I was just curious what you all do for exercise and how often. Or are you exercising at all? I walk/run on my treadmill. I would like to do it atleast 4-5 times a week but I'm good if I manage 3X. I also go for walks and bike rides with my kids occasionally. Or mow the lawn. I did that once. It is hard. I was breathing heavy and my heart was pounding but, hey, it didn't freak me out! I would also like to lift weights but I haven't prioritized that one in yet. Always hopeful. Reena

Hi Reena:

My exercise routine is Treadmill 3 to 5 days a week (the 5 days a week is on a good week) , I also work in some weight training about 3 days a week - I also try to work in sit-ups.

I'm really good at sticking with it when I am not really busy, but sometimes it falls by the wayside when putting in 12 hour days -I don't do this too often, but it really bothers me when I do. I do know that I feel incredibly better when i am consisten with the exercise - it is easier to keep it up once you work it into your routine for several weeks in a row - it then seem that you almost have to have it - what a great addiction.

Take care Reena, thanks for all your support.

Hey Reena,

I'm still jogging 5km, 4 to 6 times per week.
I've also entered a couple of event to keep me going such us the Terry Fox Run, the CIBC Run For The Cure, and the C.N Tower stair climb. These get me motivated to maintain omy jogging routine while at the same time helping with much needed reasearch.

Now that the winter is coming I will continue with my jogging outdoors but only 4 times per week. The rest of the week I'll do weights and/or Tae Bo.

Like you I try to get as much exercise with my child as well by going bike riding, walks and good old playing.

AND, I've also started going out dancing (3-4 hours, 2 or more times per month) which has helped me out a great deal.

Hi Reena - When I saw your topic, my initial response was "what exercise routine".

I was doing so well up until February early this year. Up until then I had been on Weigh Watchers and had lost 31 lbs. and felt so great. I walked every day, am and pm, for 40 minutes each time - THEN, my back went out. I was flat on my back for a month and the rehabilitation after that was so very slow. After 2 months, I still could not half a block without terrible back spasms. Thankfully, I am past that now, but my back is still so touchy. I have just started up a walking routine again, and now have 14 lbs. back on -

Once I lost the weight, it was the walking that helped me maintain my weight loss without having to worry too much about what I ate all the time. I see now, that the walking is what keeps my weight in check, so I have to get back to it.

I WILL get this 14 lbs. back off - it's just so discouraging at times.

Take care,
Calico

Cutufa,
Wow! You sound sooo busy with exercise! Its amazing that we all have the same 24 hours and you manage to get a lot of it in there. You are an inspiration. I still can't jog but a few minutes at a time without almost colapsing! I also don't keep up with it like I should. I would love to be able to jog atleast 20 minutes. I guess I need to prioritize a bit better. I notice the difference when I slack. And Kudos to you! Reena

Calico,
It must have been terrible going thru that. If my math is correct you still have lost 16 lbs! Don't concentrate on the 14 you gained back but the 16 you got rid of! And I'm glad you are starting a walking routine again. How wonderful. You will be feeling better again. Will the walking help your back heal faster? I know you get the spasms but won't the walking help that to dissipate? Just curious. Keep it up and so will I. Reena

Reena,

I started very, very slowly 2 years ago. I would jog one minute (or less in the beginning) and walk about 5 minutes. You can do this too... practice makes perfect, so the saying goes.

The 5km takes me now about 25 to 30 minutes to complete. The events I enter are pretty spread out thoughout the year.
I'm addicted to jogging I guess. I feel that if I don't jog on a particular day, that I will get an anxiety attack. This keeps me going.

Jogging is like medicine (as Dolphin and I discussed once).Maybe one day I wont need it as much.

Happy trails to you

Hi All:
I devoloped my exercise routine over several months of very hard work.
On weekdays, my workday starts at 0430 and ends at 1530. This is a combination of work and commute time. I live in the San Francisco Bay area.
I work one hour on my stationary bike each day. This does not include warm-up or cool down time.
I average about 15 miles or so.
On Saturday and Sunday, I wake up early, practice TAI CHI, then walk for about 1.5 hours. At the end of the day, I still ride my stationary bike.
I feel soooo good, my emotions are well guided and under control. Anxiety is almost GONE!!

Well, time to go back to work.....all of you who read this....stay strong, stay dedicated and you will find a new life.

Good Luck to all of you

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by calico:
I walked every day, am and pm, for 40 minutes each time - THEN, my back went out. I was flat on my back for a month and the rehabilitation after that was so very slow. After 2 months, I still could not half a block without terrible back spasms. Thankfully, I am past that now, but my back is still so touchy.

Calico, I used to jog years ago, but had to let it go because it was just too punishing on the body: Heels, knees, back, etc. As you may know, I found water walking is one of the safest activities to do with the kind of back situation you�ve discussed. The buoyancy of the water helps lift the disks to take pressure off the nerves. The resistance of the water makes for a good exercise without the kind of punishing pounding experienced on dry land. If spasms were of serious concern, then I�d choose a place that has lifeguards on duty and introduce yourself and your situation to them.

Reena, may have guessed by now that any exercise routine for me best involves the water:

When I get into the water, I get out of anxiety-panic-depression!

Try swimming or under water jumping jacks!

I�ve tried every exercise and activity you can think of and found swimming is the best way to get relief from anxiety-panic-depression symptoms. Swimming forces you into the present moment. Your thoughts will be forced to refocus on getting that next breath of air, and nothing else will seem more important than that. You cannot think of anything else while swimming because as soon as you do you�ll get a mouth full of water. Solutions don�t get any simpler than that!

EVEN MORE, swimming is one of the all time best ways to rebalance the breath and body chemistry. I have personally experienced how the calming effects of swimming may last for days afterward. For days after a swim, whenever an anxious moment arises there is a natural deep cleansing breath that happens as if swimming through the anxious moment!

The key to getting ALL these benefits and more is simply making sure to exhale with the head in the water: Blowing the air out against the force of the water is the key; that�s why no other activity will provide the kind of relief swimming will for anxiety-panic-depression. It really doesn�t matter what kind of stroke you choose to do: Make up a new one of your own, or just flop around. In fact you can even just stay in one place and do jumping jacks in the water: Inhale on the jump up, and exhale under water on the jump down! You�ll be amazed how just a FEW minutes WILL offer more relief than any drug!

Solutions don�t get any simpler than this!

See you in the water!



[This message has been edited by Dolphin (edited 10-25-2001).]

Hi all!

Sounds like you're all doing great except for Calico. I know you will achieve your goal though!

This is what my week looks like. Cycling outdoors for 1/2 hour.

Interval training at the track for 2 miles. I used to be a competive long distance runner until I got burned out on just doing that. I will sprint the straights and walk the curves for you that don't know what intervals are. I applaud you Cutufa for what you are doing!!! You will meet so many wonderful people and it is very motivating to keep entering the fun runs. I was in the top ten for 10k's in my County and my longest run was the Seattle 1/2 Marathon. Keep up the good work!!!

Jump rope for 10 mins.

3 mile walk.
These are all done on separate days followed by lifting weights. Nothing big, it's basically leg exersizes, crunches, and some upper body w/ no more than 2-20 lbs. It just depends on the exercise.

Some mornings all I want to do is stretch. I'll do Yoga then.

As you can see I love a variety and fresh air! AND in the summertime I'm up hiking in the mountains!

Feelin' great!
Diane

quote:

Originally posted by Reena:
I was just curious what you all do for exercise and how often. Or are you exercising at all? I walk/run on my treadmill. I would like to do it atleast 4-5 times a week but I'm good if I manage 3X. I also go for walks and bike rides with my kids occasionally. Or mow the lawn. I did that once. It is hard. I was breathing heavy and my heart was pounding but, hey, it didn't freak me out! I would also like to lift weights but I haven't prioritized that one in yet. Always hopeful. Reena

[This message has been edited by dl (edited 10-25-2001).]

Thanks Dl,
My next goal is to enter a 1/2 or even full marathon at some point in time... even if I have to crawl half the way to the finish line. Yoga is something that I would like to combine with jogging to help strengthen/stretch my muscles. Jogging allows me to run away without actually "running away."

Dolphin,
I love swimming too but limit it as I do not feel too comfortable in a swim suit, yet. I may be allergic to chlorine as I have develop hives during a swim.
I feel about jogging the same way you do about swimming. Since I do sprints during my jogging routine, it keeps me busy and focused on my breathing technique.
Swimming is a wonderful way to relax, and I look forward to doing more of it.