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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.

sto | @sto | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @jude07 "Life seems difficult enough at times, regardless of this nasty virus. I just read an article..." + (show)
@jude07

Life seems difficult enough at times, regardless of this nasty virus. I just read an article about Fantastic Negrito, a contemporary blues player who said "Never give up. life sucks at times, but it's also beautiful". Let's all try to find the "beautiful" in each day.

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Well said!

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @Erinmfs "I did my walking today, I walked 15 minutes, mailed a letter. I walked to the..." + (show)
@Erinmfs

I did my walking today, I walked 15 minutes, mailed a letter. I walked to the grocery , purchased avocado, hamburger , soda, onion for dinner salad and fixings, then walked 15 minutes back. My app recorded like this, I'm at 60% for today...where else should I walk?

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You did a great job walking. @Erinmfs ! Keep it up?

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @pollyanne "@lioness. I will let you into a secret. I take a ginger chew, sometimes 2, with..." + (show)
@pollyanne

@lioness. I will let you into a secret. I take a ginger chew, sometimes 2, with me each time I walk, plus various flavored Tic Tacs. They keep me going up the hill. Plus I am still enjoying the ginger turmeric tea that you recommended to me some time ago. I bought the tea on Amazon.
And Jake. You are a bit of a joker aren't you?. You must be fun to be around. Just keep trying with those exercises, it's worth it especially when there isn't much else we can do these days except TV [depressing] or reading a good book.

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Pollyanne, my ginger chews and snaps and gingerbread are my new weapon for nausea. Unexplained large wt loss due to nausea was finally ended by stopping Metformin (for diabetes 2 diag.) and starting ginger supplements. I'm guarding all things ginger...just in case. So glad we have Jake to bring us smiles with his quirky humor! Great group this!!

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JK | @contentandwell | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "@contentandwell, sorry I didn't see the one yesterday. I assume they would be different but I'm..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@contentandwell, sorry I didn't see the one yesterday. I assume they would be different but I'm not sure. I just purchased a Sand Dune Stepper for doing walking in place and other leg and balance type exercises. I'm really enjoying watching the boob tube or listening to tunes while walking in my pretend sand dunes. https://www.sanddunestepper.com/

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@johnbishop. I wish I had some idea of how long we will be home-bound. If I thought it would be months I would buy a somewhat inexpensive treadmill. Your Sand Dune Stepper sounds interesting. How long do you do it for? It must really work your calves. I’m wondering if there is any impact though, beneficial for osteoporosis.
JK

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1 reply
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Mar 21, 2020

My thoughts exactly, contentandwell, about the Sand Dune Stepper. I also have osteoporosis and wondered if there might have been info included, John, with your purchase of it?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @contentandwell "@johnbishop. I wish I had some idea of how long we will be home-bound. If I..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@johnbishop. I wish I had some idea of how long we will be home-bound. If I thought it would be months I would buy a somewhat inexpensive treadmill. Your Sand Dune Stepper sounds interesting. How long do you do it for? It must really work your calves. I’m wondering if there is any impact though, beneficial for osteoporosis.
JK

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JK @contentandwell and @fiesty76 -- I think it is great for massaging the feet as well as exercise for leg strength. They have a bunch of testomonial videos on their website plus if you do a search on Google "sand dune stepper + YouTube" you will see some videos done by trainers for PT. They mention it being good for Parkinsons and Osteoporosis. https://www.sanddunestepper.com/videos/ The only info that came with it was 3"x2" card below. It really does feel good stepping on it. It comes with a really big carrying case bag and a washable stretchy cover. You cannot wear shoes with it - has to be socks or barefoot.
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2 replies
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @jakedduck1 "lioness I’m actually seriously considering going for a walk but first I need a candy bar..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

lioness
I’m actually seriously considering going for a walk but first I need a candy bar to ensure that I have the energy to get back home. Choosing what kind of candy to have will be more difficult than the walk it self.
@pollyanne
Pilates, please, I tried that once or twice but never again. I considered it quite an accomplishment just to get down on the floor, Although I’m frequently down there from falling but getting up is a whole other matter which I’ll spare you.
Jake

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Love your sense of humor, Jake! Post frequently please; we need more smiles and laughter!

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JK | @contentandwell | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @Erinmfs "I did my walking today, I walked 15 minutes, mailed a letter. I walked to the..." + (show)
@Erinmfs

I did my walking today, I walked 15 minutes, mailed a letter. I walked to the grocery , purchased avocado, hamburger , soda, onion for dinner salad and fixings, then walked 15 minutes back. My app recorded like this, I'm at 60% for today...where else should I walk?

Jump to this post

@Erinmfs. I also find it can be difficult to get the recommended number of steps. The number that is thrown around is 10,000 steps but I have also read that for seniors 5,000 is sufficient. You look younger so if you aim for 10,000 you basically need to walk further. One of my friends does this on dreary days by walking circles around the house! In normal times many do it walking in malls.
Our town has an outdoor track at the HS and some people do that but it looks sort of boring to me. These days most places have walking trails too. I’ve never done the ones in our town but I will be soon. There’s one by the river which I hear is pretty.
Good luck, you’ve had a great start.
JK

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1 reply
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @contentandwell "@erinmfs. I also find it can be difficult to get the recommended number of steps. The..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@Erinmfs. I also find it can be difficult to get the recommended number of steps. The number that is thrown around is 10,000 steps but I have also read that for seniors 5,000 is sufficient. You look younger so if you aim for 10,000 you basically need to walk further. One of my friends does this on dreary days by walking circles around the house! In normal times many do it walking in malls.
Our town has an outdoor track at the HS and some people do that but it looks sort of boring to me. These days most places have walking trails too. I’ve never done the ones in our town but I will be soon. There’s one by the river which I hear is pretty.
Good luck, you’ve had a great start.
JK

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I also read that 7500 steps will give you the same benefits as 10,000 steps. I set my goal to 5000 steps. I always try hard to exceed that if I am physically able to. If I do that Fitbit will give me a thumbs up like "awesome, you exceed your goal by xxxx steps!" that kind of makes me feel motivated.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 21, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "I also read that 7500 steps will give you the same benefits as 10,000 steps. I..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

I also read that 7500 steps will give you the same benefits as 10,000 steps. I set my goal to 5000 steps. I always try hard to exceed that if I am physically able to. If I do that Fitbit will give me a thumbs up like "awesome, you exceed your goal by xxxx steps!" that kind of makes me feel motivated.

Jump to this post

@mayofeb2020 I too have an activity tracking watch, and it does spur me on. My husband thinks I’m a slave to my watch but whatever it takes is good.
JK

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