Intro
- 10 minutes on the recumbent bike, moderate resistance
- 10 minutes on either the cross-trainer or the gazelle at the "interval training" setting
- 10 minutes on the recumbent bike, slightly less resistance
PM:
- 5-10 minute warm-up on the recumbent bike, moderate resistance
- weights, alternate days upper body+abs and lower body+ back
- 5-10 minute cool-down on the recumbent bike, low resistance
I'm hoping to eventually work my way up to 50 minutes in the morning, adding an extra 10 on the gazelle/cross-trainer and another on the recumbent bike. I have to alternate them at 10-minute intervals, because of my knees. I'm hoping that as I lose weight and build strength, I can work my way up to 15 minutes at a stretch on the stand-up machines.
Arthritis is a horrible, terrible disease. I can't go grocery shopping without a wheelchair cart; I had to buy a walker with a seat to go shopping with my daughters. The elder is getting married this fall, and she wants me to walk her down the aisle. My calf muscles are contracted due to my being unable to extend my knees fully, and my lower back constantly hurts because I waddle. I'm not even 50 years old, and I'm incapacitated.
In my high school and college years, I was a weight lifter and farm laborer. I could bench press 100 lbs. (back in the day when I didn't weigh much more than that) and could do one-armed pushups easily. I could leg press 400 lbs. and go up and down stairs all day long. It's really depressing for me to think how much I've let myself go.