There are many things which hold us back from doing what we know we
should.  But the biggest one for me is plain old inertia.  My fat butt
has actually become a part of this desk chair.

No, really, my mom is 90, lives at a 'residence', and needs the
assistance of two people plus a lift just to transfer from the bed to
the wheelchair, etc.  She was severely crippled by a stroke in '03,
and since then has been a great inspiration to me, because she just
will not give up, or give in to the urge to 'rest'.  For these two
years she has been a faithful exerciser, even tho for her, exercise
means trying like hell just to lay on a bed and raise her arm.  She
also attends therapy and the exercise sessions at the res.  Will she
ever dance again?  Maybe not, but her soul dances in my head.  If she
hasn't packed it in, called it a life, I don't see why I should.

I think I just talked myself into going to the gym this morning!
Thanks, Ray!

Enjoy Summer!
Rick McGirr
Email: [log in to unmask]

----- Original Message -----
From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 3:32 PM
Subject: Re Exercise/Rick


> Rick, I have never tried yoga, so I don't know.  I do know fatigue
is a PD
> symptom.  It's kind of a Catch-22 thing......I'm too sedentary
because I'm
> in pain if I move, if I don't move I become more sedentary.  We are
fighting
> a losing battle but must keep fighting.
>
> I have had PD almost 10 years now.  Five years ago, I could do 30-45
minutes
> on the treadmill plus swim every day.  When my mom had her stroke
and died I
> got off my routine.   The disease keeps progressing, no matter what
I do,
> but I think I should never have interrupted the exercise.
>
> A couple of weeks ago the Handyman came and I got all enthused about
> decorating and washed all my curtains and valances using my walker
to stand
> by the washer/dryer.  It took me a week to "recover".  I guess one
needs to
> find some kind of balance.
>
> In the meantime I read Diane's posts where people argue the academic
and
> moral aspects of stem cell research.  Sometimes I join the
arguments.
> Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rick McGirr" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 8:18 AM
> Subject: Re: David Anderson's book
>
>
> > Ray, is there anything one can do besides eat right and exercise?
I
> > do a lot of stretching, necessarily, but is something like yoga
> > helpful?  I know what you mean about being tired after a good
workout.
> > I just don't seem to have the stamina I used to, and man am I ever
> > slow.  This is particularly unfortunate because I started out as
the
> > slowest kid in the class!
> >
> > The biggest trick is after you do increase your activity level, to
> > keep it up there.
> >
> > I know you have some "tread" left in ya.  Now get sweating.
> >
> > Enjoy Summer!
> > Rick McGirr
> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 1:10 PM
> > Subject: Re: David Anderson's book
> >
> >
> >> Rick, I find I need to rest a day after treadmill and swimming.
Am
> > trying
> >> to increase my exercise though, Ray
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Rick McGirr" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:20 AM
> >> Subject: Re: David Anderson's book
> >>
> >>
> >> >I don't know the release date but I can tell you this: the days
> > when I
> >> > work out are the days that I feel better.  A couple of weeks
ago,
> > I
> >> > spent a hard 4 days in the sun making repairs to a property.  I
> > was
> >> > fine all week, but ended up just tired from working, and so I
took
> > the
> >> > next 2 days off.  On the 2nd day, I got so tight and wound up,
I
> >> > thought I was going to pop out of my skin.  So I went to the
gym
> > and
> >> > had a good run with the basketball. (good for me, anyway.  I
> > couldn't
> >> > outrun a sloth.) Felt much better afterward.  I felt relaxed,
and
> > I
> >> > started swinging my arms again, etc.
> >> >
> >> > I think what the book will tell you is that the author
exercises
> > half
> >> > his life away, that he has a personal trainer who motivates
him,
> > and
> >> > what you have to do is get the dedication and discipline to
commit
> > to
> >> > a regular exercise regimen, maybe even every day.  Make a
> > permanent
> >> > place on your schedule for exercise and do it even when you
don't
> >> > 'feel like it'.  Of course, I think it's ok to give less than
half
> >> > your life to it.
> >> >
> >> > I've been working out more lately, but I only average 3-4 times
a
> >> > week.  Having gone off the Sinemet, at least for the time
being,
> > I've
> >> > experienced stronger symptoms.  I get more tremor, but also, my
> >> > muscles start to go into lockdown.  That's when I feel I just
have
> > to
> >> > take off and get active.  I don't do much weight work, just
biking
> > or
> >> > treadmill, basketball, or one of the greatest forms of
exercise,
> >> > swimming.  And stretching, always stretching.  I always feel
> > better
> >> > afterwards.
> >> >
> >> > You can adapt your program to your own abilities, of course.
> > Through
> >> > past experience I've found that you can push yourself without
> >> > breaking, so try a few things that seem challenging.  Just
> > remember,
> >> > if you're committed to a program, the first time you do things
is
> >> > usually the most difficult, unless you bust a gut.  Be careful,
> > have
> >> > fun, and stick to it, and you will see some big benefits.
> >> >
> >> > Enjoy Summer!
> >> > Rick McGirr
> >> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "Bill Gutelius" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >> > Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:35 AM
> >> > Subject: David Anderson's book
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Does anyone know anything new on the expected release date of
> > this
> >> > exercise
> >> >> book for PWP
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> > -
> >> > --
> >> >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> >> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >> >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> >> >
> >>
>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> > --
> >> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> >> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> >>
>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> > --
> >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> >>
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn