Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Didn’t get much walking in today. I didn’t want the dog (or me) out in the heat! Just a short one on a shady, wooded path. I think I’ve come to terms with no long walks anymore. Well I’ll wait until winter again. Guess I could go to Walmart and walk big circles inside!

I'm afraid it's not exactly walking - I have been spending anywhere from 3-8 hours working in the yard and garden. I have averaged 4 - 5 miles a day without leaving my yard. Today I. got crazy and dipped my toe into the garage, which hasn't been thoroughly cleaned since our daughter's wedding here 7 years ago. I filled the big trash can, moved rarely used tools to a shed, cleared one shelf [and figured out there are 27 more to do!) and cleaned the floor.
Then I was rewarded with a gathering of gardening friends, homemade pizza and wine - the first in over a year and a half.
Sue

Hello, all. Becky, @becsbuddy, I do that a lot actually, how I get in most of my walking for several months. I've told you about my walks at Mayo w/my hot pink walker through the inside corridors, connecting 3 main buildings, lined with huge wall windows and beautiful artwork, wide and carpeted and comfy with lots of folks pleasant and helpful if I need it....beautiful walking, comfortable w/ac, huge plants, the outside coming in through the huge windows, and the artwork that's so lovely.

In fact, I even got an unexpected walk in today, against my wishes as well. I had a nuclear stress test scheduled at 12:50pm. I arrived just on time, at the wrong building. I walked to the next desk, which I thought was correct. Wrong desk. I had to walk to the connected building....parked at Mayo Building, walked to other end of Mayo Building, then walked to the next building, Davis. Got there, I had an Atkins smoothie for breakfast with some yogurt and blueberries, since I hadn't had anything to eat since dinner last night and couldn't eat much and no caffeine anything. Well, pooh...the smoothie was a chocolate flavor and all chocolate has caffiene. So, I had to cancel the test! What a day. I really need this test asap to get closer to understanding what's happening with my heart and body right now....so, will be there tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. No smoothie.....just ate dinner I brought home from Mayo cafeteria, soooooo delicious. Baked salmon, with carrots and cauliflower. Green tea and chocolate pudding for desert...all from the Mayo cafe. I brought home food for tomorrow as well.

I had to walk back from the Davis building to the Mayo building where my car was parked. So, I got in quite a good, long walk today, unexpectedly and unwanted, didn't feel like it, but very pleasant and good for me.

Jake, @jakedduck1, got my chocolate in for the day! Have some for tomorrow as well. Exhausted, but now well fed and with delicious and healthy food from Mayo cafeteria. All in all, I'd say a good day. And, the nurse at the nuclear test area had a chance to tell me some other things she wants me to do for tomorrow, for my lungs to survive the stress and such.

It's 7 in the evening here, I'm beat and have to get up early. Had shower this morning...no shower tomorrow, so they get me as I am this time! But, I'll be so thankful to be there, to get this appt the next day -they worked me in somehow...Thankful for so much. Blessings to you all and may you enjoy your walking, no matter where or when or how you get it in. Be thankful we can still walk! elizabeth

@becsbuddy
Hi,
I see less walkers out in my neck of the woods here in hot steamy Florida. I have been getting up around 5:30 to head out the door before 6 for my 2.5 mile walk. Some days it’s just too much humidity
to deal with and I turn back earlier. It’s exhausting.

I bought a Galaxy Watch Active which I love so far. My goal is 10,000 daily steps. It’s easier to get to that with a morning walk especially on gym class day but I find often my self walking in circles around the house to get my golden sneaker award for that day. The watch is a great motivator and I have 2 hour reminders on it to get moving.
@jakedduck1 I usually park farther away from stores also. It’s great that all the people here have walking on their mind even if you aren’t able to get much in on a particular day.

Here in Florida we have to watch for pop up storms..hurricane and rainy season here now. Last week I wound up walking back in a drizzly rain…gotta look to the skies!

Even if you can’t walk on a particular day any sort of activity or movement throughout the day is beneficial….get up and stretch. If I don’t stretch throughout the day I feel like a dried up rubber band.

FL Mary where we do humidity real well.

@imallears ALL of you are so amazing! Such inspiration!

@ess77

Your accolades mean a lot to all of us. It uplifts us when people say we inspire them. So great to have positive influences all around you. You have the right mindset and that is half the battle.
Your cheering section would like to hear of your ongoing progress. So help us all feel better about ourselves by reporting in and we can pat ourselves on the back for having a hand in that.

It’s starting to rain here more often in the evenings and at night which makes for slightly more tolerable early mornings but I can understand anyone with breathing problems having a hard time in this climate….. very similar to trying to breathe in frigid dry air. Some days you feel like you are walking out into a wall of humid. The heat in Vegas , where my parents lived, literally took my breath away when it was over a 100.

Regards from FL Mary

@ess77

Your accolades mean a lot to all of us. It uplifts us when people say we inspire them. So great to have positive influences all around you. You have the right mindset and that is half the battle.
Your cheering section would like to hear of your ongoing progress. So help us all feel better about ourselves by reporting in and we can pat ourselves on the back for having a hand in that.

It’s starting to rain here more often in the evenings and at night which makes for slightly more tolerable early mornings but I can understand anyone with breathing problems having a hard time in this climate….. very similar to trying to breathe in frigid dry air. Some days you feel like you are walking out into a wall of humid. The heat in Vegas , where my parents lived, literally took my breath away when it was over a 100.

Regards from FL Mary

Hello, Mary. Yes, my breathing is adversely affected by the heavy, humid tropical weather, by icy cold weather, or heat like in Vegas - 110 degrees years ago when I was there for a week. I came sooooo close to a heat stroke just by walking to another hotel for shopping. I had a time that week.

Same thing happened the summer I spent as a college student in Estes Park, Colorado. Loved that place, but couldn't do anything that took me up more than a couple of feet above the YMCA Conference Center, up in the mountains. No hiking, limited walking or I couldn't breath. Yuck! Interesting, I didn't officially develop asthma until age 35...must have had it earlier

I'm realizing this isn't directly related to age! I never thought about that, have been associating much of my lung stuff with aging. Its not! It's been with me most of my life, I just didn't recognize it, went on about my business, played lots of tennis, ran, played golf, very active. At sea level. I got asthma at 35. Sarcoid hit my lungs at age 40. Since, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Severe obstructive sleep apnea and nightly bi-pap. Truly progressive.

Mary....you helped me just now better understand all this. I called a few minutes ago to the sleep doc at Mayo to find out if we can change the bi-pap settings to give me more air in my lungs at night. My O2 level at home stay around 91-94, 95. Rarely higher. In ED and hospital, mid-high 90's. Maybe she can help increase those numbers? Which I believe will help the heart issues as well.

I'm now having constant lung issues- asthma every day now, so I'm using Symbicort daily and Ventolin as needed. Singulair, for years, sinus meds often, Flonase at night, another nasal spray daytime. Steroids help a lot. It's worse and constant now, but, I will get in better condition by walking....at Mayo inside, at the mall, wherever I can breath.

I just called the YMCA that has the therapy pool with Brooks Rehab. The Y may not reopen the pool and only be run for physical therapy. So, tomorrow I'm getting a prescription for PT at the therapy pool. I'm desperate to get going again and get healthier.

I will share with you folks and look forward to sharing about walking in the pool!
Bless you on your walks and always. elizabeth

@imallears
Jiminy crickets 2 1/2 miles.
Although I’m not going to give you credit for your restaurant menu choices I must give you credit for your walking. Excellent job but I think I would wait for one of those hurricanes to come along and blow me back home.
I feel so old and decrepit compared to you as far as our walking goes, you have me beat hands-down but I'm going to catch up and surpass you. But that’s what happens when you read a sedimentary lifestyle for too long. I only walked a mile and a half today but wondered if I was going to make it home before I crash landed in someone’s yard. I can't believe I use just to swim 5 miles a day and walk at least 10 miles after I couldn't swim anymore.
Have you been to any restaurants recently? It's probably best if I don’t know but my curiosity is winning out over my good sense. I often think about what undigestible concoction you chokeded down. I know I will regret finding out what it was but at least my curiosity will be satisfied.
Suppose to be 108° tomorrow.
it was a mild 106° today. Once it hits 110° or more it gets a bit toasty although I did once pruner ladys hedge when it was 112° but better that than snow, ice and subzero temperatures plus unimaginable wind chill temperatures that some here endure.
Jake