Do you have to walk shorter distances? It is OK

Barb walking, I just love that
smile

At the end of the day when on days I am too sedimentary it is nice to take the dog for a walk. Do you know people with a dog walk up to 20 minutes a day more that non dog owners? I don't have one but dogs can keep people more active. When I say I am taking a dog for a walk I am referring to a walk at the end of a day for about 20 minutes that can be so good for you on days where you did not get your walk or workouts in. At a steady even pace it stretches out my muscles which helps relax and fight tightness that CP brings at the end of the day. Here is where movement works better than pain killers or muscle relaxers. To confuse my metaphor even more I often like to get on my indoor recumbent bike (must for seniors) and open up a mystery to listen to. I set my bike to a very easy level and listen to the story. 

I am a big Craig Johnson fan and I've been following the Longmire series for over six years. The title of the story is The Western Star. The story takes you back to the 1970s riding a train across the state of Wyoming with all the county sheriffs and guests. It bounces back to the future where Walt has to deal with the contemporary issue of compassionate release of an inmate who committed multiple murders. While I was on the bike listening to a back flash Walt is on the train with his wife who is pregnant and having a painful conversation about whether they would stay married. From the books Martha and Walt had a loving marriage. The conflict they had here the author made very interesting and before you know it I am biked 12 minutes at an easy pace. 

Muscles we're loosened up and I felt pretty good. Originally I thought of going only 20 minutes at various speeds. But now I felt good and moved on to a 30 minute bike ride. So for the next 15 minutes I moved between levels two and three before finishing the biking to 30+ minutes and three miles. My recombinant top speed is 9.9 miles an hour. So I was moving along at 6 miles an hour.

Still listening to the story, I did my fat man push-ups, sit ups, squats and one round of resistance exercises with my blue band. I top it off with stretching while finishing chapter 9. The whole experience left me feeling pretty good. As I eased off to sleep I prayed a little bit.

Walking right now has its limits for me. Indoor walking with Leslie Sansone moves my body in many ways to help balance and use more muscle. For me right now it is a safe way to walk. I have never fallen using her program. If I was walking outside I would've fallen many times. My body can't take that anymore. One of the results of having one leg a quarter of an inch shorter than the other is my back is messed up. Right now I can only walking short bursts at a time. So I walking multiple quarter of a mile segments using various mi. walking mile programs to keep me moving. 

Something like this may help keep track & motivate

On my computer I posted a sticky where I can mark my distances around the house that I walk. My goal is to walk at least one mile with Leslie and keep track of my other steps and exercises to push my walking to 5000 or 6000 steps and then when I do my biking where I will get close to 10,000 steps and sleep like a baby. I don't always reach my goals but I'm coming closer. Other days I have fitness and resistance workouts. 

While writing this post I did two quarter mile walks. Leslie engages all muscles of the body. If you like working on the computer there are all kinds of ways to move to help heart, muscles, bones and all the needs of movement for your body.  Keep walking

We have a need for a medical advocate

Being a senior citizen may lead to being ignored by health professionals. Something changes in how we are viewed. 

Many have reported in the world of work changes happen where the older worker is treated more like one would treat a child. 

In my work the teens definitely treated me more like a grandparent than an adult in middle age. While there were times when I had to be the adult I also adapted the grandparent role to manipulate the students in more successful student behaviors and responsibilities. While they took on responsibilities for both themselves and me, this was a breakthrough to tap into their own growing up. Behavioral goals and education roles were reached as students became less dependent on me and assume greater responsibility for themselves. Underneath my façade I was still managing my role and function. The atmosphere in the classroom was less adversarial and more cooperative. 

There was an incident in which two girls were in a fight. I was the first on the scene so I was sorting out how to intervene a real physical fight, when two damsels came to my rescue. I being the gentleman that I am, gladly step aside as the two younger women competently dealt with situation. Would I have done that 20 years ago? I don't think so. As I walk back to my work area I was smiling thinking that I handled it quite well. 

But there're other times when people talk to me in a louder voice, repeated instructions several times, and I wasn't being asked to do the things I am done before. The times were changing. Some of this relates to aging. Toward the end of my career I did have significant issues with insomnia any ability to come to work everyday. While I resolve these issues it also became apparent to me that it was time for me to change. I would have to say I was given a lot of support. When I was at work I was good; but I also was missing too many days. This all happened in a time I could retire. 

Over the years I have heard many conversations that younger people have concerning older workers. It is not hard for people to pick up the vibrations that are negative.

Due to due process I can't disclosed a case ongoing. But It is possible to go into medical care and be ignored or not treated because of medicare limits or negligence. I would encourage each senior to have an advocate to speak out for your interests just in case you can't. A person who understands what is going on and will question things, look out for neglect and fight for you. Medical people may view you as an old geezer complaining with attitudes. We may say or feel things and express our selves in a bad way. We would not have done this earlier. Bottom line we may be written off. Hospitals like teachers, lawyers, can be lazy. We need a check and balance as we seek care. With so many things that can go wrong we want to communicate in such a way that we have a chance to survive. If the hospital is not really treating the problem we could be in serious trouble. Keep walking

Things to do to survive an heart attack from shareware

In the news

It is a good thing to be aware of things to do to survive a heart attack.

things-do-after-heart-attack

Read and prioritize information in article from Share care. I have a good idea related to being calm, but the article doesn't say this. My input is in (brackets)

Know the signs - (Sometimes it can be confusing...if you think you are call and sort it out later...time saves muscle)

Call the pros 911

Stay calm - (high emotions can be a trigger, particularly anger. My tip learn breathing exercises for just this type of occasion. Focus on surviving not dying.)

Take an aspirin 

Gather info - have a prepared list in purse or wallet - check the article for what type of info. (be positive with those trying to help you. I am going to make a cards to fit in my wallet that can be given. Seems smarter than trying to remember stuff. The list gets longer as we age)

After survival 

(thanks!)

Understand your treatment (Know the gameplay you are the quarterback)

Get back on your feet

Drop bad habits (new habits can be enjoyable-changing to a healthy diet can be a tasty- exercise can be liberating and reduce pain)