Regular moderate exercise log

[therower]

Hi @Wendy18168. Welcome to the forum.
Wow that sounds like a long shift at work. Fully understandable that you're finding it difficult to find time for exercise.
Thus is only a suggestion but it's something I swear by as a great workout......Tabata......
A google search or YouTube search will give an insight in to the concept.
What I would say is that you will see muscle bound guys and girls pushing themselves to extraordinary lengths whilst doing tabata training. It doesn't have to be so intense, you develop a program that suits your level and ability. It's the protocol of tabata that is important.
The beauty is that it can all be done in a 4 minute workout within a small area.
Have a look for it on internet to get an idea of how it works and if you need to ask for more advice feel free to ask me.

 

[Alexandra100]

Hi everyone. I’ve been lurking on here for a long time and thought it’s about time I posted. I’ve been Type 2 since 2007. I’m finding it hard to keep motivated lately, I was a regular gym member and then just seemed to loose motivation as was having stomach issues. I started doing Military Boot Camp and absolutely loved it but after a CT Scan picked up a Fibroid in my womb the size of someone who’s 5 months pregnant. The Boot Camp told me I couldn’t continue until I had my operation. I feel like when I take 2 steps forward I get knocked back 10. I am a support worker in mental health and do 24 hour shifts. (15 hours then sleep) so am always tired. Can anyone recommend a good exercise while I’m at work? (I’m in the clients own property and don’t get a lot of time on my own in the 15 hours). Thank you in advance.

I'll ponder on the exercise problem, but meanwhile I just wanted to say that my daughter had a huge fibroid in her womb. The op. to remove it was straightforward, though she did have to have time off work and not do too much at first afterwards. The fibroid turned out to have been much bigger than they thought beforehand and she is MUCH better off without it. So I hope you can have yours treated soon.

 

[Japes]

Welcome to the thread, @Wendy18168 . and glad you've un-lurked.

Are there stairs available at your clients' properties? I've used mine on days I can't get out, or time is against me, to go up and done more times than I would normally. But, if that wouldn't work for you at the moment, don't do it! 5 times up and down non-stop can make me breathless when I'm not walking a lot, it takes 10 times to get me breathless when I'm well exercised. I also use the top step for different step exercises. (There's a little half-landing, and one step at a right angle to get to the main landing.)

I shall look at the Tabata, @therower. I'm saving the skipping for the warmer weather, though now it's lighter, it may be happening soon! I can skip in the house, but as it's rented, and the best two places have laminate floors, I don't want to scratch it.

 

[Alexandra100]

Are there stairs available at your clients' properties? I've used mine on days I can't get out

I too find stairs a valuable resource. I have set my Fitbit target for floors at 50, and many a day when I have not yet climbed enough hills outdoors, there I am at bedtime charging up and down my staircase. I have resolved never to move to a bungalow for this reason alone. When the pavements began to be icy earlier this winter, I planned to use certain staircases in local multi-storey hospitals or a very challenging one near the station which has magnificent views over the canal. It hasn't yet come to that, but it's a comfort to think one need not be deprived of aerobic exercise (or be obliged to use the dreadmill at the gym).

@Wendy18168 A suggestion for working out at work: how about a little resistance training? You could use elastic bands, do calf raises on any step or even on the flat, squats etc. This list of 10 body-weight leg exercises appeals to me:
https://www.mensfitness.com/training/build-muscle/best-bodyweight-exercises-legs?utm_source=email

 

[Japes]

May I just say, the glories of a seven miles walk, in new boots of the prefered brand, and new Bridgedale socks cannot be under-estimated. Mojo for longer distances definitely returned.

 

[Alexandra100]

new Bridgedale socks

Ah, what rare bliss! I bought lots of pairs of my preferred very heavy weight Bridgedale socks years ago, when that particular design was discontinued and reduced in price. Then, each time I set off for a long walking holiday I would start a new pair, to give my feet the best possible chance of lasting the distance. But of course the previous pairs were not worn out. And despite the fact that I wear them all day every day, walking or not, they seem to last forever. I am very grateful for their longevity, but the price to pay is that I have almost forgotten the joy of a brand new pair!

 

[Japes]

I carry a spare pair all the time, as I reckon to change socks after ten miles. As I'm edging towards ten miles most days at the moment, this is a necessity.

We may have to make sock puppets sometime at Messy Church to use up my drawer full of socks I no longer wear, and to make space properly for the Bridgedale ones I do + the several pairs of a brand of socks marketed at diabetics which are great slobbing around the house ones (especially when I've mis-timed the laundry and waiting for the Bridgedale ones to dry!) but not so great for walking in as they are not so well fitting.

 

[Japes]

Sighs - slight hiatus in the walking until I've got the hang of this insulin stuff... this morning's walk will be a gentle stroll to the supermarket to stock up on some carbs and, more importantly, hypo treatment supplies which I've not needed in ages. I do, 24 hours in, feel loads better for the change.

It was all a bit over-dramatic for a first clinic appointment, I got a lot of exercise wandering from nurse to nurse to doctor (consultant came to me - looked and said, "You are rare and unusual..." agreed with the doctor's assessments, added a few more auto-immune conditions to check for and wandered off again) and back to nurses again to extract enough blood to restock the blood bank. Oh, and was only allowed out after I'd promised to go to A&E immediately if a whole array of X, Y and Z in conjunction with A, B and C. Well done, ketones, for choosing that morning to appear for the first time ever at 5.4. New monitor, though.

 

[Alexandra100]

the several pairs of a brand of socks marketed at diabetics which are great slobbing around the house ones (especially when I've mis-timed the laundry and waiting for the Bridgedale ones to dry!) but not so great for walking in as they are not so well fitting.

I wear my thick wool Bridgedales all the time except in bed. There I wear the thickest Heatholder type synthetic socks. They are wonderfully cosy, but I found out very early in our acquaintance that the heels wear through almost immediately if used for walking any distance.

 

[Alexandra100]

Sighs - slight hiatus in the walking until I've got the hang of this insulin stuff... this morning's walk will be a gentle stroll to the supermarket to stock up on some carbs and, more importantly, hypo treatment supplies which I've not needed in ages. I do, 24 hours in, feel loads better for the change.

It was all a bit over-dramatic for a first clinic appointment, I got a lot of exercise wandering from nurse to nurse to doctor (consultant came to me - looked and said, "You are rare and unusual..." agreed with the doctor's assessments, added a few more auto-immune conditions to check for and wandered off again) and back to nurses again to extract enough blood to restock the blood bank. Oh, and was only allowed out after I'd promised to go to A&E immediately if a whole array of X, Y and Z in conjunction with A, B and C. Well done, ketones, for choosing that morning to appear for the first time ever at 5.4. New monitor, though.

Crumbs, does this mean you are now considered LADA, or just a T2 who no longer produces enough/any insulin? Or? You say you haven't needed hypo treatment supplies for ages. I'm curious as to what was going on before, and why it changed and now seems to have changed again?

 

[Japes]

Crumbs, does this mean you are now considered LADA, or just a T2 who no longer produces enough/any insulin? Or? You say you haven't needed hypo treatment supplies for ages. I'm curious as to what was going on before, and why it changed and now seems to have changed again?

We are strongly suspicious of LADA, but I was warned the tests might just prove I'm Type 2 who needs insulin.

There are a lot of questions needing answers.... I'm also very curious!

 

[jayney27]

This is a thread where those of us who are not Ironman-ready or triathletes or any other kind of sports superstar can log our more moderate achievements and encourage each other.

I was a very keen sportswoman when I was younger but have really let it slide and these days all I want to do is make my exercise more regular. I have also spoken to/messaged other women on this forum who have similar intentions but we are a bit overawed by our (wonderful, and mostly male) diabetic overachievers. My own exercise habits go in fits and starts, so I plan to log all my moderate boring stuff here in the hope that writing it down will make me do it more often.

First of all: today I walked briskly for approximately 90 minutes!

Hi, what a good idea.
I was diagnosed in Oct last year and started with a 20 min swim 4 times a week until the new year. I then started doing some low level HiiT sessions, at home I hasten to add. I have now started doing a 15 minute brisk walk during my lunch breaks and did a 30 min swim last night.
My plan going forward is to continue my lunch time walks and alternate weeks swimming and HiiT.
I had my first check up and blood results last week and my levels are in the normal range, combination of exercise and diet.

 

[Japes]

Welcome to the thread @jayney27 We're a nice, encouraging lot here, and it's helped on many an occasion to come back here to keep me motivated.

 

[Japes]

Crumbs, does this mean you are now considered LADA, or just a T2 who no longer produces enough/any insulin? Or? You say you haven't needed hypo treatment supplies for ages. I'm curious as to what was going on before, and why it changed and now seems to have changed again?

I had about 20 months of pretty good control once I'd got an initial Hba1c of 140 down to 57, where it remained. It then suddenly crept up with no explanation. I'd kept to LCHishF and my walking regime, along with Metformin, and suddenly, it all stopped working, no matter how disciplined I was about food and walking.

Gliclazide was added in and gradually increased over the last six months to the maximum, but it was making no difference, until the point two weeks ago when GP and I agreed I could genuinely do no more for myself, the meds were not working and it all needed proper investigation. Which all led to the exciting morning in the clinic

I had occasional mild, easily corrected hypos in those 20 months, (despite being told you don't have hypos on Metformin...) nothing to concern anyone, but I haven't had one all the time I've been on Gliclazide. I never stopped carrying Dextrose, though.

I did the gentle stroll this morning and felt so good after it, I went out again this afternoon to complete my usual 8 - 10 miles, with lots of testing (and coffee stops!) along the way. I'm delighted that walking is now back to having the effect of gently lowering blood sugars again.

Hopefully, I'll have clearer answers soon!

 

[Alexandra100]

I had about 20 months of pretty good control once I'd got an initial Hba1c of 140 down to 57, where it remained. It then suddenly crept up with no explanation. I'd kept to LCHishF and my walking regime, along with Metformin, and suddenly, it all stopped working, no matter how disciplined I was about food and walking.

Gliclazide was added in and gradually increased over the last six months to the maximum, but it was making no difference, until the point two weeks ago when GP and I agreed I could genuinely do no more for myself, the meds were not working and it all needed proper investigation. Which all led to the exciting morning in the clinic

I had occasional mild, easily corrected hypos in those 20 months, (despite being told you don't have hypos on Metformin...) nothing to concern anyone, but I haven't had one all the time I've been on Gliclazide. I never stopped carrying Dextrose, though.

I did the gentle stroll this morning and felt so good after it, I went out again this afternoon to complete my usual 8 - 10 miles, with lots of testing (and coffee stops!) along the way. I'm delighted that walking is now back to having the effect of gently lowering blood sugars again.

Hopefully, I'll have clearer answers soon!

Thanks very much for satisfying my curiosity. It is not idle, as I suspect I am headed for LADA. I share your love of exercise, and also your curiosity. All this would be far more frustrating if we didn't have the compensating entertainment of these medical investigations! I'm glad you are back to living as you want. Walking punctuated by coffee stops sounds wonderful. If only I lived near enough to join you occasionally!

 

[jayney27]

Welcome to the thread @jayney27 We're a nice, encouraging lot here, and it's helped on many an occasion to come back here to keep me motivated.

Thank you, I’m new to the forum and the world of diabetes but already making use of the information available here.

 

[jayney27]

30 minute swim done

 

[Alexandra100]

I did the gentle stroll this morning and felt so good after it, I went out again this afternoon to complete my usual 8 - 10 miles, with lots of testing (and coffee stops!) along the way

More curiosity on my part - I see you are working. But unless your work consists of testing Bridgedale socks to destruction, how and when do you fit it in? Do you work evenings? And if so, how do you find the energy after all that walking?

 

[Japes]

More curiosity on my part - I see you are working. But unless your work consists of testing Bridgedale socks to destruction, how and when do you fit it in? Do you work evenings? And if so, how do you find the energy after all that walking?

I think I should have a job testing Bridgedale Socks!!

Most of my walking on Main Job work days is to and from work. I live just under 3 miles away and my Continous Walking, Brisk Pace (CWBP) Target for 10 minutes at a time is based on a walk to work and back. (I was into Active 10 before the NHS! Go me!)

I work in Further Education, in a specialist sector, and I specialise within that with those with particularly challenging behaviour, so on a, shall we say, very active work day, I can do over 10,000 steps at work easily without any effort. But, because the campus is small it doesn't register as CWBP walking - but it does shove my overall steps up.

I don't own a car, so I also do several walks a week to the supermarket and often carry the shopping home if it's just my backpack. If it's the shopping trolley, I do get the bus back home up the hill! Supermarkets are either 1.5 or 2.4 miles away, depending on what I want.

It's all pretty moderate exercise, honest, just lots of it in short stints across the day on a workday, a slow and steady marathon on walking for fun days.... one colleague who walks my usual work route, and who does running as well, told me the other day she's finding it much harder to catch up with my walking, though, so maybe I am walking faster than I used to.

I reckon I'm walking about 2 1/2 - 3 hours most days and fitting it in with little effort. Or, maybe it's just I'm used to how I do it.

 

[jayney27]

Lunch time walk done, despite the grey skies, managed to dodge the rain.