HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What type of exercise are you doing?

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/10/2008 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

After my recent sudden weight gain and change of meds, I decided to start walking. The city put in a nice walking trail a block from my house, and I started 3 weeks ago. I started with 1 time around the track (1/2 mile) and have been increasing slowly, now I'm up to either 1-1/2 miles or 2 miles depending on the day. I've been trying to go every day, but have missed a couple of times. I saw a man today that was walking with hand-held weights... would that be a good idea?? I was thinking of trying that too. We also have a stationary bike at home and I've been using it a couple of times a week. I still haven't lost any weight yet, and my feet HURT sometimes, but I'm sticking with it.

What kind of exercise are you doing?

Bear

Posted 5/11/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bear, I go to a gym and use the elliptical trainers and treadmills as well as some machines for strength training.  I also have hand-held weights at home and those elastic bands with handles.  Walking with weights in your hands or the kind that go around the ankles help build your muscles as you walk.  I've seen a couple of people in my neighborhood walk with backpacks, too.  I don't know how heavy the packs are but I believe it's the same idea as carrying the weights.  Keep up the walking!  That's great.

Posted 5/11/2008 5:18 PM (GMT 0)

Bear,

I try to do some sort of exercise for an hour each day. I always do 45 minutes on the treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike and then another 15 minute round  at least once each day- this can involve heavy vacuuming, floor scrubbing, resistance training, ironing or pulling weeds, even kneading large batches of bread dough. 

While I work, if I'm doing computer stuff- I get up and pace when I talk on the phone. When I watch TV, I get up and move during the commercials- and not to the fridge either- every little thing adds up - and doing little bits of exercise routinely, keeps your metabolism cranking along also.

sandy

Posted 5/14/2008 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
wow! I guess my walk is kind of wimpy compared with what others are doing! I don't have much here in the way of equipment and joining a gym is not an option for us financially or for me, time-wise. I can barely fit this "me" time into the day normally. But on a happier note, yesterday I did walk the 3 rounds with the hand weights, and it was really quite a workout! It was raining today and I just couldn't make it 3 times around in the rain, it was making me miserable, which is the opposite of why I go walk in the first place. One good thing for me is that I have a feeling of accomplishment... sounds kind of silly, but it's a baby step to make the commitment to do some exercise every day. I wish the weight would start to come off, but nothing so far sad . Oh, I also bought a couple of inexpensive workout outfits to keep me motivated!

(((Hugs to all)))

Bear

Posted 5/14/2008 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bear.  Exercise is free.  No one has to spend any money on fancy shmancy gyms and equipment to get a good workout.  Walking, running, marching in place while you watch TV, doing "crunches" (like a half sit-up), modified push-ups (with your knees bent on the floor instead of from your toes), squats and lunges.  All these can be done inside your home with no equipment.  Instead of hand-held dumb-bells, you can put a couple of canned goods in plastic grocery bags and pump "iron"  (pump tin? eyes ) from your elbows.  So many possibilities.....  Don't be discouraged if you hit a plateau.  Write out a routine like your daily walking and add some other exercise to it, maybe building onto it every week and varying the routine.  Don't forget it's not only for getting weight off:  your heart, lungs, circulation, bones, skin and mood will all benefit from your exercise.  :) 

Posted 5/15/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Bear,

I can tell you for a fact that vacuuming and dusting are powerful - and doing them every day will not only keep your house spit polished, but work your arms, legs, and core.

When I first started and my sugar was a lot higher, I could drop my sugar 40 points with 15 minutes of pushing my lightweight Oreck around the house, more with my dinosaur Kirby (circa 1974 and still going).

Does your house have a basement? a second floor? There's a stairmaster.

Got a back door that has a step? You have a step platform.

Need to stretch? Drop some marbles on the floor and pick them up one-by-one.

Do you have a cd player, stereo, or iPOD- crankup the tunes and move- voila- aerobics class.

Got some clothesline? - Jump rope

Got a bungee chord? - Resistance band

Lanie already gave you some ideas for weight training.

Keep moving to keep your metabolism fired up- the weight will come off- your body was designed for movement. It makes all the difference.

Check out craigslist- I got my Bowflex for free- just had to come and haul it away. The girl who had it, won it as part of her divorce, and she really wanted to pi$$ off her ex- by giving it away. I was happy to help her out.

Move and groove:-)

sandy

Posted 5/15/2008 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I think exercising can be fun, it just depends on if you're doing the exercise that works for you. It isn't necessary to pay for a gym membership if you are working on the same muscles in a different way. For me, I LOVE the beach. Imagine the possibilities there. I run on the wet sand some days and on other days I swim. I say that I am in decent shape and it is because I enjoy the activities I take part in. If walking on the trail with a couple hand weights makes you feel good, be grateful for that and stick with it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply