Husband's had very little pain and can walk perfectly ok, he's sure he can drive with no trouble too, he's got a pair of supportive walking sandals which, although closed in at the front, are roomy and can accommodate his bandaged toes. So that's good.
Something Sue of A Smaller Life said in a comment yesterday made me stop and think (thanks Sue π). She mentioned that I seem to have been under the weather a lot lately.....thinking about it, it's true, I haven't felt well for ages. Nothing definite that I could put my finger on and say 'I've got this or that', just a lot of aches and pains (quite a lot of pain recently), stomach upsets, feeling knackered a lot and having no energy with the smallest job wearing me out. Just a general feeling of - well, not being myself. I'm aware that my energy levels have plummeted, and I've got aching joints and muscle wastage in my legs - my osteopath Felicity mentioned the muscle wastage, and I can see it for myself. It's a result of not having done much walking for the past few months, since having the prolapsed disc, hip and knee problems. Unfortunately, I no longer go to Felicity, she's one of the things (along with my chiropodist) that I've had to give up for cost cutting reasons.
I haven't put on any weight (unlike husband who put on a stone over winter and is struggling to lose it), but neither have I lost any either. And I do need to. But it's harder when you get older and have joint and mobility problems - having fallen over a couple of times in the past few months, I do get a bit anxious about falling again, especially on uneven ground (like the fields around us, or the beach).
In the dim and distant past (in my 30s and 40s) I used to go to a gym 3x weekly, my favourite bit of kit there was the treadmill, I'd choose one in front of a window, put headphones on to a music channel and do a hill program (the incline rising and falling throughout the program....we're talking gentle hills though, not mountains!!) for 30 or 45 minutes. We do have an exercise bike but I find it painful to use, the cycling hurts my hips and leaning slightly forward to hold the handles hurts my back. So I thought a treadmill would probably be a better idea.....I can start off just walking at a relatively slow speed, and introduce inclines and a higher speed as I gain more strength.
I looked for a good electric second hand one on the local FB selling pages and found one, at a very reasonable price - the lady who's selling it lives not far away from our caravan. I've spoken to her on the phone and we've arranged to collect it at the weekend. I've already changed our meal plans recently to include more veg and fruit, less red meat and less carbs from bread, pastry etc. Hopefully, the better diet and use of the treadmill will help me (and husband) to lose some weight, build up lost muscle and stamina and start to feel better.
When we're at the caravan, we do tend to eat like we're on holiday - we eat normal healthy home cooked dinners that I've brought from the home freezer, but we also have things like crisps, chocolate biscuits, sometimes homemade cake, and a few cooked breakfasts. All things that we don't often have at home. So I'm going to put a stop to that - I won't just not have them at all though, we'll have them as an occasional treat rather than practically every day.
It's a pity really that the things I most like to eat are precisely the things that I shouldn't make a habit of eating. I could quite happily live on hunks of cheese, crackers, crisps and toast with lashings of butter and pate - not a vegetable in sight. Even though I quite like a lot of veggies......not to the extent of thinking "ooh, I really fancy a nice bit of broccoli" though. ππ
This all sounds really good, Sooze. I like the treadmill - it can be as gentle as you want it to be and you will be able to see the stamina increasing in a tangible way.
ReplyDeleteI think that and the changed in food intake should make a significant difference - maybe not at once and not quickly but over time.
Good for you.
Just wondering if a cheap little pedometer might help too - to record how 'normally active' you are each day. It doesn't have to be an all singing, all dancing one.
xx
I've got a pedometer somewhere, I'd completely forgotten about it - thanks Joy xx
DeleteShe's a smart woman that Sue π You and I are the same age and I also deal with diabetes. Something I learned recently (to my disgust) was that a combination of age, post-menopause AND diabetes affects muscle strength hugely.
ReplyDeleteI already walk a lot and a physio I have seen recently reminded me that weight bearing exercise builds more muscle than just strolling along, so if you can wear a small rucksack, or those strap on leg weights if you have them, whilst on the treadmill that should increase the benefit you get from using it.
Jayne you have now been promoted to head of my fan club ... whether you like it or not!!
DeleteHa Ha π
DeleteI'll take the job - I need something to keep me out of mischief, xx
I think many of us, as we get older, become less active. A treadmill is a good idea. Listen to some music or an audio book and you won't even notice you're exercising! I remember someone telling me that walking/ jogging/running was better for your bones than cycling and swimming. It's the impact on your femur which increases bone density. So another plus point for us ladies of a certain age. Not that I'm going jogging or running any time soon!π€£ xx
ReplyDeleteA treadmill sounds like a great option Sooze. I sold my exercise bike as it just wasn't being used. Thankfully I walk nearly every day with a friend but I have noticed that our walks are getting shorter and shorter. I need to up my game a bit.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a 2nd hand treadmill last year. Husband tore a knee ligament whilst using it and I never really got into indoor walking. However our 5mth old labrador pup is now keeping us busy, as they do!!
ReplyDeleteI think a treadmill is a great idea. I'm the same age as you and walk and cycle a lot so I'm pretty fit. But whenever it's cold or more likely , considering I'm in South Australia, unbearably hot, I wish I had a treadmill or an exercise bike!
ReplyDeleteGood luck. Having a terrible knee myself, I can relate to the pain.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear the husband is on the mend. I drove myself home from my toenail surgery and was back at work the next day. It's just an ugly procedure and I hate feet and looking after patients feet, so six weeks of dressing changes to my own toe was sheer hell.
ReplyDeleteWe've bought a treadmill for the winter months. It' hard to be motivated to exercise when there's ice everywhere. We joke that we are going to have to get the dog on it as well.
If I remember rightly (or perhaps I'm wrong), you're not in the UK, so things may be different where you are. Husband was told - by the hospital - that he wasn't to drive for 12 hours after the surgery, as his insurance would be invalid until after the anaesthetic was out of his feet.
DeleteYes, walking on ice would be treacherous, I'm just sorry I didn't think to get a treadmill a long time ago.
Sometimes it only takes a little off the cuff comment to make us think about things more doesn't it, it happens to me a lot with comments on my blog.
ReplyDeleteWe do get on a path where we are looking after others when we really do need to stop and look after ourselves for a while ... a long while. It sounds like you are doing all the right things, I hope it goes well.