OT: Don't ever stop walking

[SVCBeercats]

 

[diggerfoot]

When Cindy and I walked 5,000 miles across the country she was entering the fifth stage of dementia. By the end of our year long walk she improved to around the third stage. Unfortunately, after the journey ended she regressed again. She now is in her third year of home hospice care.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I admit I didn't read it. I walk about 3 miles currently, in an hour, on an indoor track 4 or 5 times a week.

It reopened for Monday through Friday in late June and you have to reserve an hour; I missed next Friday because nothing was available. I have otherwise reserved an hour every day, but did miss / cancel 2 of them.

I actually enjoy it. I like walking outdoors as well, and was walking 3 miles (a little slower pace) on and off when the weather was cooler. The thing is, the requirement to reserve is a powerful motivation to actually get me there, I was much more inconsistent walking outside, ranging from none to four times per week.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

When Cindy and I walked 5,000 miles across the country she was entering the fifth stage of dementia. By the end of our year long walk she improved to around the third stage. Unfortunately, after the journey ended she regressed again. She now is in her third year of home hospice care.

Sorry to hear you are still facing the struggle. Dementia and Alzheimer's are 2 of the most horrible diseases; as I have said, my mother had one or the other (the Doctor didn't see a point in pursuing the exact diagnosis as she was 93 or 94 when she started showing symptoms). She lived about 3 years, the last year and a half in a care home with other (elderly) folks with similar issues.

You have done much to raise awareness of the disease and I think you for that.

 

[pvdoggy]

When Cindy and I walked 5,000 miles across the country she was entering the fifth stage of dementia. By the end of our year long walk she improved to around the third stage. Unfortunately, after the journey ended she regressed again. She now is in her third year of home hospice care.

You guys walked 5000 miles across the US? WOW! Even at a year, that would still be around 13+ miles/day. That is truly impressive especially for someone in your wife's condition. I took care of my Mom for the last 5 years of her life when she had Alzheimer so I understand what you are going through. My thoughts are with you and your wife.

 

[diggerfoot]

You guys walked 5000 miles across the US? WOW! Even at a year, that would still be around 13+ miles/day. That is truly impressive especially for someone in your wife's condition. I took care of my Mom for the last 5 years of her life when she had Alzheimer so I understand what you are going through. My thoughts are with you and your wife.

Thanks, and blessings to you for taking care of your Mom.

We averaged 20 miles per day during summer and 14 miles per day during winter, when there was less light. This was early in Cindy’s cognitive decline so our public pretense for uprooting our lives was to give talks about the virtues of kindness and community across the country. That led to a lot of rest days and explains our miles per day average. There was no physical decline at this point, ten years ago.

I currently am posting a retrospective on my Humanity Hiker blog of that journey ten years ago. The original posts did not acknowledge Cindy’s affliction as the reason for the journey. The current retrospective posts brings that into focus.

From my experiences I suggest there are four stages of decline. First comes behavioral decline, preceding cognitive decline and often manifesting itself in the handling of stress. Think Pat Summit. Next comes cognitive decline, then physical decline, as the brain’s continual degradation starts to erode muscle control. After physical decline comes emotional decline, as the perceptual and reactionary signs of any zest for life fade away. These phases of decline overlap, as one continues after the next one starts.

 

[JeannoCT]

Thanks for sharing this video. It will help me to keep going. I'm not losing weight (which I need to do), so I was getting discouraged. My goal is to walk 60 minutes 5 times a week. Sometimes I'm over and sometimes I'm not.

 

[Bama fan]

Thanks, and blessings to you for taking care of your Mom.

We averaged 20 miles per day during summer and 14 miles per day during winter, when there was less light. This was early in Cindy’s cognitive decline so our public pretense for uprooting our lives was to give talks about the virtues of kindness and community across the country. That led to a lot of rest days and explains our miles per day average. There was no physical decline at this point, ten years ago.

I currently am posting a retrospective on my Humanity Hiker blog of that journey ten years ago. The original posts did not acknowledge Cindy’s affliction as the reason for the journey. The current retrospective posts brings that into focus.

From my experiences I suggest there are four stages of decline. First comes behavioral decline, preceding cognitive decline and often manifesting itself in the handling of stress. Think Pat Summit. Next comes cognitive decline, then physical decline, as the brain’s continual degradation starts to erode muscle control. After physical decline comes emotional decline, as the perceptual and reactionary signs of any zest for life fade away. These phases of decline overlap, as one continues after the next one starts.

Terrible affliction . Kudos to you and your wife for highlighting the need for community awareness and cooperation. I wish the both of you well and hope your strength holds up.

 

[Beemer]

I have been walking one mile a day on our local walking track (best $30 grand this town ever spent!!) for many years but like many people I slacked off during COVID. I resumed walking this spring but haven't been that faithful about it. That is going to change as during a recent checkup my blood pressure was very high even though I take medication for it. So back to walking every morning or evening depending on when it is cooler.

Walking works.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Thanks for sharing this video. It will help me to keep going. I'm not losing weight (which I need to do), so I was getting discouraged. My goal is to walk 60 minutes 5 times a week. Sometimes I'm over and sometimes I'm not.

Exercise alone will not cause any appreciable drop in weight. Pairing it with proper and moderate eating will do this. Bodybuilders consume massive quantities of calories but not directly because of their exercise regime. Their body muscle mass demands massive calories. McDonald Douglas had a corporate gym for its employees. While doing some seat shoulder presses (machine) I noticed a fellow pedaling furiously on a stationary bike. A few minutes later he stopped and proudly announced he had maintained this pace for an hour. He then noticed how many calories he had burned (theoretically). He shouted "300! 300 God blessed calories! That's not even a Snickers Bar!" I am convinced he was responsible for at least 3 hernias that day as the sounds of free weights and machine weights crashed down. The laughter last for minutes.

 

[JeannoCT]

Exercise alone will not cause any appreciable drop in weight. Pairing it with proper and moderate eating will do this. Bodybuilders consume massive quantities of calories but not directly because of their exercise regime. Their body muscle mass demands massive calories. McDonald Douglas had a corporate gym for its employees. While doing some seat shoulder presses (machine) I noticed a fellow pedaling furiously on a stationary bike. A few minutes later he stopped and proudly announced he had maintained this pace for an hour. He then noticed how many calories he had burned (theoretically). He shouted "300! 300 God blessed calories! That's not even a Snickers Bar!" I am convinced he was responsible for at least 3 hernias that day as the sounds of free weights and machine weights crashed down. The laughter last for minutes.

Yes, this is all true. It's mostly between my ears that's the problem. Have to fix that too. It was a good video to remind me of benefits. Thanks!

 

[BlueDolphin]

I walked a mile and a half in a half hour virtually every weekday ever since an angioplasty 28 years ago. On my treadmill most of the time. (I've worn out two.) Outdoors on nice Spring & Fall days and during winter months in Florida. My primary care doctor about 20 years ago told me that if all his patients walked like I did we'd put him out of business. Still walking at age 81, but I've slowed down to about a mile and a quarter in a half hour.

 

[SVCBeercats]

I walked a mile and a half in a half hour virtually every weekday ever since an angioplasty 28 years ago. On my treadmill most of the time. (I've worn out two.) Outdoors on nice Spring & Fall days and during winter months in Florida. My primary care doctor about 20 years ago told me that if all his patients walked like I did we'd put him out of business. Still walking at age 81, but I've slowed down to about a mile and a quarter in a half hour.

Fortunately for him and unfortunately for people such as me; he has no worries concerning his practice. Mrs. SVC and I for most of our married life (53 years) have either jogged, rode bikes, or power walked. But I have had coronary issues such as 3 stents, 4 angioplasties, a heart attack, and just this June I had coronary bypass surgery. Some of us are genetically predisposed. I cook without salt, low to no fat etc. Helps Mrs. SVC but not me. My bad cholesterol (LDL) has been below 20 for years. Not a typo! Didn't matter.

 

[boontonbomber]

Age 80, play golf 2-3 times a week(April-November), pushing my cart. Very hilly course, senior tees , about 6,000 yards. Even on days when the golf is not great, I fall back on the value of all of that exercise. I am so fortunate that I still enjoy the game, because I really don't like just going out for a walk.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Fortunately for him and unfortunately for people such as me; he has no worries concerning his practice. Mrs. SVC and I for most of our married life (53 years) have either jogged, rode bikes, or power walked. But I have had coronary issues such as 3 stents, 4 angioplasties, a heart attack, and just this June I had coronary bypass surgery. Some of us are genetically predisposed. I cook without salt, low to no fat etc. Helps Mrs. SVC but not me. My bad cholesterol (LDL) has been below 20 for years. Not a typo! Didn't matter.

Yeah, my bad cholesterol has been low (not that low) for as long as they have checked it. When it was first checked in my 30's it was "championship athlete" good for a chubby couch couch potato; it is still good, just not that good. My endocrinologist (not currently seeing, thank goodness) said it can largely be heredity. I have - so far - been spared the coronary issues - my grandmothers and only uncle had them, but the only ones in the family with heart trouble. But it killed them in the end. Now high blood pressure - don't know a single family member without - I've taken the same medicine successfully for over 30 years, likewise thank goodness.

But I will keep walking. It has beaten back the diabetes (with a medicine), at worst kept me from gaining weight (maybe lost a bit with a diet adjustment) and just plain makes me feel better.

 

[BBallF]

Thank you for this. I had no idea. I am starting today.

 

[Wilderness]

Can't pass through this string without citing my mother who took up competitive "running" at 80 and proceeded to set a number of age group records including in Manchester (CT) Road Race as a 90 year old - something like 16 minute miles she did for five miles escorted by many of her seven children and a number of the 21 grands. She and my Dad had moved to Manchester to be close to UConn. Both ardent womens' hoops supporters (Dad '43 played soccer and ran track) with season tickets for 25 years or more. They followed the team to several national championships and the USA team coached by Geno to Czech Republic (that right?). Mom passed at 98 just three years ago.

 

[itsasport]

To put a light touch on a serious topic, Ellen DeGeneres had a joke in which she said that her grandmother has been walking five miles a day for years- God knows where she is by now.

Sometimes the funniest jokes do not make any real sense,

 

[DaddyChoc]

10k-15k steps a day… about 3-5 miles for the past 3 years. I use a Charge 4 fitbit tracking device to monitor my movements. I walk thru snow and rain as well I refuse to fail at meeting my daily goal of 4K steps