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.

@deborahfrick123

@lioness
That is great to know, a deer stomped on my son's dog as we were helpless to stop it. We walk in the backyard for exercise. That's the end of that for awhile. I'm staying indoors with videos.

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So sorry about your dog. I read further down that he had to be euthanized. I've had dogs and you have my sympathy.

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@fiesty76

@ellens, Thx for the suggestions. I did those last Jan-Feb before Covid. For now I'm staying out of stores. Our small city is reporting 300 new Covid cases/day. Not surprised with 2 colleges and people here ignoring masks and distancing. Bunch of people in this state who will only extend the virus longer for all of us. Be well and safe.

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Our city seems to be doing relatively well re covid. People are masking up according to state proclamation by the governor. I do walk into the street when someone comes along since I prefer not to wear a mask unless I'm in a store. The main way my life has changed is on a popular forest walk along a creek near my home. So many people use the trails that I have to wear a mask. I just watched a freighter arrive at the Duluth Harbor on the Harbor Cam--lots of people are lined up along the canal shoulder to shoulder--hope they are masked but bet most are not. One thing I miss is being able to go into neighbors' houses. Beautiful fall day here.

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@migizii

I’m going to try to keep walking outside until the snow flies, which can come early where I live....the temperature is already dropping here, and since I’m “cold blooded”-I have to make myself bundle up and go outside. Today, though, an eagle soared very close to me to let me know my efforts can make me so grateful for life

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That's wonderful (the eagle).

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@ellens

So sorry about your dog. I read further down that he had to be euthanized. I've had dogs and you have my sympathy.

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@Ellen's
Thank you, I always thought a deer was just so beautiful to look at, now I know they can hurt someone or something.

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@ellens

That's wonderful (the eagle).

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Oh I am so jealous of your cooler temps. I want to walk every day not only to get extra energy (I have Mac) but also to lose some weight— 20 pounds overweight. So, today I took a 2 mile walk (1st time in 2 weeks) ,95° Humidity very high. I had to stop about five times and I either sat next to a tree or wherever I could to relieve my shortness of breath. I always have to sit down,I don’t know why. I used my albuterol inhaler three different times in the hour I walked. Does anyone use a spacer with the hand held inhaler? Wonder if that would help get more of the albuteral, it seems to go from the top of my throat instead of in my lungs. I was scared that I wasn’t going to make it and I did have a mod am’t of anxiety on the last fourth of the walk. I didn’t think I could make it but I did. I shouldn’t of walked. I keep thinking I’m 40 and healthy, not 73 and have a lung disease. Has anyone else been in a situation
where you do too much and scare yourself? I’ve got to think more before I do things. Judy

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@judyhodgern

Oh I am so jealous of your cooler temps. I want to walk every day not only to get extra energy (I have Mac) but also to lose some weight— 20 pounds overweight. So, today I took a 2 mile walk (1st time in 2 weeks) ,95° Humidity very high. I had to stop about five times and I either sat next to a tree or wherever I could to relieve my shortness of breath. I always have to sit down,I don’t know why. I used my albuterol inhaler three different times in the hour I walked. Does anyone use a spacer with the hand held inhaler? Wonder if that would help get more of the albuteral, it seems to go from the top of my throat instead of in my lungs. I was scared that I wasn’t going to make it and I did have a mod am’t of anxiety on the last fourth of the walk. I didn’t think I could make it but I did. I shouldn’t of walked. I keep thinking I’m 40 and healthy, not 73 and have a lung disease. Has anyone else been in a situation
where you do too much and scare yourself? I’ve got to think more before I do things. Judy

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@judyhodgern I think 2 miles is great! Lol- and I’m 40! I have days where I can walk miles without any issues- but then I have times where I can’t walk a block. When I’m going through a “flare up” I stay closer to home, rather then going to far, with that fear of not making it back. I wonder if it’s just my mind. When I think about my breathing- it makes everything worse! I have the same issue with the inhaler. I don’t think I actually get anything into my lungs. I put a little peppermint oil on a tissue and inhale- it helps me a lot. I say, think less and keep moving:)

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@deborahfrick123

@Ellen's
Thank you, I always thought a deer was just so beautiful to look at, now I know they can hurt someone or something.

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@deborahfrick123 I was driving a school bus when deer jumped out on front of bus ruined the grill I had to be toed in to garage

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@fiesty76

@lioness, Sounds like our strings of 100+ temps are finding their way to you. Yesterday was only mid-80s here and I'm thinking: sweater weather! LOL Waiting until 6am to drive to nearby park for walk this morning; the cooler morning will be fab!

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@fiesty76 I think it is catching up with us This weekend 106 all next week in high 90,s This is the time of year we get our summer till Nov. So I did go for a walk today but not to long . Tomorrow staying in and chair exercise day

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Wow. Can’t imagine 106! Where do you live? So I always am told “it’s dry heat” but honestly does that REALLY matter?! 😳

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@lioness

@fiesty76 I think it is catching up with us This weekend 106 all next week in high 90,s This is the time of year we get our summer till Nov. So I did go for a walk today but not to long . Tomorrow staying in and chair exercise day

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@lioness, Yes, I was so surprised on a visit to San Francisco with daughter in the fall that Sept-Nov were the warmer months. I will be eternally grateful that I was visiting her there on 9/11. At least we were together to experience the unfolding horror and uncertainty. Will make extra ice cubes to send to you and others in "hotspots" now. Maybe an extra lemonade with your chair exercises for the next hottest days?

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