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.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @contentandwell "@jakedduck1 I justify my dark chocolate addiction because they say it’s good for your heart if..." + (show)

@contentandwell

“I justify my dark chocolate addiction because they say it’s good for your heart”
Don’t believe everything you read or hear, propaganda pure and simple.
I don’t imagine I’m getting any banana nut bread? Not even a thin slice? How about a few crumbs?
Jake

sto | @sto | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @jakedduck1 "@contentandwell “I justify my dark chocolate addiction because they say it’s good for your heart” Don’t..." + (show)

Dark chocolate that is 70% or higher unsweetened does have therapeutic benefits. In moderation, of course.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @starko "Sugar..." + (show)

@starko
Sugar? The greatest health food ever. Time for me to get healthier.But what should I have. I’m out of cake. @darlingtondoll, I hope you feel very guilty tomorrow morning as your cutting your piece for breakfast knowing I don’t have any!!!!!!!!!
Jake

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 5, 2020

Let's get back to talking about walking. Can I just brag about my mom for a minute?
I gave her my fitbit during the Christmas holidays and I believe that I'm going to have to get another one. She loves it. I set her daily step goal at 5000 steps, advice I think I read from @contentandwell as being a better goal for seniors. She's 80. Last week her average was 7000 steps. We raised her goal to 6000. That's great.

But what impressed me the most is her sprinting. I told her about the science behind high intensity training and aging. (McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada does a lot of research in this area.)
- Strive to remember: Researchers find high-intensity exercise improves memory in seniors https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/strive-to-remember-researchers-find-high-intensity-exercise-improves-memory-in-seniors/
https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/browse/healthy-aging-practice/exercise
So what she does is increase her walking pace at least 2 times, usually 3 times, for brief stints during her walk. She lives in the country, so she started with walking sprints that last from one telephone pole to the next. Now her sprints are longer between 2 telephone poles. She didn't even notice today that she did all the talking all the way up the little hill that is part of our course. I'm so proud of her and her energy is much better too. I would be remiss if I didn't add that she does have a slow day or two in the week. She's wise enough to accept fewer steps on those days.
Go Mom Go.

Funcountess | @funcountess | Apr 5, 2020

Hey,jakedduck1
Are you a stand up or sit down comedian?

pollyanne | @pollyanne | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @colleenyoung "Let's get back to talking about walking. Can I just brag about my mom for a..." + (show)

@colleenyoung Your Mom and I are the same age, or we will be by the end of this month. I am doing very similar and I was going to the gym and sprinting in between my walking. I don't know how many years I can keep this up but I will give it a good try. I tried an Apple watch but I couldn't work the thing so I gave up. Now I just measure distance and not steps, in the old way.
Good for her managing the fit bit too.

Funcountess | @funcountess | Apr 5, 2020

Well, which one are you? Stand up or sit down? I may still have a few connections left in Hollywood.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @colleenyoung "Let's get back to talking about walking. Can I just brag about my mom for a..." + (show)

@colleenyoung
I walked over 6,000 steps awhile back and it said I went 2.5 miles. I’m not sure how accurate these devices are but congratulations to mom wow, she is one determined lady. Are you doing as good?
Jake

mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Apr 5, 2020

I used to take the number of steps very seriously but then I realized that mileage is more important. I am a petite 5'2 so it would take me more steps than a 6' tall person with a longer stride to walk a mile. I can only use steps to set my goal but in the end my goal is 2.5 to 3 miles a day.

Jane | @darlingtondoll | Apr 5, 2020

In reply to @contentandwell "@jakedduck1 I justify my dark chocolate addiction because they say it’s good for your heart if..." + (show)

Sounds yummy. I love the stuff, but I don’t eat it. I save it all for my husband. But not the chocolate cake. He gets up at midnight and eats a big piece of my cake. I will have to make another one this week, but I need to go to the grocery store for more sugar.☹️
I have been trying to stay away because of the Covid 19. I need some vegetables, so I will have to go.