More FISM

FISM is going to be a bit more difficult than I thought for Richard.   What I didn't realize is the very thing we are trying to, if not cure, at least ameliorate, is the very thing which prevents him from getting his heart rate up to a significant level.  He just cannot pedal fast enough and of course, walking on the treadmill is challenging enough for him without asking him to run.  Would like to try him on the cross trainer but suspect, as it involves fast movement of the legs,  the same hurdle will present itself.

So we have to up the level of difficulty.  On the bike we raised it from 4 to 12 and managed to get his HR up to 85.  The target is 134 for a 70 year old man but right now we're just shooting for 90.  He did get a little breathless and turned a pale shade of pink so we're on the right track. 

I am very proud of him as being outside his comfort zone like this is really...out of his comfort zone.  He is not an athletic, sporty person and has never been interested in any sport beyond getting the State of Origin final score so as not to look like a complete doofus when talking to other men.  Consistently going to the gym, using strange machines, getting sore - all alien to his nature.

But worth it.  People spend a fortune on insurance.  They insure their houses, the house contents, the car, have medical insurance, even insure their pets but as far as taking out insurance on future health by the lifestyle lived today, for many people it's not on the radar.  We're taking out a bit of insurance, happily paying a higher premium to have, hopefully, the big pay off while we cruise to the end.  Health. 

More Fit in 6 Minutes or FISM

We've begun.  Yesterday at the gym we started the Fit in 6 Minutes (FISM).  Unfortunately I can't remember what my heart rate went to:  was it 150? 146?  as I was paying more attention to how Richard was going.  He was trying but not hard.  His HR got to 81, not nearly high enough.  Trying to tread that fine line between encouragement and nagging, I did convince him to up his game enough that he actually became a little breathless for the final attempt.  We have to do four sessions of 30 seconds, 3 times a week. 

So.  Today I showed him the charts regarding age appropriate heart rates.  Fifty percent capacity for a 70 year old is 110.  Took his resting HR last night, 62 BPM, which is good (mine 72, above average).  Suggested that someone he doesn't like, who will remain nameless as this is a public space, was chasing him to 'have a chat'.  Brought up the transcript from the Catalyst program and read him appropriate parts.  Why wouldn't the FISM program be helpful for Parkinsons as it is also a disorder of the nervous system?  The segment on the mice who have been genetically engineered to age faster (how cruel is that?  that's a whole 'nother post) and who, with a tailored exercise program (running on a treadmill) didn't age at the same speed as the non-exercising control group, is very telling. 

Richard has never been sporty since I've known him.  He walks with me and is going to the gym, which is so outside his comfort zone and something he would never do under normal circumstances, and I'm very proud of him for that but he needs to be keen enough to experience real discomfort.  For instance, on one of the arm press machines, where the bar is pushed up, he was still on the lightest weight.  In all the months he'd been going it never occurred to him to push the weight up a little and he's been going for a few months longer than I!  So I encouraged him to increase the weight.  Ditto the bike.  Suggested that he could go higher than level 2.  Yesterday he was on level 7.  Yay!

He is also an old hand on the quadricep machine, the treadmill and the cross trainer, machines he avoided because they were too hard.  Therefore I am confident that with practice and getting used to the fact that working out hard for 30 seconds hurts, he will master FISM. 

In April, after four months of FISM, it will be interesting to take our resting heart rates again.   I trust that both will be improved, that we'll have less abdominal fat and more muscle.  And that maybe I'll notice that Parkinsons (and/or Alzheimers) will have less of a grip on Richard.

I am excited by the prospect.  This might be the answer.  No cure for old age and death but if we can feel good, stay active and mentally capable until we keel over, terrific.  Can't ask for more than that (except by the time we die all the animals are or will be looked after and loved and if I go first, that Richard is also looked after and loved).  Happy New Year!