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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.

pollyanne | @pollyanne | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @starko "Pollyanne, this morning the news announced two people ( tourists) who were in Maui, now in..." + (show)
@starko

Pollyanne, this morning the news announced two people ( tourists) who were in Maui, now in Kauai who tested positive. They each visited several clinics on both islands and the staff did not test them then and did not wear protective clothing. They showed 1st symptoms about 10 days ago. Not sure if the warm weather prevents the virus from spreading, hope so! I am on Oahu!

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Yes, I saw that today. Unfortunately they have not had any testing kits here. My pharmacist in Lahaina is very frustrated and angry at the poor service. He hoped Honolulu Kaiser would have kits next week and who knows for Maui. I wonder how they were able to test the Kauai couple. I also read that there are 65 on Oahu waiting for tests. It is crazy. Other countries have been way ahead with the tests and I think we are getting very out of hand in this country. Also, I was thinking the same as you. If warmer weather is going to kill off the virus why are we even having any cases in Hawaii. I think it is wishful thinking. I do not want to overreact but it is all very concerning. I have been thinking that this week would be fairly safe to go to my back therapist because there is very little virus here at this point but when you see how quickly it multiplies, maybe I am wrong. I heard them saying on CNN that this could go on for over a year. I dread to think what this will do to the world in that time. At least we are lucky here and can still enjoy the outdoors.

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pollyanne | @pollyanne | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "I think this is on everybody's mind. I live alone, although my son only lives a..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

I think this is on everybody's mind. I live alone, although my son only lives a mile away he has been working in an office until yesterday and he's worried if he's been exposed, then I would be if we get together. I feel very isolated. My children don't want me to go out. Today on my walk I did talk to one of my neighbors. It's been raining all week and it's been very depressing. I am praying for this crisis to end so we can all get back to some kind of normalcy... Just going to the stores and have lunch with my friends.

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I know this is depressing. Do you have friends to talk to on the phone? That can help with the isolation. Maybe you can watch some funny movies to cheer you up. Norman Cousins was famous for curing himself of a serious arthritic condition by laughing at funny movies. I love to read too which helps loneliness. This will eventually pass. They say to stay 3-6 feet away from someone so maybe your son can visit you but just don't hug until we are through this. Take all the precautions like washing hands and surfaces and no touching another person. Stay optimistic.

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1 reply
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @pollyanne "I know this is depressing. Do you have friends to talk to on the phone? That..." + (show)
@pollyanne

I know this is depressing. Do you have friends to talk to on the phone? That can help with the isolation. Maybe you can watch some funny movies to cheer you up. Norman Cousins was famous for curing himself of a serious arthritic condition by laughing at funny movies. I love to read too which helps loneliness. This will eventually pass. They say to stay 3-6 feet away from someone so maybe your son can visit you but just don't hug until we are through this. Take all the precautions like washing hands and surfaces and no touching another person. Stay optimistic.

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Thank you for your suggestions. I've been talking on my phone with my friends and texting too. Borrowing e books from my local library and re-reading books that I have. Someone in England made a good suggestion, that grocery stores should set up a time for seniors only to shop.

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Barb | @1065408 | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @1065408 "Hi Becky. Here’s my walking total for week one. 48 minutes but not a true picture...." + (show)
@1065408

Hi Becky. Here’s my walking total for week one. 48 minutes but not a true picture. That includes 28 grocery store minutes which isn’t normal, leaving generally 5 minutes other days. Six days a week I walk 4 minutes to the building lobby to get mail. These numbers I don’t count as walking minutes. Will strive for better.

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So it’s week two, and my numbers are dismal! Total of 16.5 minutes walking. Since my surgery in December my energy levels are much lower than the past. A Wednesday doctor’s appointment had me exhausted on Thursday, and Friday was another day of a long appointment. So although I’m moving around, it’s not walking exercise as it should be. Not giving up....there’s always next week.

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2 replies
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Mar 15, 2020

Don't discount moving around, every step counts. There's no spread sheet to log everyone's steps. Hope you're feeling better!

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patriciao | @patriciao | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @1065408 "So it’s week two, and my numbers are dismal! Total of 16.5 minutes walking. Since my..." + (show)
@1065408

So it’s week two, and my numbers are dismal! Total of 16.5 minutes walking. Since my surgery in December my energy levels are much lower than the past. A Wednesday doctor’s appointment had me exhausted on Thursday, and Friday was another day of a long appointment. So although I’m moving around, it’s not walking exercise as it should be. Not giving up....there’s always next week.

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I sympathize with you. Have had two heart attacks and have autoimmune disorders. After the heart attacks my goal was to walk 250 steps each hour. For me that was 6 times around the pool. It wasn’t much, but did get me up and moving when I tired very quickly. Now I can do a brisk 30 minutes (1 1/2 miles) every day. Just do what you can and stay positive.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Mar 15, 2020

Good afternoon exercisers. If you are bored with chair exercises and feel that you can go up a notch here are some samples.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GS1CWDIkYU

Remember to begin each new exercise with caution and if need be a doctor's approval.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@Contentandwell I use to take my clothes to the shower room to change there" + (show)
@lioness

@Contentandwell I use to take my clothes to the shower room to change there

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@lioness I have decided to not go to the gym at all. I read something about it today, and it's safer than going to church if you wipe your equipment down as I did, but if I was to contract coronavirus my family would feel it was due to going to my health club and would never forgive me. I can just picture their grief if I got really sick. So, I will self-isolate.
Pretty much all of the ski areas have closed, here in New England and per governor's order in CO. Our country is taking a very hard hit economically.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Mar 15, 2020
In reply to @starko "Pollyanne, this morning the news announced two people ( tourists) who were in Maui, now in..." + (show)
@starko

Pollyanne, this morning the news announced two people ( tourists) who were in Maui, now in Kauai who tested positive. They each visited several clinics on both islands and the staff did not test them then and did not wear protective clothing. They showed 1st symptoms about 10 days ago. Not sure if the warm weather prevents the virus from spreading, hope so! I am on Oahu!

Jump to this post

@starko If we make another trip to Hawaii, Oahu will be the destination due to there being a great transplant hospital there if I needed any medical care. I will keep you in mind to find out which areas away from Honolulu would be best.

@mayofeb2020 I have read the best time to shop is late in the evening which is what I plan to do -- after 9:00 PM. Not only are the stores pretty empty at that time but they are restocking the shelves. I know many seniors would not consider that to be an option but I am sort of a "night owl", particularly when I don't need to get up early, which I won't be needing to for a while I guess.

@merpreb Thanks, if I can get myself motivated to exercise at home I will definitely try some of those!
JK

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mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Mar 15, 2020

My children had shopped both at 5 am and 11 pm. There really isn't a good time anymore. They are very resourceful and they will get what I need. We just did a video chat on Whatsapp and it was very good. I get to see my grandchild. The grocery stores are cutting hours too. I saw in a post from a lady in England, stores should set a time when older people get to shop. I think it's a great idea. Well, we'll get through this. We have to have faith and be very vigilant.

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