This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Well, I did pull out my TotalGym machine yesterday and started with arm weights. That went OK - I can feel the muscles today!

But when I tried the leg exercises, which meant that I had to lie down, I got so woozy and dizzy and started feeling nauseous almost immediately. And the yucky feeling lasted almost all afternoon - boy, was I grumpy after that!!

Guess I'll have to find another way to work out my legs. There's no reasonable gym near here, and we don't have any room in our apartment for a bike or treadmill. Maybe one of those neat pedal things you can use sitting down...

Anyway, there's my 'report'. I'll keep doing my arm exercises for now, but could really use some strengthening in my legs and my abs!

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Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

Brenda ......ever try the weights you can strap on your ankles??? You then can do simple leg raises from a sitdown [ not laydown] position?

I have done these for over a year, and learned them in PT. They are easy and should not interfere with your dizzy's.

Just a thought let me know what you think......Kim

Brenda, GREAT! you started just keep it up! i got alot of excise i think for the whole week took kids tubing i paid for it on the way home i let myself get to cooled but we were having so much fun. we will have to bring hot choc. and a blanket next time. dawn

Brenda, boy are we all are proud of you! I congratulated you in another thread...so much for me learning how to navigate this.

I see someone gave you some ideas for the leg raises too...now what's your excuse

I'm going backwards on the treadmill, slower and hanging on more, but I'm still getting on it!!

Keep us posted and I think you deserve a hearty round of applause

Sharon

Hi all!

I skipped yesterday to let the muscles rest, but this afternoon will redo the arm weights. Actually, I can't wait! Since my arms aren't affected too much right now, I can at least get them firmed up before they start sagging

Kim, I like the idea of leg lifts, but will probably have to do it without the weights for a while. They're really weak! Do you just lift them straight out from a sitting position?

Dawn, you went tubing in the snow? How fun! We never get enough snow here to really play in it... Just rain and fog and damp days.

Sharon, I really admire that you don't get discouraged when you have days on the treadmill that are slower! I always want to do more and more when I exercise, like I used to before MS, but have to remind myself to take it one day at a time and do what I can for that day.

A pat on the back and applause to all of you that inspired me!

Big hugs,

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Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

Hi all,

Hearing about all you girls getting on with your exercises has really got me thinking. My exercise levels comprise of getting up from my chair every 30/40 minutes to visit the loo I do of course have to come back again, but it's not really what you'd call exercise.

Exercise has, for a long time, been something that made me feel worse, so I avoided it, but now I can see the effects of doing that, I can see it wasn't a good idea

Thanks for inspiring me to give it a go again

All the best,
Chris P

Go Chris! Just do a little, bit by bit. I sometimes felt worse after exercise too, but then just had to rest a few days, and next time reduce the effort.

I may try a walk in the afternoon, around the block, if I can get one of the girls or Jean Pierre to go with me as I'll probably need someone to hold on to after the first few minutes.

We're doin' good, girls, if we can get some more people signed up for regular 'xise!

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Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

Brenda,

Yes, We get alot of snow. Right know it is really cool -10 yesterday. I use to be able to go sledding with the kids know I have a harder time I still do it until I know it is time to stop. My husband is really good about going down and bring up the tubes, sleds. The cold kills me, trying to figure out how to be out their and not have problems after.

Brenda....Yes just slowly lift your leg straight out, and hold for a second or two....then lower back down to the floor. And yes you can do this with out any weights.

If you can do maybe 10 on each leg every other day....then progress to 15 for a week.....then 20 for a week....I would say when you get to 25 raises on each leg you could then invest in some ankle weights.

They are not very expensive. In PT I went from no weights to 1 lb....next week 2lb.....next week 3lb....I think when I finished PT I was at 5 lbs.

I have only 2 1/2 lb. weights at home... so I just strap both weights on one leg at a time to give me 5 lbs.

I am liking my hubby's work out bench, as I can do these raises with out having to strap on my weights......I just put my ankles under a padded portion of the bench, and raise any amount of weight I want.

Really works good for lower leg pain and muscle spasms....as in I have less of them the more I keep to my routine.

You are doing GREAT Brenda...

Sometimes it is harder to think about exercising ....than actually doing it HUH....after a weel or two your muscles will get used to it.

Remember with MS....my physical Therapist told me do a little and rest a little....do a little and rest a little. She said the goal with MS is not to fatigue yourself. I find if I do 5 minutes and rest 5 minutes I am ok.

Congrats....I am doing a backflip for you .......
did you see it.....
I am quick......
No one saw it.....???


Take care all.......Kim

Congrats Brenda,

Just wanted to add these ideas as well: You can strengthen your calves, by standing on your toes, slowly lowering and raising them, you can hold on to a chair or the wall for balance. See if you can do 6-8 at a time, take a brief break, maybe a minute or so, then do another set of 6 or 8. Ideally, try to do at least 3 sets of 8, but take your time reaching that goal, ok?

Resistance tubing is very good as well, for weight training. They use your bodies own resistance. Very popular these days.

I rest a day in between exercising too, muscle fatigue is a big problem, if we don't give our bodies enough time to recover.

Keep up the good work everyone, our bodies will thank us!

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Bonnie

Are you a gymnast, Kim? Back flips, indeed!

Thanks for the details on your leg lifts, and thanks Bonnie also for the toe exercises. I'll add them to my list!

Sharon, I usually get worse in the winter, cold is not good for me, either. The heat doesn't seem to bother me at all as far a symptoms and relapses goes. Go figure!

Didn't get my walk around the block yesterday, but I'm still aiming for it. Good intentions and all that stuff...


Hugs to all!

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Brenda H.
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson

ok Chris, I'm dying to know if you're doing more than walking back and forth to the loo for exercise?

Brenda, did you get around the block?

As for me, I'm still going backwards in terms of speed on the treadmill, but I feel a turnaround coming and I'm going to give it another try tomorrow (I hope)

There wasn't much "reporting" this week on exercise, so I hope everyone is still committed to doing as much as possible.

Take care all!

Sharon

Hi again Sharon,

I'm doing even less today, I csn hardly stand up

Another day tomorrow,
Chris P

Chris, I am so sorry to hear this. Depending on where we are with this MS I think we all hope for a better tomorrow.

I'm hoping for a better tomorrow too Altho I can report I was able to increase my speed (slightly) on the treadmill this morning, so maybe I've turned a corner on going backwards at least. I'm certainly hoping that's the case.

It's so discouraging to be worse. I felt like an infant learning to walk again after my first "relapse" and I'm worried I'm headed there again.

Let's be determined that we control the MS, not that the MS controls us

And, here's hoping your up and about.

Sharon

Brenda, Kim, Dawn, Chris, Bonnie and everyone I forgot on this thread...

What's up with no news on the exercise? Huh?

I did my water aerobics tonight.

Here's hoping you are all doing what you can and that you feel better as a result

Sharon