ElderExercise » Biking indoors

Claude – a varied exercise week

Claude — Mon, 10 May 2010 08:42:14 +0000

The knee thing I have been mentioning has been found to be a thighmaster by Sara and apparently can be found on Amazon.
I can’t believe that I went to the swimming-pool on my own and actually swam with my flippers 600 metres (that for me is A LOT). I was dead tired when I got back but pleased with myself.
They started me on light running. When I say running, you have to understand that I don’t actually run, I am changing the way my feet hit the ground, is the best description I can find. I have to keep my usual heart rate but pretend I’m running Anyway, after doing it a couple of times a week for 5 consecutive minutes for several weeks, they had me do it twice twenty minutes this week. Let me tell you that I find it even more difficult than swimming. Actually not more difficult on the spot, but two days after the running, my body is full of parts that I had forgotten existed and that only show me they are here through muscle stiffness.

Monday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 25mn cardio indoors biking, 5mn stepper, 18,302 steps
These 18,000 steps may seem like a record. They are in a way, because I don’t think I have ever walked that many. But in fact I went walking with a friend who is out of shape and walks rather slowly, I didn’t feel that we had gone for a very long way, but I WAS rather tired because of walking so slowly. Apparently, slow walking produces more steps? Weird.
Tuesday: 10mn stretching, Abs 4X10 reps, LS 2-miles (22mn cardio), 20mn cardio swimming (600m), 6,597 steps

Rue de Rivoli, a painted door discovered on one of my walks

Wednesday: 15mn arms reinforcement, one-hour stretching class, 41mn cardio walking, 10 rep thighmaster, 9,140 steps
Thursday: 10mn stretching, Abs 4X10 reps, 10 reps, 10reps thighmaster, 10 squats, 46mn cardio-walking, 14,200 steps
Friday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, LS 2-miles, 21mn cardio, one-hour Feldenkrais class, 12,500 steps
Saturday: 10mn stretching, Abs: 4X10 reps, 3X10 reps, 34mn cardio of which 20mn “running” 11,128 steps
Sunday: 10mn stretching, 22mn cardio LS-2miles, 10 reps thighmaster, 11,802 steps,

Filed under: Aerobic pace walking, Biking indoors, Feldenkrais class, Leslie Sansone, Pedometer, stepper, Stretching, Swimming, Walking, Weight Lifting

Claude – unusually warm for April

Claude — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:37:25 +0000

It’s been quite warm this week, with two days around 26°c and like Lynn, I am not crazy about warm and humid. But the “no rain” part felt really good.
I have been advised to resume going to the swimming-pool and they suggested getting a pair of those
Let me tell you that this was SOME exercise, doing laps on the back with those things (fins? not sure what they are called in English) on my feet.
I am going to try and go on Tuesdays, not that swimming is really my thing, but I will give it another try.

Monday: 15mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 13,000 steps, 25 mn cardio indoors biking, 10mn stepper
Tuesday: 10mn stretching, 41mn cardio walking, 25mn cardio swimming, 9,792 steps

Wednesday: 15mn arms reinforcement, one-hour stretching class, abs: 5×10 reps, 3X10 reps, 45mn cardio walk, one-hour Feldenkrais class, 11,000 steps
Thursday: 10mn stretching, abs 4×10 reps, 50mn cardio-walking, 13,739 steps.
Friday: One-hour stretching class, 2,132 steps
Saturday: 10mn stretching, 28mn cardio walking, 14,038 steps
Sunday: 10mn stretching, abs: 4×10 reps, 3X10 reps, 37mn cardio walking, 12,347 steps

Filed under: Biking indoors, Feldenkrais class, Pedometer, stepper, Stretching, Swimming

Claude – OK in spite of feet

Claude — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:33:40 +0000

I have been trying to work on my feet with my Feldenkrais instructor. But I guess it takes time. The insoles aren’t right, I have taken them out and am trying the Feldenkrais method. Far from perfection, but I have the feeling it’s slightly improving.
Anyway, I am hanging in there because I had a cholesterol blood test, and it has improved a lot since last year same period. I’m seeing my doctor this Wednesday. Will let you know what he says.
Monday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, (Abs 4X10 +4×10), 10 squats, one-hour Feldenkrais class, 10,149 steps
Tuesday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, (Abs 4X10 +4×10), 37mn aerobic, 11,835 steps, one-hour Feldenkrais class
Wednesday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, LS 4miles, 40mn aerobic, 15,485 steps
Thursday: 10mn stretching, 10 squats, (Abs 4X10 +2×10), LS Sansone 4miles, 16,265steps, 50mn aerobic

Between showers, a bit of blue sky

Friday: One-hour stretching class, 5,000 steps, 10 squats
Saturday:10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, (Abs 4X10 +2×10), 10 squats, 14170 steps, 23mn aerobic indoors biking
Sunday : 10mn stretching, 23mn aerobic, 7,000 steps

Filed under: Aerobic pace walking, Biking indoors, Brisk walking, Feldenkrais class, Pedometer, Stretching, Walking

Claude – so so week

Claude — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:50:24 +0000

It’s been a rather difficult week, due to feet problems. Somehow my insoles are now hurting me and even though I went to have them fixed, the problem remains. I have removed them from my shoes and am working with my Feldenkrais instructor, trying to relieve the pain, but it’s not all that easy.
I will have to resort to indoors biking, instead of walking. Not my favourite activity
Week from March 8th to March 14th

Monday: 15mn arms reinforcement, 10mn stretching, one-hour Feldenkrais class, no walking

Tuesday: 15mn arms reinforcement, 32mn aerobic walking, LS 3-miles, 10 mn stretching, 14,414 steps

Wednesday: 5,500 steps, 10mn stretching, one-hour Feldenkrais

Thursday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 40mn aerobic walk, 11,352 steps (hospital elliptic)

Friday: One-hour stretching lesson, 5092 steps

Saturday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 39mn aerobic walking, 10,357 steps, including LS 3-miles

Sunday: 10mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 2X10mn stepper + 20mn reclining bike, that is 33mn aerobic exercise, 9,589 steps

Filed under: Aerobic pace walking, Biking indoors, Feldenkrais class, Pedometer, stepper, Stretching, Walking

Claude – good aerobic week

Claude — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:20:35 +0000

I am so grateful to the people at the hospital who are so helpful and keep me motivated! I get access to their knowledge and machines. I have fallen in love with their elliptic bike and am trying to sell my reclining bike, which I now find too lazy for me
It’s been another rainy week, the worst day definitely being Sunday with strong gales and lots of rain.

Sunday noon, rain, rain, go away!

Week from February 22 to February 28th

Monday: 15mn stretching, one-hour Feldenkrais class, 29mn inzone, 8,131 steps, including LS 2-mile

Tuesday: one-hour stretching class, 5,350 steps, 10mn arms reinforcement

Wednesday: 5mn stretching, 10mn arms reinforcement, 32mn aerobic LS 3-miles, 6,000steps

Thursday: 5mn stretching, 15mn arms reinforcement, 15,750 steps, 45mn inzone walking including elliptic bike (was at hospital)

Friday: one-hour stretching class, 10,000 steps, 3miles LS, 28mn inzone,

Saturday: 10mn stretching, 3-mile LS, 30mn inzone aerobic walking, 13,665 steps

Sunday: ElderExercise Anniversary, 10mn stretching, 3-mile LS, 45mn inzone aerobic walking, including outside walking, 14,552 steps

Filed under: Aerobic pace walking, Biking indoors, Brisk walking, Pedometer, Stretching, Walking

Claude – Two difficult weeks

Claude — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:30:56 +0000

Between the weather, reading an enthralling book and feeling sick, I’ve had two difficult weeks. But hopefully, things are getting better.
Here’s the week from August 22, 2009 to August 28, 2009
Saturday: 11,167 steps
Sunday, spent napping in front of the TV
Monday: 9,500 steps, one-hour Feldenkrais class
Tuesday: napping and reading
Wednesday: 11,000 steps
Thursday: 11,250 steps
Friday: 10mn stretching exercise, 25mn indoors biking at aerobic pace

Week from August 29 to September 4, 2009
Saturday: napping and reading
Sunday: 9,872 steps
Monday: 10 mn stretching exercise, 9,245 steps 10mn+ 30mn aerobic walk. Felt sick in the evening.
Tuesday: Napping and reading
Wednesday: 6,000 steps, went to see physician
Thursday: Napping and reading
Friday: 1-hour stretching class, 5,000 steps

I’m hoping to try and be more regular in my efforts and posting at the weekend instead of procrastinating…

Posted in Aerobic pace walking, Biking indoors, Feldenkrais class, Pedometer, Stretching, Walking

Claude – Back from… not Wales

Claude — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:46:16 +0000

Can you believe it? We were headed to Wales but realised on the way there that we were interested in too many things on the way. So we changed our plans and were happy to visit parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Cornwalls.
Travelling in a car doesn’t make for a lot of exercise, but we did our best and I will try to resume a healthier routine as soon as today is over (today being Sunday)
One good news is, in spite of cooked English breakfasts every morning, including all sorts of fat and sweet goodies, and enjoying every minute of it, I lost almost three pounds… Must be a side-effect of not sitting hours on end at that trial as a juror.

Week from July 25 to July 31

With my friend Annik at Stonehenge

Saturday: 14,150 steps
Sunday: Indoors biking 20mn with heart rate monitor, 6,975 steps
Monday: 2x20mn brisk walking with heart rate monitor, 9,000 steps
Tuesday: 10mn + 20 mn brisk walking. 7,600 steps.
Wednesday: spent driving to Cherbourg, then on the ferry, and then driving to our B&B so 3,000 steps
Thursday: 9,040 steps between Longleat Safari Park and Stonehenge
Friday: 8,570 steps mostly in Exeter.

Experimenting with barbed wire at sunset

Week from August 1 to August 7
Saturday: 11,000 steps around Tintagel and Boscastle and its museum of Witchcraft (quite fascinating)
Sunday: 11,000 steps in the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Polperro
Monday: 9,000 steps around Lyme Regis (that’s where The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles takes place), a name that makes me dream
Tuesday: 9,000 steps around Winchester and its beautiful cathedral. We never climbed any of the cathedral towers as the weather was either misty or rainy when we were there.
Wednesday: 10,185 steps in Salisbury and Old Sarum
Thursday: 6,850 steps around Chichester and just a bit around Porstsmouth dockyard in the rain
Friday: 4,600 steps around Romsey, and then back to Portsmouth, the ferry and Caen where we had booked a hotel.

Posted in Biking indoors, Brisk walking, Pedometer, Walking Tagged: Cornwalls, trip to England, Wiltshire

Claude – very good week!

Claude — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:42:24 +0000

Saturday Oct 25: 7,800 steps (3,652 aerobic steps)
Sunday Oct 26: 12,500 steps, one-hour brisk walking, I don’t think that had ever happened to me! Quite proud of myself!
Monday, Oct. 27:10,200 steps, (5,600 aerobic steps)
Tuesday, Oct. 28: one-hour Feldenkrais session, 13,400 steps, 25mn brisk walking

on that day I had a doctor’s appointment.
With the cholesterol and HBP doctor. He measured me and said my waist was 1.5cm smaller, and that I had lost 1.5kg since July 15! (that’s almost three pounds) I was delighted.
And mind you, I got out of there with the following prescription: eat 30g almonds and 2 specific-brand yoghurts a day, in order to lower a bit more my bad cholesterol and increase a bit more the good one…
I LOVE almonds! Only, I tend to feel totally stuffed with that many a day!

Wed. October 29, 45mn brisk walking, 10mn yoga on the wii
Thu. Oct. 30, 5,000 steps, 45mn indoors biking, one-hour Feldenkrais session
Fri. Oct. 31, one-hour stretching session, 9,800 steps

I hadn’t had a week like this in a long time.
Belated happy halloween and am very hopeful for US elections…

Posted in Biking indoors, Feldenkrais class, Pedometer, Stretching, Walking Tagged: good week, weight loss

Claude – a rather good week

Claude — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:28:00 +0000

As promised, posting on Saturday.
Sunday Oct. 5 looked grim and gloomy, a real autumn day with dead leaves flying around, wind and rain. I managed walking to the market 5,100 steps, 35mn aerobics on the Wii, 25mn indoors biking. Quite pleased to go back to indoors biking. The Wii and the bike are good on days when not much else is possible.
Monday Oct. 6 10mn stretching, 5mn abs, 1000 metres swimming, 3598 steps. Pleased with myself for keeping up with the swimming. I find it more tiring than anything else I do though.
Tuesday Oct. 7 one-hour Feldenkrais session, 8,351steps (3,695 aerobic steps)
Wed. Oct. 8 13,000 steps, 30mn + 10mn brisk walking
Thu. Oct. 9 I met a fellow photographer and we went to Père Lachaise Cemetery only walked 8,000 steps, and did 5mn abs in the morning. I wonder if the pedometer didn’t stop counting the steps at one point, although my beloved Omron has never done this before, because my feet and legs felt like I had walked much more. But then, walking and taking photos is a bit like being in a museum.

My pedometer on the left. Monceau‘s counts miles

Finally yesterday, Friday, Oct. 10, another excellent day with wonderful weather. I had my Friday one-hour stretching session, walked 13,500 steps, and proudly managed 45mn brisk walking.
I am patting myself on the shoulder.

Posted in Biking indoors, Brisk walking, general, Pedometer, Stretching, Swimming, Walking Tagged: Pedometer, progress

Ron – Cross training

Ron — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:07:28 +0000

Hi Everyone!

I’ve been spending the week doing 30 minutes on the treadmill and 30 minutes on the indoor bike. Treadmill is about a 5% incline at 3.6 mph, and I do the bike in something near the biggest gear. One day the start with the bike, the next with the treadmill.

Seems to be working well. Reduces the sameness that sets in during those hour workouts. And the combination makes sure all the leg muscles get some work.

Best good wishes from sunny Kansas,

Ron