OT exercise? anyone?

I do all my own yard work, house cleaning, maintenance other than electric and plumbing, keep the car washed and polished, and run up and down the stairs constantly for this and that. My dog is crippled from a birth defect and can't go on walks, so we play at home. Of course, I could go on walks without her . . .

I walk a mile just about every other day on my treadmill. Boring. I watch some kind of DVD while I go. It takes me the full next day to recuperate. I'm not sure it's doing the trick for my BP this time around. But it's better than nothing.

I'm also headed back to the exercise class I used to take when I first realized I wasn't superwoman. It's designed for women recovering from breast cancer, but they realized it's good for anyone needing gentle, rhythmic exercise to help pain and keep muscle tone. I quit because I was very down for a while and couldn't handle even that much exercise. But I'm desperately in need of dropping 10 pounds. It's that or double knee surgery. And the exercise class helped me with that last time.

Sunny

Hey, any kind of exercise has got to be better than double knee surgery. . . or stroke. I used to really enjoy an exercise tape (this was before DVD) that was tap-dancing. Even the little folks here liked to dance and make lots of noise. I think my Lawrence Welk days are over. Just wondered what you did that qualified as exercise that you enjoyed. Okay. Maybe not 'enjoyed'. How about are willing to do come hail or high water? Polly

"onetexsun" I walk a mile just about every other day on my treadmill. Boring. I

Yogi can't do long walks in brutal heat. Sometimes he says "that's all" and I carry him back home. He thinks he's Entitled and thinks I need to do weight-training. Poll

"Mary" I do all my own yard work, house cleaning, maintenance other than

Joanna, enjoy the little ones around there. They'll be grown just before you can blink. Exercise can come later. Trust me. Polly

"Joanna" Yoga. I just bought a beginner DVD. But before that I just do a lot of

I walk at least 1 mile on the treadmill at least 6 days a week with speed set at 2-3mph (start at 2 and increase until I get to 3 usually takes 10 minutes) and incline set at 3-5 with random changes. I've tried the elliptical and bike but my knees don't tolerate those.

I belong to Curves and go 3 times a week -- mostly. The workout is about 25 to 30 minutes and I HATE IT. Exercise is horrid and I truly hate it and resent having to do it. I probably wouldn't feel this strongly if it wasn't an absolute necessity. I don't loose weight -- 30 minutes 3x a week just isn't enough for me to loose -- that requires a minimum of 60 minutes of VERY strenuous exercise at least 6 times a week AND a maximum of 800 calories a day!! I'm just hoping to keep my skeletal problems and the arthritis at bay for as long as possible. Keep the ol' ticker a bit healthier, too. All of that being said, if you have to belong to a "gym" Curves is the place to join. There is a small mirror on the wall behind the check-in desk (no where near the machines, etc.) at my Curves and written on it is...."No Men, No Makeup, No Mirrors" which is what I like about it. There are women of all ages and shapes and sizes and we all just go through the routine and do our 30 minutes and then beat feet outta there! VBS, gettin' old ain't for sissies -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

800 calories? Good Lord have mercy! What is that? One cracker? But, yes. 'At bay' I guess is what I exercise for. Polly

"Tia Mary" I belong to Curves and go 3 times a week -- mostly. The workout is

I park my car in the outermost parking lot at work. Round trip is just over a 1/4 mile. Sometimes I "have to" go out at lunch so it doubles.

Most evenings I come home and go for a walk, and greet whatever friendly faces I see in the nighborhood. That's another mile or two. Also I have a mini-trampoline to use if weather is bad.

On the weekends I am up at first light and have a 3 mile walking loop that takes me to the park where the hawks keep me entertained.

Bicep curls with case files helps my arms.

Writing, quilting, crocheting, stretching, dreaming of winning the Lottery - all help me keep in shape.

G> I keep my blood pressure down ten points by exercise. =A0I keep it down 6= 0

I neglected to say that we live in a third floor walk up and I do a round trip on the average of 3 times a day.

Well, when you have literally NO metabolism to speak of, you don't need a lot of calories. Even as fat as I am (about 250# and 5'7"), my resting heart rate is in the mid 60's, my BP is in the 80/120 range and my temp is never above 96.5F unless I'm deathly ill. Back before menopause, when I WAS exercising strenuously and eating mostly air, salad & cottage cheese, the old BP was 60/90. The nurses at the Blood Donor place (I'm 0 neg. & used to donate every 8 wks) said they would have to jump start me to get my blood flowing strongly enough to get it out of my veins and into the quad pack -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

At risk of being drummed out of the group, I have to confess that I am a runner - have been for nearly 30 years. Don't run races any more, but still plug along 6 days a week for anything between 60 and 150 mins.

I bought an exercise video (for the 50+!); and I bought two Tai Chi DVD's, later. None of them have done me any good at all, however many times I watch them (not many, as I got discouraged). One of these days I suppose I'll have to try joining in, not just watching? >gg< I have a beautiful (well, you know) semi-recumbent exercise bike which is supposed to be kind to hips and knees. Mine is used so rarely that it certainly *is kind to hips and knees. I wish the exercise I do in my dreams had any effect. Sorry I can't really help, Polly. I did go on a six-month gym programme (specifically for blood pressure), and I did everything they asked me just as well as I could. At the end of the six-months, my BP hadn't altered one jot. I was so furious, I never went back and just don't have the dedication to do *anything like that consistently any more. I'm just hoping my years of being very sporty have stood me in good stead for osteoporosis etc. . In message , Polly Esther writes

Oh, good grief!

What a fantastic achievement Tutu. More than two hours running ... ... I shall have to go and have a cup of tea to recover from the thought.

Well done you, though. Marvellous. . In message , Tutu Haynes-Smart writes

I don't exercise as such, but garden, keep house, the usual household stuff and once a week I go to archery, which is my latest passion. Wanted to take part for years, but there were no clubs close by before.

I walk miles, 'cause after you've shot your arrows, you gotta go get them LOL! It is good incentive to hit the target!!! I've also graduated from a beginner bow on to a competition bow with a 34lb tension, so no "bingo wings" here!!!! It certainly helps with posture and having taken numerous yoga classes in the past, I can feel my deep muscles being exercised.

Usually I'm the only girl and there are about 6 other guys!!! So if we compete against each other for fun, they are so chivalrous, that they let me go first, mmmmmm. No pressure there!! Oh, but the adrenalin rush is fantastic, if you get the yellow or beat them!

My DDs also go as well and it has so helped their concentration and focus. Would recommend it. Our eldest member is in his mid 70s and the youngest is 8.

Taking up weight lifting as well - oh I mean that I'm packing the house at the moment ;P)

Janner France

Patti wrote:

Gracious, Tutu. I'm with Patti. I'll have to eat two doughnuts and go stretch out on the sofa to try to get over that confession. Polly

"Patti" Oh, good grief!

I admire you for that, Tutu! I used to do a lot of running "back in the day".

Activities in my past include competitive weightlifting, road bicycle racing. Training racehorses involved a lot of shoveling, lifting, and walking. Loved my Tai Chi years but need to find a local group now.

G> At risk of being drummed out of the group, I have to confess that I am a

ssage