Fitness post shelter in place: EEYURG. :(

[labelleizzy]

I've been doing short workouts twice a week, during this whole pandemic, but that's basically all. I've kept a decent amount of the muscle 💪 strength I developed pre pandemic, most of the flexibility.

But.

My shit still hurts, regularly. Still have regular aches at the dislocation and bone breaks (right ankle, knee, wrist) plus where those limbs join the torso (shoulder and hip/lower back).

Yesterday I took a walk with my niece, from her house into downtown mountain view. It's like five or six short city blocks, not like long New York or SF blocks. That and back again, and stopping at two shops.

Holy CATS y'all. My endurance isn't great. My wind isn't great. Even my balance isn't great, because the muscles in the right side of me haven't been getting enough challenge to stay strong, soft and healthy.

I wasn't embarrassingly wobbly, but I could feel it, and was reminded of how difficult it used to be to walk straight before I had the ACL replacement surgery. Which I never enjoy that reminder.

Uncomfortable, not fully painful.

Bit of a blister on the sole of my foot, achy body especially around hips and knees. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But I DID THE THING and now I have a baseline.

Etty has been telling me I need to be walking more, maybe bicycling more.

And I was like, yeah, yeahhhhhhh ONLY NOW that I'm sore (not sore AF, but SORE) from a walk that probably wasn't even quite a full mile round trip?

I'm feeling more motivation to a) take daily short walks and b) get my bicycle fixed up so I can ride her again. (She's pretty and purple and PLAYAFIED hahahah )'( and has flat tires I think, and a rusty chain.

I'm going to see if the bike shop has time to take her on Friday. I came to slow wakefulness remembering/dreaming how nice it can be to bicycle out and back, especially earlier in the day or later in the evening.

I have a Plan. *\o/*

Comments

[noelfigart]

I am in favor of gentle, meandering walks that increase in speed and length organically over a long time (like years).

I walk about 2.5-3.4 miles a day now, but four years ago, I was walking five minutes on the hour until I got my steps in more often than not.

I genuinely believe in my case it was because I kept it reasonably pleasant and never pushed.

Goals, oy...

[labelleizzy]

Tbqh my last major fitness goal was 2011 just before knee surgery. I wanted to be "strong" by my own judgement, by the time I was 45. I turned 42 3 weeks after the surgery (11/1/11 amusingly) and was, indeed, much stronger 3 years later after regular pt, then gym membership, focused work with a trainer, and dance classes.

Long term goals have worked well for me.

Recently the musculoskeletal pain has been significant and ongoing, but "less pain/no pain" isn't a helpful action item... How to get my ADHD brain engaged and on board with enough movement to make a change?

:-/ I don't know yet. But I've gotta chew on this some more.

Maybe I can treat myself to something special while I walk? Hm.

[labelleizzy]

Do you mind me asking what kind of step tracker you use? I think I'm at a point where I'll be willing to Do Science To It, finally.

[noelfigart]

I am pretty deep in the Garmin universe because of my swimming. I currently use a Garmin Lily. It is not cheap, but it is a great smartwatch, tracks all kinds of stuff including general exercise stuff like yoga, swimming, general cardio, biking, and so on and...

Well, it might be a lot more than you want or need. But it's also pretty, which is nifty as hell for a fitness tracker.

[labelleizzy]

Thank you! I'll look it up!

[tshuma]

I’m the weakest and least cardioactively fit I have ever been, not including immediately post-surgeries. I feel ya.

[labelleizzy]

Would you be interested in doing some lunches and slow walks on a somewhat regular basis? We could swap neighborhoods for varieties sake, and sometimes find parks to walk around?

[tshuma]

I would like that very much.