Envision this, there’s a middle age woman (me) with CFS and exercise intolerance that accompanies it. She tries hard to get in any movement she can–it is hard to keep one’s weight down and body healthy and fit when you can’t aerobically exercise (she’s a bit vain, which is an understatement).
So, she steps on her treadmill whenever she can, setting it to ultimate SLOW and walks at a turtle pace. She’s worked herself up to ten minutes these past couple weeks without flaring herself up and she’s feeling pretty good about it.
One night this week, just before going to bed , she decides to get some more movement in. She’s exhausted, but her husband’s in the room. She knows if her legs stop while she’s on the treadmill, her husband can help her from treadmill to bed. If she was alone she wouldn’t do it…
Sure enough about eight minutes into her walk, her legs slow down to near stopping. She’s having a hard time making them keep up even with the slowest setting on the treadmill. Her arms are too weak to raise to the “turn off” button. She calls to her hubby, “Babe, I’ve gotta stop. Can you help me off of here”.
He comes running knowing that when her muscles stop, they stop quick…which means his having to drag or carry her weight to bed…grueling! He sees the button which slides to the right to turn the treadmill on or speed it up. The button is so far to the left, set so slow, that it confuses him…
He slides the button quickly to the right, kicking the treadmill into full speed. The vain, exercise intolerant, wife goes flying off the end of the treadmill. The hubby who is not exercise intolerant and in excellent physical conditional reaches for her as she shouts “Are you _____trying to kill me!” (Blank not a word I use unless in a sudden dangerous situation which is out of my control).
Mid-way between treadmill and floor, nimble hubby grabs her and saves her from the fall. And, that’s why I choose to do stupid things, like walk on the treadmill when my body can’t hack it, only when my hubby is around!
Made for a good healthy laugh for both of us…but wouldn’t recommend trying this at home–(smiley face-if I had access to icons).
So glad your adventure only ended with a good laugh! Now, as a scolding mom of so many and grandmother to over a dozen I will say…there is something to this thing called pacing!
I know Renee…it seems to be my life challenge!
Haha, like, “Jane, stop this crazy thing!” (Jetsons)
Glad you’re able to laugh about it!
ohmygod, what a story! I’m sure glad he was a good catcher. I worry about the lack of exercise, too. Walk through the house when I can, then crash, walk and crash. Fortunately plenty of chairs are along the way! This is a great blog. I’m adding you to my blog stream to follow.It’s at the bottom of the regular links on my own blog…and thanks for your visit there!
OMG Kerry! The what-ifs scare me to death! *sending high five’s to your hubby for saving the day!!*
I tend to go for the safer stuff. I have some chair dancing dvds that I pop into the computer. I can exercise sitting on my butt — it’s having to use the feet, ankles, knees, and hips that do me in!!
Have you ever seen those safety harnesses that kids use on trampolines? I have this mental picture of you with one of those hanging from the ceiling over your treadmill
Sort of like this:
http://www.littlepathwoods.co.uk/images/lotte/trampoline01.jpg
Glad you weren’t hurt!!
Thanks for laughin with me and making me laugh. The jetson’s, the safety harness, Sherlock I think I need one–thanks for the pic. so I know what to look for-wink.
Pris–I was excited to find your blog and poetry site today. So good to meet another CFSer and one who likes poetry too. I was also an aspiring singer/songwriter before becoming too weak with CFS to play guitar and sing. Poetry has taken its place. Thanks for linking to here–going to link right back at ya.
What do you mean middle aged?????? That means I am middle aged and we can’t have that
That was like reading a Mickey Spillane story! Scary and relieved that all is well.
Thanks for visiting Lynne and Rummuser. I felt fear just for a moment before hubby caught me…humor since then…and a promise to myself not to get on the treadmill when I’m already wiped out.
What a mental picture! Thanks for the laugh!
Sue