Exercise - what do you do for exercise - is it regular?

[MorkandMindy]

Exercise - what do you do for exercise - is it regular?


We are spiritual beings in a physical body. Having the energy to think is important and remaining physically capable is also pretty crucial.

So, unfortunately owing to my alternating day and night shift I have stopped my sprinting and no longer do any regular exercise as every part of the day or night now feels pretty much the same.

But I have lower back ache, so what sort of exercise should I be doing?

What sorts of exercise does everyone else take and what does it do for you?

 

[miss-a]

Currently, my only exercise is my job. I do merchandising and display work for retail stores, and because I'm still healing from a couple of injuries I earned a few months back, the amount of walking, lifting and climbing on the job is all I can handle.

Prior to this, however, my workout routine was lifting light weights, brisk walking and floor exercises, crunches, planks, leg lifts, that sort of thing, and stretching. Those combined with yard work, gardening, my job, and getting in the kayak or on the snow shoes occasionally are really plenty for me. And with the exception of the mandatory mowing--which I probably wouldn't mind if it wasn't mandatory--I'm fortunate that I enjoy them all. That's the key, to find something you enjoy.

 

[Ayleeann]

Due to knee, neck and back problems, I am limited. So I recently took up archery. I bought a recurve bow and practice a few times a day till my fingers get sore. My aim is getting pretty good!

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

The only exercise I currently do is when I work at Kohls I am walking around and bending and lifting for 4 hours + at a time a few times a week. Otherwise it's housework, and chasing my dog back and forth at the dog park.
My feet have been aching so I don't do as much walking as I use to.

 

[blackribbon]

Nursing students focus on everyone else's health while the instructors destroy ours. The only exercise I get walking from the back of the staff parking lot to our floor in the hospital (probably a good mile) and not sitting down for 6 hours. Then I go home to sitting on my butt for several days studying way too much stuff.

If your low back hurts and you do not have a specific injury, focus on stomach muscle exercises like situps. It is your stomach which actually holds your back upright and straight. Swimming is another good exercise because it is gentle on the joints and has a good range of motion.

 

[MorkandMindy]

...

If your low back hurts and you do not have a specific injury, focus on stomach muscle exercises like situps. It is your stomach which actually holds your back upright and straight. Swimming is another good exercise because it is gentle on the joints and has a good range of motion.

Many thanks, I'll try that.

It is sitting on my butt that makes it bad, so when I get lower back ache I find a way around that and I really should spend less time at the computer.


I'm sorry about your place of work; somewhat self defeating if your work involved extending the lives of some people at the expense of your own.


Most places of employment are getting worse down at my end of the employment market and my job is by far the biggest threat to my health. If I don't get a promotion I will be leaving and I've picked the date and the destination.


I don't think it's a specific injury as I've had the problem for decades, I think it is just the nature of human backs that they can only take so much static load for so long. Many thanks, Mork

 

[dayhiker]

The main exercise I get is walking.
I should do some crunches but I've not done that!

 

[blackribbon]

Ironically, my test this week covers low back pain. Sitting for long periods of time is one of the primary causes of pain not cause from trauma.

I was fighting severe low back pain when I started school and after doing some research realized that I actually had problems in my hip flexors. By doing a major project on my floors which required sitting on a little stool bent over for almost a month, I allowed a couple muscles in my hips to shorten (they get used to being in a short tight position). Since these muscles actually attach to the lower back before running through the hip, the short tight position literally pulls on the lower back and can cause severe pain. Stretching the hips out (look for exercises online) really helped....but it took a lot of time and I can still feel it some on days. So this could also be a cause.

So I would focus on good full body stretches with a focus on hip flexor stretches...and core building exercises which focus on building the muscle of your core (abdominal area). Youtube or google for good ideas.

For overall health, especially bone strength...walking is the number one recommended exercise.

If you smoke, stop. Lung cancer is the least of your worries. Smoking actually starves your body for oxygen (blood prefers to carry carbon monoxide when given the choice and it gets that choice when you smoke). Every body organ is weakened when a person smokes. Even bones start to break down and weaken earlier...and are much harder to repair if subjected to a trauma.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

Exercise - what do you do for exercise - is it regular?


We are spiritual beings in a physical body. Having the energy to think is important and remaining physically capable is also pretty crucial.

So, unfortunately owing to my alternating day and night shift I have stopped my sprinting and no longer do any regular exercise as every part of the day or night now feels pretty much the same.

But I have lower back ache, so what sort of exercise should I be doing?

What sorts of exercise does everyone else take and what does it do for you?

Hi. Excersise, especially cardio, is important so endorphins can be released into our Brain which elevates such chemicals as seratonin , etc... this is Gods 'natural high' designed by him so we come away with a feeling of well-being , increased alertness, happiness, etc... For me, when i dont excersise regularly, I feel lethargic , unmotivated , dont sleep as well, and pessimistic more .

I try hard to work out every other day and at times...every day when feasible. I belong to the local YMCA which is real affordable and convenient .

As for lower back pain...i too get this from the career i had . I find the Lower Back Machine at the fitness center a great help in alleviating back pain and strengthening the associated muscles . Also, taking hot baths and hanging upside down on my home inverted table for about 30 seconds each time a couple times per day. Also, i try to sit in a solid chair holding onto the arms of it, then twist as far as i can to the right then to the left which sometimes cracks my back bringing good relief . Also, bending over backwards on a heavily padded arm of a sofa in just the right spot will accomplish the same for relief.

 

[christsoccer]

I strength train 1-2 times a week; run 10-12 miles a week, take cardio and yoga classes at the gym and play soccer at least four times a month

 

[Texas101]

Strength training and Krav Maga

 

[dayhiker]

Hi Texas101
Welcome to CF.

 

[exitstageright]

Exercise - what do you do for exercise - is it regular?


We are spiritual beings in a physical body. Having the energy to think is important and remaining physically capable is also pretty crucial.

So, unfortunately owing to my alternating day and night shift I have stopped my sprinting and no longer do any regular exercise as every part of the day or night now feels pretty much the same.

But I have lower back ache, so what sort of exercise should I be doing?

What sorts of exercise does everyone else take and what does it do for you?

If I have a stressful day at work,or had to runs an errand or two.I may not have the time or the energy to workout after work.

My hours are 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM. My days are Mondays-Fridays.

So,I came up with and I follow this routine. On Monday-Friday,I walk one mile. On Mondays,Wednesdays,and Fridays,after walking one mile,I go to the gym. At the Gym,24 hour fitness,I do weights for about 15 mnutes,and ride the bicycle for 20 minutes.I play my music when I am walking and riding the bike. If a slow song is playing,I tend to go slow.If a fast song is playing,I go fast. For example,when Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" is playing,my left foot is striking the ground to the rythum of the snare drum.

Now the crazy thing about all is this is the time. Since I have to be at work at 6:30 AM,after I work out,shower,and have breakfast,on Mondays,Wednesdays,and Fridays,I get up at 3:30 AM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays,when I just walk one mile,I get up at 4:30 AM.

But this routine has caused to to lower my blood sugar,my blood pressure,and has caused to to lose weight,while looking more solid.

 

[exitstageright]

I strength train 1-2 times a week; run 10-12 miles a week, take cardio and yoga classes at the gym and play soccer at least four times a month

Good for you!!!

In the 80's,I used to jog 5 miles a day,five days a week.It would take me about 40 minutes to jog four miles. In Bakersfield,in the winter time,it would be very foggy,and around 30 degrees F in the morning.One can jog or run faster in the colder weather. One cold,cold morning I was able to jog 4 miles in 35 minutes!

In 1991,I had a friend,and a co-worker,who was in far better shape than me. He had a better physique than me. Well,one day he dropped dead while jogging. I have not been jogging since 1991.

Now swimming is avery good way to excersise. I used to swim a mile every day,five days a week,in the months of June,July,and August. This gave my achillies heel time to heal.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

This afternoon I took a little hike on a trail - only 5 miles or so. Monday I took the day off and one of the things I did was take a 7 mile walk. There are trails where you can walk up hills. Sometimes I force myself to go to the gym but I don't like it. I like the trails where I can enjoy nature. I should do some cycling but have not lately.

 

[iambren]

I'm like Doc,nature seems to be a necessary component for me to consistently exercise. I swam every day that temperature allowed me this year in our pool surrounded by trees. Lots of water-resistant training. Feel like a blob now. I could go to YMCA but I won't go.

Used to jog way out in the countryside but my knees hurt now when I jog (take chondroitin to help build this up). So for now I walk and pray for a short winter.

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

Exercise - what do you do for exercise - is it regular?


We are spiritual beings in a physical body. Having the energy to think is important and remaining physically capable is also pretty crucial.

So, unfortunately owing to my alternating day and night shift I have stopped my sprinting and no longer do any regular exercise as every part of the day or night now feels pretty much the same.

But I have lower back ache, so what sort of exercise should I be doing?

What sorts of exercise does everyone else take and what does it do for you?

I go to the YMCA to lift weights every other day and oftentimes...every day. It really does give me additional energy and a sense of well being.

If i had lower back pain and not able to go to the Fitness Center, I would do some excersises at home like slow situps, twisting laying down and standing up, butterflies laying down, etc.. I would also buy a used inverted table so you can hang upside down which will align your spine and relax the back muscles ; i do this in my home about every other day with good results. Go on CraigsList and you should be able to pick up a good used one for around $50-75 like i did. Very valueable to have for back pain sufferers.

 

[MorkandMindy]

This afternoon I took a little hike on a trail - only 5 miles or so. Monday I took the day off and one of the things I did was take a 7 mile walk. There are trails where you can walk up hills. Sometimes I force myself to go to the gym but I don't like it. I like the trails where I can enjoy nature. I should do some cycling but have not lately.

I'm like Doc,nature seems to be a necessary component for me to consistently exercise. I swam every day that temperature allowed me this year in our pool surrounded by trees. Lots of water-resistant training. Feel like a blob now. I could go to YMCA but I won't go.

Used to jog way out in the countryside but my knees hurt now when I jog (take chondroitin to help build this up). So for now I walk and pray for a short winter.

I totally agree on the nature thing. I remember going out for runs, on the flat through the autumn leaves, down a dirt path in a small valley that opened out into a field, over a gate, down on the flat on a footpath through the trees then back up another valley.

I didn't like any significant bit that was out next to a road because it didn't seem to matter how fast I ran, the scenery didn't go past any faster, but through the trees and having to slow a bit to get around trees and avoid slipping on the dirt was more engaging.

Also the uphill and downhill parts meant varied amounts of exertion which I subsequently found is crucial to good exercise.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I used to love to walk and I could walk forever. I used to do March of dimes walks every year. But now it seems I have feet trouble. Every time I work at Kohls where I am constantly on my feet my feet hurt for days. Mostly in the heel area. I have tried multiple shoes and it doesn't seem to matter. So that makes exercising difficult at best and at worst it just gives me another excuse not to exercise.

 

[miss-a]

Michelle, I know you've probably already tried this, but I went to Walmart and got some Dr. Scholl's shoe that have really squishy souls and then I put gel insoles in them. It has made a world of difference. I do merchandising and display, so I travel from store to store walking on their concrete floors and parking lots. I know it isn't probably as much walking as you do on the concrete, because I do get to sit while driving from store to store, but I wonder if there might be a combo of footware and insoles that could spare your feet and legs. I know the concrete can be a killer. Just a thought anyway.