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.

Thank you Becky! Well this is Friday and I must account for my first week and I’m a little disappointed with Bertha and my showing although Bertha is not responsible for anything if anything I must she made a stoic effort. I was not able to make my five minutes walk around the house, I became some what breathe less after just tree rounds. So I tried two round a couple of times a day. But when you consider I have quite an aortal stenosis which can be accountable for the breathe less ness . I am seeing a cardiologist next month so hopeful she will help with this. But I did go to the pool for aqua exercises, which I throughly enjoyed them. I find them very good for range of motion which all my joints appreciate. I see I must take it easy and do the things I can. Be connected with this group gives me a good boost and I thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement. Good luck my fellow folks!

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Please don't be too hard on yourself and Bertha. As I understand it, this is all for moving.... Although you can't walk much, it's due to your medical reasons, not for lack of desire. Aqua exercise is movement, and as far as I'm concern, it's good exercise. I hope will get the help you need from your cardiologist next month. I'll be rooting for you!

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@becsbuddy I did my chair exercises this morning so the gym tomorrow Plus I walked today to a friends open house so I Im in now watching T.V.

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@merpreb

@becsbuddy- I didn't even get out to walk. I've been besieged by migraines. My medicine takes a while to kick in and then I'm so relieved and tired I need to lie down too. But today looks brighter! Have you talked to your doctor about why you are so fatigued by decreasing your steroids? Or do you know?

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@merpreb Migraines? You poor thing. For most women they end at menopause as mine did. I am sorry you still have to deal with them. How long do they last? Mine were generally three days. I hate that my daughter has them now but at least she can get relief with the medications that are available now.

I was in the supermarket recently at about 9:00 in the evening and there was a woman doing this "dance-walking" while she pushed her shopping cart!
JK

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@beachbum80

Stephanie, I am with you for the feelings you have.l am eighty one in May and I had a very active life style , swimming and going to the gym . I benched pressed a hundred pounds on my birthday when I was seventy. Then when I was seventy five my bodies immune system turned on my kidneys with a condition most only seen in children and life as I knew it was no matter. They treated me with heave doses of prednisone and god bless them they were able heal the kidneys but the prednisone left me with every side effect it has. The myopathy I have is really hard to cope with and I have been mostly sitting in a recliner . But I am not giving up I continue to do my water exercise and when this offer of virtual walk came along it grabbed my attention. I thought this may be the thing that takes me forward and I am going to take it . Believe me I am unable to take a step without the use Of my buddy Bertha, my walker and just to walk around my house I s it challenge. I was trying to walk around for five minutes but had to change that to as many times until I have myself out of breathe, which is about two minutes. I am trying to do this three times a day. I can feel a bit stronger and this gives me reason to keep trying . The ball is in my court and I know what I am going on to do with it , keep trying.

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@beachbum80 I am very impressed that you are keeping it going using a walker. It would be easy to just sit but you are doing all you can to stay active and healthy.
I am also extremely impressed that you pressed 100 pounds at 70! I go to my gym at least 3 times a week and I really want to start doing some barbell exercises. I never have and will need some guidance. The other three days I do water exercises too, and then on the seventh day, I generally take it easy and just ride my recumbent bike.
Prednisone has also had a negative effect on me, causing me to have osteoporosis. I did check with my endo if doing barbells would be OK and she said yes.
Keep it up, I am sure we are all rooting for you.
JK

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@contentandwell

@merpreb Migraines? You poor thing. For most women they end at menopause as mine did. I am sorry you still have to deal with them. How long do they last? Mine were generally three days. I hate that my daughter has them now but at least she can get relief with the medications that are available now.

I was in the supermarket recently at about 9:00 in the evening and there was a woman doing this "dance-walking" while she pushed her shopping cart!
JK

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@contentandwell- lol, that must have been something to watch!

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@beachbum80

Thank you Becky! Well this is Friday and I must account for my first week and I’m a little disappointed with Bertha and my showing although Bertha is not responsible for anything if anything I must she made a stoic effort. I was not able to make my five minutes walk around the house, I became some what breathe less after just tree rounds. So I tried two round a couple of times a day. But when you consider I have quite an aortal stenosis which can be accountable for the breathe less ness . I am seeing a cardiologist next month so hopeful she will help with this. But I did go to the pool for aqua exercises, which I throughly enjoyed them. I find them very good for range of motion which all my joints appreciate. I see I must take it easy and do the things I can. Be connected with this group gives me a good boost and I thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement. Good luck my fellow folks!

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@beachbum80- You are such an inspiration! Move when you can, but only then. What thoughts go through your head that keeps you going during very trying times?

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@contentandwell

@beachbum80 I am very impressed that you are keeping it going using a walker. It would be easy to just sit but you are doing all you can to stay active and healthy.
I am also extremely impressed that you pressed 100 pounds at 70! I go to my gym at least 3 times a week and I really want to start doing some barbell exercises. I never have and will need some guidance. The other three days I do water exercises too, and then on the seventh day, I generally take it easy and just ride my recumbent bike.
Prednisone has also had a negative effect on me, causing me to have osteoporosis. I did check with my endo if doing barbells would be OK and she said yes.
Keep it up, I am sure we are all rooting for you.
JK

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JK Thank you for your kind words. The prednisone is a mean drug, it has a rare side effect called avascular necrosis which causes the ball of your hip joint to die and slowly shrivel up and I have it in both hips. The only saving grace is I do need have any pain except when I attempt too walk- hence my reliance on my buddy Bertha. I am not a candidate for hip replacement because of my heart. Once I have my heart condition corrected I’ll be able to have my hip replaced. In the mean time to be able to join a group likes this is a great avenue of keep me positive. One must play the cards they are dealt and hold the faith. Good luck!

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@lioness

@becsbuddy I did my chair exercises this morning so the gym tomorrow Plus I walked today to a friends open house so I Im in now watching T.V.

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Love it, Lioness, that you are rewarding yourself with a bit of t.v. for your good exercise efforts! Small rewards after completing any dreaded task can perk my spirits like nothing else.

Not sure how to post the weekly report without replying to another poster but I made the Tues, Thurs walks and just returned from an early morning walk in the less crowded Walmart.

Was told that store had been out of hand sanitizers, rubbing alcohol and face masks for three weeks...really surprised but guess the warehouses are running low as well. Hope we can all stay at our best and healthiest during this time.

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@merpreb

@beachbum80- You are such an inspiration! Move when you can, but only then. What thoughts go through your head that keeps you going during very trying times?

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Hi Merry. I have been a person of faith all my life, which does not mean I am a religious person but a very spiritual person. I believe in a Creator of this universe and I can’t get enough of the beauty of nature and all the wonders that are there to uplift us. Einstein ,before he died ,said that he was wrong all of his life and that now he believes that there is a master plan for our existence. Armed with this faith keeps me positive on moving on , with buddy Berthas help!

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