Starting over as a 60 something

[+ Hoover42]

if any of you feel winded or a little bit beat while walking, try the "pressure breathing" technique used by high-altitude climbers to get oxygen into the blood......use the diaphragm to force a sharp exhale thru pursed lips a few times in a row....you'll notice a very subtle burst of energy and a bit of a calm/less-stressed attitude

 

 

and this one is good, but you can ignore his "rest step" explanation:

 

Wow, is this really a thing?! I have to get one of those blood oxygen level sensors and try for myself

[+ purplekow]

I'm not good at story problems. I'm having trouble envisioning this. It seems to me if you've lost weight, the big jeans would be even looser, and the tight jeans loose or just right? ?

 

Gman

Well It is like the Schroedinger's cat condundrum....since I do not know which sized pants I selected I am living in a world were the smaller jeans fit and the larger jeans fit. There I am two different sizes at the same time and can only solve the riddle by checking the size.

[Phil_musc]

PK, I've always admired your clarity of thought and expression. But I must say your injecting the 2 jeans into the story has totally confused me. Is it possible that you are existing in 2 parallel universes and the jeans are actually kind of a portal from one universe to the other? Or could the portal be your closet? Now there's a concept.

[LivingnLA]

Wow, is this really a thing?! I have to get one of those blood oxygen level sensors and try for myself

 

Yes, deep breathing is a real thing. We tend to breath shallowly and faster than recommended because of chronic stress. Techniques like pressure breathing can work. The forceful and intentional rapid contraction of the diaphragm tends to more completely evacuate the lungs. Combining that with a slow deep inhale brings air deeply into the lungs, exposing more lung tissue to atmosphere enabling greater oxygen extraction. As an added bonus, deep breathing engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms a human body down, lowers heart rate, and makes things pleasurable.

 

Hiking isn't necessary nor is an oxygen monitor. If you feel stressed, consciously focus on your breathing for a few minutes. Make sure to empty and fill the lungs as deeply and completely as is comfortable for you. You'll feel calmer, more relaxed, and more clear headed in no time.

Edited August 5, 2019 by LivingnLA

[+ purplekow]

PK, I've always admired your clarity of thought and expression. But I must say your injecting the 2 jeans into the story has totally confused me. Is it possible that you are existing in 2 parallel universes and the jeans are actually kind of a portal from one universe to the other? Or could the portal be your closet? Now there's a concept.

Is this the Sisterhood of the Travelling pants go to Narnia?

[+ purplekow]

Well the beat goes on and there has been no old lady sightings on my walk for the last few days. Today there was a silver fox alert and he was walking a dachshund in the opposite direction around the loop that is my neighborhood. It was clear the second time we met that the fox and the hound had kept up a brisker pace than I did, so I have a new goal. Beat the hound. Not being able to outpace a dachshund was a bit disappointing, but I may have outlived the old lady, so I got that working for me.

I did step up the pace a bit today and thanks to an escort who has an interest in keeping me alive, I have a fitbit to measure the steps and timing. So thanks to that gentleman for the encouragement. It did take me three days to get it to work. Seems my imac did not have the proper connection, so the program did not download. Once I switched to my phone, it worked out.

[+ PapaTony]

As some of you know, about 3.5 years ago, I had an elective cardiac catheterization. Good news is they found no significant heart disease. Bad news, is they dissected the prominal left anterior descending artery and nearly killed me, While I was told that the stents to repair this were fine and I did not have a heart attack, I still have a stents in place. For those of the medical persuasion I had 5 to 7 mm ST elevation across the precordium which translated to non permanent injury to the left venticle. So, after a few days in the hospital, I went to cardiac rehab and did fine, I was able to easily complete the 6 minute walk and was started on a regimen to increase my cardiac fitness, I started slow and progressed well until 6 months later, I returned to full time work. Making a major error, I went back to work and stopped the exercise, Soon after, I was let go from that job in a downsizing and 6 months later I started another job. All that time and I did not much but mope around the house. The medications which were started just slowed me to a crawl and I had no energy for anything, Over the last six months my level of fitness has dropped to an all time low for me.

So, today I started to exercise again. My level of fitness is an abomination. I was able to walk about 1/2 mile on flat ground while getting winded and with leg pain. One of the meds I am taking has been causing me to be short of breath since I started it and the cardiologist suggested I "just deal with it" Anyway, 1/2 mile, winded and cramps in the legs. For those suggesting medical testing, been there, done that, bought the tee shirt. Started dieting again a week ago and doing well with that so far.

I was wondering if there are any others out there who have been in the worst shape of their life and managed to get back to some level of fitness. I am certainly not giving up after one day. I have made a plan for daily walks starting at the 1/2 mild mark to be expanded once I can complete it without the shortness of breath and the leg pain.

 

I can tell you, it gets better.

2 years ago I had sextuple bypass at 59

Post surgery it took me about 2 weeks to be able to move about with ease. I wasn’t allowed to drive for 12 weeks. Showering was a challenge but with a stool inside my walk-in I was able to manage.

I was extremely cautious with general movement as I was petrified I’d adversely affect the healing of my sternum.

While I wasn’t in horrible shape before surgery I was definitely more a couch potato.

Today I’m down 50 lbs, I walk/run 5 miles a day, walk up and down stairs in lieu of elevators or escalators, am totally vegan and doing great.

Good luck with your recovery. Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier.

Edited August 5, 2019 by PapaTony

[+ purplekow]

I can tell you, it gets better.

2 years ago I had sextuple bypass at 59

Post surgery it took me about 2 weeks to be able to move about with ease. I wasn’t allowed to drive for 12 weeks. Showering was a challenge but with a stool inside my walk-in I was able to manage.

I was extremely cautious with general movement as I was petrified I’d adversely affect the healing of my sternum.

While I wasn’t in horrible shape before surgery I was definitely more a couch potato.

Today I’m down 50 lbs, I walk/run 5 miles a day, walk up and down stairs in lieu of elevators or escalators, am totally vegan and doing great.

Good luck with your recovery. Sorry I didn’t see your post earlier.

Thanks for your good wishes.

[+ purplekow]

Well just got home from my walk. Same distance. 5 minutes faster than yesterday. My pole rest plan seems to be working as I only stopped at 4 of the 30 5 second poles and at a 10 second pole and a 15 second pole. Means KI had my three longest breath breaks unused. The goal is to get around the loop without a stop or with one brief stop at the halfway point. After that, there is a slighly longer loop that will be my next challenge. The neighborhood is one loop with one additional street that connects to the edge at two different points and which is off center. The way I go, it is off center with a slightly longer route but not as long as if you did the full loop.

No silver fox, no hound, no old lady today. There were many people out walking, which served as an incentive as I did not want to be seen huffing and puffing and standing at the side of a road holding onto a telephone pole. I much prefer to either be seen huffing and puffing and moving along or preferably huffing and puffing and holding onto a pole which is not a telephone pole.

I have been using the fitbit and successfully completed level one. Did not know there were levels but I think that may prove to be a good incentive for me and my competitive nature.

[+ purplekow]

Well today I paid for yesterday's burst of energy. Minimal walking for exercise though I did clock in almost 3000 steps while food shopping. So back to the grind tomorrow with fresh legs.

[RealAvalon]

Well just got home from my walk. Same distance. 5 minutes faster than yesterday. My pole rest plan seems to be working as I only stopped at 4 of the 30 5 second poles and at a 10 second pole and a 15 second pole. Means KI had my three longest breath breaks unused. The goal is to get around the loop without a stop or with one brief stop at the halfway point. After that, there is a slighly longer loop that will be my next challenge. The neighborhood is one loop with one additional street that connects to the edge at two different points and which is off center. The way I go, it is off center with a slightly longer route but not as long as if you did the full loop.

No silver fox, no hound, no old lady today. There were many people out walking, which served as an incentive as I did not want to be seen huffing and puffing and standing at the side of a road holding onto a telephone pole. I much prefer to either be seen huffing and puffing and moving along or preferably huffing and puffing and holding onto a pole which is not a telephone pole.

I have been using the fitbit and successfully completed level one. Did not know there were levels but I think that may prove to be a good incentive for me and my competitive nature.

Have you tried using those walking poles?

 

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5e/f8/11/5ef81144a735c7acc923227620cacdd8.jpg

[+ sniper]

What is "level one" on fitbit? I have a fitbit and not sure what you're talking about...Do you mean you hit 10k steps in a day?

[+ purplekow]

What is "level one" on fitbit? I have a fitbit and not sure what you're talking about...Do you mean you hit 10k steps in a day?

I am not sure what it is, that watch just announce that I had reached level one and had a pair of boatshoes. it was for 5000 steps. I have made 7500 and nothing and I have not yet made 10000 so I do not know if there is some sort of level there.

[+ sniper]

oh you get "trophies" once you reach certain cumulative steps totals.

[Phil_musc]

Good luck tomorrow. Wish I could be there to see your fresh legs!

[Phil_musc]

Good luck tomorrow. Wish I could be there to see your fresh legs!

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

It is now one-month and a day since your original post. So much progress made. Congratulations!

[+ purplekow]

It is now one-month and a day since your original post. So much progress made. Congratulations!

Thanks Sam. Went walking today and yikes, it was one of my worst, or possibly my best ones yet. I stated walking and immediately my legs started to hurt I was barely passed my drive when the aching started and I needed to stop at the second telephone pole because of fatigue. I continued on and I had to stop at just about every pole, many more than my arbitrary rules allowed and several times I thought of flagging down a neighbor's car to get a lift home. I finally made it back home and it took me about 8 more minutes than I had been doing and while this was better than the first time I made the full, it was still the second worst time, Still, I made it around, I did not give up and I did not totally collapse when I walked in the door. It was just my usual semicollapse in front of the computer. In addition, I managed not to pee myself, which considering I had to urinate for the entire time, is a recent best for my bladder. Well time to see if I can actually get the flow going.

[RealAvalon]

Thanks Sam. Went walking today and yikes, it was one of my worst, or possibly my best ones yet. I stated walking and immediately my legs started to hurt I was barely passed my drive when the aching started and I needed to stop at the second telephone pole because of fatigue. I continued on and I had to stop at just about every pole, many more than my arbitrary rules allowed and several times I thought of flagging down a neighbor's car to get a lift home. I finally made it back home and it took me about 8 more minutes than I had been doing and while this was better than the first time I made the full, it was still the second worst time, Still, I made it around, I did not give up and I did not totally collapse when I walked in the door. It was just my usual semicollapse in front of the computer. In addition, I managed not to pee myself, which considering I had to urinate for the entire time, is a recent best for my bladder. Well time to see if I can actually get the flow going.

Any ideas why today was tougher? Were you tired from yesterday or have a bad night's sleep?

[+ sniper]

Progress is not always linear. Don't expect that every single day will be faster/farther than the last. You could repeat a certain pattern a couple of days in a row before you increase your distance by one telephone pole or whatever marker it was you were using. The amount of variation in how people feel from day to day is greater than the amount of improvement that is possible in one day.

The rule of thumb on walking/running is don't increase your mileage or speed by more than 10% a week. In the very early weeks you'll probably do more, but now that you've been at it a while don't expect to keep improving by leaps and bounds every time you go out.

[RealAvalon]

As some of you know, about 3.5 years ago, I had an elective cardiac catheterization. Good news is they found no significant heart disease. Bad news, is they dissected the prominal left anterior descending artery and nearly killed me, While I was told that the stents to repair this were fine and I did not have a heart attack, I still have a stents in place. For those of the medical persuasion I had 5 to 7 mm ST elevation across the precordium which translated to non permanent injury to the left venticle. So, after a few days in the hospital, I went to cardiac rehab and did fine, I was able to easily complete the 6 minute walk and was started on a regimen to increase my cardiac fitness, I started slow and progressed well until 6 months later, I returned to full time work. Making a major error, I went back to work and stopped the exercise, Soon after, I was let go from that job in a downsizing and 6 months later I started another job. All that time and I did not much but mope around the house. The medications which were started just slowed me to a crawl and I had no energy for anything, Over the last six months my level of fitness has dropped to an all time low for me.

So, today I started to exercise again. My level of fitness is an abomination. I was able to walk about 1/2 mile on flat ground while getting winded and with leg pain. One of the meds I am taking has been causing me to be short of breath since I started it and the cardiologist suggested I "just deal with it" Anyway, 1/2 mile, winded and cramps in the legs. For those suggesting medical testing, been there, done that, bought the tee shirt. Started dieting again a week ago and doing well with that so far.

I was wondering if there are any others out there who have been in the worst shape of their life and managed to get back to some level of fitness. I am certainly not giving up after one day. I have made a plan for daily walks starting at the 1/2 mild mark to be expanded once I can complete it without the shortness of breath and the leg pain.

I was thinking about you yesterday. How is your walking going?

[+ purplekow]

Some days better than others. Thanks for asking. I feel that I could do better. When I have had success with exercise in the past, I have gotten into a routine and have stuck with it, because it fit my schedule and my life. Now, unfortunately, my time is spent in such a scattershot manner, that sticking to a program is very tough. I am trying, but success has not come easily,

[+ easygoingpal]

Keep it up... Having a past history of success is always good for the mind as we often look back at what have been able to accomplish. Hope you have another success to add on... Cheers!

[+ sniper]

Best bet is probably just get it out of the way first thing in the morning.

[marylander1940]

Damned inconsiderate of them to be so damned considerate. I walk in a development with only one way in and one way out, so there are no intersections. I have started to count the telephone poles and allow myself a pause a certain ones. Goal is not to pause at all, but I am far from that. I stated out with walking only 6 poles and then 6 poles back. There would be about 9 stops, each time at a telephone pole. Today I did 32 poles, which is almost three times as many and there were about 12 breathers, a stop just long enough to take a deep sigh and then move on. That is a little more than a mile and today I did it 4 minutes faster than my previous time. Still not setting any land speed records. I have not seen that old ladu out there, and I am pretty sure she is still faster than I am, but I will catch her, I promise you I will.

 

Don't give up! One step at a time!