RE: Treadmills???

November 30, 2001

>Does anyone know if the less expensive (under ~$300 or so) treadmills work

>very well at all??? OR do you really have to shell out ~$1000 or so to get

>a decent one???

You can get a decent one for around $300, it won't be like the ones in

Health clubs, but it gets the job done!

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March 13, 2004

,

I, too, love to walk and it is one of the things I miss most. I cannot do

the treadmill, it makes me dizzy, but I can to a small stepper- it has a handle

on it like a scooter. (Also pretty good controls for how deeply you step,

etc). I tried to do too much the first time and was not able to do anything for

the rest of the day. I start out doing 10 minutes on the stepper, every other

day.

I have a " sure step " all terrain cane that I use all the time. It allows me

to walk for a longer time and distance. I feel more confident because I do

not lose my balance.

But, I really miss walking, too.

Take Care,

Gentle Hugs & Prayers,

Carol M. in CA

March 13, 2004

Hey

-----Original Message-----

From: McKinnon L [mailto:nmckinno@...]

in Ct.

>>>>>>>>>>>Re - it was the other way around. The persond who privately

wrote a not-so nice-email is the one who wrote the email in All Caps.

And she sent her two emails. This was done after was telling her about

all of the difficult times that she is currently going through.>>>>>>

Ok I screwed up by missing all the emails....Dang! Never the less, it

wasn't right for someone to get on 's case. She has been having it rough

for a long time. I guess that person just set her off. Gosh, this is the

one place I know I can complain and have the emotional support I need. I

sure hope we don't have to mind our P's and Q's here.... I have been on this

list for several years and I can't remember if something like this has ever

happened before... We DO have a great group of people here. I won't say

any more on the subject........

>>>>>>Re Treadmills - If you keep up the work on the treadmill, you should

be able to build up strength and endurance, it is great for emotional relief

(relieves depression in many) and hopefully can build up to walking where

you enjoy once you are feeling better and stronger. When the 10 minute walk

can be completed without increasing pain over the next couple of days and

you are felling good, try adding in an additional 10 min walk at a different

time of day (if you walk in the morning, walk again in the afternoon)

instead of just increasing the total time on the treadmill. Of course

increasing the total time on the treadmill is great too!>>>>>>

I already feel better knowing I can do more than .5 mph on it. When I got

it, I was in a flair and when I tested it at the store, I wasn't sure I

would ever be able to get up to 1 mph. I have been keeping at the 10

minutes for about a week and a half now....learned my leason that first

week. LOL I am taking it slowly. I am trying to stay away from the walker,

not make it a part of me! LOL I usually use the treadmill in the morning

after my meds have kicked in. We don't have a big living room, but that is

where the treadmill is and will stay there. I didn't realize that thing was

so big! Yikes! Not sure what will happen at Christmas, but I am not going

to worry about it now. I can't read while walking, like in a car, I will

get sick, but I do watch TV while I am using the treadmill. I did notice I

have to keep my hands on the handles for balance. I am hoping once I get

use to it (it is weird walking in one spot) I will be able to swing my arms

while walking on it for extra blood circulation. If I am having a good day,

I will sneak on it again in the afternoon for an extra 5 minutes. DH did

set it up near the bay window, so I can at least look outside if the TV is

just a bore.... And when it gets warmer I can have the windows open....fresh

air!!

>>>>>I used to love running so I can relate to what you are saying about

missing being able to walk like you used to. For a while, I used to take

water aerobics classes which were a lot of fun, healthy andI enjoyed the

social aspect. I now walk on the treadmill and use the eliptical machine

when feeling really good. When on the treadmill, I read a lot which makes

the time more enjoyable. If I were home , I would watch TV also.

Exercising regularly has helped me tremendously. We should all be doing

what we can, as often as we can (I know that it is not possible for

everyone and not possible every day) for our health.>>>>>

It took me about 6 months after the dr. gave me the script for it, to go get

a walker. I will admit it has helped a lot expecially when I am out and

about, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Which is why I decided it

was time to invest in a treadmill. I want to keep going on my own steam as

long as possible. Did I mention I am stubborn! LOL I have noticed that I

feel better with just using the treadmill 10 minutes a day, so I know the

longer I can use it, the better I will continue to feel. I guess I will

always miss walking out of doors, but with these ol bones I need solid even

ground. I couldn't walk on the beach last year and that d*** near killed

me. I am hoping to be able to this year, one way or another. :-)

Thanks for your input and support.

in Ct.

March 13, 2004

Hi Carol

You may want to look into a treadmill that has handles when you feel you

want one. It does take a bit of getting use to walking in one spot. That

is what made me feel a bit off. But having handles on it makes it so much

easier. Let's face it, this disease doesn't let us walk naturally as it is.

I have it in my feet, ankles, knees, hip, and oh heck nearly every joint in

my body so stability is an issue. I do love the fact that my walker

{(Rolator) DD calls it the Cadillac of walkers}helps me be out and about for

longer periods of time than without it, but that doesn't mean I want it to

be an appendage... So I got the treadmill in hopes that it will delay any

more metal appendages. I may not ever get to where I want to be, but it

does seem to help for now and it is good for the circulation. Right now my

goal is using the treadmill for 1/2 hour without repercussions.

I did check out those steppers, but since stairs and my hip are totally

incompatable, I dropped that idea fast.

It is nice to know others are trying too.

Hugs

in Ct.

-----Original Message-----

From: Dandcmayer@... [mailto:Dandcmayer@...]

,

I, too, love to walk and it is one of the things I miss most. I cannot do

the treadmill, it makes me dizzy, but I can to a small stepper- it has a

handle on it like a scooter. (Also pretty good controls for how deeply you

step, etc). I tried to do too much the first time and was not able to do

anything for the rest of the day. I start out doing 10 minutes on the

stepper, every other day.

I have a " sure step " all terrain cane that I use all the time. It allows me

to walk for a longer time and distance. I feel more confident because I do

not lose my balance.

But, I really miss walking, too.

Take Care,

Gentle Hugs & Prayers,

Carol M. in CA

March 14, 2004

, I think you're doing just fine. It's a great idea to build up

slowly. Every little bit of exercise helps, and you will grow stronger

and more used to the machine over time. There is no rush. I'm sure it

will help you.

I love walking, too, but we've had a bad winter for it. Lots of wind and

ice and snow. I'll be so happy when the conditions are better.

No matter what exercise I do inside, I still enjoy being outside more.

It's not always possible though, so I exercise indoors instead. As

others said they do, I usually watch TV while I'm working out. I'm a

news junkie, so the time goes very quickly that way.

Good luck!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Treadmills???

> As some of you know, I had to get a walker a few months back. I don't

have

> to use it all the time, but so grateful to have it when I do need it.

Still

> don't like it though...... I have always loved to walk so this

disease has

> really put me in a funk about that. I do truly miss walking.

>

> I can't get out and walk much, especially in the winter and I think

that is

> one of the reasons why I just don't have the stamina and need the

walker.

> Ok and the hip is bad....so I got a treadmill to loosen up the joints

and

> let's face it it is good for the heart. I can't go fast on it, nor

can I go

> for a long period of time. I found out the first week, I can't do a

half

> hour on it every day. Talk about misery and stupidity!! LOL. So now

I do

> about 10 minutes a day at 1 -1.2 mph and hopefully will be able to go

faster

> and longer on it as time progresses. BTW, I start at .5 mph and

slowly work

> up to 1.2 mph, then back down to .5mph. I know it doesn't sound like

much,

> but considering the fact that I wasn't walking half that much before

the

> treadmill, I think I am doing good. Another thing I have noticed is

that

> now I don't have to go to a mall to walk.....which btw I would try to

do an

> hour of walking and be in misery for a few days. Now I can do a

little

> each day and not worry about getting laid up.

>

> I was wondering if anyone else uses a treadmill for exercise? Has it

helped

> much? Does the treadmill ever take away the longing for walking?

>

> Hugs to all

>

> in Ct.

March 15, 2004

Hi All-

I just wanted to pipe up and say I have a nice treadmill and after working

and on my days off which i cherish I love to come downstairs and look at the

beautiful designs the spiderwebs make on it! heehee

Cary

March 15, 2004

Thanks for the support....

I knew when I first started this, slow was best.... unfortunately, I have

always been the one who has to learn the hard way. Lol I was sooo mad at

myself and embarrassed when I did the 1/2 hours at the beginning, I actually

lied to DH. I have never lied to him in our 34 years of marriage. I told

him I had a flair-up! I couldn't face the fact that I started on the

treadmill too fast and too long. He's no dummy, I think he knew, but he

didn't say anything. Seems after that " flair-up " he now warns me not to

over do. LOL He even made up some stat sheets for me so I could keep track

of my progress...... More of so he could keep track of me, I think! LOL He

is what I call a " virus " when it comes to computers, poor guy, and it took

him over a week to make these stat sheets, but he did it. Now that is love!

:-)

They are saying we are getting snow/rain tomorrow... Don't need the weather

person to tell me that! OUCH! It is nice today, so I am getting outside

for a bit. We haven't had much snow this year, but that barrometer has had

a life of it own!

We put a couple of bird houses out in the yard a couple of weeks ago and you

know they are already being used?! We thought it would take at least a year

for the birds to find them and feel safe enough to use them. Guess they are

ready for " Spring Time " ! LOL

Better get moving here.

Have a great one!

from Ct.

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto:Matsumura_Clan@...]

, I think you're doing just fine. It's a great idea to build up slowly.

Every little bit of exercise helps, and you will grow stronger and more used

to the machine over time. There is no rush. I'm sure it will help you.

I love walking, too, but we've had a bad winter for it. Lots of wind and ice

and snow. I'll be so happy when the conditions are better.

No matter what exercise I do inside, I still enjoy being outside more.

It's not always possible though, so I exercise indoors instead. As others

said they do, I usually watch TV while I'm working out. I'm a news junkie,

so the time goes very quickly that way.

Good luck!

March 15, 2004

Let the spiders weave! I think you probably do more than enough fast

walking on the job, Cary. I'm not sure how you and the other nurses in

our group do it. It's such a strenuous job in so many ways. I admire you

all very much.

My grandmother was a nurse and recently died at 95 years old on January

1st. I marveled at her spiritual and physical strength. She was wise and

kind as so many nurses are.

I'll tell you where to go!