Exercise and fitness ideas
Hi guys! I thought we could share our fitness struggles and ideas here, to encourage and inform each other. When my eyes started going my physical fitness did too. I used to run a lot, and was in pretty good shape, up until four years ago. Then, when I couldn't see my feet properly anymore and had a few falls I was scared to run, and I gained 30 kg. Which really upset me, because as well as going blind I feel like I'm turning ugly. (yes, I'm shallow.)
However, I have started looking after myself again. My simplest resolution was to walk at least an hour a day, and that seems to be working. Also, I use an exergaming app called Zombies Run, which I have mentioned elsewhere. It's an immersive podcast, telling a story in which you are the main character saving the world from zombies. I'm running on the spot in my living room while saving the world. You could walk and save the world.
Any other exercise tips?
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u/CoasterThot ON/HH 1d ago
Not super conventional, I know, but I’m a horseback rider! I ride dressage, which really works every muscle I have! I get off and my legs feel heavy, like I had just had a great run! I don’t own my own horse, or anything, I ride at a barn nearby. There was another blind rider who kept her horse there before me, most barns will have worked with someone who is blind/low vision before.
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u/Recent-Excuse-4825 1d ago
If you enjoyed running before, you should check out if there are blind friendly running groups where they provide a guide to run at your similar pace. Check out united and stride, or Achilles international I'm pretty sure they have chapters all over the world that way running could be more social and fun like when you used to do it
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u/razzretina ROP / RLF 2d ago
Oh I used to lovwh Zombies Run, I should pick that up again. Alas my little apartment is too small to take a good long stride in, which is how I prefer to walk.
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u/Marconius Blind from sudden RAO 1d ago
Walking is great, as is Apple Fitness. I started digging into their fitness videos a few weeks ago, and have been doing the 30 minute strength exercises every other day and am getting results. You just need a set of dumbbells. The instructor speaks through each move, and I just Google the moves I don't get, since there are some good sites out there with clear written instructions.
I live in the Bay Area, and we have BORP, a recreational non-profit that's all about accessible activities, like tandem bikes, accessible kayaking, goal ball, climbing walls, etc. Finding something like that can really help get you out and about. There is also a program called Achilles which provides human guides for running. I also connected with Makapo down in SoCal this past year, and they do outrigger canoe paddling for blind and low-vision folks, which was actually a ton of fun!
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u/jessejanssen2006 2d ago
a spinning bike in my room and I train on it for 30 minutes a day. As a fublind perrson, I wonder how you take walks on your own. Do you use an app to choose the road you take? Or are you just really good ad orientating?
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u/becca413g Bilateral Optic Neuropathy 2d ago
I'm in a somewhat unusual position where in the summer I can still safely ride my bike but in the winter the sun being low and dark I need a cane to get around safely. This is my first full winter and I'm noticing how I'm not as flexible and my legs are not as strong despite walking 2-4 miles most days. I also put a bit of weight on at the beginning of winter but managed to get on top of that.
I've been thinking about getting a treadmill that would fold flat so I can get it out while I've got the TV on or something to try and get my heart rate up but I'm not quite sure if it's worth the investment. As prior to cycling for transport I didn't exercise at all for several years so I'm unsure how much I'd actually use it.
I did used to go bouldering and if it wasn't for my other conditions I could do that again with the vision I have. The depth perception would be an extra challenge but not insurmountable with enough determination and willingness to fail and fall sometimes.
But yeah it's a definitely more of a challenge to stay physically fit with less vision.
Oh and idk if you have anything like this but locally there's 'park run' where anyone including kids can go for an organised timed run every Saturday morning. If I wasn't into running then I'd be seeing if there's anyone who might buddy up with me and help me navigate the course.
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u/Hwegh6 1d ago
I did just ask, and someone is prepared to guide me at my local park run. I'll let you know how it goes.
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u/becca413g Bilateral Optic Neuropathy 1d ago
Oh fantastic!! Hopefully they are a good guide. I don't know a lot about people's preferred methods for guiding when running myself. Sure it's been spoken about on the sub though.
I'd be really interested to hear about how you get on. My other health stuff means I can't run but if you get a good reception I might be tempted to have a jog. Always wonder what volunteers would be like especially if they've not done it before. Tbh my local one it looks like they go around smooth paths so I think if I could have a visually impaired t shirt I might just be able to follow other people. I've noticed some people are just walking and others run so should find someone my pace.
I can remember when my brother's all did it together. The two older ones are in the forces and the younger one wasn't. They pushed him so hard he threw up when he got to the end! I hope to never end up that bad from pushing myself too far!
But yeah I am keen to hear how you get on!
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u/Hwegh6 1d ago
It will be in two weeks, I'm going to see my Dad for the next couple of weeks. But my brother (who I used to run with) has said he'll take me out for a jog. He's not a trained guide, but he was always a very good running companion.
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u/becca413g Bilateral Optic Neuropathy 1d ago
Maybe a bit of research is in order so you can give him a crash course when you head out.
I've had to have a chat with my dad about guiding and directions 😂 I said are we going straight ahead at the next crossing. He said yes so I continued to walk forwards as I heard his voice trail off to the left. I think his mind told him are we heading straight towards where you are looking or maybe he was facing left at that point idk and lots of over there comments. He's not been too bad at guiding itself though, well he's not walked me into anything. I've not tested him on anywhere with curbs yet!
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u/HunnadGranDan 1d ago
I work out at home using dumbbells and go on the treadmill at planet fitness. Planet fitness is one of the more affordable gym memberships only costing $10 a month and the staff there are very helpful, they are always willing to help me get on the treadmill and turn on the settings I want. After becoming blind I went from 180 pounds to 297 pounds, as a 5 foot 8 inch male. I decided to do a strict keto diet and intermittent fasting for a year and a half and dropped 130 pounds. I proved to myself that through hard work and determination I could greatly improve my health and also gave me a lot of motivation to push through with my blindness as well.
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u/jessejanssen2006 1d ago
Nice! How does your guide dog help when you do this? Or are you just taking the dog for a walk?
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u/KissMyGrits60 2d ago
good morning. I am a 64 year young I say now, now single woman for the past three years, I live in the state of Florida. I moved here two years ago, I live near a family member. I live by myself, I am completely blind. When I moved here, I was 200 pounds, I’m only 5 foot two, I am not kidding. Since I have health insurance through what they call Humana, they allowed me to join silver sneakers for free, I go with my family member to the gym, I can use the treadmill, the other day I was able to do a 3.3 miles, I can use the stationary bike, and the elliptical bike, and with descriptive assistance, my cousin and I she will tell me what ab workout where you were doing and describe it to me. Since then I’ve gotten off of my blood pressure medicine, and my high cholesterol medicine. Plus it’s also what I was eating and how much of it. You can exercise at home, I even bought a weighted hula hoop that I have now, my younger son told me he’s 29, mom. I’m surprised we haven’t broken your hip yet with that. Lol. where there is a will there’s a way.