Connect
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!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.
Connect
@cindysummit
I love to walk also and started just before the pandemic on a daily basis..2.5 to 3 miles in early am as brisk as I can. It puts everything in perspective. With all you have been through I am so happy you found what such an easy and simple routine can do for you and you are reaping all the beneficial physical rewards in addition to the mental and spiritual.
FL Mary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@becsbuddy
Never stopped the daily walks...has become such a normal start to the day for me that I can't imagine not heading out the door at 6 or 6 30 in the morning... I'm an early bird and usually go out in the dark mornings when the thermometer starts to inch up here in Florida.
I'm the one jogging between the sprinklers
and when its really
muggy I'll just let them sprinkle a little on me when I pass them.
FL Mary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsI want to walk more.
Over time I've had various orthopedic surgeries, joint replacements and have gotten discouraged about walking distances. But I think I can improve strength and endurance for walking.
Many years ago I had a bicycle accident and a number of surgeries after that including a difficult hip replacement last summer. I’m in my 70's now.
As a start to a new walking program this morning I walked around the first floor of my building and noted my # of steps. I want to increase from this.
I used my rolling walker since I can walk faster with that.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@loll
That’s so great to hear. I’m not sure how you are tracking your steps now but I use a watch . It’s a great incentive. I set mine to a minimum of 5000 daily which is about 2.5 miles. It gets to be a real habit and so I walk first thing in the morning to reach the minimum and everything after that is a plus for me. Mine also nags me if I sit too long.
If you do get a watch you’ll be surprised at the number of steps you take daily. Each day you can add a few more steps around the building or outdoors and visually see your progress. You’ll be proud of yourself and won’t want to skip a day and your body will love you for the exercise. I have a Samsung Galaxy that I got on Amazon about 4 years ago. It tracks a lot more information and is synced to my Android phone. So the basic ones are a lot cheaper today even those that come with a lot of options. One thing though, my arm with the watch has to be in motion so perhaps a simple pedometer , if that’s what you are using, might work better since you are using a walker.
By the way, you don’t have to walk fast in the beginning…just a steady gait and your speed will increase over time.
FL Mary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsThank you, yes, seeing progress by counting steps helps quite a bit. I got an Apple Watch late year and it works well for me.
Slow and steady is my goal.
My Mom and her friends in assisted living had a walking club - around the city block in nice weather, up and down the halls when not. They walked before lunch "to work up an appetite". As they became more frail, canes, walkers and even wheelchairs became part of the routine.
Let me tell you a little story - 5 years ago, my friend had a complex hip replacement, complete with wearing what we called her "exoskeleton" for almost 9 months. As soon as she could make it down the one step from her door to her ramp, she was walking with her upright walker on her patio 3 times a day - and kept progressing. The next year, she had shed her external brace, but the leg will never be completely stable, so the walker stayed. Her husband had brain surgery and became a bit wobbly - so he got an upright rollator for himself. Every morning, right after coffee, they walk a mile together, taking in the morning sights and sounds in our tiny community. Then they retreat to their shady patio for breakfast.
She has a special (portable) walker for more adventurous treks - like on packed sand at the beach 2 hours away, or a day at a museum. The two of them have inspired all of us to keep on moving no matter out challenges (Oh, I forgot to mention they are well into their 80's)
This weekend, I danced instead of walking - over 5 miles on Friday, and about 3 miles yesterday. Today is my "day off" - just strolling my own yard.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsWell said, thank you. I’m using my rolling walker outside these days to go out to my little garden spot. The ground is pretty uneven out there so the walker helps me stay stabilized. This last winter in MN was so long and I kept thinking about gardening. And so I am. It’s a pleasure to be out there,
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsToday we finally had afternoon temperatures comfortable enough for a walk, so my husband and I headed out in our neighborhood for a look around. When I walk alone, I usually fall into a kind of meditative state...aware of sounds, breeze, birds and the like. With him, it was different. We looked at construction, speculated on markers - whether there would be more homes going in, lot splits. Noticed new garages and porches going on. Met a brand new neighbor and visited about the challenges of getting her lot graded properly for drainage. And found out her parents are moving into an existing home near us. Most fun stroll we've had since the Covid lockdown.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsGreat idea! I clicked Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule and got "page can't be found" message. Help, pls?
Great idea! I clicked Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule and got "page can't be found" message. Help, pls? Thank you, Walker