WII EXERCISE & CHECKIN GROUP 6/23/2011

[poohb3ar]

HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER!
It seems like we've been in summer for a long time with all the high temps, but the 21st was the official start.
For most, summer means a lot of outdoor activities. If us MSrs don't get over heated or over exposed to the sun, outside is a great place to exercise.
Read where just five minutes of any form of outdoor exercise (walking, gardening, swimming, etc.) can boost your self esteem and mood. Woo! We can all use that!
So try to get out whenever possible for a quick pick-me-up!

GOALS MADE:
EIGHT!
Many said 'just made goal' as if that's a bad thing? Be proud that you made your goal!!!
GOALS MISSED:
THREE
Good job for checking in anyway. We're here to support not judge if you didn't make goal. Some weeks you just can't reach your goal and it's okay.
seasha, hope you heal quickly.
red, packing and moving is stressful- be kind to yourself.
If you're listening to your body that should be your goal for the week. Our bodies will usually tell us what they need and when you've done too much (Jumpinjimmy).

FIT TIP:
Exercise stimulates your brain-muscle communication plus you are suppose to exercise both sides of your body.
So I was thinking that if you only do games with your predominant hand or side, you are depriving your other side of many exercise benefits.
I did a couple days' experiments of using my left side/ hand (weaker and non dominate side). Just holding the Wii remote in my left hand made games and exercises harder. I found myself having to think more and even my legs were messing up exercises until I repeated them often while using left side.

Not exactly scientific data, but give it a try. Not just with Wii but other activities. Use your weaker side/ hand to do gardening, housecleaning (dust, sweep, mop etc.), eating,mouse use, etc.
You'll find it interesting how challenging it can be.
Consider though, like myself, in my last relapse my dominate hand was affected and for awhile it was the weaker and less responsive hand. It still has less feeling, but is recovering after roids.
But what if it didn't? My left side would have to take over.
It would be less of a problem if I'd already been using and training it.
Just a thought.

Have a great week!
Take care and God bless ya!

[CasinoKathy]

Thanks for the exercise tip pooh- I have to keep exercising so my brain functions better overall- PLUS--I have to give the grandkids some competition playing the "MEMORY GAME!!!!"

OK-- I made goal- plus some- spent some time cleaning tubs and shower walls- always a fun job!

Also making it a point to get down on the floor 3-4 times a day to do specific leg stretches.

Hope everyone had a great week! Now that summer is officially here, we are having some highs of 63 degrees!!!!

[Seasha]

Hi all,

Pooh, your tip about using your weaker hand/side for exercise is right up my allley for this past week. With right/stronger side affected with injury, I was having to do all sorts of things with left/weaker side. Even combing my hair was a challenge! I was able to eventually get out in the garden and pull weeds with uncoordinated left hand and fingers. Did my PT every day at PT center or at home, which was my main goal, so I guess I made my goal...

I love your statement that "If you're listening to your body that should be your goal for the week." Amen to that Hope you all have a great week!

[ShrinkKaren]

Hi. I finally had a failure after 14 weeks. Yesterday I was not able to exercise due to failure over our massive power outage. I was attending to food for part of the day so as not to lose it. Of course my most important concern was Rebif. My neighbor was most helpful in hooking up a generator to the refrigerator/freezer. What a neighbor! It was a lot of work for him. I think all the food survived the ordeal even though the generator wasn't available for many hours. I was sure to keep the doors closed to preserve cold. So, I only exercised on 6 days rather than 7. But I still met my goal which I had set at five. I'll set it at five again this week and hope I can resume my trend. Good luck to everyone. Karen

[Mermaid Susan]

singing trumped exercise

Thanks pooh for the weak-side use tip. Using my weaker side has become a ritual for me in my workouts.

I missed my goal this week because I could not make my regular health club workout on Friday. There was a funeral Friday morning, and I sang in the choir. I thought I could still get in my exercise by doing T'ai Chi at home, but it turned out that Friday was the day I could get to the grocery store and by the time i had shopped, I was done for the day.

I am hoping to develop a better strategy for times i cannot get to the club. Otherwise, I am keeping up pretty well. Yesterday in spite of feeling extra low i still went there and did TRX on land and water aerobics. The water class, as usual, restored my soul (and body).

Stay lifted,
Susan

[hunterd]

WAY LOUSY RESULTS!!!! Had flu and didn't eat for 6 days. So,,,,,,no goal. We'll try for better results this week. Great job everyone!

Dave

[poohb3ar]

Wow, good job so far.

Casino Kathy, there's a version of the memory game on this site. it's at the beginning. hmmm should have looked it up first it's done like a mystery theme- really cool effects (koko or sparky help me out if you can)

seasha, Pain and Torture everyday is a DEFINITE goal

shrink karen, sorry about your outage. great neighbor tho! your goal is 5 days so don't feel down plus working on all the food and stuff sounds like exercise to me!

mermaid susan, you are definitely a go-getter! personally i'd count the funeral choir and grocery shopping as a day of exercise ! but it's your goal and i'll resist the temptation to count you on the plus side!

hunterd, bless your heart! if you've had the flu i know your stomach muscles got a workout. glad you're over it. remember to get back into exercise slow and hydrate! we don't want you sick again

keep it up!
can't wait to hear from everyone else!
glad ya'll liked my fit tip that i actually thought up on my own
take care & GOd bless ya!

[poohb3ar]

"The Case of the Missing Matches"

Casino Kathy, I found it!
it's really a cool game with sound effects and everyday life clues. but it also helps your memory because it's based a lot on the memory game you play with your kids.
don't know how else to find it but through home page and at bottom the site map. check it out! i think you'll like the brain exercise. hmmm, should we add those things to our goals too!
God bless ya!

[Red7172]

I gotta say I feel good so far this week. (I have been a little funky)

I love the weak side tip Pooh. I use to brush my teeth with my weak side once a week but for some reason I haven't been doing that lately. (I use to always do things right or left handed) I think I will start doing that again

My boyfriend is the best... he has been making me do walking therapy its working my calfs are starting to feel the work out.

Good job everyone ...

[jumpinjiminy]

What a challenge, working that weaker side. I'm having enough of a challenge getting a steady pace going. I'm still paying for overdoing it last week with a headache that wants to hang on. Then went outside to visit with neighbors on a hot day for hours. Not good. Add that to the overdoing it day, headache, and viola. Makes for a not so great week.

I think I'm starting to bounce back now, finally. I only needed an extra four hours of sleep daily since last Thursday. Boo!

About that goal . . .

I was two miles short this week. But now that I'm more aware of my limits, I'm going to make my goal higher. No more 3 or 4 mile days for me. The limit is 2. And since that shouldn't put me into the overdoing it range on any particular day, the hope is I can do that every day and not need extra sleep. I'm changing my goal to 2 miles a day (14 for the week) instead of 10 for the week.

Time will tell if this is an achievable plan or not.

Cathy, I hear you on that weather thing. We either have over 90 or below 70. This is a radical temp summer, from one extreme to the other. Crazy.

[KoKo]

Hi Everyone

Made goal (no extra, though, as getting to goal took all my strength this week!)

Didn't go for walks because it was either too hot, humid, or rainy so I mostly did the bike.

4X stationary bike for 30 min + arm exercises

+ 1 day full of errand runs (grocery shopping, GNC for supplements, etc.) which really uses up my strength and energy these days....

Wishing the best to all.

Take care,
KoKo

[poohb3ar]

Lazy week! Can we just ignore it??

Missed goals by 2 days. Pure laziness.

week? what week?

(don't worry, it happens to the best of us!)