Swim, Exercise, Stretch and Walk Club: September 2009

[BBS1951]

Welcome to all Swim , exercise, walk and stretch club charter members and new members to the September 2009 thread

Summer is still here and many of us are gardening or in our pools this summer or are already in the pool. And lots of us are doing other activities to keep active to control our wellness--stretching, walking, doing housework, , yard work, walking the dog, weight lifting, Wii, and so forth.

We decided to make this a more inclusive club for people who exercise, stretch and/or swim--- and for those of us who are contemplating doing this and are looking for support and information.



Since 2004 I have been Swimming mile a day which improves wellness, balance, core strength and mental health. I lift free weights to develop bone mass.

Cherie has put together a wonderful exercise and stretch program for those who have acces to water but do not want to, or know how to, or able to swim. You can find it at:

http://www.gloopler.com/msviewsandre...d=47&Itemid=92

Scroll down to view her pool based stretching routine.

Keep on Moving!

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

the weather here is getting cooler and I have to go to indoor pools which will cut down on my routine considerably however on Thursday our temperature will be 83 and I am going to the beach for the last time this season, not sure if I'll go in the water or not.
I was hoping things were going to be milder temperature wise but it seems the nights are getting down into the 40's already.

I did not make it to the indoor pool today but I'm going tomorrow.... I am hoping my slowing down will not cause me to become weaker...

I hate thought of fall and winter... I have a lot of pain in colder weather especially the below zero stuff.

[BBS1951]

Beach, yes! I'm so glad you found the September thread Ruby :)

I know, I hate winter too.

Below zero! Oh my! Cold for me is below 70!

[BBS1951]

I swam a mile this morning. Off to get a poke for a kidney test--ugh&%$

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

OUCH!!! good luck with kidney test hope everythings ok. I made it to the indoor pool today and swam for my 1/2 hour felt good to be back in the water :)

RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[BBS1951]

Thats so wonderful that you got to swim :)

I'll get the results within the week, I'm sure.

[BBS1951]

I swam 1.25 miles this morning :)

[gdmcor]

Both pools at the Y this week have been closed, so no aquatic activity for me. That's okay because I've been sick with a cold that turned into a sinus infection. :mad:
On augmenten now, I know that will waste it!

Still using the treadmill and another elliptical machine, twice this week if I go tomorrow or Friday, which I will!

Keep up the good work girls!
Let us know your creatine results, BBS.

Are any of you guys swimming or exercising? ;)
Gretchen

[BBS1951]

thats Great that you can do the machines Gretchen :) I wonder why they closed the pools? Sinus infex are a real drag, arent they? Feel better soon.

I got the lab results and the nurse said, "Dr. is very happy to see that you are stable, and in fact, your kidneys are slightly better than last year"--that was nice news. :)

I swam 1 1/4 miles this morning and I lifted weights last night.

[gdmcor]

Good news about your kidneys, BBS!

They had both pools drained, so maybe they were cleaning them, not sure.

Anyway, they should be available next week, and I plan on doing my own routine in the therapy pool once a week and the gym activities twice a week.

Thanks for reminding me that I need to start lifting weights again. :D

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

glad your kidneys are stable and even possibly improved *happy

I went to the beach today the water was cold but tolerable and I did it I took the plunge I'll be sorry tomorrow but today was GREAT!!! I swam for awhile and played in the waves came out and then in awhile went in and did it again....

we got there at 11am and left at 6pm :D I'm so happy I went

RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[Cherie]

Time to turn the temp up on the pool. With night time temps around 50 the pool room has not even been up to 70 when I go in in the morning so I throw a space heater on for a bit to bring it up to about 75. That just has not been enough for a comfortable workout the past couple of days so I turned pool temp up from 85 to 87 after my routine today. It is still 57 here, sunny, high cirrus clouds still, crisp, clear and delightful. Think I'm gonna get a lot of little things ticked off the to do list. There is the lab to be visited, three stores needing to have things returned, my new lenses are in and I have to go and have visual fields done and pick them up.

Energy is kicking back in with this latest infusion of Cytoxan and I'm feeling quite well again.

[gdmcor]

Cherie, I'm so glad you're feeling yourself again with the help of the Cytoxan. Here's to feeling good more often than not!
Gretchen :)

[BBS1951]

Thats' great Cherie.

I swam a mile this morning.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

I didn't go swimming yesterday I was almost going to try to in my own pool... its way to cold though but the reason I didn't try was because my legs feel heavier and more tired... I feel like I over did it at the beach (but it was the last time this season that I was going to be there.)

[BBS1951]

Ruby, I'm sory about your legs. Try again when you feel up to it.

I swam a mile today when we got home from Charlotte. In Charlotte, I walked 1.5 miles in 30 mins on the treadmill on Saturday because the hotel pool had no chlorine in it (I bring my own test strips). Yuck.

[Cherie]

I have no chlorine in my pool either. It's a bromine sanitation system and will register not at all on chlorine test strips. Much easier on the skin and clothes and many people that cannot tolerate chlorine can easily tolerate Bromine. You might want to ask when staying in a hotel with a pool if it's chlorinated or bromine cleansed.

[BBS1951]

Thats a good idea. This one, though, was chlorine cleansed. I showed them the test strip, they said they would check the pool out. They closed it. Then, about 6 hrs later, my test strip did show chlorine in the pool. I have found that 2/3 of the pools in hotels I swim in are poorly maintained.

[BBS1951]

I left work at lunch time and took a nice one mile swim. Business is so slow, I took the rest of the day off. Florida, apparently, is the worst in the nation for my, and my DH's, business. SO, I'm thinking we will get plenty of rest in the coming year...

[BBS1951]

Back to work today, not so slow. But I did swim a mile :)

[carpediem]

I used to jog, roller blade and skii. Then I devolved to just walking - two miles at the most. I used to bicycle and then I had to stop because of two bad crashes from poor balance. I have been reduced to indoor rowing in front of the TV coupled with Pilates. I was really looking forward to getting outdoors and walking.

This summer I started off walking and was totally enjoying it and thought "This is going to be a great summer". Then I developed a Baker's cyst (poplitieal cyst) behind my left knee. No more walking. Then I developed meralgia parathesthica (inflamed nerve along the outside of my left leg). Then I fell and severly bruised my left heel. Then I fell with all my weight onto my right kneecap hitting a sharp metal holder on RV floor. My left knee still swells, my left heel still hurts, my right knee is still numb, swells and has creepy "free fluid" that moves across the kneecap.

I try to row but can't do more than 15 minuites. I do some of the Pilates moves. But I want to be outside exercising before winter comes again.

The closest indoor pool is 45 miles away and is not something I can do very often. I know my legs will be better - eventually. But I need some encouragement. I miss exercise sooooooooo much! The only comfort I can take is that none of these leg problems were due to MS and WILL get better. But after 3 months of this I am loosing my inner coach and I need someone else to be a coach-type person and give me some encouragement.

Someone out there must have coached at sometime. Give me a pep talk!

[BBS1951]

Welcome to our newest club member, Carpediem!

15 minutes of rowing and doing Pilates is a great beginning, more than what most of america is doing. Add to that maybe one swim every Saturday since the pool is so far away.

You don't have to do formal exercise to keep on moving. EVen while sitting in the chair, you can lift weights (start out light) with your arms. You can lay on your back and lift up your torso from the ground so that you are resting on the upper back/shoulder area, and do bicycle motion with your legs.

You can lay on your side and lift your leg up and down like scissors. If you do it fast enough, it will elevate your heart rate.

Just move around as much as possible until your legs are healed enough to do stuff you prefer to do.

In 2004 I could not walk across the room without being winded. Now I can swim a mile every day and I lift weights twice a week (for the bones). In fact, I was going to clock in my mile swim from this morning and I did weights last night.

Keep coming to this thread every day and report in what you did to move around that day. You will see that it helps your motivation to stay high (just like weight watchers helps with overweight, AA helps with alcoholism and so forth).

Keep up the good work Carpe and welcome aboard.

[carpediem]

I don't get winded after 40min on the rower but my legs injuries don't let me go that long right now. 15 min feels like I'm just warming up and then my leg injuries make me stop. I have always done upper body weights and Pilates is just for stretching.

I love to exercise and miss the "high" of jogging or roller blading. It was a meditation thing for me. I have not found that since I had to quit doing those activities. Rowing and Pilaties are just exercise for exercise sake, sort of like brushing my teeth everyday. But as soon as I can get back to doing those fully I will feel better about at least being where I was 3 months ago.

But it would be so wonderful to run again. I dream of running and roller blading. I have never had a dream of rowing.

Does anybody else have dreams like that? We could form a dream world exercise club.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

Hi carpediem , I been having to push myself to go for short walks now as well I never thought of a rowing machine ... now you do that for upper body right and the walking for your legs??? Maybe you could look into some type of mild exercises for your legs and get them stronger an the walking and outside stuff would become easier and you could take one step at a time building up to some of the fun stuff you would enjoy and in time be able to do small amounts of it.

I did make it to indoor pool yesterday but didn't post about it, my little cat is very sick and then I almost got into an accident my brakes went and I was on a highway....

RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[BBS1951]

Ruby, that is very scary. Hope your kitty will feel better soon. Yay for you getting to the pool, though.

Carpe, I hear you. Its very tough to not be able to do something you love. I sure hope you get to return to it after you heal.

I love your Dream World Exercise club. I don't dream of swimming, even though I love swimming my mile every morning. Funny. But, like others, I do fly in my dreams sometimes. How free-ing it is to fly.

I swam a mile this morning before work. It was great :)

[carpediem]

Ruby, my cats and dog would take precident over almost anything else too. Don't tell my hubbie that though.;)

I do the rowing for cardiovascular now because my walking is limited to a stroll. I do it just to get outside. I can't do the walking right now because of leg injuries. I WILL heal and be back outside strolling down our dirt road soon, I hope. My head needs it, badly.

The rower I have is a Concept II Rowe,r one of those you usually see in a Fitness Center ($$$$$). My husband got for me several Christmas's ago. During those years I was still able to do some jogging and brisk walking so I didn't use it much. Now I depend on it.

BBS1951, I used to dream of flying but not for a long time. I loved those dreams too. Now I have paniky dreams about wearing shoes that don't fit and my feet hurt horribly. I can't keep up with people and I get lost and wake up angry, scared and tired. Why I don't just take the shoes off I don't know. Yes I do - they are MS.

[BBS1951]

Sometimes dreams are so transparent!

[BBS1951]

Another Day, another mile swim, this morning :) Summer is almost over, everywhere but Florida, that is.

[baabr]

the ymca pool just opened back up after cleaning; may try to go but the cold water does a number on my TN; my head is so sensitive; the grounds crew were out and even the noise that they were making activated my head? maybe its coming in through the ears

well come new member; i can't read much unfortunatly so can't respond to everyones comments:(

i love the rowing machine but wondered if it did anything for your legs? may have to try it some time to see

happy exercising everyone

Kris

[BBS1951]

Nice to see you Kris :)

[BBS1951]

I lifted weights last night for 30 mins while watching the Serena VS Clijsters match.

I swam a mile this morning :)

[carpediem]

Hey, I did 30 min on the rower today! Of course it might have helped that we just got our satillite reciever switched to HD so I watched big screen HD for the first time. It really took my mind off rowing. Now I just need to hijack the bigscreen from my hubbie everyday and get "motivated".

My sister has told me that she watches a program called "Sunrise" on DiscoverHD. I need to get into a pattern of doing Pilates while watching that and maybe I can get Zen-like for an hour each day. That is a goal!

Yeah, I think rowing does help my legs. It also depends on the resistence level you use.

BB (do you mind if I am so presumptive to shorten BBS1951? You can shorten my name to Carp if you like) I have a friend whom I've just gotten reaquinted with after 40 some years via FaceBook. We were about 10 or so years old then so were really are just old childhood buddies. We haven't met in person again but have lively phone conversations. He lives in Florida too and I would like to visit him sometime in the winter. Am I right that you live in FL?

[carpediem]

Oops! I forgot to ask you guys to check out my posting "Running in a Dress". I run in Alaska vicariously through my niece while she trains for an MS marathon. Her colorful depictons of running trails in the great Alaska outdoors are just pure delight for me. And yes, sometimes she runs in a dress just for the fun of it.:):)

[BBS1951]

Hi Carpe, Yup, You are right. You can call me BB, BBS BBS19 BBS1951, Exercise Maven, B, Hey You, anything, "As long as you dont call me Late To Dinner".

I checked out your rowing machine idea. It looks great if ever I can no longer find a heated pool in the winter.

Your niece is a hoot!

[BBS1951]

I swam a mile this morning. It felt great again.
What are you guys doing to stay moving?

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

going swimming thursday, trying to get a routine of at least two days a week going. And taking short walks with my dog (she) is glad its not warm enough outside for me to go in the pool (more mommy and Niki time)

[Cherie]

I have found that musci is a great boon to me to keep count while I am exercising. I can continue a move long past the time when the "burn" starts if I know that a song with that beat is going to last 3 or 4 more minutes. I know I can push through that.

Although I have been in a regular pool therapy program since October of 2006, it is only since I added music to the routine a few months ago that I've really started enjoying it.

[carpediem]

I'm on a roll; 3 days straight on the rower. I have to skip today because of a doctor's appointment. I have to drive 45 miles both ways and by the time I get home I know I won't get on the thing. Oh well, I will call today "Rest Day".

[BBS1951]

Three consecutive days are great Carpe! Thats a long drive...enjoy your rest day.

Cherie, I have toyed with the idea of getting thsoe underwater MP3 players for my swim. I tried someone's out for a Lap, and it was fun.

Hi Ruby, walking your dog is great exercise. I hope your swim on Thurs is fun.

I swam a mile today before work. Its so hard to get up extra early for the swim on my early work days(6:30), but I'm always glad I did on my early to work days.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

Ice Cream is good on a rest day *happy

[BBS1951]

Ice Cream is the food of Gods Ruby :)

I swam a mile this morning and last night I lifted weights for a half hour for my bones.

[carpediem]

I didn't have ice cream, I had a coconut latte and a BIG blue berryscone. I did row again today but only for 15 min. I've been getting stuff into our new travel trailer so that we can do a shake down cruise tommorrow. Probably no exercise for a couple of days but traveling is what I want to be in shape for anyway. I exercise so that I can be ready to have fun.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

course coffee and pastry will do *happy

http://static.flickr.com/3436/3799880347_3536abce8d.jpg

[gdmcor]

Coffee and pastry used to be one of my favs, but no more. Now it's salads with grilled chicken - yum!
I've lost 5 lbs in the last 7 weeks by not eating such things - yeah - only 4 more to go! :)

I've still working out 2 or 3 times a week on the treadmill and such. I need to lift weights also, but haven't done it in a while.

Perhaps I will lift while marching on my mini trampoline. Sounds like fun!
Keep up the good work everyone and put those donuts down!! ;)
Gretchen

[notasperfectasyou]

Kim restarts her Aqua-Aerobics class today. She took the summer off because of the "kids camps" that took over the rec-center. She got flattened by a bunch of little girls chasing each other when summer camps started. Ken

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

went swimming today in indoor pool for my half hour I used the Rec area the pool was quite crowded I enjoyed being back in the water. I'm still taking short walks daily.

RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[BBS1951]

Carpe, Ruby, Gretchen, Notasperfect--hello and keep up the great work!

I agree on the donuts. It is soooooo not Swank :) It's been about 15 years since I have had a donut. If I get a terminal diagnosis, I"m going to eat donuts, chocolate, ice cream, brownies, full fat cheese and I will wear purple every day :)

I swam a mile today in the morning :)

[Cherie]

Never have tried an underwater MP3. I guess cause my head's always above water and I have a CD player in the room.

Emptied the pool today for its semi-annual water change and disinfection. Since we are leaving for CO Saturday before dawn, I figured it would be a good time to let it air and dry and not have to do a chemical routine while we're gone. So tomorrow's exercise will be hauling out the suitcases and packing them and running last minute errands and getting lab work done.

Next week, I will likely have no phone or Internet access so don't worry if you don't hear from me till after the 26th.

[BBS1951]

Ok! I hope you have a wonderful time in Colorado :)

[BBS1951]

I swam a mile this morning :)

[BBS1951]

I swam my mile at dawn today and then went to Rosh hashanah services. Now I'm home relaxing. Its nice to be home after such a long service.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

went to the Big E which is the fair I been wanting to go to. I'm totally exhausted again. It was well worth it though :) I love carnival lights at night so I had to stay till it got dark. We watched a sea lion show we were kinda far away but I took pictures with cell phone not sure how they will look when I put them on my computer... we got there around noontime mostly did a lot of eating *happy that was my exercise for today LOL

[BBS1951]

SOunds like you had a blast Ruby :) What does Big E stand for?

I swam a mile this morning in the bright, hot sun as I slept in so I swam later in the morning than usual. It was still wonderful, though. And, it gave me plenty of Vitamin D being out in the blazing sun :)

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

Hi bbs1 it was a blast :) the E stands for eastern states, here is the link

http://www.thebige.com/

[BBS1951]

Wow! That does indeed look like fun :) I think my friends went to it several years ago, if memory serves me right. I just did not know it was called The Big E :)

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

went swimming in indoor pool today for my 1/2 hour... going again Thursday *happy


RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[BBS1951]

Thats fantastic Ruby :) !!

I swam my mile this morning. It was an especially nice swim today.

[BBS1951]

Another mile swim today at Dawn, before work. Very nice.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

*happy glad you got your swim in

[BBS1951]

And, I snuck in my mile this morning between rounds of thunder :)

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

I wish todays weather would keep up.... its in the 80's :) I almost took the plunge in my own pool but lost my nerve going to wait till tomorrow lol

glad you dodged the thunder *ack

[BBS1951]

I'll meet you at the pool , then, tomorrow Ruby :)

I swam a mile this morning. It was a colder pool than usual, but still very nice: 82 degrees. Probably because we had a lot of rain on Wednesday and less sunshine.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

I went to the indoor pool I been using the rec area. I had my breaks on my car fixed awhile ago and I think something happened to the gas line because it is now leaking gas so I felt a little off because of that, but I did swim my 1/2 hour...

It was good seeing you in the pool bbs1 *happy

RubyNikitaK9 (official swim club member :o ) :D

[baabr]

was only able to swim once this week; needing another challenge but have to figure out how i can remember; oh blew my goggles out; so need to get another pair; not comfortable swimming with double vision; but if it clears up; maybe turn my sandal to the right for every 5 lengths; wouldn't be able to hold it in my mind to count longer.

see you in the pool

oh got a new bathing suit; 25.00 at dunhams; alll polyester but they last such a long time and very comfortabe; reminds me of pictures i used to see of womens suits in the 60's?

take care
Kris

[BBS1951]

It was great to see you atthe pool Ruby. I swam a mile at Dawn this morning :)

Kris, with all you are dealing with its fantastic that you still want to swim; I'll see you at the pool too :)

I keep at least two goggles in case one breaks.

I do the sandals thing. Every quarter of a mile, I turn it a quarter-- I imagine a clock and I turn it fifteen minutes, as though the sandals were the minute hand. It beats trying to remember all those numbers :)

[BBS1951]

I swam my mile today after sleeping in. It was luxurious.

[Ruby_NikitaK9]

glad you got to go swimming.... I love to sleep in too but I have to be careful because I do that when I'm getting depressed otherwise it feels good to do :)

[dlacb]

Considering all the stuff I have read about how swimming is a good exercise esp for those with MS when it comes to the overheating thing, I guess I have to learn to swim now.

[BBS1951]

Absolutely dlacb! Come join us int he pool. Find an instructor, you will never regret learning how to swim. Thehealth benefits are awesome. In healthy people, swimmers have longer lives than runners. In MS, the water keeps us cool while we exrcise. And, you cannot "fall" in the pool.

I swam a mile in the pool this morning. I treasure every morning in the pool-- especially since it wont be long until I have to switch over to the public heated pool: about a month from now.

[Cherie]

Got home from Colorado at 5PM yesterday. Refilled the pool and overnight the temp and chemicals were OK so that I could do my routine this morning. 43 minutes and one week away was certainly noted while doing the exercise!

If you'd like to see where we were, check out this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=107643&id=706294319&l=5b7fed1f8d

[BBS1951]

Welcome Home Cherie. Thats great that you were able to get right back into the pool :)

Those are spectacular pictures! I could get used to living there (if there is an indoor pool)!

[dlacb]

Absolutely dlacb! Come join us int he pool. Find an instructor, you will never regret learning how to swim. Thehealth benefits are awesome. In healthy people, swimmers have longer lives than runners. In MS, the water keeps us cool while we exrcise. And, you cannot "fall" in the pool.

I swam a mile in the pool this morning. I treasure every morning in the pool-- especially since it wont be long until I have to switch over to the public heated pool: about a month from now.
Kinda nervous about learning to swim. I have been in pools at various hotels but I usually stay in the shallow side and maybe hug the edge. When I was a kid I tried it once and almost drowned. Been kinda iffy about it since. I still look at people like how can they float but I can't.

Why do you have to switch to another pool?

[BBS1951]

In the winter I cannot keep my home pool above about 69 degrees (brrr) because I have a cover, but not a heater. So, I go to the public pool which is kept between 76 to 84 degrees depending on the weather and whether they cover it at night.

Being nervous is natural. Its a fantastic thing you are doing for yourself. Trust me, if you have a good enough instructor you WILL learn to swim. Its not as hard as it might seem. Keep us posted on your progress.

If you hold your breath and lay on your stomach with your legs out and your arms out, you will"Float" but you might "float" a couple of inches below the surface. If you didnt know that, you might have panicked, thinking you would go to the bottom, but you won't sink more than a few inches below the water's surface. You would be high enough up to turn your head and grab a breath.

Maybe if you used a snorkel, you could practice this with less anxiety. But a teacher would be the best way.

I swam my mile at dawn today.

[BBS1951]

I swam a mile today at dawn. I also put the pool cover on for the first time this year: Its expected to dip into the 60s at night this week and only mid 80s during the day.