Remedial back to fitness - help??

[Katelyn]

Since I have no riding horse, need to do SOMETHING else to stay fit/get more fit this summer! and I NEED advice in how best to get there!!

I've joined the "Y" and have a pool and women's fitness center (weights, treadmills, ellipical, etc) sauna, jacuzzi, plus all sorts of classes available to me. yoga, pilates, gutt/butt, kickboxing, spinning, deep water fitness, Zumba...


I'm looking to get more fit, flexible, strong core, and equalize my bad leg.

I also have some health issues to take into consideration:
on Chemo - dr says I will have to work 3x harder to gain muscle as a "typical" person
Rheumatoid Arthritis
right hip needs replaced
Pacemaker
Atrial Fibrillation
Asthma
no thyroid (cancer) - so weight gain
migraines - weight gain from meds

Started my first week with 10 min on elliptical
(tried to keep heartrate at 145ish - but atrial fibrillation up to 210...then pacemaker shuts off....heart rate down to 65, until pacemaker turns back on....

Ended the week with 20 min elliptical and 20 min on exercise bike

I think elliptical is going to be really great b/c it MAKES my gait even....and BURNS in my bad hip - really don't feel it anywhere else...YET!

We also tried a new class each day - tried pilates, gutt/butt, yoga, kickboxing


So, exercise gurus (if you're still reading!) What do you suggest!!
I need ideas or a program....or a riding horse!!

[Lisa]

I have no suggestions, but your doing a good diverse workout. They say to do different stuff so your body doesnt get used to 1 exercise. Just start slow and work up as you feel like it. I would love to do the deep water fitness!

[niaru]

Wow, I wouldn't know what to tell you except do whatever your doctor and the people at the gym recommend !

[Katelyn]

Yeah Lisa - its really good!

You have "weights" which look like hand weights, but float and you have to resist them while moving your arms various ways through the water.

Most of the ladies wear a buoyancy belt - I tried it without and it was a really good workout! My best friend wore the belt and enjoyed it, as well! (she never learned to swim)

The hardest part for me was treading water with hands held above my head!! (THAT'S when I wished I had a belt!!)

It has a LOT of pilates moves (BURN abs!!), but also used the resistance of the water to build muscle and gain range of motion.

[Lisa]

OOOO that sound nice!! Our Y's memberships were stupid expensive so I have to create my own workouts.

[Katelyn]

Lisa - we got a summer membership
May - end of Aug for $170 -not bad at all!!

You should see what yours is offering!!

For comparison, I think the entire year was $500

We live in an area that is lower economic status - lower pay, lower costs, lower prices, etc. though...

[adcooper]

Katelyn, that water exercise sounds amazing. I don't think I'd last very long doing any of that! But I bet it's great for strength without the bam bam bam of running. Same with the eliptical. I think you are on the right course with these workouts.

You might remember that one of my daughters has a pacemaker, and she cannot do a lot of aerobic exercise because of her other type of heart condition (HOCM). She's been doing yoga and working with a chiropractor, though, and she hasn't had to have a cardioversion for almost a year, plus she was able to defer an ablation they were planning because she'd been out of rhythm so often. The yoga she takes is more aggressive (if yoga can be aggressive!) than the old lady version I've done, and she loves it. Wouldn't provide the workout you want, but the cardio benefits for her have been impressive. Her device shows she goes out of sinus less than 1% of the time now! If you can add some yoga to your routine, it might be beneficial in that way, if not for weight loss.

[Katelyn]

Ad - so glad your daughter is doing so well - you were my "go to" when I got the news I needed a pacemaker!

The water fitness is really awesome, without any concussion!
I also took a Zumba class today - that was SUPER fun!! It is all latin dance - talk about a cardio workout!! Abs burning, thighs, too b/c you're always in a sort of squat position - arms got a workout, too b/c they're always out in "ballet position" Enjoyed it very much!

I DO take a remedial yoga class on Thurs nights -the teacher is WONDERFUL!! She always has an alternative pose for me, as well as moving about the room and "fixing" us! I can't put weight on my hands/wrists, not can I do a lot of the deep bends, so that limits my yoga quite a bit, but she figures it out for me!!

It took me a while to learn to just be patient and relax during the poses and, especially, in the meditation/relaxation portion! I used to lay there thinking about all the things I needed to get done! Once I finally figured out how to shut off my mind and just RELAX, I LOVED it! Really helps at night, too, when I'm up and can't sleep...