I am back among the living! Still no lifting and no core exercises, but I'm back on the recumbent exercise bike, getting in long walks with Ziva and Kreecher, and doing mild range of motion types of exercises.
The important thing is -- I'm MOVING. Health and fitness require some form of exercise, daily if at all possible. Our bodies were meant to move. Ask any MD or chiropractor about dealing with Fibromyalgia, and they will tell you -- exercise! It's the same with arthritis. If we quit moving those joints, they seize up.
If you are starting an exercise program, consult your doctor first. If necessary, get a referral to a physical therapist for exercises specifically for your body. Working with a fitness coach for a few sessions might be helpful, but your health insurance won't pay for that. With physical limitations, there are wonderful chair exercises. Get that heart pumping and those joints, muscles and connective tissues moving. You WILL see gradual progress. It won't happen overnight. We don't get out of shape overnight. It happened one day at a time. Getting fit will also happen one day at a time.
Once you have established what you can do at the beginning point, set reasonable goals. Do you want to eventually be able to walk a mile or several miles, raise your arms over your head, swim a lap of the pool without stopping? Set those goals, and when you reach them, set new goals. Keep pushing your limits, but do it with good sense.
In my Zumba class, when we are doing "punches," Jode will say, "No lazy arms! Give me strong arms!" You will get out of your exercise exactly what you put into it.
For some people, exercising alone is most comfortable. For me, I enjoy my classes at the local Senior Citizens Center. Being in the group motivates me. It's not a competition, it's a sense that we are all trying to improve our own personal best. Then in the evenings, I do my physical therapy exercises at home. Our Tai Chi class only meets once a week, so doing Tai Chi at home is important. Perhaps getting some exercise DVDs from the library would work for you. If you like them, look online to find them for purchase. Another great exercise is "belly dance." When I was doing that, I had awesome abs. Maybe someday this old lady will get back to it.
Remember: Healthy choices in the type and amount of food you eat, drink water all day long, and MOVE. You are being good to yourself.
