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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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Today my walk was delightful - my 10 year old neighbor & I were dog-sitting for a friend to give her a day at the beach, so we got to walk him together. I had forgotten the stream-of-consciousness chatter of young girls...then we did some indigo dyeing together while her Mom & Dad were working.
What an awesome & blessed day.
Sue
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4 ReactionsI am mostly homebound, but I have a trampoline that I do my walking on while holding onto a stationary bike handle for balance. I printed out the walking schedule, am determined to complete it, & have a wonderful view of the top of a huge maple year round. Squirrels, birds, changing leaves, or watching the snow gentle into the sleeping branches. I live through the images of you all walking. Thank you
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5 ReactionsToday it was a brisk walk - a "cold" front blew in while I was at the laundromat - temp dropped from 70 to 60, but with the North wind it continues to fall - I went from shorts and a T to jeans and a sweatshirt. I might even need to put on socks! At least it doesn't require a shovel - 8" at home yesterday - thankful for our neighbor, who uses our snowblower to clear both yards!
Sue
Temperatures in southern Arizona are in the 30’s at night, but climb to the 60’s during the day. I take my dog for a walk as soon as the sun is up, so that I can do it before going to work. It’s a brisk walk, but it prepares me for the day ahead. I also walk around my house for 15-30 minutes during the day to get more steps in.
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1 Reaction@moi2558 Sounds like you have come up with a wonderful alternative! Do you feel like you have good balance using the trampoline?
Started off holding onto recumbent bike handle full hand, over time released a finger at a time til I only have a fingertip on it now. Used small lifting steps in the beginning, lifting feet higher as confidence grew, worked up to non bouncing marching. Next goal is to add a little bounce per step til I'm boinging. Goal is to 'free style'. It all starts with lifting a foot just a little, & keep mind over any situation. That, is the ultimate climb.
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1 Reaction@moi2558 sure sounds like you're being careful as you trampoline/walk! And NO ice to worry about!!
I haven’t been out for several days because of the cold and snow, plus I have covid. It gets a little old just walking back and forth. I need to find some interesting travel shows to watch n walk!
Will you check in with the group occasionally? You’re such an inspiration!
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3 Reactions@alive Looks like a nice snowless walk! Must be so nice to be walking early with the sun up and warmish temperatures and , even, a cute dog.
I never thought of Arizona as having cool/cold temperature, though. Where in southern Arizona are you?
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1 ReactionI’m in Tucson. It’s definitely sweatshirt weather. I love being able to walk outside pretty much every day of the year. Having lived in Indiana and Michigan for many years, it’s a treat to be able to enjoy the sunshine and nice weather. Summers here is another story, but walking at 6am in July is doable. 😀
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2 ReactionsHello Becky. You pass another day, so you're getting closer to the end of your COVID mini vacation. Cheering you on to the finish line. I'm enjoying COPD runny nose & this awesome cough at the moment. Nope, never smoked. My lungs didn't like the CABG & asthma decided it wanted company. Nebulizer helps. I've had some terrified looks if I cough in a store. I can understand.
Nope, I keep the trampoline shoveled. It's black though. You know how tricky black ice can be. Today I watched the soft snow drifting onto the sleeping maple tree. So glad I'm not a tree right now. But one more Winter day down, one day closers to seeing it's waking leaf buds. Hope it's warm where you are. Slipping doesn't count now. I've added something to my walk. Angled push-ups. A wall, kitchen counter, bathroom sink counter, bed frame, I may not do many, but even 3 per room I happen to go in is trophy to me. Muscles are letting me know they are not happy working out after all these yrs. The hardest thing is self encouragement which we all war against. Thankfully, I have an annoying retired ARMY 1st Sergeant who once was my coach that doesn't go away. He doesn't allow me to stay in the pits. He knows how to get me thinking on intellect. It works. I'm very analytical. Give me a problem that has nothing to do with .e & I go brainy. Next thing I realize he had me walking while talking about ideas for his employees issues. We each need a tricky friend like that. If we don't have one close by, that's what we are here for. Each other. Anyone in a pit? Let us know. We'll climb out of it together no matter how many times we slip back in. We don't give up on each other because we need that someone to not give up on us. Deal? Even if all you can do is sit on the couch or lay in bed, walk those feet. You'd be surprised how far you can go. 🖖🏽💜🐕🦺
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