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.

@lilypaws

With my back problem I cannot walk or do exercise,except for my neck. I am going to have a big surgery at Mayo for my low back. I have degeneration that has caused a scoliosis and 4, 5, and S-1 has stenosis. I'm in pain every day and have to wait till they open up elective surgeries, which the governor has to decide. The Covid-19 will hold my surgery back. Right now I'm injecting Tymlos everyday to increase my bone mass. I will have to continue after surgery up to two years.Can't wait till I can start walking after the surgery. I have gained 10 lb's from not being active. I was only 112 lbs before, now I'm 121 and 1'2. So Becky I will let you know when I have my surgery, but it won't be until after May 13th. I did hear from my surgeons assistant yesterday and he was going to confer with the surgeon to plan out my surgery, so when they open elective surgery I can get in sooner.

Jump to this post

Hi @lilypaws, I noticed that you're not following the Spine Health support group. Click here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/spine-health/

In this group, you'll find others who have scoliosis and have had back surgery. Scroll through the various discussions, including this one:
- Scoliosis - Introduce yourself and meet others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scoliosis-introduce-yourself/

REPLY

Scoliosis- my family has the gene for this. My brother and I have it and my two children, my brother’s children and my sister’s children all have it.

REPLY
@contentandwell

Good Morning, @yakki Welcome to Connect.
I think in these days of isolation we all need some structure. I tend to delay exercising until late in the day but I do push myself to get moving then. There are many online video exercise classes that I have been using, plus walking outside on pleasant days, and/or riding my recumbent bike on days when I do not walk. I also had some exercises given to me by my physical therapist. They are good for core and balance. I try to do the balance ones daily, and the core ones every other day -- they really do work your core so I need a break rather than doing them daily.
Have you tried online classes? The ones I have been using are free and very good in my opinion. There are many that are 30 minutes or less which I like.

@gingerw I hope your knee improves. Maybe you need to not do as much daily. My knees and thighs hurt if I walk outside daily so I try to skip a day. We also changed from walking in our neighborhood to walking on the outdoor track at the HS and being flat and having a surface not as hard as pavement did help. I realize yours hurt from weeding but try doing it every other day, that may help.

@pollyanne I had a video appointment with my PCP a couple of weeks ago and he looked at my R leg and foot during it because I had had some swelling there! It was odd having him examine it via video.
It sounds as if you are doing great, I hope you keep up the good work also.
JK

Jump to this post

I understand what you say, @contentandwell, I try to have a variety of exercises. Many of the Youtube exercises for seniors (especially the seated exercises) are great to add variety. When the weather is nice, I do like to walk, but cannot walk every day because chronic knee/back pain will settle in and make the next few days way too painful. As a result, walking is good every two or three days and an exercise video from Youtube (especially the ones for balance) are helpful on the other days.

REPLY

Our walking/moving/exercising motivation for today! We’ve all experienced stress these past couple of months and now we’re fixing ourselves! Keep on keeping on!

REPLY

@becsbuddy I like this saying very encouraging so going to go out after while . At 5 this morning I was woke up by the fire alarm it wasn't anything thank goodness when it goes off its usually someone burnt toast or feel asleep boiling water Lets go walking ,nice day here ,cool now .

REPLY
@lioness

@becsbuddy I like this saying very encouraging so going to go out after while . At 5 this morning I was woke up by the fire alarm it wasn't anything thank goodness when it goes off its usually someone burnt toast or feel asleep boiling water Lets go walking ,nice day here ,cool now .

Jump to this post

On the road between Texas and Minnesota, yesterday all stops were in truck stops so no walking for me and I missed it. Today we already stopped at a deserted rest stop in Oklahoma for a 15 minute walk and stretch. Looking for the next stop in 40 miles. Really need the break today as we are fighting strong headwind.

REPLY

Take it slow, get home safe. Even a good stretch is healthy when in the car that long.

REPLY
@hopeful33250

I understand what you say, @contentandwell, I try to have a variety of exercises. Many of the Youtube exercises for seniors (especially the seated exercises) are great to add variety. When the weather is nice, I do like to walk, but cannot walk every day because chronic knee/back pain will settle in and make the next few days way too painful. As a result, walking is good every two or three days and an exercise video from Youtube (especially the ones for balance) are helpful on the other days.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Along with the other "over 50" exercise videos I mentioned before (Jenny McClendon and fabulous50s with Schellea Fowler), Silver Sneakers puts out videos. I saw a Silver Sneakers one that I liked yesterday and said to save it but now I can't find it unfortunately. Both the first two really keep it moving, which I like, and they both have short sessions which I really like.

I too like balance ones, they are very necessary as we age. I am definitely improving in walking with one foot in front of the other and standing on one foot for 20-30 seconds. Squats are good for balance too they say, and from what I can feel when I do them I think they may be good for your core also.
I was doing some of my PT exercises last night but this one did me in -- my back started bothering me so I had to stop. It's supposed to be good for your core which is also important in helping to stand up straight, which I know I do not. This and planks are the most difficult exercises that I do but if my back starts hurting I stop.
I really am missing my club though, I find working out on equipment to be easier for me. I do use resistance bands and have some dumbbells on order from Amazon. If this going to take a very long time I will have to consider something else too but I hate to invest in too much.

@sueinmn Are you stopping to stay overnight at places or are you taking turns driving and going straight through? This is a big discussion when we Zoom with our son. He is really very concerned about the possibility of exposing us to anything.
JK

REPLY
@contentandwell

@hopeful33250 Along with the other "over 50" exercise videos I mentioned before (Jenny McClendon and fabulous50s with Schellea Fowler), Silver Sneakers puts out videos. I saw a Silver Sneakers one that I liked yesterday and said to save it but now I can't find it unfortunately. Both the first two really keep it moving, which I like, and they both have short sessions which I really like.

I too like balance ones, they are very necessary as we age. I am definitely improving in walking with one foot in front of the other and standing on one foot for 20-30 seconds. Squats are good for balance too they say, and from what I can feel when I do them I think they may be good for your core also.
I was doing some of my PT exercises last night but this one did me in -- my back started bothering me so I had to stop. It's supposed to be good for your core which is also important in helping to stand up straight, which I know I do not. This and planks are the most difficult exercises that I do but if my back starts hurting I stop.
I really am missing my club though, I find working out on equipment to be easier for me. I do use resistance bands and have some dumbbells on order from Amazon. If this going to take a very long time I will have to consider something else too but I hate to invest in too much.

@sueinmn Are you stopping to stay overnight at places or are you taking turns driving and going straight through? This is a big discussion when we Zoom with our son. He is really very concerned about the possibility of exposing us to anything.
JK

Jump to this post

@contentandwell I like this exercise plus you have reminded me about planks. I haven't been doing them lately and they are great for the core. Off for my walk soon. It looks like it will be pretty hot today.

REPLY
@pollyanne

@contentandwell I like this exercise plus you have reminded me about planks. I haven't been doing them lately and they are great for the core. Off for my walk soon. It looks like it will be pretty hot today.

Jump to this post

@pollyanne Planks and bridges are good for the core of course. It seems as if every physical therapist I have gone to has recommended bridges, even one I went to for pelvic floor PT! I was supposed to do Kegels while doing bridges. She has me doing about a dozen different exercises while doing Keels. I think the real purpose of so many different exercises was so she didn't just say do about 200 Kegels!
JK

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.