Advice needed
Hi how do you judge energy levels I use to walk a... - PMRGCAuk
Hi how do you judge energy levels I use to walk an hour a day but I’m nervous I’ll overdo and set myself back.
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Uglow
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Hello, if you’ve done nothing, do 15 minutes and wait a couple of days to see how you feel. Problems can be delayed so feeling great the next day should be viewed with, how shall I put it, positive scepticism. If you get out the other side increase it a bit. My physio said when one is recouperating, a post exercise pain level of 4 out of 10 is ok but nothing more. Of course fatigue is a factor too.
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We often suggest building up gradually - start with a walk you know is going to be easy - say 5 mins out and 5 mins back. Assess next day and if that is fine, no pain due to the exercise, add a minute in each direction the next day. Exercise days on odd days, rest days even is a good habit, the rest days are as important as exercise days, You can do something on the rest days - just using different muscle groups. It sounds slow but you soon get to the amount that you can cope with - once you can feel it next day, go back to the previous time and stick there for a few weeks and then try adding a bit again. I found my speed improved during the static periods. In PMR your muscles don't tell you you have done too much until it is too late so building up like that and having rest days helps avoid getting stuck - fatigue can hit at any time and it can be embarrassing! I'd also recommend choosing a route where you can bail out easily - don't head out into the wilderness! And I found I could walk further when I could walk somewhere, sit and rest for a while and walk back. My favourite was a walk to restaurant outside the village, a leisurely lunch and then wander home ... 
Ahh, a walk to a restaurant and a leisurely lunch -those were the days 😳
Weren't they just!!!!
One day ......had the weather for it today! ...but had to settle for coffee in the garden 🌸
I have to say coffee in a garden sounds like paradise.
It was no jacket required, just a jumper...well, not quite JUST a jumper, but you know what I mean.😳 😂🤣
I've had tea on the balcony several times in the last week - NOT in the morning I hasten to add as it has been well below freezing but mid-afternoon in the sun a short-sleeved cotton shirt is plenty! Even himself has sat out there! They promised 15C but it never made it above 11C but the cloudless skies more than make up for it, even with the Sahara dust that damped the temps ...
9 a.m. and the weather network tells me it's -4 at the moment, but will go above freezing early afternoon. Sun shining brilliantly and not windy. Knee looking and feeling almost normal. A day, methinks, to venture out for a proper walk at last! 
Be careful - don't get carried away!!
I won't! I'll be wearing a knee brace and using my Nordic poles! There's a "harbour walk" near me which I used to walk along every day to and from work, and it's really nice for someone who lives in a city because it takes you right along the water's edge. I walked home from my son's house a few days ago, wasn't sure how I'd be, and I was fine There were some interesting seabirds on the water, migrating north I suppose, and it felt so healing to be connected with nature.
Would have needed winter woollies for coffee in the garden here, it has suddenly gone very cold again.
Was very chilly here too first thing but by lunch time it was glorious. I was thinking of you maybe walking the doggie early, out on the moors on such beautiful morning though. Hope you're well?
Doing good thank you. Very cold and frosty here again this morning but looking bright and literally about to go out the door with the beasties. Should be a lovely walk. Seen the deer everyday this week and even the Peacocks are moving into Spring mode. Just seeing and hearing the wildlife is such a booster.
Peacocks?...wild or tame? We once lived on a private estate with about 50!
Very beautiful, but males extremely raucous this time of year. Hubby’s job to look after ornamental pheasants.
Just back and having porridge and Blueberries. Tameish I guess, they live on a farm I go past most days. They seem to spend the winter up a tree and look very dark and dull, chat to them most days but don't usually get much of a reply when they are in that mode, but they have just started to get down to ground level and show off their beautiful plumage and far more chatty.
Sure they are - you’re obviously viewed as a competitor for their ladies! Take some cubes of cheese next time, and they’ll be your friend forever!
I'll have to stop wearing that brightly coloured headrests, perhaps that will help!!! I'll need a big bag, if I give the birdies cheese the neddies will demand carrots - where will it end. (probably on us getting chucked off this forum!!!)
Well that would probably help! Chuck off a Viking Goddess! Sincerely hope not 😳
Impossible!
It must have been almost as bad as flocks of crows, but they are prettier.
That's definitely a bonus. Being able to get into the garden properly for the first time since winter was such a joy for me, and being surrounded by my blackbirds, robin, dunnocks, wrens and even the crazy starlings, really lifted my spirits and made me feel I could overcome anything!..... well almost!😄😄
Yes it does make you feel good...even managed a couple of hours sorting out pots in afternoon, all the bulbs are coming along nicely, despite all the rain and then frost we’ve had last few weeks...or is it months! 🤦🏻♀️
• in reply toDorsetLady
We too had coffee in the garden followed by a bit of gardening, lucky to be able to get out and no coat on either.
Planted my snowdrops - been sitting in their pots and flowering away. Sat a bit and then planted the polyanthus, yellow and a bright pink, then thought a coffee and my favourite addition and a sit. My 4 Robin friends all came and looked at me, so more seed and we had a pleasant hour. Yes, I know Robins are supposed to be territorial but nobody has told these four.
This morning my Daffodils have finally come out - the two days of sunshine have worked wonders.
Felt like I was out of prison.
Good for the soul....even if the planting/potting isn’t for the back!
THAT IS WHAT I WILL BE DOING TODAY!!
Raised beds put in last October.............all the roses moved into them and loads of bulbs, which are slowly coming up and as I have lost the labels the next 6 months should be fun. 😉
I’ve got many pots...and sometimes not knowing what’s planted is more exciting. Sure they’ll be lovely whatever.
We evolved in a natural world, and need to stay connected for our wellbeing:
psychologytoday.com/ca/blog...
They have cut down some trees close to our house in the last few years and I was really upset at first. However, the two I miss most were in a dangerous condition so it was a good thing and now I have a better view of the mountains behind them from my bed in the morning. And the removal of the others have opened up a view from the balcony to the river that flows behind the house - and I can also hear it now.
It must be wonderful to see the mountains. We lived briefly in British Columbia and I don't think I would ever have tired of the view of the mountains, although from Victoria they were often shrouded by clouds or fog!
I use a sound machine at night and the best sound is a babbling brook with wind, and the occasional sound of a bird. Listening closely to catch the bird calls invariably puts me to sleep nearly instantly! Certainly beats the faint sound of a neighbour's radio or the mystery hum of the building!
I love mountains - more than the sea. Sea is always associated with sand for me and that I don't like! But I have to admit, I watch the Montalbano TV series, set in Sicily. I want his apartment - with a breakfast patio at the beach ...
The "sea" I live beside is a harbour, less developed on our side than the other. We see giant container ships coming in and going out. At the other end of the scale the little ferries trundle back and forth. Pre-covid there were sometimes sailing regattas and the vessels would come swooping through. And of course a major cruise ship season. Sadly Covid is putting paid to celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Bluenose. Perhaps that would have drawn a Tall Ships event. The shoreline has been altered by having huge boulders heaped up to protect against erosion. But walking beside the water you still hear the waves lapping, and birds are attracted to feed and rest in Dartmouth Cove. One time I'm sure I saw gulls having their own Olympics.
I love the sound of running water.....or waves lapping the shore.
Not so good if you need to go to the loo.x
😳!
Mountain streams and rivers are nice, rushing downhill ...
Just turning the tap on makes me want to go to the loo never mind gushing streams and waterfalls, I would be heading for the nearest bushes.
I did this, after walking a regular 5miles a day, went to ,zilch exercise.Then on a pred high tried to get back to it. Disaster!
Knocked me back for days.
Now I try to strengthen my muscles with physio and yoga and walk for no more than 1/2hour every other day, but even that can be challenging.
Think a lot becomes about knowing your limits but just going that little bit further, but listening to your body.
Very sensible. It does get better!
When we could swim I did half normal lengths so didn’t get overtired
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