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Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group
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!
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Sorry I haven’t been around to walk with all of you. I live in Boulder, CO., where the latest mass shooting took place. It’s been a very tough week. I did go walking some, but by myself. But I’m so glad to be back with all of you!
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2 Reactions@becsbuddy A horrible thing that happened My friend lives in Littleton where Columbine tragedy was . I have noticed that all the mass shootings are in there 20 ,s
@becsbuddy, @sueinmn, @lioness et al...Hello, everyone. Big news from my home to you walking/gardening junkies ..Apparently, my body got tired of not walking outside, no pool, limited exercise for months...
I had a difficult day 2 days ago, after at Mayo for eeg early with side effects I get from that test I've had since age 11.....took son to doc appt and didn't get treated the way I thought we should ..on way home I stopped at my favorite roadside garden/plant spot and bought a few more flowers to make me happy.
When I got home, I took the flowers - 2 more hanging baskets, a geranium/combo planter for table, several ground cover succulents to plant in front of liriope in front of condo....light yellow green, nice contrast and no care needed..stonerope?..I spent a couple hours on patio cleaning, raking, sweeping, rearranging and moving pots and plants....more physical exercise than in months. What a wonderful feeling. Took shower, to bed w/MMJ and CPAP and slept like a babe.
No bad after-effects next day, only good. Wow! And, it's so pretty, so colorful and orderly and makes me happy...
Yesterday, after the lawn fellows didn't clear the limbs, moss, a tree full of brown live oak leaves ON MY LAWN and buckets of squigglies on the lawn and sidewalk and street and cars and into my condo......I was furious! Adrenalin was pumping really fast.....I got the Toro blower out of storage room, found the electric cord, got a big hat, put on t-shirt, got cold wet towel around my neck since it was 89 degrees!!!!!
I spent a not so easy 3 hours blowing off the front of my building/sidewalks/street - cleared my lawn and beds of squigglies, leaves, limbs, moss, and more, it is in wonderful shape and not tracking into the car and house. 3 hours.....can you believe this? I was so exhausted, thought I might not wake up this morning and would surely not be able to walk or move.....
I'm just fine! my body is getting so much stronger; I'm getting better and better. Still finding stuff to address, but the really bad, horrible illnesses and diseases are better and less invasive. I don't know why.....but, with the Mayo docs and me together, we seem to be finding some answers, getting off heavy pain and other meds. I have no other answers than that, the peace and support from Connect and you lovely folks, and prayer; as I have several friends who pray for Rob and me daily.
Well, I'll not stop the movement. With Parkinsons/sarcoid/all the other things wrapped together, I never know what tomorrow will bring, but today says things are looking good for getting back to the pool next week, for more gardening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in shock. It's literally been years since I could sweep the floor w/o suffering.
I think I'll get in bed, smile as I enjoy the MMJ and CPAP and Samantha, and the fact Rob got new MMJ today..... He's still in crisis, but we have a plan with PT, limited!!! and intensive counseling to help w/ptsd, it's easing up a bit .We're not fighting this all alone.....I have an infected toe, possibly bone infection. Will know after MRI...it still goes on, but things are improving over-all. So thankful.....
Thank each of you and so many others.....Colleen Young and fiesty76 and others;
Blessings to each of you and yours...elizabeth
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7 Reactions@ess77
Hey Lizzy,
What kind of side effects do you have from an EEG? Maybe a headache by the time they get through rubbing your head really hard trying to get the glue out.
Anyway have fun planting your flowers.
i’d have more fun firing the gardeners for not doing a good job I’m planning flowers but if you live in a condo complex you may not have that option. If not I would give them a piece of my mind next time I saw them.
Happy exercising!!!, I'll let you do my exercises,
Jake
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2 Reactions@ess77, You are truly a girl after my heart! Whenever I get stressed, disappointed or outraged, I head straight for the yard if weather permits. With the concerns for your son coupled with your own health issues, I am thrilled to hear that you were able to spend 3 hours blowing off debris left by the lawn fellas!
Spending anytime outside is beneficial for my outlook and provides a diversion from whatever seems to be bedeviling me most at the moment. How well I can relate to your arduous after effects concerns following that much time and exercise. Sometimes I come inside after most of a day in my yard thinking I am just too tired to move and wish for someone/anyone lol to just feed me and carry me off to bed.
With less energy and "muscle" now, I've decided that physical effort is like training for a marathon. Each early spring finds me "giving out" before I want to "give up" when clearing leaves and a new crop of weeds from my yard and flower beds. Gradually, more stamina seems to build and I can work for longer periods with fewer breaks. Here's hoping that getting back into the pool will further strengthen you and provide more resilience for work with nature's little growing beauties.
It sounds as though your support system is strong and that your son is beginning to get more of the help he needs. Stress can sometimes seem to freeze my body with the tenseness it engenders "locking" my muscles in place. Great news that you are on a pathway that will lead to more physical mobility and happiness in the sun.
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3 ReactionsIt appears that for you and Rob, life is a roller coaster, I hope that there are more highs than lows and you can make the best of each new day. Those new plants help bring life to your soul and spirit, good to treat yourself to some golden sunshine. Rides those highs, find that bright spot in each day!!!
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3 ReactionsNothing like a garden to help our spirits - no matter what life throws at us.
Sue
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2 Reactions@ess77 So happy you feel better I had a hugh garden veggies and flowers now I live in a 1 bedroom apt so I pot indoor plants Over the weekend thats what I did bought and potted plants soon I,ll have apt full of fragrant flowers as Sue said flowers lift the spirit this was just what I needed
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2 Reactions@jude07 Yes, it seems we do live on a roller-coaster.
Since getting to Mayo, the consistent care with answers, diagnoses and treatment, my health and life have evened out a bit.....I still have surprises like the silly infected toe and possible bone complication and the shock of an increase in brain white matter revealed on the EEG I had last week - that's a shock. White matter issues are concerning, and who knows where that will lead or the time-frame. This is one reason it's important for Rob and me to get both our lives in order - at age 74, with my health and now this issue, we must get his future resolved best we can. He will be alone, no other family, and we have to get a plan for him.
And, Jude, he lives on a huge, scary roller coaster, at times out of control. I'm hopeful we may be on a road to getting some permanent solutions for him. He can't continue in the pain he's experienced for so long. Can't.
My extreme work-out with the oak leaves/squigglies/etc was quite extreme for me. Haven't done anything like that in years, and had to laugh as I used that blower! Thought even if I dropped in my tracks that moment, I'd have a smile on my face. I do love that gardening, getting hands in dirt, organizing my plants.
Btw: I'm a bit sore and tired today, used MMJ pain lotion last night and slept well, but today know I quite overdid it. So, this is a rest day. Tomorrow is too, but must take Rob to the beach for first counseling visit. This is a good thing. He will finally begin improving, I'll take an easy stroll on the beach if my toe survives, or sit and enjoy the peace.
How about that, I'll get a walk in tomorrow, on the lovely beach with waves and wind and good things all.
P.S. Sue, having fun with friends? more line dancing?
P.S.S. Lioness, so sorry you've had more difficult days....I think a one bedroom sounds wonderful! And, you can have lovely plant friends as much as you can care for...simplified life is a good thing!
P.S.S. Hope fiesty76 is better and her back is better...worried about her!
Blessings. elizabeth
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2 Reactionsessay Beach sounds lovely Want to get down there soon I hear it calling me
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2 Reactions