Wisdom Needed..

[readinghorses]

Hello.. um.. All?

 

My very first post.  Big Step for me.

 

So.. First out the gate, I have lurked and received all the new emails etc from NF, attempted some of the beginner workouts and then I found my dragons.

 

Coming in a stride behind, rounding the turn, and... smack right into the dragon, not even half way down the backstretch.

 

In case you can't guess, yep I love horses, of which I have two (one being the rideable full sized version, the other the mini party fun sized).

 

Now to describe my dragons.. they are the big intelligent fiery reds, or the more seductive and elusive blacks.  I recently (and FINALLY!) was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.  This process start to diagnosis took YEARS because I don't present typically for either condition and throw in some hypermobility of the joints, yep just a bundle of contradictions.  Throw in a divorce in the middle, and fast foward to now (age 29).  At first I thought I could just workout and maintain fitness or more precisely get back to a good level of fitness, now that is MUCH harder than I believed it would be (slaying the dragon?).

 

All that being said, now for the wisdom requirement.. Does anyone have suggestions on workouts?  I can't do high impact anymore, I do like yoga, but not into the whole technical side of it in other words, I understand child's pose not vinyasa something or other, and I did try the beginner's workouts/hotel workouts, but squats/lunges seem to put fire into my knees.  I am limited on the arm/wrist/hand movements as my joints bending too far will not let the muscle take the brunt like it is supposed too.  I am limited time wise to my lunch hour or whatever time I squeeze from not working with my horses (one I ride the other I taught to pull a cart) in the evening. 

 

Thanks all, and Happy Trails.

 

 

[JPrev]

Well, look on the bright side!  If working out were easy, it wouldn't be working out.

 

Do you have access to any cardio equipment, like stationary bikes or ellipticals?  Those are two solid forms of low-impact cardio that also give your leg muscles some work (depending on how you program the resistances).  I'm assuming you don't have time for swimming, but that's another great option.  Rowing machines are wonderful as well (both muscular and aerobic endurance).

 

There are plenty of body weight exercises you can do for strength if you don't have any equipment.  If doing full squats hurt your knees too much, you can do quarter or half squats instead.  If you're worried about your wrists bending too much during things like push ups, you can do them on your fists.

 

As for timing, keep in mind that you don't have to do everything in one session.  For your goals, doing a set in the morning, a set in the afternoon, and a set in the evening will do the same thing as 3 sets back to back.

[readinghorses]

As the gym that is nearby is packed with marines/families, getting to a bike on a regular basis is near impossible at lunch, and during the evening no gym near the house (think country, very country).  I could swim (being I do like to swim), but no pool access (open to Marines only).

 

Now about those squats.. what are quarter and half squats?  Not familiar with the terms.  On the pushups, I tried to do knuckle to floor fists, but the pain of that isn't something I can repeat (even with a yoga mat for cushion), I was managing with elevated pushups off the edge of a thick wood table, not great but managing.

[Jittersthe.Clown]

Planks might be a good option for you as well.  

Go through the Beginner's Bodyweight Workout but exclude that which hurts your joints.  

[Bookworm_Tess]

My low-impact suggestions (this is what I do )

 

Swimming!! It's low impact, it's good for strength (water is incredibly resistant, that sob) and cardiovascular system and focus and fun, and it's a sport, not just a physical acticity, which I personally think makes a lot of difference! (Physical activity is important, sports can win over your heart.)

 

For stregth, I suggest isometric holds, which are great for gains in stregth and easy on the joints. Here are some ideas from a blog I used to read and liked very much (now I read Law books exclusively lol), it's an old post because my interest in it is from a while ago. I liked it so much I still apply them. Read that but you also should really check the internet on this one, there are immense quantities of variations.

http://manbicep.com/2013/07/10/10-isometric-exercises-why-you-need-to-include-them/

[Anno]

For pushups: I would recommend getting an adjustable pull-up bar and putting one of the bracket sets around waist-height.  I did that for inverted rows and found it to be a great thing for incline pushups. 

 

As a note for doing knuckle pushups: don't rest on all four knuckles.  Like when punching, use only the index and middle finger knuckles and brace the arm as best you can so the back of your hand runs straight from the forearm (or very slightly up).  It'll straighten your arm and strengthen it.  Those are also the knuckles that can take the pressure best. 

[Machete]

Horses, you say?

 

Seriously though, contemporary Yoga is pretty much Indian gymnastics. Nothing really too technical once you get yourself a teacher or a video. The P90x one is pretty rough, and quite long. I have heard good things about DDP Yoga. It's movement without the mysticism.