Hey everyone!! Ed, how's your exercise plan going? A friend here at work has decided she wants to climb the stairs at morning break - all 16 floors of them. So, every weekday morning at 10:00 a.m. three of us will be going to the main floor and then climbing the stairs back to our office. We did it today, and you know what? Climbing stairs is hard work!!!!! I'll keep you posted on how it is going!

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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*

When you weigh 300+ pounds, breathing is hard work.

I don't have a big goal, I just want to be able to walk to the corner and back without puffing like a steam engine.

Set goals yes.
Set big goals yes.
Break each one into very do able baby steps

YES

Why because too big steps in an exercise goal make it an unworkable goal that expects some to have ten times the ability & ten times the dedication than they really have. Then soon they either give up because they measure progress by giant steps and only see small returns and think "what's the use".

Even in the gym a really good workout brings on average a 1/64 inch actual muscle gain after even the best pump fades. Too big a goal & that seems like failure. The expectations were not realistic to your age, gender, health, actual condition, and resources, and know how and drive.

But take the syngergystic effects of say an arm workout, chest & sholder workout, and squats & deadlifts (causing your bodies growth factors to go into overdrive for your physique.) Then you might get 1/64 lnch from direct work & 1 or 2 extra 32's from synergy created by working to build the bigger muscles using "baby steps" layred one on the other with all the gleeful determined persistance of a todler banging on a dishpan for two hours a day in 30-40 increments because he liked to punctuate eating sand & bugs with some exiting noise between toilet paper tossing and couch sky diving.

The intrepid kid breaks up his routine, but keeps building the activity till nap time is enforced. The stair climbing is a good idea, add other ideas for diversity & to achive your personal results goals & stick with it & you got it in due time.

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Edward F Sutton

Didn't feel too much repercussions after the first day, til I started climbing today! The second day was MUCH harder than the first!!!!!! I'll keep at it cause I know that it will get easier - eventually!

I still plan on doing something at home, but I feel better just knowing that I've Started!

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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*

[This message has been edited by Mrs Sarah Moss (edited April 18, 2001).]

Every journey begins with that first step.
If the first step isn't made, you don't get anywhere.
I can walk out to the mailbox and back without getting dizzy, next step, walking down to the corner and back ( about 1/2 mile)
Even if I pant and puff, eventually it'll quit.

Wish me luck.

I'm giving you guys a daily journal of my stair climbing 'cause I know that if I don't, I may just quit.

Today was even harder! I didn't think I was going to make it. I made it to the 5th or 6th floor and really began to wonder. We did get there though, might have taken a hair longer than usual, but we made it. My friend decided to count the stairs today - a total of 300 from the main floor to the 15th floor, plus one more flight in the office for me because I actually work on 17! (we climb to 15 take the elevator to 16 because the doors are locked on 16 & 17)

Ed, I hope your weight lifting is on target, and Gerry, it sounds like you are doing great! You are so right, we have to start from where we are and go on, growing as we can. I can't jump into the exercise program I eventually want to be doing because I just wouldn't be able to handle it right now. I'm going to grow into it! One step (stair) at a time.

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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*

Good for you guys! I have been walking almost daily for about 2 years, usually about 3 miles, but sometimes only 2 or as many as 4 or 5. When we went to Kentucky about 2 years ago, we hiked the trails. Unlike the route I walk, which is slightly hilly, these trails were steep! Probably more like your stair-climbing, Sarah. My climbing muscles don't normally get used much, and were complaining quite a bit, but after a couple of days, they were used to it and I had no further trouble.

Lately, though, I don't think I am getting so much exercise on my walks, as I am too busy taking photos of all the wildflowers, moss, ponds, etc.

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The Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever.

I have been working on a regular walking program. I have noticed that most of you have a walking or stair climbing program during the day. I have developed a night walking program that I have broken up into three or four segments, of shorter distance. I have found the program to be compelling and quite regular. And perhaps it is even more compelling as I get older.

And the night walks take care of the finding time problem!!

[This message has been edited by DrD (edited April 21, 2001).]

Dr.D. You make me laugh, and that's good medicine/exercise too!

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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*

That sounds like walking that breaks up your dreams. Exercise not so fun. Maybe time for the herb,Saw Palminto, supposed to work better than Proscar. That leaves the walking to the boudoir with fatigue or fun, but not exiting rapidly with the "two hour two step", hopeing the "low flush" throne is definitly not occupodo.

May your nights not be rapid reruns of "here's Johnny".

Otherwise how is your exercise program working out. Are you winning at the most personal race of all. The journey to chase what you have choosen as your dream. Will that dream last, or evaporate when you can no longer persue it? What propels you across life's landscape in the direction you choose ?

In all the rush and shifting of goals, and talk about this and talk about that. Unless we persue it, is it real, or just talk - gone as soon as we forget our words ?

Is that dream something planned out ? Is health a part of the toolkit used to reach that dream, or is exercise the dream it's self. To some it seems to be all things, to some just a tool in a larger plan, to some a dreaded resolution soon unkept, to some nothing at all. But what is the dream, surely everyone has one ?

The original question about exercise & finding time. What if finding your dream, creating a plan, restructuring your life to achive that dream is the secret to finding time for anything and everything.

The real secrets are, what are the dreams & what are they based on & what are the plans to take you there, are they real and do-able?
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Edward F Sutton

[This message has been edited by Edward F Sutton (edited April 23, 2001).]