I’ve been on a sugar detox program for several weeks. I’ve lost 7 pounds without trying to restrict the amount I eat. And I’ve lost my craving for sugar! This group meets for only four weeks, but the gym has given the instructor permission to keep meeting after the program ends. Yay! I can follow any program for four weeks - it’s the long haul that’s hard for me.
I’m still enjoying my gym. The young instructor is so patient with me. I cannot do squats to save myself - I always lean forward. I KNOW I do that. I’ve had many people tell me that. But it’s hard to correct. But this guy is having me do a lot of different things and I think I’m improving slowly.
Squats are not good for people who have arthritis, so don’t do them if you have that issue.
[squats]Squats are not good for people who have arthritis, so don’t do them if you have that issue.[/squats]
Not according to the Arthritis Foundation:
http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/pain-management/joint-protection/squat-correctly.php
Squats, lunges, deadlifts, these are all important exercises in helping all of us live a longer healthier life. But correct form is always necessary.
Weight on your heels. Talk to you trainer about improving your mobility in your legs, hammies, quads, ankles, calves, etc. And always try to roll out various parts of your body prior to attempting to squat. I spend 10-15 minutes with exercise bands and rollers before I do any exercise(s).
Also, take your phone and have your trainer video your squat and then watch it. Sometimes just watching your form does help alot. I do it all the time to make sure I’m using proper form.
The best way to learn a proper squat is to start with a goblet squat. (Sigh… Every time I mention that I think of idad!). Arthritis is not exacerbated by proper squats because the exercise does not put strain on the joints - your muscles are supposed to do the work!
http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/right-way-to-do-goblet-squat
Works for women as well! 
Agree with Sushiritto. I have an arthritic hip and knees. Probably run 20-30 miles weekly. It can be managed.Think all of us this age have a little arthritis.
As far as muscle soreness after exercise-- delayed onset muscle (dom) is normal after utilizing muscles that haven’t been used in awhile.
Also, to help alleviate muscle soreness, there are supplements like vitamins, fish oil, minerals and such as well as protein that may/can help with muscle recovery. I don’t want to get into a big argument/discussion about whether research shows they’re useless or little value, but by simply eating healthier and taking a multi-vitamin, which I do, seemingly aids recovery for me.
Sour cherry juice. It works. N=2 (BB and her Mr.). 
Yes, there are fruits and vegetables, say like avocado, that can help with muscle soreness, arthritis, inflammation, etc. The only caution about juices, just in general, is the amount of sugar. We absolutely love cherries in our house.
And then there are muscle soreness/recovery/arthritis benefits from nuts, chia, pumpkin, hemp, flax seeds, etc. too. But as everyone knows, we’re pretty nutty and fruity out here in the SF Bay Area. :))
Ah thanks for the correction about squats. The osteoarthritis site I read said to avoid lifting over 55 pounds, squats, and long distance running. I wonder if it was wrong about all of those activities.
I’d definitely consult with your doctor, but I’d find it hard to fathom that he/she would say stop squatting and getting your cardio (walking, running, rowing, bicycling, etc.) work in every week. And it also depends on how much pain someone feels when they do various movements and what exactly is happening inside your body when you feel that pain.
I’m not quite sure what’s the magic with the 55lb weight limit, since we’re all different sizes and shapes. That could be alot for some and too little for others. Originally, I was only talking about air squats, which is a body weight exercise.
And don’t ignore your upper body either. A simple but effective exercise such as push-ups, using raised bars (on incline) and/or on your knees, if needed, is a wonderful way of keeping your chest and arms in good shape too.
Always use proper form. You don’t know how many people I see in a gym, or kids on the field/court, using improper squat and push-up form.
It is not any cherries - has to be sour cherry. Sour cherry juice, unlike other veggie-fruit remedies, has been studied and was shown to reduce post-exercise inflammation. A search of pubmed will yield a number of articles like this one:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874510/
My personal anecdotal experience confirms this.
@BunsenBurner – interested to try it – where do you buy it? Do you drink it straight? How much for it to be effective?
Costco had Cheribundi. I buy the juice that does not have much other stuff added to it. We dilute it 1:2 with sparkling water and drink with dinner or post-exercise.
https://m.costco.com/Cherry-Bay-Orchards-Tart-Cherry-Concentrate-32-oz%2C-2-pack.product.100168458.html
It was less $$ at the warehouse.
@BunsenBurner Very interesting. I hadn’t heard of tart cherries specifically. But the study states that “tart cherries have high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, and are promoted in lay publications as beneficial for those with arthritis, muscle pain, and fibromyalgia.” But as I mentioned above, so do other fruits, vegetables, nuts seeds, etc. For instance, I eat avocados almost daily, along with other fruits, veges, nuts, seeds, so I’m curious if those have the same effect. That’s just a rhetorical question.
Also, the first thing that I thought of when reading it, was something this study mentions in “limitations”:
“One limitation to the study was the subjective of assessment of pain by participants.”
At any rate, thank you for the info.
Search pubmed. You will find much more than that! Apparently, there is something unique to tart cherries specifically. I’d rather drink Cheribundi than eat turmeric. 
Thanks! I’ll see if my Costco has it.
“definitely consult with your doctor, but I’d find it hard to fathom that he/she would say stop squatting and getting your cardio (walking, running, rowing, bicycling, etc.) work in every week. And it also depends on how much pain someone feels when they do various movements and what exactly is happening inside your body when you feel that pain.”
It’s not me, but my husband. And the site didn’t say to stop exercising, it said you definitely need to keep exercising. Just that long distance running, lifting heavy weights and doing squats were bad for arthritis. Maybe just doing improper squats was what they meant.
For whatever reason, I can’t seem to do squats. I always feel it in my knees. I’ve asked lots of people to help me. ??
And I’ve decided trying to go for a certain time in my upcoming 5Ks probably isn’t a good idea. Humidity has been high, as well as the temps. Plus they are at 7, so it’s still stuffy. So I guess I’ll revise my goals to just trying to make some progress each time? They start next Monday so today is my “practice” one, and I’ll go out a 7. I’ve usually been waiting until closer to 8 to run. (And, I just officially signed up for my half in November! The November part sounds SO nice right now!)