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.

@rambo77

How about a man who is age 77 with how much should he walk and how much time and what speed, I have been doing 30 min at 2 miles per hour

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@rambo77 Sounds like you’ve already started a walking program! Great! It’s often said that we should not walk so fast that tripping becomes more likely and just fast enough that we can carry on a conversation while walking. Do you have a walking buddy or music to listen to?
I put the link to Mayo’s 12 week walking schedule just below so you can follow it, if you wish.
I just love being outdoors and walking, even in the neighborhood! What is your favorite place to walk?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20050972
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@jakedduck1

@sueinmn
Enjoy your walk with the penguins.
Watch out for the hungry polar bears.
Jake

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😂😂😂

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@gingerw

@ess77 Yes, there are several mated pairs of eagles around here. It is always a joy to see them; yesterday's sighting was right over our house, which really made my afternoon!

Gentle walking is good for me. I am very careful about picking things up, and will follow the orthopedic dr or neurosurgeon recommendations. All this comes just as I am about to start treatment for multiple myeloma. What was very difficult this morning at the MRIs, was to lay absolutely still for about 1.5 hrs, even after taking 5mg valium. Hopefully by tomorrow morning the pain will have subsided caused by that duty to lay still.

So glad to hear your son is getting the help he needs, and the burden has lifted for you as well. Blessings to you.
Ginger

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@gingerw, I'm so fidgety that lying still for the 1.5 hrs of MRI would have been dreadful. Hoping you are feeling less pain today!!

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@fiesty76

@gingerw, I'm so fidgety that lying still for the 1.5 hrs of MRI would have been dreadful. Hoping you are feeling less pain today!!

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@fiesty76 Yes, I was able to get out and walk yesterday. Laying still on an unpadded metal table can be really rough!
Ginger

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@gingerw

@ess77 Yes, there are several mated pairs of eagles around here. It is always a joy to see them; yesterday's sighting was right over our house, which really made my afternoon!

Gentle walking is good for me. I am very careful about picking things up, and will follow the orthopedic dr or neurosurgeon recommendations. All this comes just as I am about to start treatment for multiple myeloma. What was very difficult this morning at the MRIs, was to lay absolutely still for about 1.5 hrs, even after taking 5mg valium. Hopefully by tomorrow morning the pain will have subsided caused by that duty to lay still.

So glad to hear your son is getting the help he needs, and the burden has lifted for you as well. Blessings to you.
Ginger

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@gingerw Hi Ginger, I’ve been catching up on your posts. Wishing you all the best as you take on your treatments for MM. You are strong and will face this head on! We’re all behind you sending continual positive thoughts!

I hope you’re recovering from the lengthy MRI. Lying in one position that long is so uncomfortable. I’ve had several 3 hour MRIs and holding still is NOT my strong suit. Lorazepam works really well keeping me still and almost drifting off. I wake up with no after effects. Maybe something to ask your provider about if you face this again.

Stay strong, stay positive, you’ve got this!! Lori.

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@rambo77

How about a man who is age 77 with how much should he walk and how much time and what speed, I have been doing 30 min at 2 miles per hour

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As all of our friends here have said, moving regularly is the goal - it's not a set amount of distance or speed. As Connect members we all have our "issues" and the purpose of walking is to do as well as possible while we deal with them.
When I started walking about 3 years ago, during a serious lung infection, my initial goal was to make it to my corner and back - even failed that some bad days. Now I can go for 5 or more miles or 2- 2 1/2 hours, and even "jog" with my little grands.

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@sueinmn

As all of our friends here have said, moving regularly is the goal - it's not a set amount of distance or speed. As Connect members we all have our "issues" and the purpose of walking is to do as well as possible while we deal with them.
When I started walking about 3 years ago, during a serious lung infection, my initial goal was to make it to my corner and back - even failed that some bad days. Now I can go for 5 or more miles or 2- 2 1/2 hours, and even "jog" with my little grands.

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@sueinmn Congratulations, Sue, on making such awesome progress with your walking! Just goes to show you're made of the Right Stuff, meeting and even surpassing your goal.
I hope to get back to my former self someday too. Because of bad snowy weather previously, bad health issues lately, and now howling wind and rain, I've come to a jarring halt in my walking program. However, yesterday I took a taxi just a short distance to my dental appointment and then WALKED BACK to my seniors' residence. Proud? I guess so! Lol. Mind you, it wasn't very far, but I've had to take a cab every other time.
I fully intended to walk again today and get a firm handle on my walking goals, but, the wind howled all night and is still roaring away out there today. We're right by the ocean so when it's windy, it's windy! The temperatures are improving though, lately about 40-ish, so that's Banana Belt weather for us hardy Canadians. I sure hope the wind dies down later this week.
Happy trails, and good health wishes.
Laurie

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@artist01

@sueinmn Congratulations, Sue, on making such awesome progress with your walking! Just goes to show you're made of the Right Stuff, meeting and even surpassing your goal.
I hope to get back to my former self someday too. Because of bad snowy weather previously, bad health issues lately, and now howling wind and rain, I've come to a jarring halt in my walking program. However, yesterday I took a taxi just a short distance to my dental appointment and then WALKED BACK to my seniors' residence. Proud? I guess so! Lol. Mind you, it wasn't very far, but I've had to take a cab every other time.
I fully intended to walk again today and get a firm handle on my walking goals, but, the wind howled all night and is still roaring away out there today. We're right by the ocean so when it's windy, it's windy! The temperatures are improving though, lately about 40-ish, so that's Banana Belt weather for us hardy Canadians. I sure hope the wind dies down later this week.
Happy trails, and good health wishes.
Laurie

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@artist01, Wonderful news that you were able to walk back to your residence instead of taking the usual taxi home! I don't think it is the speed or distance we cover but the effort made in reaching our goals that bring deep satisfaction. A Big Hurrah, Laurie, for your achievement!!!

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@cindyjk

Hi Ginger! I agree, I like to get out and walk each day I can.
Favorite spot is the trails through the woods, my dog MOW always comes and I have 3 cats that join us when they feel like it😁
It’s beautiful outside today, it was 47 earlier and the snow was pouring off the roof. I had a special guest for the walk today, my 6 year old grandson joined us. Life is good, the world is beautiful ❤️

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Wow, @cindydyjk! What a happy post!! It sounds as though you had an exceptionally lovely walk accompanied by your precious grandson and 4 legged friends! Now, how on earth did you get your 3 cats to join you??? Methinks you must be the Kitty Whisperer or Pied Piper? Smiles!

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@fiesty76

@artist01, Wonderful news that you were able to walk back to your residence instead of taking the usual taxi home! I don't think it is the speed or distance we cover but the effort made in reaching our goals that bring deep satisfaction. A Big Hurrah, Laurie, for your achievement!!!

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Thankyou, @fiesty76, for your encouragement. Looking at this week's forecast, it's rain every day, but at least it's not snow and ice. I'll be assessing the walkability on a daily basis. Here's hoping!

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