The Reality Of Age and Inactivity

[Cooker]

I have recently had two occasions to push myself physically...I am not pleased with what I have descoverd....Sunday I planted four blueberry bushes and a fig tree...digging the holes, chopping out nuisance roots and preparing the soil. Topped that off with a little raking...I have a large yard and there is a portion of it that has always been unimproved and I had decided to start clearing and cleaning that part. Today I took down a small vine covered fence to gain access and started raking and sawing (chainsaw) and chopping and snipping and hauling the trash to the street....Both times I may have worked two hours.

I was totally zapped both times....Felt like I had had my butt kicked...I have never worked a physical job. I had sixteen years in engineering and the past thirteen years in the car business....engineering and the car business require little physical exertion if any. I have always had activities like fishing, golf, walking (intermitantly)....you get the picture....I am just amazed at how little stamina I have (no comment) for the type of activity I have described....It is borderline depressing...DW pointed out: A) you are 52 years old and B) I am for all practical purposes a couch potato (my words, not hers, she is kind)...I am determined to reach a level of physical condition that I obviously never have had...I refuse to consider that my AVR is a component to my lack of stamina...I never have had (that I know of) any heart related symptoms so the fatigue can't be heart related, right?....I have always always seen myself as one that could keep up/hang in there with anyone or any situation....That is not the case.

I do not mean to be insensitive...I know there those that will read this that have real health issues...I am truly grateful for my life and the health I do have....I just needed to vent....Hopefully this is a wakeup call for me to get off my ass while I still can..............

 

[Dina]

I have found that since my surgery that if I lay about the house and not
exercise , my condition deteriorates . I become much more short of breath,
I retain more water, etc , I would not have believed the differnce it makes
in keeping myself functional. And previously , I have always been athletic,
but I too have lost stamina and hope to change my ways.
Heres to recovering what we have lost ( and I dont mean Lbs.!)- Dina

 

[Freddie]

Yard work is hard work.....no two ways about it!!!! And ripping apart vines and using a chain saw is hard on anyone.
Maybe if you were to take a 20 minute break every half hour or so you may not feel so wiped out.........it works for me and I can get more accomplished.

But I too have noticed that my stamina has decreased since surgery and taking those small breaks do make a difference.

Slow and steady might be the answer.

 

[Superbob]

Cooker,

I know where you're coming from. My jobs have always been mostly sedentary, too, except for a few part-time gigs when I was young. But I think maybe you are being a little hard on yourself. That kind of yard work is hard labor for anyone. If I read a determination to get in better shape, that's great -- BUT remember, it can't be accomplished overnight. Needs to be gradual or you likely will hurt yourself.

 

[ctyguy]

Cooker...there is no easy way to increase ones stamina other than exercise. What you did today probably did whip your butt, sounds like alot of work. Did you hydrate yourself as you went along ? Did you start out on an empty stomach ? Don't be discouraged, I don't think what you experienced today was heart related. If your really serious then you should take those 30 minutes a day, no matter how torturous it may seem, and get your heart rate elevated with some type of activity.

 

[mntbiker]

Cooker, it's always a good idea to get in better shape. But don't think if you run or ride or do whatever interests you that a different activity such as yard work will get easier. I ride and run on a regular basis, even compete in endurance races. My wife likes to jump rope, she will go for 30 minutes then do the stair machine for another 30 minutes, she likes to ride as well. When we ride she will be tired after the first 6 or 7 miles while I consider that to be a warmup, if I jump rope I can do at most ten minutes before I am shot.

The point is, your body gets used to the activity you do, even if you are in shape, doing something different will use different muscles and force you to work in different heart rate zones which will cause you to get tired more quickly. (poorly phrased but hopefully intelligible). So get out and work out, do an activity you enjoy and can stay with (I really enjoy razor scooters also, they are a blast) and understand that an occasional activity will always be harder. Of course you could always start a landscape service.

 

[zipper2]

Cooker,
The whole winter here led me to stay indoors -40 and -5o
I always say warfarin and i hate the cold. Yard work after a whole stay indoors from cold and at desk at work all winter,my husband put new windows in throughout the house all i did was hold the dam ladder and he'd
do 6 windows a day on days off .....i was exhausted just being there baside him. I did garden and the seasonal clean of flower beds etc. I couldn't figure out why i was so sore. Im back out walking the dog now that its warm out and both the dog and i are outta shape,i mean we both honestly almost need cpr after a walk,im hoping its cus of a long unexercised winter,my hubby says me being 5'1 and 130lbs and no exercise all winter is the cause im out of shape and once i start moving i'll be fine again,but after gardening i couldnt even bend 2 days after i was so sore,my whole body was crying.


zipper2

 

[mntbiker]

ive been tired for the last 12 months, going to bed at 6.00pm etc, really annoys me.
...
haveto have valve replacement, on june 16th....
(wife keeps saying its because you arent well.).
maybe.....hope i have more energy afterwards.....
good luck all you guys, take care.
AH.

That sounds all too familiar. I was taking naps presurgery, "short" rides would wipe me out, sometimes for days, I was putting on weight and generally miserable. Now almost two years later I feel better then I have in a loooong time. It gets much better after surgery, you will not believe the difference. Trust the wife, every once in a while they get something right.

 

[WayneGM]

Cooker, you're not alone. That could be me that you described. However, I agree with Superbob....I think you may be being too hard on yourself. Yard work is exceptional unless you do similar activities routinely. The two or three times a year I do heavy yard work has always "whipped me"....whether at 20 or 53. I just hid it better at 20.

 

[bvdr]

Cooker, you sound really motivated to me! Great! Do it wisely and I bet you'll start seeing the lbs. leaving you as well. I wish you much success.

 

[Bina]

Yard work is tough, a real workout.....check out some of those landscaper dudes, they are all young and buff.
More mature folks need to take frequent breaks, have a masseuse nearby, and float in the hot tub when all done!

 

[JimL]

It really does take a long time in the spring to get used to what wouldn't have been all that hard last fall. Take your time. I like Freddie's idea of taking a 20 minute break, working 10 minutes, and taking another 20 minute break. Bina's suggestions also have some value.
What do I do for the sunburn I got planting my garden yesterday?

 

[Bina]

Jim, the juice from an aloe plant wiped on the sunburned area works wonders. You can also buy post-sun creams/gels that are aloe based.

 

[Superbob]

Yard work is tough, a real workout.....check out some of those landscaper dudes, they are all young and buff.
More mature folks need to take frequent breaks, have a masseuse nearby, and float in the hot tub when all done!

Superbob endorses having a masseuse handy -- in fact, two masseuses would be even better.

 

[Mary]

Cooker,

I have the solution!

My DH asked what I'd really like for my upcoming birthday.
I said, "I'd really like the flower beds along the fence and the big one at the top of the yard, weeded." No presents necessary, just weed so I don't have to.

So, here's the solution to your problem.

Fly to St. Louis and relax on the plane.

Drive two hours to our place, relaxing along the way, and then do my weeding.

You get exercise and relaxation.

I tell DH that he doesn't need to weed, and so he can buy me a birthday present.

You can have some birthday cake!

It's a win-win-win situation for all of us!

 

[Cooker]

Cooker,

I have the solution!

My DH asked what I'd really like for my upcoming birthday.
I said, "I'd really like the flower beds along the fence and the big one at the top of the yard, weeded." No presents necessary, just weed so I don't have to.

So, here's the solution to your problem.

Fly to St. Louis and relax on the plane.

Drive two hours to our place, relaxing along the way, and then do my weeding.

You get exercise and relaxation.

I tell DH that he doesn't need to weed, and so he can buy me a birthday present.

You can have some birthday cake!

It's a win-win-win situation for all of us!

LOL...you must be kidding.....I take a cab to the bathroom

 

[Bina]

Cooker, if the REF says that she wants her garden weeded for her upcoming B-Day, I suggest you do it!!!
Bring along a masseuse, good excuse.