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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.

Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @jude07 "Layering is a great solution! I can’t even think of putting on a tank top however..." + (show)
@jude07

Layering is a great solution! I can’t even think of putting on a tank top however it sounds like it works great for you. I need sleeves and more layers.
You certainly are ion a mission with your closet cleaning. Nice work!!! I have resorted to cutting up some old items that I can’t donate and made a multimedia wall hanging for my daughter. Not sure she appreciated it as much as I enjoyed the sentiment that went into it.
It’s ok.
Let’s stay busy!!

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The tank is the first layer, followed by a ls tee. If I am chilly I add a very lightweight hoodie I made some years ago - only worn indoors now as the zipper broke, and the shirt is not good enough to repair. Yesterday as I wrestled with totes of no-longer-used kitchen & bakeware I was down to the tank top - working right next to the furnace in the laundry room. Today I haven't left my (small) kitchen - cleaning drawer and staring a pot of soup - and I have gone 2000 steps already. I must not be very efficient!

Interesting conversation about collages & photos - today I tackle the cupboard of photos, frames & matting supplies. If I find something interesting to arrange, maybe I can get someone to cut mats for me - I have my girls' school photos & papers here, but cannot use my mat cutter myself anymore. Both girls' homes are filled with original art & one-off posters, so a history collage ought to fit right in.

Sue

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ellens | @ellens | Oct 20, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "I appreciate your response, @jude07 ! I'm laughing because not only my bones "do not like..." + (show)
@fiesty76

I appreciate your response, @jude07 ! I'm laughing because not only my bones "do not like the chill" but neither does my brain...just the thought of "cold snap predicted" or "ice on the way" makes me do a fast hobble these days to adjust the thermostat to High heat...lol

Although heat & cold treatments are recommended for both my present pretty-much-out-of commission ailments, I confess to showing more preference to the heating pads vs cold packs...a royal wimp, here. I didn't mention stretches for the sciatica but those also make me "think" I'm helping.

Also doing a small pity party because of missing out on some of the autumn scenery changes and like you, am going to have to come up with some better mindset options for walking as more inclement weather approaches. The change in scenery is as uplifting to me as the actual time spent walking so I'm thinking that I'll resort to going to our largest mall which opens at 7am or did before covid expressly for walkers.

Are you and others thinking and making alternative plans for the upcoming wintry days that will make "regular" walks more dangerous for some of us? Wet, slippery, rough surfaces don't mix well with safety first but "where there's a will there's a way", yes?

Thanks again, Jude and hope you and all are continuing to list personal health and safety near the top of priorities!

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Have some good walking boots and some good ice grippers to put on the boots.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "I'm with you! Dug out the wind pants to pull on over my leggings today so..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I'm with you! Dug out the wind pants to pull on over my leggings today so I can walk in the snow without getting wet. 3-4" coming today - in October...but I am looking forward to walking in it as I haven't been in snow for a few years. I already started wearing tank tops under my shirts/sweaters - I find the snug fit keeps the chill away really well. And when I am working around the house if I get too warm, I just peel off a layer.
When it's been too windy or drizzly to walk, I have been madly cleaning closets, shelves & drawers. I have my car completely full - 1/2 items for our clothing/food/household agency, the rest for the thrift store. Beginning to look like I am making a dent. I have been averaging over 5000 steps a day without leaving the house. Next adventure is my fabric stash -10 large totes and a few boxes, some dating back to my working days 12 years or more ago. Looking forward to being able to organize the sewing room.
Sue

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@sueinmn, Started to mention you in an earlier post as one of our valiant, "no matter what the weather walking champions"! I am all about layering up too on cold days...for me that is anything less than 68degrees...vbg. I wear long sleeved nylon/poly turtle necks then over lay those with heavier things that can be removed as needed whether indoors or out.

Congrats on your amazon efforts at cleaning/clearing and filling car with donate bags! No idea how many steps are taken in my walk around a longer than ordinary block which I am managing right now but 5000 steps inside sounds like a ton! Good going, woman!

REPLY
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @peach414144 "What a wonderful thought for all. May I interject and ask a very, very important question?..." + (show)
@peach414144

What a wonderful thought for all. May I interject and ask a very, very important question? Please god and all of us humans: where have all (most) of the birds have gone? AND i DO NOT MEAN THE ONES WHO GO NORTH OR SOUTH FOR THE WEATHER. There seems to be a problem. So far the cientists are not answering except for migrations.

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@peach414144, I'm glad you asked because I've been noticing fewer year round birds at my bird feeders and wondering why there are fewer. Has it been the long drought and extra high heat of this summer? Don't know but I'm refilling the feeders less often now.

Also have noticed that for the last few years, there are fewer Monarch butterflies coming our way on their migrations to Mexico.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@peach414144, I'm glad you asked because I've been noticing fewer year round birds at my bird..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@peach414144, I'm glad you asked because I've been noticing fewer year round birds at my bird feeders and wondering why there are fewer. Has it been the long drought and extra high heat of this summer? Don't know but I'm refilling the feeders less often now.

Also have noticed that for the last few years, there are fewer Monarch butterflies coming our way on their migrations to Mexico.

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I'll watch the Monarch count from our butterfly center in TX - just started last week & goes through about Veterans Day - numbers last year were down by 1/2 from the year before. We'll see what they are this year.
Sue

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Oct 21, 2020

@sueinmn, Thank you for this information, Sue. That is a disturbing drop in numbers and we can only hope for an increase this year compared with last. Although there are several Monarch way stations listed in TX, I've not found one in our area. Will check with our local arboretuem or maybe master gardeners for more info. I appreciate your sharing and will keep my fingers crossed that more of the Mighty Monarchs make it to their winter destinations this year.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@sueinmn, Thank you for this information, Sue. That is a disturbing drop in numbers and we..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@sueinmn, Thank you for this information, Sue. That is a disturbing drop in numbers and we can only hope for an increase this year compared with last. Although there are several Monarch way stations listed in TX, I've not found one in our area. Will check with our local arboretuem or maybe master gardeners for more info. I appreciate your sharing and will keep my fingers crossed that more of the Mighty Monarchs make it to their winter destinations this year.

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@fiesty76 and @sueinmn Where I used to live, there were some groves of eucalyptus trees. Each spring, we would watch for the monarchs returning. There were some years with scores of them other years the weather was just a little too cold or something that turns them away. I recall ever so fondly one Sunday morning, leading our group in Tai Chi outdoors. We chose the park with some eucalyptus trees and moved over towards them. As we did our forms in complete silence, the monarchs came off the leaves as the sun warmed them up, and flittered around us, lifting our spirits something mightily. It almost seemed like they were dancing with us!
Ginger

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Funcountess | @funcountess | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@fiesty76 and @sueinmn Where I used to live, there were some groves of eucalyptus trees. Each..." + (show)
@gingerw

@fiesty76 and @sueinmn Where I used to live, there were some groves of eucalyptus trees. Each spring, we would watch for the monarchs returning. There were some years with scores of them other years the weather was just a little too cold or something that turns them away. I recall ever so fondly one Sunday morning, leading our group in Tai Chi outdoors. We chose the park with some eucalyptus trees and moved over towards them. As we did our forms in complete silence, the monarchs came off the leaves as the sun warmed them up, and flittered around us, lifting our spirits something mightily. It almost seemed like they were dancing with us!
Ginger

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Hi Ginger, are you talking about the trees along the 101 past Camarillo?
There were tons of Monarchs in that area.
Beautiful sight to see.
Funcountess

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @funcountess "Hi Ginger, are you talking about the trees along the 101 past Camarillo? There were tons..." + (show)
@funcountess

Hi Ginger, are you talking about the trees along the 101 past Camarillo?
There were tons of Monarchs in that area.
Beautiful sight to see.
Funcountess

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@funcountess No, there is a park in Ventura called Camino Real Park, where the 101 and 126 merge. Along the barranca there, was a grove of eucalyptus trees. They were starting to pull some out when I moved in 2018, due to unstable root systems and the drought.
Ginger

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2 replies
Funcountess | @funcountess | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@funcountess No, there is a park in Ventura called Camino Real Park, where the 101 and..." + (show)
@gingerw

@funcountess No, there is a park in Ventura called Camino Real Park, where the 101 and 126 merge. Along the barranca there, was a grove of eucalyptus trees. They were starting to pull some out when I moved in 2018, due to unstable root systems and the drought.
Ginger

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I know the area well, yes, a lot of the trees are gone. Some died out, and a few fell.
Not surprised with the drought. It’s so dry down here, no rain in sight.
Going to watch game 2 tonight. GO DODGERS
Funcountess

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