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Post by bobbioh on Nov 28, 2007 6:46:01 GMT -5
DAY 22 - PULMONARY REHABILITATION
For all of us who have never been in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program before now, we learned a good lesson from last Tuesday until today. That lesson is as follows: If you don't use it, you lose it when it comes to exercise. I, along with many others, did some exercise over this past week, but not as much as I am getting in rehab. I could tell a big difference.
I started off fine with good stats, two brisk walks around the walking track and my warm up exercises. I set my bike for 18 minutes at a level of 6-7, and when I was half way through at 9 minutes, my legs were aching and I was feeling short of breath. I heard other people on the bikes next to me talk about how tired they were having not exercised for a week and how hard riding the bike seemed to be and how their legs hurt. I felt the same way, and although I was able to complete the full 18 minutes, I did rest before heading to the Treadmill.
I walked the Treadmill for 18 minutes at 2.4 miles per hour. I did notice that I was somewhat short of breath. My stats were fine though on both machines.
My cool down walk and exercises were done very slowly, and I was still a little short of breath when I sat down to wait on my stats to be taken. My stats were fine, but I did gain weight. I now weigh 175.9 pounds.
The two things which made rehab so difficult for me today is that
(1) I did not get enough exercise this past week, and (2) I ate too much. It was our Thanksgiving Holiday, and I ate too much food, too much dessert and took home too many leftovers. I did not use portion control. I have to ask myself if it was worth it, and I honestly can say that it was not worth it. All that good food tasted so good at the time, but with Christmas coming up, I am going to remember that maintaining my weight and my exercise routine is much more important that enjoying those few days of over eating. There is a price to pay down the road.
I did have to find this out the hard way. When there is a holiday or an event where there is a lot of company/activity and food, and reducing my exercise and/or overeating is tempting, the resulting fatigue and weight gain are a set back and not worth it.
It was good to see everyone at rehab again, and to find out how their week went. We have become like a family, and I will miss them when rehab is over. The RT's are still working on getting a Better Breather's Club started.
Until next time----Joyce
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