The Glade 4.0

OK, so it's time for me to get fit. I've gained way too much weight over the last year and a half, and I was never as fit as I'd like to be to begin with. Weight loss is secondary to being able to work a full shift on my feet at this point. I have a few extra challenges, though.

Challenge 1: I can't do anything that makes me breathe hard. If I do I start coughing and it doesn't stop until I throw up and/or pass out. Apparently I've gone too many rounds with bronchitis. So the goal will be to keep my cardio just under that level.

Challenge 2: My knees don't bend well. It's not about impact or weight bearing or resistance, it's just that the joint is worn out. Walking on the treadmill is good, elliptical machines leave me unable to walk the next day. This also means I can't do any thigh-targeted weight lifting.

Challenge 3: My wrists are wrecked, they are weak and won't bend enough to do pushups. There must be a machine somewhere that will work my upper body without relying much on my wrists.


So what I've done so far is I've joined Planet Fitness, the kiddie pool of gyms. For only $10 a month I get to use their equipment in air conditioned glory. There are plenty of treadmills, never any waiting, and they have one of those 30 minute circuits. I am alternating days, one I walk an hour in my target heart rate (135-150), the next I walk 15 minutes, do a 30 minute circuit, then walk another 15 to cool off. i'm thinking that since I'm not working out terribly hard I don't need a rest day between.


Oh, and Challenge 4: Supportive bras in my size aren't cheap, and unsupportive bras hurt like hell.

Yea! Taamar sounds like a good starting plan. Just keep doing it and it will get easier! If u need support, we are here for you!

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

_________________

Ezekiel 23:19-20 

Swimming Pool, aquarobics are extremely low impact. Some gyms have them.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Swimming is good exercise, but it can be expensive and sometimes the schedules can be difficult to accomodate.

Locally, the "Y" is the only place with swimming pools. You can swim any time you want as long as its at 5:30 in the morning :p

The "Y" is also the most affordable of all of the local gym options, which also means its the most crowded, and doesn't always have the best equipment.

They do however have some pretty good programs for tracking your progress. Their cardio equipment is all connected to a system that automatically tracks your distance/reps, etc... and some of the resistance/weight gear also has the ability to automatically log and track your efforts. They are interconnected between facilities... and you can add/update outside activities online via their website.

This can help with the motivation, and for tracking progress and improvement.

I always need support... these damn things are heavy!

Great page, Rynar... shame every single image shows knees bent beyond what I can do. I'll read through the articles and see what I can glean for someone with movement restrictions.

And Mike, impact isn't an issue... bending is. Doc says swimming is a no-go unless I'm doing arms-only. It's only a matter of time before my knee needs replacing, but it's not going to happen without a job and insurance.

Midgen, the Y here is $55 a month. And, as above, no swimming.

Walking is great exercise . And the circuit will give you variety. As you get more comfy, you can change things up. Right now, make it a part of your life. I lost 25 -30 lbs since I've started working out and running.

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

I hope to run again someday. But yeah, for now I'm thinking it's better to start slow and work on basics. Last summer I went for a walk with a friend, we were out for about 40 minutes and I was bedridden the next day... the road was uneven and the pace wasn't right for me. And walking outside has the disadvantage that if you start hurting several blocks from home you can't just stop.

To start, find something you enjoy doing if you can. Anything active. If that's treadmills in the AC fine. I would say that down the line the goal is to keep progressing and pushing yourself.

I would focus the vast majority of my efforts on nutrition. Not over thinking it or counting calories. Just eliminating the bad and replacing it with good quality food.

A bit of activity with some good eating habits and I think the challenges will be less challenging and you can move forward from there.

EDIT: Just a note on the bedridden the next day thing. I agree you should not over do it at first! Push yourself but do so within reason. The beginning is always difficult. When I start doing my stuff after even a brief layoff, it can feel like I was hit by a truck. The key is being consistent and advancing, not burning out quickly.

_________________
“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general”. - Mark Rippetoe

Funny how life works...

My fitness program is now 8 hours on my feet, heavy lifting (80lb pots of soup) and cardio (dishes). The first week was brutal, but I'm settling in now.