I feel alive when I'm active.  I'm not letting RA keep me down!

This post is dedicated to my Mom and Dad (below)  You can see by my Dad's hands that he suffered from RA as well (and so did his mother, my granmdmother Nanny)

Hello fine people. I'm back!  I decided to restart my blog again today in hopes to help anyone with RA who wants to keep exercising.

 It has been a while now. Update: I now work in my dream job for the last couple of years.   I have been an RN for 25 years. I have worked in med/surgical, women's health, cardiac rehab, pulmonary rehab, urgent care.

Now in my dream job in Cardiology I am performing clinical exercise treadmill stress tests to screen people for heart disease, and caring for people with cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators.

 I am now a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist and a renewed my membership with American College of Sports Medicine.

I read many studies regarding rheumatoid arthritis and exercise and attend those lectures when I attend ACSM conferences.   I can't wait to share and discuss those studies and articles with people who have RA if anyone is interested!

I would love to hear your exercise with RA stories!!!

I am still working out regularly.  I have had some health issues since my last post including plantar fasciitis (heal pain), a stress fracture of my left metatarsal after running a half-marathon, a fully torn rotator cuff requiring surgery from doing a push up,  and a uterine fibroid tumor surgery. Being active I believe has kept RA flare ups to a minimum!   I have learned so much more about injury prevention of the shoulder and feet!

I also have increased my time mountain biking.   I will share some of things I have learned with you in hopes to motivate people with RA to keep on exercising.

Bye for now! :)

My Meds: Orencia injections weekly
Naprosyn or Relafen and for breakthrough pain Norco (I try not take any pain meds because I love my liver and kidneys !  :) )

I am sad to say...

I am sad to say that a large majority of the views from the blog I believe are programmed views. No are no true views from interested people , but they are just search engine views made to make you think that people are reading your blog.  :( : ( :(  ( I read up on it)

I thought I could possibly motivate people with RA to keep on movin'.  Sadly, I believe my time my have been wasted. 

I was wondering how I could have so many views with only one person commenting ( Helen thanks :))

I am writing this last blog in case there is actually someone out there reading this.  I enjoyed writing this blog and it motivated me to keep going. I ran a 5 K last Saturday and the next day a 10K!

Today I am ending this blog.  As my life is busy as it is, and I would like to put my time in to where I am most useful.

So, if there is some one out there that has RA and was motivated thanks for reading. I hope I helped in some way.

Thanks again for reading. :)

10k last night and 5K this morning; American College of Sports Medicine HR Guidelines

Did a 10 K on the treadmill last night and a 5 K this morning around the park.

Had some issues with shoulder pain last night on treadmill as well as the balls of my feet hurt but other than that, it was ok.

:) :) :) :)

Have a heart rate 02 sat monitor that I use I had found (bought it several years ago on Amazon or EBay).  Interesting to see how high my heart rate gets at times 160's.   See pic above for pulse oximter...

The American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for heart rate are cut and paste below

"How Much Exercise is Enough?

The most consistent benefits appear to occur when exercise training is performed at least three times a week for 12 or more week’s duration. Exercising more frequently may elicit even greater improvements; however, if the program is discontinued, the benefits are lost within weeks (I hate that part!). The duration of aerobic exercise training sessions should include a minimum of 30 continuous or accumulated minutes (e.g., three- 10 minute exercise bouts) at an intensity approximating 70 to 85 percent of an individual’s measured maximal heart rate. Nevertheless, the prescribed heart rate for exercise training should be 10 or more beats per minute below the intensity that evokes abnormal signs or symptoms. Your doctor should approve the level or intensity of exercise that is considered safe and appropriate for you. "

Got it from their website: http://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/exercise-for-persons-with-cardiovascular-disease.pdf

According to the ACSM guidelines article the American Heart Association has this to say...

"A recent American Heart Association consensus statement on preventing heart attack and death in patients with coronary disease suggested a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity 3 or 4.....5 to 6 hours a week was suggested for maximum benefits. Increasing physical activity in daily living can be helpful in this regard "  

You ACSM maximum age predicted heart rate is 220-(your age). 


"Pick a Number

For endurance training and general aerobic conditioning, calculate 50 to 65 percent of your maximum heart rate if you’re a beginner; 60 to 75 percent for intermediate level exercisers; and 70 to 85 percent for established aerobic exercisers. ....."

For example:

My age is 50.  220-50=170.

Endurance training:                    Beginner:   85 to 111 bpm
                                                   Intermed: 102 to 128
                                                   Advanced: 119 to 145 bpm

 Well my heart rate is 160's most of the time during exercise.... so I like to go by the ACSM guideline above where it says "10 beats a minutes below the intensity that provokes abnormal signs and symptoms."


Hope you all have a day free of arthritis pain!!! Thanks for reading :)

                                               

Happy Valentine's Day - Run - Nike Running App Rocks ! Video of Aquaduct Run.

Happy Valentine's Day :) :)

 

Made a cake for the hubby, nothing fancy but gets the message of the day across. :)

 

Then spent several hours with my Mom having lunch, then ice cream.

 

 

 

After that, the hubby and I went for a 4 mile run by the Aqua Duct in the desert - see video below.  ( I accidentally had forgot to take phone/camera out of the sports holder before starting vid.  Despite my filming technique having a lot to improve upon, I hope you notice the beauty of the desert.

 

I tried out the NIKE Running APP it worked fantastic after I figured it out (took me a 1.4 miles to figure I had it set for indoor run :o )

I highly recommend it the Nike Running App.  You can use it for inside or out.  I didn't have to buy an entire sports watch GPS, just strapped the phone to my arm and it was very accurate to my hubby's expensive sports watch GPS.

 

 

Unfortunately, I have hip pain right now about 6/10 pain scale, but the run was still worth it.  Other than that and eating too many sweets, I feel great.

 

 

Hope you all had fun today, thanks for reading!!

Difficult to get back on treadmill after being sick.... but I did it

Lost 6 pounds due to the stomach flu and continued to have symptoms for 5 days :(

BUT good news is I made it back to the treadmill today and did 4 miles, ran 3.1 miles and walked the rest.

My heart rate was too high.  Think I was still too dehydrated from being sick. :(  Thought I drank enough water but didn't.

Stomach flu and RA flare at the same time :(

Stomach flu and RA flare at the same time in the last two days  :(

Maybe I've run myself down, but I have been sick with the stomach flu and have a rheumatoid flare-up at the same time. All I can say is mizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzsserable!

Not out of the woods yet but, a little better today and fever is down to a slight temp.

I did have a flu shot. Guess it missed this one. :o

Color Me Rad 5k RUN was fun!

                                     Thousands of AV people attended

                                        ABOVE: Before Color Spray

                                       ABOVE:  My friend Al

                                     ABOVE:  After color spray





Color Me Rad 5k RUN was fun!  Dressed up in a all white outfit that included a tu tu.  Was with my friends/co-workers and did a 5 K.  Then they pelted us and sprayed us with colors.   It was real fun!

771 minutes of exercise this month so far

771 minutes of exercise this month so far.  Averaging approximately 26.5 minutes of exercise a day.   :)   Yahoo :)

Would like this average to be a little higher. Next month I will try for longer time on the treadmill.

Can't wait for the Color Me Rad Fun Run this Saturday!   See https://www.colormerad.com/

Left and right hip pain and back pain made it difficult today but.....

Left and right hip pain and back pain made it difficult today but I did it anyways and I'm glad I did because I feel terrific now. 

The entire first mile I felt like stopping because of the hip and back pain.  I was going slower about 5 mph.  To help get through it I stepped off to the side on the treadmill and stretched and stretched my back, calves and hip flexor muscles. 

It wasn't until just before the second mile did the pain start to subside.  In the 3rd mile I felt so good I did intervals a 1 minute at 7.5 mph and 8 mph  :) :) :).

Now I feel really good.  :) :)

I think the key is to stretch, stretch, stretch, before, during and after exercise.

45 minutes today on treadmill over 3.5 miles (didn't write exact distance down) .


Below my son Tyler walking in Hollywood.

See his new Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/TylerScottMusic?sk=info

4.0 miles in 47:40 minutes at the aqueduct - with hills and valleys - just beautiful!

I was able to run after that 5 K in less than 30.

Ran 4.0 miles in 47 minutes and 40 seconds with the hubby at the Aqueduct . It was beautiful up there.  Next time I will bring a "go camera" to show you just how beautiful the desert can be!  :)

Not as fast as I would like but you have to take into account the hills were pretty brutal.

3000 page views!! THank you!!

3000 page views!!  Thank you!!

Screw you "Arther Itis"!!!!! Right back at you RA!!!!! My best time in a very long time!

 

Woke up at 4 am with pain in my feet, hands and shoulders.  Could not go back to sleep.  I decided I would not stress out about it. Took a pain medication and decided to get the best time ever and kick RA in the face.  So right back at you Arther Itis!!!.....................

 

 

 

 

 
50 years old with RA and I did a 5 K in under 30 minutes :) :) :) :):):)

If I can do it, anyone can do it!!!

Keep on keeping on!!

(of course we'll see if I can walk tomorrow lol!)

My best to all of you! Thanks for reading. :)

34 minutes for 3.2 miles today.  Need to work on my speed!  And my eating habits!


Too much candy and pizza!  :( : (

So far I have kept up with my new years resolution "some form of exercise everyday".   :)

Hope everyone is having a fantastic day :)

	Date	Minutes
	Jan 13	add minutes
	Jan 12	10	sit-ups
	Jan 11	10	leg lounges
	Jan 10	45	4 miles
	Jan 9	65	5.5 miles on treadmill at gym
	Jan 8	35	3 miles with Jeff
	Jan 7	30	Walk 3.5 with 10% incline
	Jan 6	30	Weight training
	Jan 5	40	3.5 ran on treadmill with 5 minutes walk down
	Jan 4	5	sit-ups
	Jan 3	35	2.8 miles ran half but had to walk the last half due to bra problem
	Jan 2	35	5 k with Jeff around park
	Jan 1	5	leg lifts and lounges at work. Worked 10 hours

Did weight Training today.  Back into it.  When I was done I was very shakey.  Probably went a little too heavy on some.  :-o

Ok, I will get over myself. :)

Hi All.  Hope everyone is having a fantastic day. 

Woke up this morning with ankle, back and wrist pain.  The starting of a flare-up?  Hope not.  Wonder if my ESR and C-reactive protein is up?  Wouldn't be surprised.  Used my new Solanpas-type spray for pain. Takes the edge of the pain.

3.5 miles yesterday on treadmill at the gym with interval training up to 7 mph   :)

Plan to do some weight training later today.

Went to a funeral yesterday. It was a beautiful celebration of life of my friend's mother Mrs. Graves. Here is her picture...

She was a strong, smart and wonderful person who raised three girls on her own.  She will be dearly missed!

Wiped out when I got home but....I managed to get some sit-ups in just before midnight.  On track with New Year's resolution.  :)

Keep on, Keeping on!

Ran 2.8 miles yesterday.  :)

Ran a 5 K with the hubby today :)  :)  It was a bit cold but I made it.  A little slower today at 35 minutes.  Definitely need new shoes!!!

Did lounges and leg lifts, yesterday at work worked a 10 hour shift
,

New Years Resolution: To do some form of exercise everyday. 
Day One: Worked a 10 shift so didn't run BUT did leg lifts and lounges at work on my break.  :)

Thinking of doing a half marathon in Hollywood on April 5th. :o  I have never done a half marathon which is a little over 13 miles.  The most I've done last year was 10 miles.  Don't know if I will be ready by April to do it but we will see.

Hope all is well with all of you :)

As far as RA: Still taking Sulfasalazine (sp?)  twice a day.  Still getting pain but not nearly as bad as when RA first started when I couldn't walk and had ice packs all over my body!

Looking forward to this 2014 think it's going to be a record breaker for me.

Must invest in new running shoes!

Have a great day!