Walk Away the Pounds

Hi Leslie,

First I wanted to say what a privlege it is to be able to ask you a question directly!  I have been walking with you off and on for 7 years.  Last year was mostly "off" from exercise due to a number of injuries.

I have some arthritis in my hips.  When I am back in shape, I am hoping that the pain will recede--it has in the past.  In the meantime, I tend to find sidesteps somewhat irritating.  I try to do some, but usually I switch to just walking after a while as I feel my hip getting inflamed.  I'm not sure whether to keep on working the joint so that it will improve or to avoid the movements that irritat it and just walk instead.

Any thoughts?  I am hoping that for one of your next "health walks," you will make an arthritis walk with suggested modifications--I just sent my sister one of your tapes and she has arthritis too, but in her knees.

Thanks for putting these walks out there!  -Elissa

I too have arthritis pain and (sometimes) limitation of movement in both knees and hips and occasionally shoulders.  The pain and limitations vary day to day. I'm like you in that I do what I can with Leslie's DVDs and then go back to walking. On the bad knee days, I can't squat down much at all to make the side-to-side movements more intense. Nonetheless, I figure whatever movement a person does is better than no movement at all, and those of us who have arthritis, whether RA or OA, know that one of our worst enemies is idleness.

Unfortunately, the hip pain no longer recedes as much after stretching and exercise as it did a year ago. It's kind of discouraging in that while losing more weight would be good, the main reason I exercise is to stay as limber as possible, and I feel I'm losing a little bit of ground every year that goes by. I'm looking forward to Leslie's hinted-at DVD for those of us with arthritis.

Marla

As part of Leslie's staff, I discovered early on what a wise woman she is!! Remember too, Leslie always tells us that 'any movement is good' so when you need to modify a move, then by all means do so; as long as you can keep those feet moving to the beat you WILL get a good workout and keep yourself limber.  I myself have some arthritis in both my knees and when I DONT walk is when they can begin to pain me!  Cheryl

I just wanted to say thank you, Leslie, for taking the time to reply--I look forward to that new video you hinted at!

And thanks too to the others who added their comments to the thread--it's nice to know I'm not alone in my struggle.