What Do You Guys Do For Exercise?

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Hi everyone,

What does everyone manage to do for an exercise routine?

I used to be very active.  I managed to play football (soccer) and folk dancing.  I quit the football awhile ago and I decided that I have to give up dancing because I am exhausted most of the time.  My neph told me that I need to protect my AV graft so I should keep away from sports that could damage it in any way.  (I guess no shot put.)   

My local gyms are all CrossFit crazy so that is out of the options too.

I want to remain active and have a sport per say.  What have you folks found that works and keeps muscle tone?

Any ideas would be great, thanks.

[noahvale]

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[jeannea]

I don't think cross fit is good for us. I don't understand the mania for it.

I mostly walk. I am lucky. My YMCA has an indoor track to walk. Sometimes I'll use the stationary bike. I use a couple of the circuit machines (the machines that address one muscle group like triceps). I had been swimming and I want to get back to that.

That all sounds good. My biggest problem is consistency. I need to be walking more often. Currently, I'm still trying to get stronger again after my latest hospital stay.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Noahvale:  I’ve never tried Contra dancing so maybe that could be an option.  Do fellow dancers get angry at you if you’re too slow?  I’ve been having that problem recently. 

Besides the renal failure, I just have Type 1 diabetes which is well managed.  Trying to keep my hemoglobin and iron stores up has been a problem.  My hemoglobin is currently  90 g/L and ferritin 18 pmol/L.  I haven’t had an IV iron infusion (Venofer) for some time but I expect that it will be happening soon due to my latest (and consistent) blood work results.

Treatment time, ha, well, there is a problem there.  Up until January, I was on 3.5 hours X 3 times a week.  I knew that the session time and pump speed were inadequate but the clinic needed people in and out.  After a hospitalization (influenza and edema), I managed to have my nephrologist amend my time to four hours.  I am sure that he will be open to upping to 4.5 hours and slowing the pump speed.  My nephrologist said that home HD may be an option but I would have to stay out of town for training.  At four hours, I haven’t felt much difference but I owed that to the anemia.  I just feel as though I am getting more tired every day!  I figured that work plus dialysis were doing it and I’d need less sport.  Or less active sports. 

Jeannea; Yes, you’re right that consistency can be a problem.  I found that with organized sports that the fear of being reprimanded kept me going.  However, now that I am slowing everyone down and they are frustrated, it is time to back away.  Walking is always a good option too and definitely an activity one can do at their own pace.   

[PaulBC]

I’ve never tried Contra dancing so maybe that could be an option.  Do fellow dancers get angry at you if you’re too slow?

I don't know, but they might if you support the Sandinistas.

Sorry... bad joke and showing my age. That is just what always pops into my head when I read the term "contra dancing".

[kristina]

Hello UkrainianTracksuit,
Great to "see" you again... whenever I "see" you, it reminds me how much I hope to travel to Kiev one day   ...
... back to exercise... I have no strict exercise-routine as such and I think anyway that a strict exercise-routine
would make my life too complicated and too stressy on days when I am simply not well enough ..
... but I really make a point to go for a walk whenever possible and have done so for many years ...
... and to be quite honest: keeping the household clean and tidy can also be an exercise-challenge when not feeling too well...
As for other exercises... I was brought up with a bit of ballet and mountain-climbing, which was always great fun...
Unfortunately that is out of the question now, but I still dance now and then and my favourite cheer-up dancing-music
is Haendel's Concerto Grosso in B minor Op. 6 No.12  ... it is so full of life, it bursts with energy and the joy of life...
... it is all there in this piece of music and whenever I feel a bit under the weather I listen to it,
dance a little and that makes me feel better
and I also exercise a little whilst dancing to Handel's joyful music ...

P.S. I just remember today (12th April) another "nice little wakey-wakey" which is:
Carmina Burana ~ O Fortuna by Carl Orff conducted by André Rieu ...
Guaranteed to keep anyone motivated to carry on   ...
P.S. It is also provided with English subtitles (and political conspiracy theories) on youtube: BEST EVER O Fortuna - Carl Orff Carmina Burana.
The text of "O Fortuna" is very applicable to ESRF...

[Athena]

Hello UkrainianTS,
I've never been one for any organised sports to be quite honest and I couldn't imagine taking up one of them when it is now so important to do things according to our own pace and need. That's just my preference. I definitely would recommend walking and lots of it. How about getting a treadmill at home and some light weights for resistance exercises? Walking in nature where you can admire trees and the sights and sounds of nature is probably the best exercise you could do in my opinion and it can be quite a vigorous workout, walking up and down hills and different types of terrain. Yoga is another form of exercise that is also relaxing and very invigorating.
One thing is for sure, we need to stay active! I've been lately neglecting my exercise routine as well.
Hope you find a good alternative soon.
All the best.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I’ve never tried Contra dancing so maybe that could be an option.  Do fellow dancers get angry at you if you’re too slow?

I don't know, but they might if you support the Sandinistas.

Sorry... bad joke and showing my age. That is just what always pops into my head when I read the term "contra dancing".

I had a "phase" when I was a teen and then undergrad where I did!  I guess contra dancing is out then.     Thanks for the laugh!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Thanks kristina and Athena for your posts.  I'm seeing walking as something that keeps popping up.  (Good point about the household chores too!) 

[jeannea]

PaulBC, you are totally showing your age! You must be as old as I am. 

[PrimeTimer]

If a person can afford it and is also willing to commit, having a dog to walk, run and play with is good exercise and forces you to get outdoors. They are also good at lifting one's spirits plus, they never tell people your secrets! So long as they get to go outdoors to do their business, they don't care if it's for short or long walks or if it's twice a day (at the very least) or a few times a day. Some do quite well in a car to go to a park (mine use to actually squeal and whine whenever we had to stop at red traffic lights on the way to his favorite park). Dogs generally love to be with their people, no matter what the activity. If you let them, they can wear you out on long walks but whenever you have to, you can also make it a short walk. For an extra workout, people can also carry/wear light weights while on their walk. Word of caution tho, people need to have someone willing to care for the dog in case they have to go away and are unable to take their dog with them.

[Riki]

I have a Nintendo Wii with a balance board and Wii Fit Plus... there are lots of little games that get you moving... Personally, I like the free stepping game, and another called Island Cycling...  with the island cycling game, you can actually take a break if you're starting to wear down.. I also have a couple of dancing games.. I play Just Dance Kids because the songs for the older kids are the same as what is on the adult version, but the dances are a little easier

I'm also a big walker... I"m waiting for the snow to melt so I can get out walking again, but the Wii will help get my stamina up until I can get out again

[marlinfshr]

Walking is good for me. Since I had a bypass last august I need to do cardio so I joined a gym. I try to go 3 days a week and now that it is warming up I'll start taking walks on the nearby boardwalk. I have also started back up working so waxing and buffing boats is a good way for me to exorcise without going to the gym. Then this summer I'll be fishing so my activity will increase 10 fold and hopefully I'll feel great doing it. Right now though, after waxing 2 boats I am sore all over.

[Zach]

Here's an old IHD exercise thread that might be of interest:

Want to join me in exercise?
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=3027.msg463162#msg463162

 

[JW77]

I fly kites, small and larger.  The small 2 line foil or stunt kites are fine for a fistula, and great fun as well:)

Do a fair bit of walking, swimming more so if I get the rare chance to go on holiday

[smcd23]

My husband who is on dialysis recently started taking more of an interest in getting back in shape. I keep telling him round is a shape but... (he's not by any means overweight but just wants to get some muscle strength back)

He walks when the weather is warm enough, and during the summer he was taking our beagle on hikes on some trails near our house. By the end of last summer he was able to hike the trails over a mile without feeling too worn out, and even at times would sprint a little with the dog.

He used to play hockey so he will get out on skates with our son from time to time during the winter as well. I am hoping next winter (because this one is almost over) that I can get him and the rest of us into cross country skiing or snow shoeing to keep us more active during the winter months.

He also recently has started adding some weight training to his exercise routine - nothing too major - some squats, push ups, sit ups etc. The first day he did it he was sore for days, but he did it again a few days ago and didn't do as much and felt much better.

I think the key is ease into anything you want to do, start slowly and listen to your body while being mindful of your limitations (if any) due to your access or other health conditions. Good luck - I am sure you can do it.