<p>That’s complete bunk. Fat loss occurs when you use more calories in a day than you consume. So five minutes on the treadmill would contribute in some small way to that. In the last 13 weeks, I’ve only exercised for 60 minutes two times, and both were counting numerous breaks to get through iPod nazi workouts in the early going. I do 30 to 45 minutes and that’s it. Maybe I’m not burning as much fat as I could be, but I’ve lost 26 pounds during that time.</p>
<p>There may be other benefits to long workouts, such as aerobic capacity to run longer races and so forth, but from a fitness standpoint, the benefit is achieved from pretty short workouts three to five days a week. Getting the intensity of higher heart rates is what eliminates the need for sloggiing away on the treadmill for hours at a time. That’s why interval training is so effective. I think anyone who can do 30 minutes of effective exercise three to five days a week will end up with a pretty solid base of fitness and (I hope) build a habit that is sustainable over the long haul.</p>
<p>On this rollerblading. Having watched my wife go through the plate and screws surgery and rehab on a broken wrist from slipping on an icy parking lot last year, I beg you to wear the wrist guards. It really opened my eyes to how easy it would be to put yourself through a very painful and significant injury. My wife’s surgeon did four of them from people who slipped the same morning. Older bones are not the same as the bones we had when we were young limberback whippersnappers.</p>
<p>garland, My husband started a run/walk regimen about a year ago and developed identical symptoms to yours (severe pain on the top of his foot and swelling.) He saw a podiatrist, who diagnosed gout and gave him a shot of cortisone. The pain subsided almost immediately.</p>
<p>My dad is a GP. When H told him the podiatrist diagnosed gout, my dad pooh-poohed the diagnosis. My dad then proceeded to bet my H that the problem was tendonitis and not gout.</p>
<p>H’s pain and swelling was back a month later. This time around my dad talked him into seeing an orthopedist, who diagnosed tendonitis. The orthopedist told my H to buy orthotics (the kind that running stores sell) for his work shoes and expensive sneakers with good support for exercising. So that’s what H did.</p>
<p>H started running/walking in his new sneaks as soon as his foot felt better. Since then, he’s had absolutely no more problems with his feet. He was totally misdiagnosed by the podiatrist.</p>
<p>Tendonitis on the top of the foot is apparently a common sports/overuse injury. Here’s a link to some info:</p>
<p>Thanks, mapesy–my diagnosis is degenerative joint disease. He based it on his observations plus X-ray–which shows the mis-shapen bone structure (kind of like a triangular ridge running across the top of my foot.) Orthotics are also recommended for this, so I will be getting them. I have no arches (never have) and apparently this outcome is common for congenitally flat feet.</p>
<p>H (a physician) and I had thought tendonitis, too, but it’s most likely not. However, I’ll keep monitoring for other possibilities, and do appreciate suggestions.</p>
<p>interesteddad,
I do not dare going without wrist and knee pads. With my history of falling, I would be in wheelchair without them. I do not share my falls with family members any more. They would prohibit me from rollerblading. However, I cannot make myself wearing helmet and elbow pads (which I have). They make me too uncomfortable and I feel more prone to falls. My permanent bump is on my hip, cannot pad entire body.</p>
<p>Ultraswim shampoo will wash the green (which iirc is copper) out of one’s hair after swimming. I don’t know what it does to color-treated hair, though.</p>
<p>garland, I’m really sorry about your DJD. I was hoping it might be a misdiagnosis!</p>
<p>Just wondering what type of shoes you wear when you walk? Even with a diagnosis of DJD, I think the shoe you wear might make a tremendous difference in your pain level. </p>
<p>I have lots of problems with my feet (arch pain and bunions), and I’ve finally found support athletic shoes that allow me to walk/run without pain. I probably went through almost two dozen pairs of shoes before I found a style that works for me. </p>
<p>Googling DJD brings up a page that mentions the importance of good support shoes:</p>
<p>Maybe you could discuss with your doctor or husband what type of athletic shoe for walking might be best for someone with your condition. Wearing the proper shoes-- whether motion control or stability–might help control your pain and allow you to continue walking.</p>
<p>Absolutely, mapesy. It’s something I gave little thought to before; I wear fairly inexpensive walking shoes (usually New Balance) precisely because they don’t have too much arch (since I don’t have one), but I see a different approach is in order. Time to research!</p>
<p>Edit: I looked at that page, and it’s the same one I found earlier today! great minds Google alike! :)</p>
<p>Good luck, Garland, sounds like you’re on the right path to finding a solution.</p>
<p>Probably completely irrelevant but a former figure skater friend with terrible bunion/arch problems once gave me this tip that has helped me with foot problems: lace across the toes and arch of the foot very loosely, then snugly at the top of the foot/ankle area. Not sure why but my feet seem to come through a pounding in much better shape when I do that.</p>
<p>And for those of you with foot pain, never underestimate the power of ice. If there’s pain because something is inflamed, the ice will reduce the inflammation. Presto-chango, no more pain.</p>
<p>garland, I don’t know if this shoe would help with your specific foot issues, but I have had good luck with Brooks walking shoes. They are very sturdy and comfortable, different in design than running shoes. My H wears them now too, for serious walking and even sometimes for business when he has to walk a long way on the job. (The shoes are available in black.)</p>
<p>Thanks Bookiemom–I’ll definitely look into them.</p>
<p>I was thinking last night, about why this is bugging me so much. It goes back, I think, to having been basically unable to walk, first at all, then unaided, for almost a year, and wondering if I ever would again. Since then, I haven’t, even for one day, taken walking for granted. So I overdo it just to prove I can. That’s why having to slow down is freaking me out, even though I know it’s not really a big deal and I will be able to continue walknig.</p>
<p>Garland, the calcification can’t be reversed though in some cases it can be scrubbed off in surgery. I deal with this in a couple of places. Suggest looking for shoes where the laces float, meaning there is no structural connection between the lace area and the toes. Asics and some other companies make shoes like this. They can really reduce the amount of pressure on the top of the foot. You might also look at Nike’s Free, which is meant to flex completely. That might not work with an orthotic.</p>
<p>BTW, if you’re using store bought orthotics, you can step up to podiatrist level. Mine were made of kevlar, which not only protected the bottoms of my feet from bullets but also did not flex at all. When I got them, the pain was so bad that I was outwalked by a person with CP. They changed my life.</p>
<p>Finally, there are a number of stretches you can do. The easiest is to take a baseball and put it under your foot as you sit. Just roll it around until you can stretch your foot better. Takes time to do this right. Others involve sort of reverse stretches to what people mostly do, as in lower your heels rather than raise them. Stand on a step with your heels in the air and stretch down. What really helped me was walking and running barefoot, but I don’t know if you can do that with your foot condition.</p>
<p>Lergnom–great advice, thanks! I’ll try those stretches. Podiatrist did mention surgery, but says it’s often not a great idea. Back when my leg was smashed, it healed with lots of extra calcification, and the orthopod said the same thing–it’s risky surgery and avoid if possible.</p>
<p>The podiatrist is looking ot see if my insurance covers custom inserts, so hopefully that’ll work out.</p>
<p>Sewhappy–congrats on how the spinning is going; sounds like you are really progressing!</p>
<p>for swimmers: I really like this conditioner. They also say it helps if you wet your hair before you get in the pool, so it won’t absorb the treated water. </p>
<p>garland, What kind of everyday shoes do you wear? Clogs have been a lifesaver for me because I can wear them all day without pain. The Dansko outlet is located in West Grove, PA, which isn’t very far from New Jersey. It’s sometimes hit or miss there, but all the shoes are 50% off retail.</p>
<p>Did a 12:2 run walk ratio times 2 this morning, with a 5 min. warmup and extra 5 minute cooldown.</p>
<p>It was really really hard today. It was 81 degrees, first time I’ve run in the 80’s. I wanted to quit several times, but stuck it out somehow. It will be a lot hotter in Austin in June.</p>
<p>Sigh. I guess there are just days when you’re not feeling it. I need to get an ipod or something to help distract me.</p>
<p>^^^^^I admire anyone who can do a spinning class. That looks really intense.</p>
<p>Mapesy–mostly fairly cheap walking sneakers. I never gave clogs a chance, because I have short, wide, flat feet (think duck), and I assumed they’d fall off. But I’m willing to give them a try on!</p>
It’s the best one too! :)</p>