[genie86333]

I just got a stationary bike today & used it for 40 minutes... my bs went down from 178 to 126 and I feel great! My back hurts a bit (which I expected, it hurts when I do anything,) but at least when I had enough I was 5 feet away from my comfy bed & not stranded 5 miles from home. LOL! Now if i just had room for a swimming pool for the summer!

[jerryn]

Cool! I've been having great results with a stationary bike too!
I put the bike in the master bedroom too! Plus I listen to the stereo with my IPOD plugged into it when I do it. 40 minutes is a good run keep it up!!!!! Add some flyweights to your workout too! After supper I set my bike up with the cross training program and go for 200 calories.. I get off the bike
and do curls, overhead presses, touch toes and situps... then back on the bike. I do 3 reps of this. Keep it up you are going to feel great!

[genie86333]

Whoohoo! I just tested again - I'm down to 98!

I have some small dumbells that I think I'll add for upper-body workout.

I watched an episode of my favorite tv show on DVD while doing it - was determined to keep going until the end-credits ran & I did even though, as I said my back started hurting a bit before I was done - but it seems like that's a good balance.

[Rad Warrier]

Originally Posted by genie86333

Whoohoo! I just tested again - I'm down to 98!

I have some small dumbells that I think I'll add for upper-body workout.

I watched an episode of my favorite tv show on DVD while doing it - was determined to keep going until the end-credits ran & I did even though, as I said my back started hurting a bit before I was done - but it seems like that's a good balance.

The pain will go away soon. I too had pain almost everywhere when I started my exercise program and in a short time all the pain went away.

Also, I have found that if I take my meals within half an hour of exercise (that is, either within half an hour after exercise or within half an hour before the exercise), the blood sugar rise because of food is very less. It is as if our body cells become 'very hungry' and devour all the food we ingest

Regards,
Rad

[genie86333]

Originally Posted by Rad Warrier

The pain will go away soon. I too had pain almost everywhere when I started my exercise program and in a short time all the pain went away.

Also, I have found that if I take my meals within half an hour of exercise (that is, either within half an hour after exercise or within half an hour before the exercise), the blood sugar rise because of food is very less. It is as if our body cells become 'very hungry' and devour all the food we ingest

Well, I got hit by a car when I was 14, so we'll see about the pain going away...although I'm sure it will help, I'm not going to hold my breath about it going *away.*

Thanks for the tip about eating & exercise. I'll be interested in seeing how it works.

[Ronin]

Hi Genie!

Congratulations on starting a program. One piece of advice on the exercise bike -- work on your position. While the exercise bikes are a bit less adjustable than actual bikes a proper position helps avoid a lot of pain and makes the workout more effective.

Basically the rule is that if you put your heel on the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke you knee should be straight -- since both legs are a bit different, set this for your shorter leg. Next, the saddle should be far enough back that when the pedals are parrallel to the floor your knee should be directly over the ball of your foot. Finally, you pedal with the ball of the foot (not the arch) on the pedals.

Come spring, you might want to get an actual bicycle instead of that pool. It's a lot of fun out on the roads/trails/paths -- more fun than inside (I know as this is my Tour-de-Garage season).

[Rad Warrier]

Would like to get the advice of Ronin and others on the following.

1. I already have a treadmill and was thinking of buying a stationary bike to (a) exercise a different set of muscles and (b) add variety to my indoor exercise program. How effective is the stationary bike in exercising a different set of muscles than those used in walking/mild jogging on the treadmill? Is exercising a different set of muscles worth the time spent and the expense incurred (in buying the bike)? Would just burning calories be enough or should we be particular about exercising as varied a set of muscles as possible?

2. If I buy a stationary bike, which would be better (a) a recumbent type or (b) an upright type?

3. Any other suggestions regarding stationary bike would be welcome.

Regards,
Rad

[Ronin]

Hi Rad Warrier!

The muscles used in walking and cycling are pretty much the same. The only difference being that cycling is a low-impact form of exercise.

I'm not big on "stationary bikes" as I like to ride outside whenever possible. A regular bike, properly fit, is great and if you get an indoor trainer (magnetic, air, or fluid resistance --perhaps rollers) you have a machine that you can use indoors, outdoors for recreation or transportation.

The recumbent versus upright issue is more about theology than anything else. I prefer the upright variety because it fits my belief system. Of course fit is a very important factor and, while it seems counter-intuitive on an upright bike, you need to be leaning a bit forward and down so that part of your upper body weight is supported by your arms and a hard (as opposed to a soft) saddle is much more comfortable for long distance rides.

[sarah91]

Hi there

Have just come across this thread and have a question to ask. I have been to the gym on a number of occasions and always hypo after about 30 mins of training. I have a chocolate bar before I go to get my sugars up a bit (around 10) but still get really low sugars.

I don't do very strenuous exercises just treadmill (fast walking) and exercise bike.

How can I stop the low blood sugars?

Please advise

[sprzepiora]

Originally Posted by sarah91

Hi there

Have just come across this thread and have a question to ask. I have been to the gym on a number of occasions and always hypo after about 30 mins of training. I have a chocolate bar before I go to get my sugars up a bit (around 10) but still get really low sugars.

I don't do very strenuous exercises just treadmill (fast walking) and exercise bike.

How can I stop the low blood sugars?

Please advise

Try using a carby drink like gatoraid and test, test, test. You want to test before, during and after. It isn't unusual for me to see anywhere from 25 to 80 point drop, so be prepared.

[jerryn]

Carb up a bit before you excercise if you tend to go low.

[Rad Warrier]

Thanks Ronin!

Regards,
Rad

[genie86333]

Thanks for the advice, Ronin. I probably won't change to an out-side bicycle simply because my reason for staying at home is a bad back, not the weather.

I actually had to modify how I use the stationary bike though - the bike is an old, used one & the seat couldn't be raised at all, so I fashioned a seat *behind* it which I sit on & pedal, as if it were a recumbant bike. It's actually very comfortable that way, and takes some stress off my back.

I used to ride 10 miles a day, 6 days a week - to & from work - but had to stop when the back pain got to be too much from the bending-forward position, so I'm glad it turned out this way, actually.)

[Ronin]

Hi Genie!

As a devout road rider I will suggest that you consider a real recumbent. If that helps your back problems you could get back to the road (and you already know that is much better than the television). Match that up with an indoor trainer and you have the best of both worlds.

A note to Sarah: Far be it for this Pre-D to give advice to a Type-1. However, I mentioned your question to a friend who is a Type-1, an athlete (Member of Team-Type-1, Bicycle Racing Team) but not a member of this forum. His advice was to get your body used to the training, test while training to get an idea of how your body reacts to exercise and modify your insulin injections accordingly.

[genie86333]

Originally Posted by Ronin

Hi Genie!

Hi, Ronin!

Originally Posted by Ronin

(and you already know that is much better than the television).

**gasp** better than television?????? Is that possible? (hehe...I'm an admitted TV addict. Especially sci-fi.)