9 replies to this topic

[Sandy W]

Good morning.....

Sorry for my dissappearance for a couple weeks. i was at another site within our organization working the midnight shift for a couple weeks helping with a new documentation system we are implementing. Switching back and forth from nights to days and then coming back and trying to catch up at my own "house" was quite challenging. But hopefully my schedule will allow me to be back on "Walkin Wednesday".

I was reading the last posts with compliance vs. adherence...I have another anology to use....survival. Like Ken and Darrell who want to do the things they always have and are not going to give in to the chronic disease COPD I think survival will make you compliant and adhere to your meds your exercise your making the right choices of lifestyle.

This was some really good dialog and actually can work for others that may have "chronic" or other situations that you need discipline....Weight mainteneance, Diabetic compliance, etc. You need discipline in many things in life to stay healthy and happy.

I'll be around today if there are any questions or comments.....Everyone keep up the god work on disciplinning yourself to a healthy lifestyle!!!!

Sandy

[Jane M. Martin]

Wow, Sandy, it's not easy to work different shifts like that. Kudos to you! I hope you're catching up at home -- and we're glad to see you here today!

You're right about adherence, absolutely. But I have another twist on it.....I think that sometimes the word "discipline" (to me, anyway) makes it sound like the things we have to do to reach that goal - are punishment.

For me, it feels better to make something part of a routine, so if I don't do it (like take my evening walks) I actually miss it. If I connect something fun - or at least something I like - with something that is difficult or requires motivation, it helps.

When it comes to indoor exercise, think about doing it while watching a favorite TV show or listening to music you really love. The time goes faster and when you're done, you can say that at least you enjoyed the show!

Jane.

[Sandy W]

Yep Jane you are absolutely right...you need to make it fun and then the benefits that you reap from being discipline following a routine will help you survive what you are going thru (chronic illness).....this is fun. After 11 years of a Catholic school I definitely know the word DISCIPLINE!!! lol and buck from it every chance I get.....kinda like Darrell and Ken...lol.

And yes flip flopping was not easy...it took me a good week to get myself back to normal

[Darrell]

There is also commitment involved which in my case has alot to do with the rewards of the exercise being greater than the effort required (most days!). To demonstrate that I'll repeat something I posted in the Village Gym:

"Just a note that our BBLW group on the Presidential Challenge site has surpassed 3/4 million "points" in their exercise tracking system. It's hard to say exactly what a "point" equates to but I think it is somewhere close to a calorie. Back pats to Claire, Ken and myself (careful I don't hurt my arm doing that) for a year and a half of commitment."

Darrell

[Jane M. Martin]

Wow, Darrell! That's excellent! And that's a whole lot of points!

Congrats to you and Claire and Ken! A year and a half is a long time, and I'm sure there were plenty of days when exercising was the last thing you felt like doing.

If I lived close enough to you I'd come over there myself and pat you on the back - and I'd also give you a big hug!

Thanks so much for telling all of us. You have every right to brag.

Woo-hoo!

Jane.

[craigrrt]

You guys are talking about something I have really become passionate about the last few years. Exercise used to be more of a chore that I dreaded mostly because it bored me, but also the time constraints I encountered. I started doing some experimenting with new techniques and found some great ways to streamline and blend my excercises to maximize results yet minimize time involved.

We are discovering more and more the true benefits of exercise and how it helps our bodies cope with the daily stresses put upon it. I know Darrell and others that take exercise serious can attest to the bennefits exercise have in regards to their COPD. I am almost 44 and albeit healthy, I do feel the effects of age and the some of the earlier abuses I put upon my body. I have been able to achieve a high level of fitness, but studies have shown that even exercise at moderate amounts provide great benefits for our bodies.

I started a blog a while back to share some ideas and inspiration. Many of the exercises I share can be advanced, but many require no equipment and can be done at home.

http://www.resolvefit.blogspot.com/

[Darrell]

Craig I went to your blog, good info. Are you aware of an exercise program for advanced COPD patients that would improve muscle efficiency of their work so as not to get desaturated halfway thru the routine? Of course the basics are offered in PR but what next. I have consulted a couple of trainers and developed my routines so that I'm getting good exercise but, for example, I'd like to be able to use a rowing machine but find that it just involves too many muscles at once and I can't maintain my safe O2 levels. I find similar issues with many core muscle exercises and lunges etc, probably anything you would find challenging I would not be able to sustain for long enough to make it worthwhile.
Darrell

[Jane M. Martin]

Thanks, Craig, for sharing our blog with us - very interesting, and nice to see your daughter in action!

Darrell, do you work on weight machines at PR? In the rehab I worked in, even our participants with very advanced COPD could do 1.) leg presses and 2.) arm pull-backs. I'm sure there are more options, but that's what I remember seeing them do.

Jane.

[Ken-FL]

I think what Darrell is referring to are exercises that tend to work multiple muscle groups at the same time. I use the tread mill and recumbent bike extensively and I work with now 14 different weight training machines on a rotating basis and I knoiw what all of that has done for me and am happy with the results. However things like the rowing machine where the seat slides and one uses both the lower body and the arms at the same time for a more intensive workout that sort of combines weight and aerobic exercise together is simply too much with sat levels quickly falling to unacceptable levels.

This can be very frustrating but I have moved past that and accept there are somethings I can't do and I keep seeking things that I can do and as I am able I add speed, resistance and/or weight to the things I can do. The frustration of failing on some of the more intensive machines was much greater than any benefit I got from them in the few minutes I was able to maintain the required form at acceptable O2 levels.

I am sure Darrell's situation is similar.

Ken

[Darrell]

Yes Jane my usual workout includes an hour of cardio and 30 min circuit of various weight/resistance machines. Ken is right, I should probably stick to things that work better for me.
Darrell