[painterswife]

After a few months of basic physical activity, I returned to working on home improvements. I was adding a new electrical run that would go to a switch and power to two 8 foot led tubes that light the upper loft storage area in the barn loft. The lights are up at about 16 feet, in the highest peak area. Up and down the ladder many times in a few places. More because I was trying to figure out what parts I needed and how to get the wire from one area to that area.

I am hurting. Getting older shows how you need to do certain activities or you pay when you try to pick them up again.

My goal this week will be to climb up and down that ladder several times each day even after that particular project is done. I then plan to incorporate ladder climbing at least 3 times a week into my exercises.

 

[painterswife]

We have sweet well water but it has enough mineral content to spot windows, car finish, etc. if left to dry. And getting the stains/spots off is a pain. Vinegar, whatever, its a bunch of elbow grease. That's OK. I'll take good tasting water any day.

But to this post its more than the aching muscles. I can deal with that. But it is diminished dexterity, balance and the worst: strength. And I'm not yet 70. It sucks to have to be conscious of so many things I used to take for granted. Having said that, it is taking things for granted that has resulted in current health stuff which is structural. But then that affects muscular and that affects this that and the other.

I was without fear in younger years. I always healed up and moved on quickly. But oh, darn, that activity came back to haunt me.

Painterswife, activity is my grease, soreness be damned. Be happy to work hard enough to get sore.

I agree. I just have to remind myself that as I get older I need to not forget to do exercise all the muscles because rebounding takes much longer these days. A bit of use keeps things moving.

My other activity is working in the crawl space. Enough space to walk bent over but not enough to stand up. I end up doing all the work down there because my hubby is 6'5 to my 5'6 and while I have back pain when I do work there, I have far less than my tall husband. I am not yet 70 either but I am close.

 

[painterswife]

Yesterday was the second day. I went out and did some ladder climbing. I came back in and after about half an hour the worst of the pain was over. I put on a small bit of Rumalaya ( Indian pain creme) and this morning I have no aches or pains.

 

[painterswife]

No exercise machine. I don't have the room but I also find that everyday activities ( stair climbing, hay bale lifting, moving 50 pound bags of feed etc) work better for me in the long run. The ladder used some muscles that only get used in a certain way on the ladder or hiking up the trails. Too much snow for the trails so I need to add the ladder during the winter.

 

[painterswife]

Spent the last two days working on the ladder. No aches or muscle pain. Yes, ladder climbing will remain part of my exercise program.

 

[painterswife]

Too much snow for yard work here and that is half the problem. It was down to -6 that last few nights and only just above 10 degrees during the day. I bundled up and worked in the barn. Climbing to the loft and up and down the ladders kept me warm. I would go warm up in the house when I did get too cold.