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.

Welcome back @becsbuddy! Taking a break when needed is so important. What type of exercise are you considering for winter?

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@becsbuddy

@fiesty76
I think I’m back! Had to take a physical and mental break while I started a new treatment. It was not uneventful! I was able to keep up my short walks only. Looking forward to being out on the hiking trails someday soon. Will have to think up some ways to keep exercising during these cold, winter months! Happy walking!

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Take it slow! I just got back from walking with my "littles" - we beat the rain & cold front back to their house by 10 minutes - now it is pouring & blowing.
Before I left, I gave them each a Grandma & Bompa "Hug Blanket" - car & truck print fleece blankets bound in their favorite colors that they can wrap up in when we can't be indoors with them. When I left the littlest was headed for his nap with the new blanket, and the older one was laying on the floor wrapped in his and playing with his truck.
We do what we can.
Sue

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Ahh love the blanket idea, they can feel the love!!

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@mayofeb2020

@sueinmn. I had a cortisone shot about 7 weeks ago. Really did not do much, last month when I went back, the doctor said he couldn't give me another shot so soon and prescribed PT. The Medicare PT place can give me an appointment until this week so I went to my own. So far the bursitis seems to be better. But my lower back and leg pain is horrendous. I have spinal stenosis and degenerated disc. All that are causing the pain, I'm sure. Sometimes Tylanol helps a little. I have a PT appointment today. They always use laser to reduce the inflammation and relieve pain. Looks like it will be a long haul. I'm not expecting a miracle, just some pain reduction. I have to stay positive. My friend fell off his bed last year. It took him almost half a year to get back to normal.

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Sorry to hear the cortisone didn't help much. My PT has given me 3 exercises that help with the severe spinal/leg pain that I was having last spring and summer. They help by releasing the vertebrae in my lower, mid & upper back that were all sort of "stuck."

The 3 that help most are:
Scalene Stretch with band (or belt) (neck) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZjD1g8oTSo
Supine or Egyptian Twist (upper/mid back) https://www.athletico.com/2015/03/24/supine-twist/
Pelvic Clock (lower/mid back) https://www.google.com/search?q=pelvic+clock+exercise&rlz=1C1CHMO_enUS873US874&oq=pelvic+clock+exercise&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.10716j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_bHKpX5zfA9yE9PwPlcKw8AE24

I do the twist & clock on a firm mattress a few times before I even get up in the morning, then do the scalene stretch & my shoulder exercises after my warm shower, followed by the Twist & Clock again, then do the rest of my PT. I cannot begin to describe the relief I have gotten after 5 months of this regimen. I even have my husband doing them as well.

I hope one or more of these will give you some relief. No special equipment or gym required!
Sue

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@sueinmn. Thank you very much for the exercise. I'll definitely give it a try. It's so cold today 48° now at almost 10 am. Guess we souther Californians are just not used to it. My daughter said it was 39° at her house. At Mayo Clinic App. It said bp goes up on winter bc the blood vessels constrict. My bp is up today.

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@becsbuddy

@fiesty76
I think I’m back! Had to take a physical and mental break while I started a new treatment. It was not uneventful! I was able to keep up my short walks only. Looking forward to being out on the hiking trails someday soon. Will have to think up some ways to keep exercising during these cold, winter months! Happy walking!

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@becsbuddy, So glad you are back! and feeling better too!

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@mayofeb2020

@sueinmn. I had a cortisone shot about 7 weeks ago. Really did not do much, last month when I went back, the doctor said he couldn't give me another shot so soon and prescribed PT. The Medicare PT place can give me an appointment until this week so I went to my own. So far the bursitis seems to be better. But my lower back and leg pain is horrendous. I have spinal stenosis and degenerated disc. All that are causing the pain, I'm sure. Sometimes Tylanol helps a little. I have a PT appointment today. They always use laser to reduce the inflammation and relieve pain. Looks like it will be a long haul. I'm not expecting a miracle, just some pain reduction. I have to stay positive. My friend fell off his bed last year. It took him almost half a year to get back to normal.

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@mayofeb, So sorry to hear the cortisone didn't help more and that your horrid bursitis pain continues. Hadn't known of the use of laser to reduce inflammation and pain and am hoping that will bring you more relief.

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@fiesty76

@becsbuddy, So glad you are back! and feeling better too!

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@fiesty76 Boy, I’m on a real roll here—I’ve had 2 really good days in a row! Even got out for walks. Today was just gorgeous but chilly but my brain wasn’t working right so I felt like I was on a rocking boat on the ocean. 🥺. It’s going to take awhile to work up to my 3 miles/day. Who else is still walking. @fiesty76 @lioness @mayofeb2020 @sueinmn @jude07? @amandajro , I haven’t really thought about winter exercises. I know I’ll miss my classes at the rec center, but... I usually keep walking unless it’s icy.

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@becsbuddy I just started an 8-week, at-home, virtual, personal training fitness and nutrition challenge group to help me get on track now that the temperatures have dipped and the snow is flying. Cardio is involved so I'll be doing the majority of that on the treadmill during winter until I acclimate and think 35 degrees is warm again!

Have you tried any online workouts/groups before?

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@amandajro

@becsbuddy I just started an 8-week, at-home, virtual, personal training fitness and nutrition challenge group to help me get on track now that the temperatures have dipped and the snow is flying. Cardio is involved so I'll be doing the majority of that on the treadmill during winter until I acclimate and think 35 degrees is warm again!

Have you tried any online workouts/groups before?

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Good for you, I am interested in hearing how you like it. I haven’t tried the virtual workout. I wait until the hugest temp for the day and then walk. Today it got to 41 and then I know that if I don’t walk then it will soon be dark.
Sounds like you are committed, I applaud you!

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