Great thread, nice to read about what we can do instead of what we can't! I wasn't going to post because after reading the first few posts I thought it was about Marathons, then tonight I saw how many posts there were so I checked out the thread again and found why it's so popular. So here's my bit on getting going.
My husband & I joined a gym when the boys were young because we found we were growing bigger as well as older! I worked really hard and dropped about 20 pounds, not long after that I broke my leg (trilateral break), no walking for over 3 months, oh, in the meantime I had Facial Neuroma Surgery. Sitting there on the couch that Spring, longing to touch the green grass, not to mention wanting to garden, I decided that I would walk Bloomsday the following May. I broke my leg in May and thought it was only fitting. Bloomsday has been walked/run in Spokane for over 30 years now. It's a 12 kilometer(7.46 mile) course that runs through the city. I did the walk with a friend that helped me during my surgeries, my two boys joined me as well. I was beat after wards, spent the afternoon on the couch but boy was it worth it. The following year I planned to do it again to celebrate just being able to walk, however, in February I broke my leg again, small airline fracture. I asked the doctor if I could do the Bloomsday Run and he said I shouldn't but if I had my heart set on it I should wear my aircast. I did the walk and called the doctor the next day to tell him I survived, they said he wasn't in as he had run Bloomsday and threw up and collapsed at the finish line. Guess I should have told him not to do the race!
That was 16 years ago, I know belong to a club and work out M-F Oct.-Apr. The rest of the months I walk my dogs after work or go for a bike ride with my husband. Right now I'm trying to loose the 5 pounds I gained over the Holidays, just got 1 to go then it's on to the other pounds I've had around for years. I'm up to riding the incumbent bike 50 minutes and then lifting weights for 15 minutes, that is I was. I decided last week to lift twice the weight and half the repetitions to save time, couldn't sleep for 2 nights because I was so sore. Lesson learned! I take Saturday off then we walk the dogs for an hour or two on Sundays. I just hope I can keep up the routine, if something gets me off schedule it's hard to get back with it. Good luck to all that have an exercise routine and to those that don't but want one, the hardest part is to start a routine so come join us and see how much better you feel once you get going. I sleep much better & eat less. Jill