91 replies to this topic

[Darrell]

On the second day of the year I'm batting 100% with a gym day today and an outdoor exercise yesterday. Feeling strong after an hour of fairly vigorous cardio and probably more weights than I should be doing with this IV line in my arm.

Welcome to 2012 at the BBLW Village Gym. If you are a regular here, welcome back. If you are new here you are especially welcome. Your exercise may be the most important thing you do in 2012. So get active, enjoy your workout and do it again and again. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask here at the Gym. We may not have all the answers but we have a lot of experience and access to resources that have a great deal of knowledge and exertise.

Darrell

[Darrell]

Tim,

I agree that making too many or too optimistic resolutions can be a mistake. Like you I'm not commiting to a particular result but I will commit to continue making an effort daily to improve my level of fitness. That for me means to get to the gym in the morning and to push away from the table more often the rest of the day. My record of effort at the gym is proven but the nutritional side of the equation needs some improvement. It seems silly I should have to make a special effort when I am fully aware that just improving my diet a little bit makes me feel better and lose some of my unnecessary "insulation".

Darrell

[Tim]

I decided to use the Super Tracker that Dee told us about last week. It's just something to help me stay on track and a place
to keep a record of my progress...I hope.

My Son came by for a little while yesterday afternoon and loaded my new MP3 player with a whole lot of music.
I told him a probable had enough to last at least 6 months or so but he assures me that I will run through this play list
and be begging for more in no time at all. Since I plan to only use it on the T/M.... We'll see.

It was nice to enjoy something new while I walked this morning though and I have to admit, the time just flew right by. I did 40 min's
total between exercising and walking on the T/M. I need to do at least 155 min's a week to meet my min goal on this new Program.

I'm excited and feeling good, I pray it stays this way for a long time.

Easy Breathing

Tim

[Ken-FL]

Tim, Hope the Super Tracker helps keep you going, I think any formal tracking program helps to motivate me and also allows me to see where I have been and what kind of progress I may be making. I listen to an I-pod while exercising and it helps the time pass and I also find it keeps my pace up as I tend to listen to upbeat 60s and 70s rock and roll.

Had a good workout this morning after getting hit with the 40 degree temps when I walked out the door. Expecting a hard freeze and temps in the 20s tonight so it will be extra hard to hit the door at 5:30 AM tomorrow. If I lived up north with so many of you and had the cold winters I don't think I could head out early every morning to the gym or to PR. You all should be proud of your efforts, it is much easier here when we have our normal warm days.

Have a great 1st week of the year.

Ken-FL

[Dee]

It looks like you guys are doing well and are off to a strong start in this new year. I hope you continue to improve and are able to keep the momentum going. Your continued dedication to exercise even when your body says it would be easier to be lazy, is admirable. You are a wonderful example of what a difference exercise can make in our lives. Thank-you for encouraging us to be the best we can be.

[Darrell]

Ken we're expecting a high of 31* here today but surprisingly I haven't had any cold weather breathing issues so far. It has always been hard to get up and get out this time of year but for me I think it's more of an issue of trying to head out while it is still dark rather than the cold. It's nice being retired and being able to have a flexible schedule but I still prefer getting an early start.

Tim I agree that using the Super Tracker or any kind of measurement helps me stay focused. I often need that to keep me from venturing away from what I know I should be doing.

Today was good for 70 min of cardio, just a little extra time on the bike. I hope we can all have some good exercise today.

Darrell

[Tim]

The snow moved on and left us with some very frigid temps. Down to 15 overnight and it's only 25* right now
at 11am. Warming up the next two days into the 50's then back into the 30's. Standard January Weather.

Dew had the car all warmed up when she came to pick me up this morning and the Girl doing the Valet Parking
was waiting at the door. It was a nice start to my day.

I felt great at PR. My B/P is great, My Stats are great and I've been able to get my Heart Rate up to the mid 120's
while exercising and then watch it drop right back down like it suppose to after I'm done. I'm very happy about that.
I did the full workout today for a full hour of exercise. Did I mention, I felt great and even better now that I'm done.

I already have my house work done so now it's time for some lunch and a short nap before I go pick Dew Up.

I'm really liking this new program. It's easy to use and gives me more useful info for my purposes.

Have an Easy Breathing Day

im

[peg]

Well, we got the snow, and the cold...at least yesterday's wind died down. Driveway is icey and slick. I have been off to a slow start today, but finally getting moving after all. Next step today is a neb treatment then downstairs on the new T/M. It will just have to take the place of PR when it is this cold out - the walk into the building is just too far when it is this cold. It is exhausting dealing with the cold.

Tim, you sound so much improved from a couple of weeks ago! Hope you can keep that going. That's great!
Darrell, you sound pretty good on your med plan, too.
Ken, you always keep on. That's great!
Have I missed Claire somewhere here?
Dee, how are you doing?
Neva, have you applied yet? Good luck with that.

Happy New Year everyone!

[Ken-FL]

A cool crisp 32 degrees this morning but that is warmer than was forecast and now we will be on a slow warming trend back into the 70s for the weekend. Good workout at the gym this morning with weight added back to resistance machines now that I have been off the Levaquin for a few weeks.

Tim you are sounding terrific, great to hear you feeling so well.Peg, how is that new treadmill? Hope it provides the access and motivation you are looking for to stay active in those cold northern months.

A beautiful sunny morning today in spite of the cold is helping to lift my spirits from the death of a friend yesterday. Memorial is Friday and I will be there to say my final goodbyes and share hugs with the family.

Breathe well today and tell someone you love how important they are to you today!

Ken-FL

[peg]

Ken, so sorry to hear about your friend. That's always difficult. Keep your warm memories.
T/M is great! Salvation Army came and picked up the old one yesterday! That's great. We worried about how to get rid of it,
and now it is gone! The new one does everything I needed it to do and Nick is using it as well. Now I need to get on track
with the goals and the Presidents Club, or at least tracking myself.

Today is "catch up" day. The day to finish putting "Christmas" away, laundry, and cleaning up my desk area. It catches everything
I am uncertain of what to do with and builds~! Now I am buried!

Easy breathing, everyone. Have a great day!

Smiles
Peg

[Tim]

Ken, I too am sorry to hear about your friend. I know how hard it is to lose someone with cancer, so many peoples lives are cut short.
I'll keep you in my Prayers.

Peg, glad to hear that the new T/M is working out for you and Nick. It would be wonderful to have a new T/M. Something for me to think about.

Darrell, it sounds like your doing better. Are the IV's still in?

I'm still on schedule for the week with my exercise. It's amazing how much different I feel from one day to the next though. It may be because
I'm pushing myself a little too much. My SPo2 wasn't as good today as it was yesterday, only running 89-90% on 4 Liters. I did manage to get
in 35 min's of exercise though. My Goal is to do at lest 30 min's a day, so with that goal in mind, I'm doing great, just a bunch more SOB today.
Weather related maybe?

I put the makings for Lentil Soup in the crock pot this morning. Dew won't eat them. There new to me and there not really one of my favorites
but their so good for you, along with some onion, carrot, celery, zucchini/summer squish and a bunch of beefsteak tomatoes in beef broth....
and MAYBE a small pan of cornbread...

[Darrell]

Tim I think we're having lentil soup today also. Something my wife made and froze a while back, she likes lentils with chicken and has made some good soups but not from a recipe. And of course corn bread is good with everything except a diet but maybe just a small serving.

Ken good to hear you are back up to speed at the gym, I also went full strength today so I am pleased at the (slow) progress I'm making with the IV antibiotic after almost 2 weeks. I would definitely say I'm back to my baseline today or maybe a little better than that. But, like Tim and most of us, I also find those day to day fluctuations in my breathing which don'y really have much explanation, they just happen. Still it is a good day today and I did a full 30 min on the T/M and another 30 on the elliptical, plus a leg and ab workout.

Peg it's nice to have your new T/M operating for both of you. I hope you start putting up some points on the Presidential Challenge site. As a group we're approaching 1/2 million points, I'm just amazed by us.

Have a good day.

Darrell

[Tim]

Your right Darrell, cornbread sure does go with everything except a diet. In fact, as soon as I added to my Food Tracker for today,
I took it off. No Cornbread for me. To be honest, I could have afforded the extra calories as the Lentil Soup is very low calorie.
It was the sodium that got me. I'm only allowed 1500 mg's of salt a day and it's crazy how fast it adds up, even if you never
touch the salt shaker. I also was surprised to find that 6 saltines are lower calorie and have less sodium then the cornbread. It's a
shame I don't eat crackers anymore.

This Super Tracker I'm using really helps me to watch what I'm eating... Its from the USDA and has a lot to offer.

[claire]

Good Morning All:

Ken, my sympathy on the loss of your friend. It has always been hard to say good-bye to our loved ones but it seems the older we get the harder it becomes.....

Darrell, glad to hear that you are feeling stronger and back to it "full steam" in the gym. The same goes for you, Tim. Those 30 minutes a day on the TM will, hopefully, keep you strong and feeling your best.

Peg, congrats on the new treadmill! You and Nick will be pleased with all the bells and whistles - it makes a difference to use equipment that works well. And the Presidential Challenge will keep your efforts for you easily. My husband has an acccount on there now too and he just earned his Bronze Medal this week! It really is a motivator in this house.

I am plodding on with the walking outside daily and want to get back to the stair climbing on a regular basis as I let that lapse over the holidays....started back at it yesterday and it was a trial....can't believe that two weeks off make such a difference in getting back to something! My pulmo has ordered a pulse ox sleep study to be done on Friday night....they will drop off the equipment and can do it at home, thank goodness. He thinks I may be desaturating at night and thus the climb in the blood pressure. I really appreciate him as he seems to look at the total picture and tries to get a handle on what is going on with everything instead of just focusing on the "disease". He is also looking at what would be best for the arthritis issues in the fingers, shoulder and foot as most meds increase the blood pressure also and so it is a "trial and error" with any new med on board.

Weather here has been a wonder.....40 today and no SNOW cover....have had only an inch or so since the beginning of December......if this keeps up we will set all sorts of records for a mild winter! Hurray!

Stay well, everyone, and enjoy all of the lentils and cornbread that January brings.

Claire

[Tim]

The Lentils turned out really good but just had to have some kind of bread with them... so settled for 1 slice of Rye bread with a dab of
Benecol. At least it was whole grain and the Benecol is suppose to be good for you, something about plant steroids(sterols). I've been
told by more then one Dr to use it. It's suppose to help with lowering Cholesterol.

We're having Great Weather too, Sunshine and up into the 50's today and tomorrow. Can't beat it.

I made it to PR today and did my full routine. You can sure tell I haven't been exercising as much as normal lately. This is my 4th day this week and
I'm really feeling it. That's OK, I'm done now and can take a nap. I don't want to be falling asleep in the middle of holding a conversation with Dew
this afternoon.

According to my activity tracker I have accumulated 80 mins of exercise today... most of it was on on the T/M(30 mins) and Exercise Bike(20 mins).
assorted other machines and exercises made up the rest of time.

Claire, I know what you mean about the Arthritis Medications. I've tried numerous medications and have had problems with all of them.
Lately, I've just been trying to get by with exercise and Ibuprofen. I'm OK as long as the Sciatic Nerve that runs through my hip doesn't
flare up. That can be very painful. I hope you find something that helps you without side effects.

I hope your all having a great day, see you tomorrow.