Regular moderate exercise log

Did about 60-70 mins walking today, split into two bouts. Nasty humid weather today, though. otherwise I might have done a bit more

Diakat said:

Yesterday cleaned the living room carpet (it took me low so must count!). today joined you with walking, 2hrs in the woods with my little one.

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That's so funny! Today I thought, "Hmm, maybe tomorrow's exercise should be carpet cleaning!" As I looked at my neglected carpets....

Well, I didn't clean the carpets, but today's exercise was just a bout of housework. That made me go low too. So I ate a whole banana and carried on. And at the end my blood sugar was still good.

This regular thing does seem to be working quite well so far. My blood sugars are running at the bottom end of normal all the time, so I may be able to instigate a small reduction in my basal rates soon.

But walking tomorrow, I hope. It's much more fun than housework.

I think that above all achievable targets are the thing. I always start from "something is better than nothing." Maybe I am just too easily demoralized, but if I start with great ideas, my progress tends to stall after a couple of weeks. If I build up, I can keep it going for longer.

So I would say, three times a week is better than not at all. If it is manageable for you and it gives clear benefits, then why change it?

If it is not working for you, you can always try a different routine - say, shorter walks every day instead. Or a longer walk every day, if you find time and feel the benefit.

The reason I gave the thread this title is because there is masses of research that says we benefit from exactly this. It's great to do wonderful things in sport and fitness, but for our health moderate exercise is both necessary AND sufficient. So, for me, I am just trying to stick to this as a "baseline".

In my case, I do find that three longish walks a week are enough to keep my blood sugar stable and my insulin resistance low. I'm T1 so it's quite easy to measure insulin resistance by insulin requirements. I find that if I slack off for four days, I start to see my blood sugars creeping upward. But it doesn't have to be a great effort to get back to the right place. A bit less sitting down, a bit more housework, half an hour's walking can do it.

I like to do more because it starts to push my insulin requirements down, which is all to the good in my opinion. I don't want to be an insulin-resistant T1. I think that would be more than I could handle.

There must be some variation between individuals, of course. I know the more muscle you carry, the lower your insulin resistance. So more muscular people probably can slack for a bit longer. (When I used to run a bit in my youth, I was always long-distance and cross-country, not a sprinter at all. So I'm pretty puny!)

That was a bit of a ramble so the short answer is no, I don't think you do have to exercise every day!

Well, it's been pouring with rain for two days here, so I didn't feel like going out in it. I blew the cobwebs off the hula hoop and gave that a go for about 20 minutes, maybe more. So that's today's exercise ticked off the list. It was quite fun, in fact.

And ooop, no, managed to force myself outdoors for about forty minutes' walking including round-trip to chemists for supplies.

Hi Trisha,
I am no expert on sports science so I hesitate to recommend stuff without any knowledge. I can say that I also was diagnosed as having arthritis in my ankles a few years back. I was pretty upset. I thought it was the beginning of "the end". That sounds a bit dramatic but for me exercise has been the main tool (after insulin) for controlling my T1. I did lots of googling and found that running (not just walking, like I do) certainly doesn't make arthritis worse, and may stop it progressing. In my case, I no longer have any pain in my ankles. Once in a while one of them kind of 'locks' but it is Ok again a few hours later.
One thing I have found useful is "dynamic stretches". There is an excellent video
by a physiotherapist. It is aimed at runners, but since most of us walk every day, even if just round the house, it really helps. It doesn't look like much, but try it and see.
Even just doing that every day, and adding it to your swimming would help.
Then, if you live in the UK, maybe you can do what @donnellysdogs did. As I understand it, she actually got a "prescription" from her GP for sessions with a specialized personal trainer. If you can do that, he/she may be able to make good recommendations for you.

donnellysdogs said:

Fell over- badly sprained ankle.. Bad neck still so nothing from me for days!! Will get some exercise just hoiking myself up the stairs tonight and that will be it!!

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DD, you're in the wars, right now! But you've been overdoing it according to the keepy-uppies thread. Moderation doesn't come easy to you, obviously! Just one of your day's work would be more than enough for me, without any extras! You can lie down, get well and give advice for a few days.

About 30-40 mins walk today. Feeling the after-effects of the hula hoop a bit.
So that means it was useful. Must do it again.

Just half an hour again today.

JenniferW said:

It's October and there's still sunshine! This is sooooo helping me get out there to go for a walk.

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Rainy and cold in Istanbul! Think it'll be the exercise bike tomorrow.