How much exercise?

  • I bought a new yoga tape called YOGA FOR THE REST OF US because my knees are too bad to waller around on the floor..AND I bought the exercise bands with dvd AND I like to walk. Should I do all 3 everday or what would you all recommend?
  • You can definitely walk every day, though you may feel like taking one rest day a week. You could probably do the yoga every day if you want to, or you could commit to doing it two or three times a week. I did yoga once a week for a while and that worked well for me -- I need to pick it back up.

    As for the resistance bands, make sure you're not working the same muscle groups on consecutive days. Your muscles need a day of rest between workouts when you're doing strength training. I'm not sure what your DVD is like, but if it works the whole body, I would do that two or three times a week, making sure not to do it on consecutive days. Or you could split things up and work upper body one day and lower the next.

    Whatever you decide, have fun with it!!
  • You may find that you want to mix it up so that you don't get bored and so your body doesn't get into a routine or rut. I like to walk or do aerobics every day. I then alternate the yoga and the weight (resistance band) routines every other day.
  • Thank you for the Advice!
    After reading your posts I have been able to make up a plan. I usually become overwhelmed and do nothing, which is a very bad habit. But, with your advice, I am going to walk every day and every other day alternate between yoga and that Bodylastics strength band training. I love the yoga tape I found because I have bad knees and you don't have to get on the floor! This woman is amazing! It is called Yoga For The Rest Of Us and I found it on Amazon after reading hundreds of reviews about all the yoga tapes, ha ha. I ordered 2 others, but I cannot do them. This instructor, Peggy Cappy, has been teaching yoga for 30 years and has been able to devise workouts for everybody, all ages and conditions. It felt good just being able to do Yoga. It makes ALL your stress go and it is a workout at the same time. The Bodylastics strengthband training is very good also because there is no floor time and in the video they give you, they have 3 instructors doing the exercises at the same time but exercising on 3 different levels for you to follow. I follow the easy where my husband followed the difficult. And that kit came with so many different weight bands that you can increase up and at the end you could hook all of them to the handles if you are really strong. My biggest issue I face is everyday I say I'm gonna start and I really mean it.....until I see a cookie or something tempts me then I go off plan and pig out and start again tomorrow. The cycle that never seems to end. I wish I knew HOW TO GET THAT INNER DETERMINATION THAT STAYS!! I get so hyped up that I will do this no matter what and before I know it, I have blown it. It is a matter of resisting temptation and HOW DO YOU DO THAT? And....HOW DO YOU MAKE YOURSELF EXERCISE ON THE DAYS THAT YOU FEEL IT IS THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO DO.
  • You just make yourself. The same way you make yourself go to work or do the grocery shopping. Think about the long term benefits, if you like, but in the end it comes down to commitment.
  • I'm trying to get into the habit of going everyday, and the biggest thing that has helped me was the night I didn't feel like exercising because I was tired, so I got ready for bed and turned the lights out. Just then, a friend called, and we ended up talking for 20 minutes and I woke up a bit. After we hung up, I realized I wasn't that tired, so I threw on some workout clothes and headed to the gym just to do a quick 2 miles on the treadmill. Well, I felt a THOUSAND times better about myself that night and the next day! Exercise really does give you energy, and while I know you're not supposed to look at dieting/exercise in terms of "good" and "bad," it does make me feel "good" and accomplished when I know I've done what I'm supposed to do.
  • Where did you find the Bodylastics? Who does it?
  • My two cents worth
    Good for you for starting up with exercising and the choices that you have made.

    I have been diagnosed with advanced arthritis since 1994. I have had one knee surgery and I need a total knee joint replacement on my right knee within the next couple of years. Having said that, I want you to know that I "used" to be very active. I LIKE to sweat! And, like you, I was concerned about further injuring my knees, what was left of them! Good news for us both!

    Arthritis experts recommend yoga! I don't know if you knew that or not but it is not weight bearing or jarring to your joints---healthy or otherwise. If you have trouble with some of the postures there are blocks and such that can help you in modifying the positions and still reap the same benefits.

    I have found that doing Pilates also is very gentle for my joints. I still have a lot of flexibility left from the years of dance classes and all the walking I used to do---just don't ask me to do squats or pick up change off the sidewalk. (I swear I would have to think if I saw a million dollars laying on the sidewalk if it meant for me to pick it up to claim it!)

    I can't add to any of the rest of the comments here. They all sound good and sound to me. Abs is the other muscle group, besides walking, that you can exercise every day though. I was told that by a personal trainer decades ago. I am not sure why but you can.
  • "....HOW DO YOU MAKE YOURSELF EXERCISE ON THE DAYS THAT YOU FEEL IT IS THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO DO."

    When I don't feel like it the thought is always worse than doing it. Once I start, you get in 'the zone' mentally and I'm away