Help my mom stay on the planet just a bit longer

morningstar

morningstar

Cathlete
Folks, my mom is in very bad shape and gets no exercise at all. I'd like to offer her some suggestions for a beginner's home workout that is very low impact and very low intensity. It could be strength or cardio or both, or yoga, but needs to use little to no equipment. I know this kind of workout isn't exactly the average Catheite's forte, but if any of you have any suggestions, that would be great. I've already suggested a beginner's yoga class or swimming/aqua fit, but I'd like to give her some suggestions for home workouts as well.

Also, apparently she has a slightly enlarged heart and will be undergoing some testing. Does anyone know what health ramifications a slightly enlarged heart has?

Thanks!
 
The only workouts I can think of is Leslie Sansone. She has beginner walking workouts and your mom might enjoy those. Check out collage or Leslie's site and view some clips. She can break up the walks and just do as much as she is capable of each day. Hope she starts to feel better.
 
PhyllisG said:
The only workouts I can think of is Leslie Sansone. She has beginner walking workouts and your mom might enjoy those. Check out collage or Leslie's site and view some clips. She can break up the walks and just do as much as she is capable of each day. Hope she starts to feel better.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing!;) I bought some for my brother.
You can find Leslie Sansone workouts at Target too. :)
 
Leslie Sansone, and TTapp. TTapp has a sit down workout, too. I used this program many years ago. Has many programs to offer and has a list of free exercises to try out before you buy. Form is very important. I lost about two sizes and many inches with only 3 lb weightloss. This type of workout get harder as you get better at doing the workout. However, for me I needed variety and so eventually I moved on.
http://www.ttapp.com/
 
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Margaret Richard has some DVDs for seniors. Does your mom have access to a senior center? Even Tai Chi or yoga classes that might be offered there would be great for her and she might enjoy visiting with others.
 
ITA w/ the Leslie suggestions! :) Your mom won't have to worry about proper form, no equipment and all shapes and sizes are shown. No embarrassment of others seeing her. She can wear old clothes w/ no concern about weather affecting her ability to get to her workout.

Plus, she can start w/ a "one mile" walk and work her way up. Seeing her progress as she adds time & miles will be a very good motivator too.

Good luck Morningstar!
 
How about Classical Stretch?

My mom hates exercising, too. She knits like crazy, though, and she actually somehow managed to injure her rotator cuff while KNITTING. I gave her my CS Season 4 DVDs - it has an entire season of CS on multiple DVDs, and each workout is about 20 minutes. The intensity is low, but it gets her up and moving. My mom was initially skeptical, but she tried them and liked them.

She says it has really helped her to feel better and gain more strength and flexibility, and she even felt up for some water aerobics at her gym (which is another good idea, actually).
 
Morningstar - I, too, don't have any suggestions, but it looks like you've gotten plenty to peruse! I just want to extend my thoughts and prayers that she will be okay and get motivated to move! I've been out of the loop in cardiac care for too long to remember anything about enlarged hearts. Have you tried WebMD?

Oh! There is one thing she might enjoy trying - Zumba! It's fun, easy and requires nothing but a little bit of space!
 
How about something by Mirabai Holland? Her workouts are incredibly gentle and calming. Here is a link to a sample from one of her dvd's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPFmvFx0vV0&NR=1

I have known some older ladies who have done her workouts and they say that afterwards they feel as though they have had a massage. Especially loved is her Fabulous Forever Easy Stretch, although some of that one does require you to get down on the floor. Her stuff is available at Amazon where you can also read reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Fabulous-Fore...=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1264650480&sr=1-12
 
Thank you all for your great suggestions. I have already passed along the Leslie Sansone suggestion and will check out the others. I think I'll have to pass on the senior centre though, as my mom's only 59 and would kill me at the very notion!
 
Try renting some from you library. I know mine has a selection of Leslie's. She is pretty popular so they may have some.
 
A couple of ideas (sorry if any of these have been mentioned, I skimmed above but did not read in detail):

Sit and be Fit: http://www.sitandbefit.org/ (some of the workouts can be done standing, and some use no equipment at all. Others might use a band or towel) (Some public TV stations carry this series, and Collage carries some of these as well. My local library also had some.)

Conductorcise: http://www.conductorcise.com/ This is a workout taught by a classical conductor. You use large arm movements while "conducting" to the music to get your heart rate up. you can make it more challenging by using bigger movements, coming up on your toes or even adding small jumps, or you can make the workout easier by keeping movements small. It can also be done sitting if necessary.

I also echo the Leslie Sansone recommendations.

Good luck to you and your mom!
 
I have a bad knee, shoulder and if I jump around I pee myself ! I'm not in good shape. I bought the biggest loser cardio DVD from wally world and I like it. It has other overweight people on it and you can do the non-jumpy portion along with them.

Other than that I would suggest a treadmill and cardio coach and just walk.
 
My suggestions would be

1. Leslie Sansone
2. Denise Austin
3. Richard Simmons
4. Many of the dance DVDs are low intensity and low impact
5. Tai Chi
6. Senior Video ( you can see clips on collage)
7, Sit and be Fit ( see clips on collage)
 
I will be 59 on Saturday. There is no reason she can't do STS doing her own 1rm. I started with Cathe 1 year ago. Prior to that it had been 2 years since I had lifted and then only 10-12lb dumbbells for 3 years with a trainer. If she is like me cardio may be more important for her heart than lifting but she needs to do both. Leslie Sansone is annoying but it is a good starter dvd.
 
Does she want help?

I would not even suggest any workouts unless you know she wants help. Suggestions very likely not do any good unless SHE really wants to work out. We all want to help our relatives & friends who don't do what they should to get healthy, but they have to want to help themselves.
 
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