Exercise - just doing it!

[planetclaire]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

My husband is the same, talks all day long with clients, comes home to do wii fit and treadmill. We talked about him getting a gym membership as something to do together, but he hated the idea! I totally understand.

[Peej]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

I pulled out all of the exercise equipment from the crawl space at my parent's house. I've got a weight bench, treadmill, one of those rower things, I just go to town! After a particularly good workout, sometimes I try to keep my heart rate up for a bit by doing some wii boxing. I get really into it, I'm definitely a wii champ!

I don't go to the gym because every time I get a gym membership, I never go. I'll go for a week and never show up again. I like being able to just run down the stairs and do my workout first thing in the morning before getting in the shower. I hate going out without a shower! Even if I don't have time in the morning, I always do at least 5 mins at a moderate pace on the treadmill just to get me going. Even just 5 minutes gets my heart pumping and I'm in a better mood for the whole day (and also more likely to exercise later!).

[ikilledrafe]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

cardio kick video and as much DDR as i can handle before my icky 12 hr. night shifts of work. : p. My legs hurt so bad right now. I slacked off last month. BUT IM BACK! and kicking...literally!

DDR (Dance dance revolution.) It's so fun and there's so many different versions w/ different songs.

[Zarabelle]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

Fantastic!! You will be addicted again in no time

[basketballbelly]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

Where I work I am in the wellness program, I've been paying for the gym membership for about three years now. I wish I was the same person I was about 8 years ago...I still love the gym but I seem to get burned out quickly. I usually do much better when I have a gym buddy, but the women my size/age don't want to 'go and workout with the skinny younger women' during our lunch hours (yep, they have actually said that to me). So I go in spirts, I will go faithfully for about 1-3 months and then nothing for the rest of the year...it's terrible.

I've been back in the gym for 2 weeks now (since I started doing induction right) and love love love it. I have a gym at home as well, I used to be able to get up at 5AM and exercise there also, but I just can't seem to pull myself out of bed in the AM. I've tried everything!

Good luck with the challenges! , I tried to do pushups last night and could not even do one...tomorrow I add weight training back into my routine.

bbb

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

Once you get out of the habit, it is so hard to get going again. I had major surgery twice in 90 days and had to stop exercising for a long time. I was addicted prior to surgery, but here it is 13 months later and I have to force myself to do anything. I was doing 350 minutes of exercise a week at the time of the first surgery. Since I have been allowed to exercise again, about nine months, I probably have exercised 350 minutes, total!


I joined a challenge yesterday and wrote out my exercise plan for the next two weeks. One thing I had to do was (depending on temperature) either walk or get on the recumbent stepper as soon as I got up and before breakfast. I really didn't want to do it, but I got on the stepper and did 30 minutes.


The thing is, I know how much more energy I have and how much more I feel like staying active all day after exercise, I just don't want to start. You would think that I could remember how much better I feel physically and mentally, but I seem to have selective memory.

Joining the challenge will keep me accountable. If it doesn't, I give you all the right to call me out on it. You can use the : or the , whichever works for you!

I am also using this as my research on exercise and low carb for the book I am writing. I weighed, measured and took pictures today. I plan to continue for 90 days as my own guinea pig/lab rat.

Sunny!

[rajenki]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

I suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury back in 2002. Since then, cardio exercise has been my biggest challenge...but I think I'm finally concurring it!

My injury affects my hamstrings mostly (they pretty much don't work at all)...but also my calves, hip flexors, glutes and adductors (all are extremely weak). I currently walk with a crutch but started off in a wheelchair...it's been a long road to get where I am today. I suffer from some pretty obnoxious hip pain (mostly on the right) because I walk in an unnatural way.

Several years ago I bought an elliptical that has sat in my home collecting modest amounts of dust for quite some time. I started really trying to use it this summer...logging about 4 minutes at a time before my quads (which over-compensate for my lack of hamstrings) would want to totally give out. When I started Atkins on March 2nd, I was still at 4 minutes per session...as of yesterday, I'm at 20! I’m at a level 1 with zero incline....so I have LOTS of room to build on once I master this. I can’t believe I’m at 20 minutes though! Pre injury, I could knock out 60 minutes...not sure if I’ll get there, but might as well try!

Another way I get my heart rate up is through upper body Tae Bo. I sit on my weight bench in front of a tv and do the upper body punches. I'm bored with it though...I don't like this particular video I have. I don't think Billy Blanks does a good job of balancing the workout on both sides of the body...so I get agitated. He'll work the heck out of the right side and totally skips the left for the same combo...annoys me. Sometimes I try just doing my own punch combo's while watching regular television, but I like having guided instruction to follow. I guess I should look for a new video.

I also have a Reebok Step from my pre-injury days. I use it now to try to train myself to climb steps again. That, in itself, is a workout since my legs just don't like doing it. I have it in front of my elliptical and I use the arm frame of the elliptical for my leverage/balance. I'll have to take a picture so you can see what I mean.

I do lots of arm stuff with currently only 3lb weights...but will be moving up to 5lbs soon. I had some serious triceps back in the wheelchair days, but that was a while ago now. I also do simple leg exercises...simple to able bodied people, insanely difficult for me...these get my heart rate up, too. I do knee lifts, I attempt hamstring curls...but really almost nothing happens, abductor sidekicks and squats...all while hanging onto something for dear life...I found a new use for my old walker in this little workout routine. I finish off every workout with 3 sets of 12 crunches and 2 sets of 12 each side oblique crunches. I used to do so many more...so I can’t wait to get my core strong again!

I’ve never in my life been able to do a push up...but I do wall-aways, which feel incredibly effective. I even did them when I was able-bodied. I highly recommend 3 sets of these, daily.

I did two very strenuous workouts over the weekend. I find during the week that if I don’t do them in the AM before work, I won’t do it...but getting up is hard. It’s getting easier...but I still struggle with it. Last week I think I managed to get up at least 2 times...that was awesome. Today...I slept in. But...after the tough workouts this weekend, I can give myself a one day pass. Tomorrow I’m shooting for 21 minutes on that elliptical!

[msanjelpie]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

We have a gym at home, so right now I'm on the treadmill, but as I gain endurance I'll switch over to the stair stepper. I enjoy watching TV while working out to take my mind off of it...

The fun part is my 9 year old son coming in and doing all the arm and leg weight machines while I'm doing my thing... he's so cute...

After I lose a bunch of weight and can actually move around easily then I'll use my pilates videos and do that workout after the cardio workout. He really loves doing those on the mats...

[basketballbelly]

Re: Exercise - just doing it!

I suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury back in 2002. Since then, cardio exercise has been my biggest challenge...but I think I'm finally concurring it!

My injury affects my hamstrings mostly (they pretty much don't work at all)...but also my calves, hip flexors, glutes and adductors (all are extremely weak). I currently walk with a crutch but started off in a wheelchair...it's been a long road to get where I am today. I suffer from some pretty obnoxious hip pain (mostly on the right) because I walk in an unnatural way.

Several years ago I bought an elliptical that has sat in my home collecting modest amounts of dust for quite some time. I started really trying to use it this summer...logging about 4 minutes at a time before my quads (which over-compensate for my lack of hamstrings) would want to totally give out. When I started Atkins on March 2nd, I was still at 4 minutes per session...as of yesterday, I'm at 20! I’m at a level 1 with zero incline....so I have LOTS of room to build on once I master this. I can’t believe I’m at 20 minutes though! Pre injury, I could knock out 60 minutes...not sure if I’ll get there, but might as well try!

Another way I get my heart rate up is through upper body Tae Bo. I sit on my weight bench in front of a tv and do the upper body punches. I'm bored with it though...I don't like this particular video I have. I don't think Billy Blanks does a good job of balancing the workout on both sides of the body...so I get agitated. He'll work the heck out of the right side and totally skips the left for the same combo...annoys me. Sometimes I try just doing my own punch combo's while watching regular television, but I like having guided instruction to follow. I guess I should look for a new video.

I also have a Reebok Step from my pre-injury days. I use it now to try to train myself to climb steps again. That, in itself, is a workout since my legs just don't like doing it. I have it in front of my elliptical and I use the arm frame of the elliptical for my leverage/balance. I'll have to take a picture so you can see what I mean.

I do lots of arm stuff with currently only 3lb weights...but will be moving up to 5lbs soon. I had some serious triceps back in the wheelchair days, but that was a while ago now. I also do simple leg exercises...simple to able bodied people, insanely difficult for me...these get my heart rate up, too. I do knee lifts, I attempt hamstring curls...but really almost nothing happens, abductor sidekicks and squats...all while hanging onto something for dear life...I found a new use for my old walker in this little workout routine. I finish off every workout with 3 sets of 12 crunches and 2 sets of 12 each side oblique crunches. I used to do so many more...so I can’t wait to get my core strong again!

I’ve never in my life been able to do a push up...but I do wall-aways, which feel incredibly effective. I even did them when I was able-bodied. I highly recommend 3 sets of these, daily.

I did two very strenuous workouts over the weekend. I find during the week that if I don’t do them in the AM before work, I won’t do it...but getting up is hard. It’s getting easier...but I still struggle with it. Last week I think I managed to get up at least 2 times...that was awesome. Today...I slept in. But...after the tough workouts this weekend, I can give myself a one day pass. Tomorrow I’m shooting for 21 minutes on that elliptical!

You are my hero. What a touching story. God bless, I wish you well.

bbb