My biggest struggle with exercise is coping with the various injuries I have accumlated over time. I have herniated disks in my neck and in my lower back, scar tissue from a torn-calf muscle (skiing accident) and a year and a half ago, I broke a bone in the ball of my foot and it still bothers me (probably always will).

I am now told by doctors to avoid all sorts of exercise like, jogging or impact aerobics, lifting any weights over head (due to neck & lower back) and no more squats or lunges due to these injuries.
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Having been a gym rat and very active throughout my youth, it is very difficult now to find a meaningful work-out routine. Would sure love to connect up with others coping with injuries to see how they are dealing with their exercise routines.

I am currently doing one spin class per week (best exercise but I am still somewhat out of shape and will eventually add another class), and a couple of days I either do stair climber or eliptical and very mild weight-lifting due to injuries. I have exercise walking tapes and some pilates tapes I use.

The biggest problem I have is that my body "remembers" how much more I used to do so the weight lifting is not challenging enough now and the cardio (except for spin) isn't either now that I can't do as much since my injuries waylayed me and I am not as physically fit and have extra weight on me. My body is not responding to the "lighter" workouts since for years I have challenged it on much more strenous levels. Aging sucks!!!!

But I WILL not give up. Maybe if there are others out there like me, we can form a support network and exchange advice on what is working for us so we can make some progress!!

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Mindy,

I can relate. I have bulging disc in my spine, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and right now am in crisis with my lower back...I hope it is not a full blown herniated disk.

Unlike you, for the past several years, oh come on...I have never been very atheletic.

The problem is, not only do I want to be, I need to be.

I think even with your condition, using small weights and doing it correctly could help...but don't go against your doctor's orders!

What are "pilate tapes?" I have seen that here before but have no idea what it is.

I once took a Tia Chi class and loved it but even that is hard to do when you are really out of shape like I am. Moving slowly is hard!

Pilates is a lot like Tai Chi and Yoga combined.

I recently started spin classes and they have been a Godsend so far. Those are the classes where you use a stationery bike with a group of people and bike to music and go at different paces adding resistance to make it harder.

I have full blown herniated disks in my neck and lower back. I feel your pain! I hope you get some relief soon. I think a good place to start with exercise is to do the ones that are recommended to keep your lower back strong.

I still do those as a part of my weekly workouts and guess I will for life. I do light weights like you suggest, but I swear that my body remembers when I did heavier weights and is just laughing at me!!!!

Walking is a good exercise if you have not had a lot of exercise (being out of shape). Leslie Sansone is a good walking tape instructor, though she's so perky and chatty she drives you a little nuts but her programs are very safe if you have injuries like us!
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I don't like to hear of anybody else being in pain but it's good to know we can support each other's efforts! :Hug2:

There's always the aquatics exercise classes that Lynne posted about. I should think they'd be good for people with back or joint problems.

Is that an option for you ladies?

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It is for me! But I don't take those classes because I have a pool at home and I swim laps in it for exercise. Even though I live in Florida,the pool won't be warm enough to use until May. May - September is my swimming season. But the gym I belong to does offer water aerobics. Silly me, I'm embarrassed to be seen in my bathing suit at the gym. Not only is the gym co-ed, but many of my male co-workers are members so I'm vainly waiting until I lose more weight to do that class in public, LOL!!!