exercise question

Hi everyone I joined the YMCA yesterday and signed up for some evening water aerobics classes. Last night, I went to the Y during the family free swim hour. Because of my knees, I had the hardest time getting into and out of the pool. (My pain is mostly when I go to sit down or get up from a sitting position.) I also noticed that my knees really hurt when I swam a few very slow laps back and forth. The ortho surgeon wants to do a complete knee replacement and I am trying to hold off for a year while I get in better shape. Both my family doctor and Dr. Peters think tha****er exercise will be good for me. Has anyone else gone through this? Rose

Rose.. this is Elissa's expertise!! Go Elissa!! T

Rose, Congrats on the Y membership. You will love it. At my 1 month anniversary I started in the pool. Walking at 1st for 45 minutes. There are nice wide steps to assend into the pool with a rail to hold onto. Now I can do 25 laps or more in addition to the walking. OBTW, my knees still ache some, even with 130 plus lbs off. They creek and make funny noises and it takes me a minute to get moving from a sitting position still. I don't take anything for the aches and pain. They don't hurt 24/7 though so that is a blessing. I'm sure there is knee surgery for me in my future, but I'm gonna hold off for now. I do feel like a million bucks when I'm in the water. No aches or pain, no stress. The water is so warm. I go in the hot tub for 10 minutes after I work out so my mucles stay relaxed. I walk, talk, do some aroebic exercises in the pool. I just love it. I've gone through 4 suits already this year. The cholrine is not nice to hair or Lycra. My hair is really dry and in addition to the Nioxin for thinning hair I also use a claryfing shampoo for cholorine damaged hair. I hate bathing caps. Guess what I still have some hair and I'm gonna try to keep it as good as I can. LOL. I did get some goggles cause my eyes were always burning and itching. Did the trick for me. Hang on it'll get better. Maybe a tylenol or 2 to help the knees for right now. The rest of my exercise regime is 3 days a week on the weight training @ the nautalis eq and 2 days a week on the cross trainer. I try to do a mile or more on the elyptical machine. I don't do the bike cause it hurts my knees. If you would like to come with me 1 day let me know. I had gone for the evaluation with PMRI on the 3rd floor. They pretty much agreed with the trainer's at Kirkwood on my program. So far I have been very successful and I love going. See you Monday night Rose? TT you there. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Hi Elissa I would love to talk with you on Monday night either before or after the meeting about this. Thanks. ((Hugs) Rose