic cancer and kidney failure, I am in perfect health!

@marvinjsturing
You are doing great! Adding the swimming is a terrific way to use more muscles and gain stamina. I love having different options, so that you can vary your exercises and keep from getting bored. I only have the walking because I don't live close to a gym or Y. I will just keep walking. I hope everyone else was able to Lighten their Limbs.
I feel that I'm moving better just after this Week One. I'm ready for Week Two.
I love to check off on my chart. Don't forget to check with a flourish!
Keeping on Keeping on.
@retiredteacher

@retiredteacher I am pretty much at a different place since I have been doing quite a bit for a long time, but I am enjoying reading the updates, they help to keep me inspired. I can get moving to 9:00 A.M. water classes without too much problem, and once I am there I exercise for additional time in the water, but getting to the gym is really difficult for me. I do not enjoy it and have to force myself. I plan to get there this afternoon but have been busy doing other things.
I hope everyone keeps up the good work. It really is important as you get older. My sister and I often comment on our parents. They both passed away in their 60s. If they had exercised more who knows how much longer they might have lived. Neither of them was overweight.
JK

I know what you mean by going to the gym by force. I have never belonged to a gym, but I know it isn't for me, even if we had one. When I was younger, I was an exercise fanatic, and we had aerobic dance classes---those were my favorite. I really got a workout and then I also walked and all of my homes had pools, so swimming was a regular activity too. That along with teaching and all the things we do when we're young kept me in shape. Then, as I got older and we moved, and there is basically nothing close, the exercise routine went the way of the wind.
So now I am doing the Mayo Plan and after one week, I know I'll continue. I might be able to get back to aerobic dancing that I do at home alone via a DVD. As I have become retired (not by choice), I just ignored everything healthy for too long. Now, I must stop that mindset and get moving. I believe the Mayo Plan is the trick.

Do what you can and as long as we keep on keeping on, we will feel better and healthier.

@retiredteacher

@retiredteacher I admire what a great job you are doing getting started, and motivating others to also. I was in good shape when I was single - skied every weekend from thanksgiving through the end of May, and in good weather I rode my bike to work, but that pretty much ended when I got married at 27, and even more after I had children. Now I really regret letting myself get so overweight and out of shape, but I’m working on it. My son spurs me on.
JK

Sign me up

@woodinville, I am so glad you want to Lighten Your Limbs It is a Mayo Walking Exercise Plan that I read on my Mayo Newsletter. I am a 2 1/2 year Diabetic 2 and have controlled my disease with diet, but couldn't convince myself to exercise until I read this suggestion. Because it doesn't require any gym tough machines or any special equipment, I thought I would try it and see if anyone else wanted to try it too.
When I was young, I was an exercise fanatic and was never overweight until I retired as a result of health reasons. So for the last too many years I have not exercised. When I read this Mayo Plan, I knew I could do it. It's not so much to lose weight, but it's to get healthier and stronger. This program is a 12 week plan. I thought: I can do that. Several other members are along because we need accountability. I'd fool myself if I didn't have to report my progress. You can start any time you want and do as much as you want. I have received email from several people who have done more or added other types of exercise besides walking.
The first week is to walk 5 minutes at a slow pace for warm up; then do 5 minutes at a faster rate; then do five minutes of cool down at a slower pace---that's 15 minutes. I did my first week and 15 minutes. I'm ready for Week 2. Mayo says do 5 days of the 7 if you want to. Some have done all 7; some have done the 5. The great thing is to do what works for you. The increase is always the fastest time. But that's what makes it work. Have you seen any of the posts from people who are doing this? Do you need more information? Do you need any more info about this plan?
I am not doing this to lose weight, but I need to. I didn't weigh before I started. I just need to be stronger. I'll be happy to tell my endocrinologist that I'm exercising!
So glad to hear from you. Let me know if you need anything else to get started. I'm delighted to add your name to the list. We are a small group, but everyone seems to need this plan. I know I do.

@retiredteacher
Volunteer Mentor

Thanks for the encouragement. I am a great starter, not so good at sticking to it. AsI get older ,retired too. It has become so so easy tote side tracked. Love the chart idea. So, starting tomorrow, here goes.😊

@woodinville, I'm the same way. I could start, but if I didn't have to be accountable, I could never monitor myself, and I'd stop. So now that I will post my progress to the group at the end of every week, I'll have to be good and be accountable. The chart of the weeks is great. I love to check off every day. That makes me know I accomplished what I needed to do.
I am using a treadmill to walk, but you can walk outside (weather permitting), or you can walk your house. House walking is relatively new to me. Just go from room to room and decide how you want to go through and around in the rooms and before you know it, you have completed your 5-5-5 for Week 1. if you have a two story house, the stairs are really good for exercise.
I am so glad you are going to give it a try. I think you'll find it's a doable plan because it's not hard and painful. I loved checking off the days of Week 1. Now, I'm ready for Week 2.
Let me know if you need any more information.
@retiredteacher
Volunteer Mentor

@woodinville I really love this, having others also doing it is really motivating. @retiredteacher Good work Carol.
JK