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.

@ess77

Is it still snowing there? When will it usually stop? It's really tough to stop enjoying the walk or the day or what you're doing, isn't it? I am made that way, too, and it is really hard now to limit the enjoyment. Do it for sure and make sure you plot your time so you don't overdo.....ha, easy for me to say. And, it's ok to have a useless rest of the day. You had a good first of the day, and learned a bit....I'm so glad you're out enjoying new places. be well, and blessings your way, Becky. elizabeth

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@ess77 Went for a nice, unexciting walk this morning. Met a neighbor and away we went. Kept it short—1 1/2— miles today. Met another neighbor who is from Poland, so I took her to meet my new neighbors who are also Polish. Then took Poppy to watch the group Pickle ball game. Good start to my day!
You mentioned snow; yes, we’re going t have more snow Monday or Tuesday. I’ve quit complaining because everything is so green! Have a great day and Happy Mother’s Day, early!

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@becsbuddy

@ess77 Went for a nice, unexciting walk this morning. Met a neighbor and away we went. Kept it short—1 1/2— miles today. Met another neighbor who is from Poland, so I took her to meet my new neighbors who are also Polish. Then took Poppy to watch the group Pickle ball game. Good start to my day!
You mentioned snow; yes, we’re going t have more snow Monday or Tuesday. I’ve quit complaining because everything is so green! Have a great day and Happy Mother’s Day, early!

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Happy Mother's Day to you!

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Hello, all. I spent several hours today enjoying my outside visitors. I had more birds of different kinds today than ever before. It was lovely! My mourning doves, a pair, visited for a couple of hours, a very long time. They flew around, visited several feeders, sat and watched on the fence, ck'd out the ground of course, and loved the window feeder. And the lovely cooing sounds....

I had my fist blue- jay in years! This fellow was huge, larger than the doves in fact and the largest bird I've ever had on my yard. He was beautiful, bright blues and a lovely mixture of colors. His crest was large, his head large and majestic. I don't care for blue-jays actually, as they're so aggressive toward other birds, eggs and chicks. But, he was beautiful. He also stayed around for a long time also. And, spent most of the time he fed at the window feeder, looking into my home, ckg everything and me out like a peeking tom. What an interesting bird.

Then, there was my pair of woodpeckers in and out. They love the cage with woodpecker seed-cakes, seem to love to hang upside down on the bottom of the cage and eat. I have a lot of different brown and reddish-brown birds I need to identify. Then, the tiny little fellows with black heads and white/black bodies. I can't remember what they are, but they're regulars and I love them.

Well, there you go. Quite an interesting day with my visitors. I love sharing my space with these little fellows and learning about their lives and habits. So interesting. Oh, the squirrels of course were all over everywhere, running and chasing and climbing and both adorable and annoying. What a lovely group of friends.

Blessings all. elizabeth

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@artist01 Hi Laurie, I haven’t seen you on Connect for many days now. I hope you’re feeling well and that everything is ok. You’re missed on here! Happy Mother’s Day. 🌷

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@loribmt

@artist01 Hi Laurie, I haven’t seen you on Connect for many days now. I hope you’re feeling well and that everything is ok. You’re missed on here! Happy Mother’s Day. 🌷

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@loribmt Hi Lori. Happy Mother's Day to you too! True, I've been under the weather lately, but got back to walking tiny walks this past week. Each day a few more steps. Today, 1251 steps. Lol. That's 0.65 km on my pedometer. Took me 20 minutes, crawling along. Lol.
I've somehow lost my daily connection with Connect so have hardly received any posts. Miss you guys so much! Meaning to ask Colleen for help with that, but not enough energy to follow through lately. Tried several things but no luck. X0 Laurie

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@artist01

@loribmt Hi Lori. Happy Mother's Day to you too! True, I've been under the weather lately, but got back to walking tiny walks this past week. Each day a few more steps. Today, 1251 steps. Lol. That's 0.65 km on my pedometer. Took me 20 minutes, crawling along. Lol.
I've somehow lost my daily connection with Connect so have hardly received any posts. Miss you guys so much! Meaning to ask Colleen for help with that, but not enough energy to follow through lately. Tried several things but no luck. X0 Laurie

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@artist01 Happy to see you up and around though I’m sorry you’re not feeling your best self right now. But, you have that super trouper attitude which keeps you going. So just do what you can and slowly work back up! You went more than a half mile. That’s admirable for just getting back on your feet, my dear.
Let us know what we can do for you on our end with getting you
re-“Connect-ed”. Colleen is some kind of wizard with the computer, sprinkling her fairy dust to make everything work...John and Sue, too. We want to inundate your IN box again. 😂. Hugs. Lori.

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@loribmt

@artist01 Happy to see you up and around though I’m sorry you’re not feeling your best self right now. But, you have that super trouper attitude which keeps you going. So just do what you can and slowly work back up! You went more than a half mile. That’s admirable for just getting back on your feet, my dear.
Let us know what we can do for you on our end with getting you
re-“Connect-ed”. Colleen is some kind of wizard with the computer, sprinkling her fairy dust to make everything work...John and Sue, too. We want to inundate your IN box again. 😂. Hugs. Lori.

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@loribmt Hello again, Lori. Thankyou for your nice reply. I managed to get the Mayo Daily Digest up and running just now, so I think I can see my way clear to viewing my group faves and get back with all my buddies! Including you! Soon, you'll be inundated with @artist01 again. I'm having a lovely Mother's Day with my 3 sons and 4 adult grandchildren sending flowers, texts, video visits, whew! I'm exhausted, but it's all wonderful. Had a great brunch here at the seniors' residence, and a special dinner is planned here too.
I hope you're having the great day you deserve, Lori. My best to you.

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@johnbishop

I thought you walking folks might be interested in this news article from McMaster University Optimal Aging Portal.

Walking Speed - Is It a New Vital Sign? - Learn about walking speed and what it means for your mobility and overall health.
https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/walking-speed-is-it-a-vital-sign

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@johnbishop Hello John. I happened to sign up for McMaster this past week because the Walking Pace article caught my eye. Very interesting indeed. I'm definitely going to pick up my pace!

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@artist01

@johnbishop Hello John. I happened to sign up for McMaster this past week because the Walking Pace article caught my eye. Very interesting indeed. I'm definitely going to pick up my pace!

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Well, welcome back, @artist01. I've missed you, too. So, congratulation on getting up and walking. Sounds to me like you took some important steps and got started getting stronger! Praises to you...I'm not doing as well as you on that score. And, feeling it....it doesn't take much or long to set us back in our conditioning...I seem to lose my strength really fast, so I need to follow your lead and get out tomorrow. I'm going to Mayo....of course!..in the afternoon for a sleep dept visit and to follow-up on my breathing questions. Glad for this visit. I seem to be breathing well at night with my bi-pap, but during the day it's staying in the very low 90's....not where it needs to be....so, tomorrow, I'll get advice and also take some walks through the buildings, inside. It's been in the high 80's and quite humid his week and I can't do that outside thing, so this will be perfect.

I'll get some goodies, yogurt parfaits w/berries, and such...for breakfasts for a couple days while there. Then, I'm stopping at Lowe's for a sprinkler timer for the front and 1 for my new watering system on the patio I get tomorrow. Then, my favorite garden place for some flowers. My yucky cute squirrels have eaten the roots of the hanging baskets I had that gave me sooooo much pleasure and color. They also love to sit in the middle of the basket and flowers to eat nuts/seeds or just mess around.

Yesterday I didn't remember the names of the little sweet black headed birds who visit me often, all year. Chick-a-dee! I love them. So cute and fun to watch. They go from feeder to feeder, trying them all out. The huge blue-jay was back today, so I think he's found a new semi-permanent home base w/good seed. Woodypeckers, cardinals, some of the male cardinals are turning red now, Still searching for the names of some other brown birds.

Going online now to learn how to zoom in on my phone camera so I can get good pics for you. I took some yesterday, will send but want to show you close-ups of my friends. Will learn that too....
bless each of you today, tonight with peace and healing rest. elizabeth

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@ess77

Well, welcome back, @artist01. I've missed you, too. So, congratulation on getting up and walking. Sounds to me like you took some important steps and got started getting stronger! Praises to you...I'm not doing as well as you on that score. And, feeling it....it doesn't take much or long to set us back in our conditioning...I seem to lose my strength really fast, so I need to follow your lead and get out tomorrow. I'm going to Mayo....of course!..in the afternoon for a sleep dept visit and to follow-up on my breathing questions. Glad for this visit. I seem to be breathing well at night with my bi-pap, but during the day it's staying in the very low 90's....not where it needs to be....so, tomorrow, I'll get advice and also take some walks through the buildings, inside. It's been in the high 80's and quite humid his week and I can't do that outside thing, so this will be perfect.

I'll get some goodies, yogurt parfaits w/berries, and such...for breakfasts for a couple days while there. Then, I'm stopping at Lowe's for a sprinkler timer for the front and 1 for my new watering system on the patio I get tomorrow. Then, my favorite garden place for some flowers. My yucky cute squirrels have eaten the roots of the hanging baskets I had that gave me sooooo much pleasure and color. They also love to sit in the middle of the basket and flowers to eat nuts/seeds or just mess around.

Yesterday I didn't remember the names of the little sweet black headed birds who visit me often, all year. Chick-a-dee! I love them. So cute and fun to watch. They go from feeder to feeder, trying them all out. The huge blue-jay was back today, so I think he's found a new semi-permanent home base w/good seed. Woodypeckers, cardinals, some of the male cardinals are turning red now, Still searching for the names of some other brown birds.

Going online now to learn how to zoom in on my phone camera so I can get good pics for you. I took some yesterday, will send but want to show you close-ups of my friends. Will learn that too....
bless each of you today, tonight with peace and healing rest. elizabeth

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@ess77 Hi Elizabeth. I love to hear of all your bird visitors, and even the "yucky cute squirrels"! I hope you manage to post some pictures of all of them. I was going to write and tell you those little white headed guys are chickadees, but you beat me to it. We have them here too, and I'm very fond of them. Good luck at Mayo tomorrow. It sounds exhausting, all the plans you want to carry out. Don't forget to ration your spoons as much as you can! Look whose talking - I'm the WORST at overdoing it and then having a two-day setback. 😉 Take care, Elizabeth. X0 Laurie

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