How much physical activity do you manage?

jeni much empathy, chronic pain is so debilitating and frustrating. I have been lucky in that I have long periods totally pain free but when in the grip of an 'attack' it is so limiting.

You're welcome Siverbirch. The reason I feel strongly about this is that I watched my mother's sad slow decline and felt she would have been a lot happier and felt a lot better in herself if she had eaten well, taken at least some exercise and stopped smoking. I support a charity called Research into Ageing which sponsors research into how we can live our later years more healthily and independently.

Jane thankyou for info regarding book and website. Will explore both. U seem to be doing well with all your activities

Hang on; you'd better be pretty clear which leg it is ..you've got me worried now ...

I really do sympathise jeni now I know what it's like. Mind you, I seem to be a victim of the strange phenomenon of the 'finally goes to see Dr about pain in leg and then pain in leg miraculously goes' scenario. Maybe it's the sudden change in the weather but, when I was told the pain was coming from my knee it started to hurt far worse and now it isn't hurting at all.

I meant left!!!!

Seriously!

If I sit with my feet down it hurts! The only time I'm comfy is in bed, or, in my recliner chair!

Enough moaning!

I have had my dgd here today. I'm not sure if it's me she likes or the iPad?

On reflection! --- it's the iPad!

i just wish any exercise tat involves my ankles is impossible!

I am SERIOSLY considering asking for a below knee amputation of my right leg!
It is SO painful just at rest and worse when weight bearing!

It is really getting me down!

I'm gutted. The Women only 'gym' 10 mins walk away I've been going to 3-4 times a week for a half hour work-out has suddenly closed because the owner is bankrupt. I was sceptical when I joined but it really worked for me & I actually went regularly. It saw me through a period of great stress, helped me build strength which cured a gammy knee & helped me recover from a broken foot. I can't stand the thought of going to 'proper' gyms at Leisure Centres so am not sure what to do. Walking and aqua aerobics are OK but they don't give the same exercise.

To all those who feel that ill-health is preventing them from taking as much exercise as they would like, or who don't feel motivated, can I recommend a book 'How to Thrive past 55' edited by Deanna Wilson.
It's not just about exercise in later life, but does talk about the evidence that supports the benefits (falls reduction for example)of even very gentle exercise for people with reduced mobility.
For anyone who's interested in finding out more, google Professor Dawn Skelton, who has made healthy ageing her life's work.
Personally I wouldn't go to a gym if anyone paid me - gardening, tennis, ballroom and sequence dancing, 10 mnjutes stretching every morning, and walking everywhere does it for me

I've never been keen on exercise. I do Pilates every week through necessity and until a safety issue arose used to do motorcise. If I walk anywhere it's for a reason. I'd like to walk through woods again but can't now unless there is a loo in the vicinity. Give me a book anyday or something that needs brain power. That's the exercise I enjoy. If looking after grandchildren constitutes exercise then I'm very well catered for!

Oops try again! You could try! Let us know if you do win!

You could try! Let us know if you do(wink)

If I were to dream of winning the lottery , would that produce some of the same results ... oh please say yes

Yes, Go Wiggo!

Yeh - right greatnan - the Positive thinking brigade like to tell us that kind of thing, based on flimsy evidence. Not true, alas. Otherwise why would the UK cycling team be training 6 days a week. They could stay in bed and think about winning the tour de france
As long as he gets out of bed tomorrow and stays in the saddle:
Wiggins Wins!!!!!!!!!!

I did hear an item on Radio 4 one morning that said a study had found that visualising yourself exercising did actually produce some of the same results as physically doing it.
I often dream that I am dancing on skates and I am disappointed when I wake up because I know I would not be confident enough to do it now, unless I had a good partner.
If I can't sleep, I imagine that first moment when you enter the water and see the coral reef. I was in Egypt with Granjura in June and I can picture the colours and shapes of the corals and fish so vividly. It always sends me off to sleep.

Silverbirch Yes I agree, its got to help to produce good chemicals in the body I believe if you can have happy, restful thoughts it has to make you feel better

Burgundy Gran, I empathise with you. I know how hard it is when one loses one's mobility. Good luck with perhaps starting an exercise class for the disabled, or contacting your GP about it. I used to be very active too but have chronic fatigue now so can only walk for about ten minutes at a time, and go for short bike rides, and do some gentle gardening. I know I am lucky to be able to do this. I did start a local group a few years ago and it was helpful and supportive to be with others in the same boat, thats why it might be a good idea to consider perhaps starting something yourself. Have read that if you close you eyes and imagine yourself taking exercise it produces good chemicals in the body. I sometimes imagine I am cycling through country lanes and it gives me a lift. You might like to try imagining yourself swimming............! Its not the same as actually doing it I know but does create quite a good feeling!

Didn't dare go to my yoga class today as my back is a little 'uncomfortable' so I thought I would try a few 'poses' at home, the ones that my yoga teacher has told me is good for backs !
So out comes my yoga mat and I settle myself into a few 'poses' when I can hear DH shouting from the garden 'do you want some spring onions out of the garden' , 'if you like' I answer. Back to the yoga and some deep breathing and whats this I can hear, its the cat purring I open my eyes and there she is almost on top of me ! I try some more deep breathing and a thought pops into my head, he pulled some spring onions then, I can smell them with every breath I take !!!. Roll on next Saturday, and back to my yoga class in peace

Burgundy, my sister has angina, high blood pressure, phlebitis and spondylitis so she can only walk for about 15 minutes, using a cane, and she finds it painful to stand for very long. She belongs to a club funded by her local council, and they have a trainer who comes in and leads them in sitting exercises to music. She says it is great fun and they all enjoy it.
She has never been sporty, but she used to enjoy taking her grandchildren for walks in their pushchairs.
I am encouraging her to go to the ladies only swimming sessions, but she is rather shy about wearing a swimming costume because she has curvature of the spine which gives her an odd shape.

Twelve years ago I swam 30 lengths twice a week, went to aqagym twice a week, walked every lunch time, as a Guide leader did hikes as well as working full time and doing a French course. Overnight all changed when I had a stroke and since then I have not been able to exercise as I would like. I did swimming for the disabled which was good but I preferred a really good swim not the slow going I was able to do. I have swum a little since moving here but there isn't swimming for the disabled where I live and I am not able to join in with regular swimmers. I can just about walk to the kitchen and back to the bedroom then I am all done because of the pain. My husband has helped me with exercises for my legs, moving them for me, but he has been diagnosed with arthritis in his spine and it is too much for him.

I am trying to put together some sitting exercises then might contact my GP and see if there is a group in the area who do exercises for the disabled or I could start one.

When we lose the ability to do things we realise what we took for granted, I know I do.

Has anyone heard of or indeed even done Biodanza ?
My friend is going to a Biodanza Class later today and all I know thats its seems to be a de-stress excerise and it seems to centre around dance !
She wants me to go with her next week, should I wonder ?

Someone was saying on BBC the other day "Britons used to exercise more" hmm, not sure if true. I don't remember any of my classmates in school doing any sports at all with the exception of the doctors daughter who did riding. Walking yes, anything more energetic, no.
Apparently the latest research on why energetic exercise tends to be associated with living longer is a link with bowel cancer.
it was a pleasant morning so i went for something that might be called "a jog" for the first time in ages. Must keep it up, because I do like the feeling of having stronger legs and more puff.

I walk, run up and downstairs, never still. I garden, run around looking after cats and occasionally grandchildren. I paint and decorate. Why would I want to slave away in the gym, get hot and sweaty, and have to pay to do so? So unlike my elder daughter, I am not and never have been, never will be, a gym bunny. But neither am I couch potato (would love the chance. . .)
I am 5'4" and weigh just over 9 stone, fine, thanks!

I too started running about ten years ago to help with my weight loss journey. So far I've completed the Great North Run 5 times but have never attempted a marathon. Congratulations to you Frankel for having done the London Marathon! I find that I have to combine watching what I eat with activity such as walking or jogging to achieve the sort of weight loss I'm aiming for. Flagging motivation and a harsh winter with lots of snow put a stop to my jogging but I've recently downloaded the NHS 'Couch to 5k' podcast to my iPod Shuffle and done the first 2 sessions. The lively music helps me keep going. I used to run with a neighbour, but she's decided to take up hill walking instead. Jogging is a time-effective and reasonably inexpensive route to fitness, so I'm really happy to have started again.