Re: Exercise

SgtCedar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:35:22 GMT

For the last month I have walked every day. The last day which I did not walk at least 1.5 miles was May 19th, election day here in Pennsylvania. I was poll watching all day so I was sitting most of the day which made matters even worse. I hurt for a week after that. I swore I would walk rain or shine after that. I know form past experience that if I miss 2 days in a row it will be too easy to stop walking.

I have lost something like 20 pounds since being diagnosed with diabetes. No, that is not since May 19th. I had been walking about 5 days a week for several months before election day. I used to lose weight by running when I was in the National Guard. Since developing arthritis my doctor will not let me run any more.

My glucose reading are normal again and the A1c dropped from 7% to 6.3%. My blood pressure dropped enough that I could stop one of the two blood pressure pills. My family doctor is thrilled.

I alternate between a shorter and a longer distance. THe short distance is 2-2.25 miles and the longer is 3-3.25 currently. My eventual goal is to get up to at least 4 miles at least twice a week and 2 miles the other 5 days. These distances are symbolic for me. Two miles was the distance I was required to run twice a year in the National Guard. If you were not cleared to run you were required to walk 4 miles.

The most important thing I have learned since starting to walk every day is never stop. I have respiratory problems. Instead of stopping and resting when I get out of breath I now slow down and drink a little water. Always carry water if you are not in a city where you can always find water. I then walk slowly for a block or so until I catch my breath.

One trick I learned from a pamphlet from the American Diabetes Association is use a hiking staff. I have a fancy one but a branch will do. Use the stick to push yourself along just a little. The more you use your arms the more calories you burn. I am sure an exercise physiologist would say it does not burn enough calories to count but when you need to lose weight like I do every little bit helps.

If it rains take an umbrella. Don't let anything stop you.

Bikram ("hot") yoga

naniwa — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:38:39 GMT

I was going to ask on here before I tried it, but I have just done two weeks of Bikram yoga. (For those unfamiliar with it, it's yoga poses done in a room heated to 95-105F with 50% humidity.) It looked like my blood pressure was finally under controlled, so I tried it.

Mistake. I soon got that "heart pounding in head" high BP warning. So I tried not doing so many hands-over-the-head poses. That seemed to help, but the last time I went I got so faint that I had to leave.

I had my home BP cuff in the car and did not like the results. I like the heat, truth be told. And my posture and breathing are great. Just figure my BP can't handle Bikram (I'm going to switch to more conventional yoga or pilates).

Anyone else here have experience with Bikram yoga?

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Re: Exercise

Bikram ("hot") yoga