Seems my doctor thinks I need exercise, despite how broke I am. Apparently having lots of pain isnt enough, I also have high blood pressure. Seems that will kill me while the pain wont.

So she put me onto the healthy hearts scheme, which I attended for my induction last Wednesday (17th). I managed the exercise bike, which I do at home. Some rowing, although I had to keep it down and concentrate on keeping my back stiff. Not easy. There was then another machine that did cycling for your arms and three weight machines that allowed me to exercise my arms without putting my back out 2X10 reps on each.

So it wasnt too bad, until I was presented with the final exercise. I simply had to sit down on a big exercise ball, just touching, then standing up again. 2X10 reps. Each one my leg muscles ramped up the cramp and the damn thing beat me. Six hours later I was still in pain. You wouldnt believe that something so simple could hurt so much.

Anyway Im still going, I made sure of that by buying a years membership and Im not wasting it. I not only get to use the gym but the attached sauna and steam room. I also get to use the swimming pool, gym and sauna at Tynemouth and the other council run ones in North Tyneside too. Cost me just over £214 (alternative was £3 for each visit without the use of the sauna, steam room or swimming pools).

I can honestly recommend this for everyone who wants to inflict pain on themselves.

Walking is bad for me though, its much easier doing other exercises. Anything which impacts the joints causes problems with my arthritis and that feeds through to the fibrositis in the muscles. Swimming and cycling are the best options for me.

My brother has some weights, I tried doing a simple sit down and raise a 6KG dumbell from near the floor to knee height exercise, 2X10 reps with each arm. I used the other arm as a support to reduce any stress on my back. It worked well enough until I stood up and walked away, five paces and I was almost like Bill at the end of Kill Bill 2, my back spasmed into pain, no warning, just gotcha!

Ive got to be really careful what I do and how.

There is also the costs and room required, I certainly couldnt provide the room for the equipment I can use at the gyms, and that doesnt include the swimming pool or other facilities.

So it wasnt too bad, until I was presented with the final exercise. I simply had to sit down on a big exercise ball, just touching, then standing up again. 2X10 reps. Each one my leg muscles ramped up the cramp and the damn thing beat me. Six hours later I was still in pain. You wouldnt believe that something so simple could hurt so much.

Thatll be core strength chap, the thing most people ignore (Til they invented the exercise ball at least)

Quote from: DEViANCE

....and more enjoyable than looking at fat old blokes and crap tv at the gym.

Your at the wrong gym. :mutley:

Some gyms do have a lot of older people but others have a rather less wrinkly membership. Mind the banal music video channel was advertising Kentucky fried? :/