Exercise Caution

I remember the day when I could get up in the mornings and after one cup of coffee (sometimes without any coffee at all) would leave my sleeping quarters and briskly walk for 2-3 miles before returning, taking a shower, and heading to the kitchen for breakfast.  Those days are long gone as I quickly found out this morning.

Up at 8:00, several cups of coffee were consumed before taking my thyroid medication at 9:00, prepared and drank more coffee, consumed a pancake with a pineapple topping that I cooked yesterday at 11:00; afterwards I performed my daily routine in the water closet, then mowed the yard which took about an hour.  It was about 1:30 or so that I decided to walk which was almost 6 hours after I ate that one pancake and after halfway through my exercising routine, I started shaking and feeling faint and knew if I did not stop, I would collapse.

Once upstairs, I heated up leftovers in the microwave and 4 minutes later was sitting on the couch eating as quick as I could...  after a couple of minutes my body slowed down and my breathing and fainting sensations subsided.

From now on, I am going to have to make sure that I eat something of substance before I exercise...

Remembering School Exercise Classes

I remember in the late 50's and early 60's, all students were required each day to spend an hour in a GYM class; the class took place outside unless there was inclement weather, then it was moved inside to the basketball gym...  regardless of whether we were inside or outside, the first 10-15 minutes were spent doing calisthenics...

If we were outside/inside, we would play volleyball, basketball, running track, jumping hurdles...  and, other types of activities that would involve 20-30 people at one time.  Of course, there were always some students who would not bring gym shorts or tennis shoes in the hopes that they would not have to do anything...

I would suspect that most of those people are living with obesity today!!!

Exercising

Last week I was not experiencing as much fatigue as I had been experiencing so I decided that I needed to get back to exercising.  I began riding the stationary bike and walking on the treadmill.  During that first week, I rode the bike for 20 minutes each day and walked on the treadmill at a speed of 3.0 for 1/4 mile.

Yesterday, I started my second week and increased from 20 to 30 minutes on the bike and from 1/4 to 1/2 mile on the treadmill.

My plans are as follows:

• Week 3 -  Bike 40 minutes, treadmill 3/4 mile @ 3.0
• Week 4 -  Bike 50 minutes, treadmill 1 mile @ 3.2
• Week 5 -  Bike 60 minutes, treadmill 1.25 miles @ 3.4
• Week 6 -  Bike 70 minutes, treadmill 1.5 miles @ 3.6
• Week 7 -  Bike 80 minutes, treadmill 1.75 miles @ 3.8
• Week 8 -  Bike 90 minutes, treadmill 2.0 miles @ 4.0
• Thereafter - MAINTAIN

Total time spent by Week 8 is Bike - 90 minutes, Treadmill - 30 minutes  or 2 hours

What is important here is the fact that I am gradually building up my time/distance/speed rather that start off fast and hurt my muscles and tendons that have been inactive for several weeks.

NOTE:  this entire exercise routine presupposes that my fatigue will continue to be non-existent.