Help to get my mom going!!

horseryder77

Hi MFPers! I am in dire need of your help!

So here's the story- I'm 22, active, training for a half marathon and loving being active. My mom is 60, and very sedentary. I'm talking, she spends at least 8 hours infront of the TV every day. My dad is 62, and he goes hiking and biking and walking as much as he possibly can. I've been trying for quite a few years now to get my mom off the couch. I'd constantly ask if she'd like to go for walks around the block, or come to the gym, or just go for a walk to the park. She does it, and she has to chase around my nephew too so she's in alright health, but she'd always give up half way through. Like-she was taking her dogs for walks every day for about 2 weeks, then stopped.

I keep trying to encourage her, but she seems to be pretty stubborn about it. I'm just so worried that she's not going to be with me as long as she can.. because my mom is my best friend, and I'm daddy's little girl. I have a fantastic relationship with my parents and I couldn't be happier.. and I'd like it to continue for as long as possible.

Then-today-I get a phone call from her. She had gone to a psychologist (she's very good about getting help when she knows she needs it) and is now getting help for her eating disorder. She used to have anorexia, and then turned it completely around to binging. She got bariatric surgery about 6 years ago, she looks great, but still doesn't know how to eat and still will constantly eat. So she's getting help mentally and from a nutritionalist.

ANYWAY. So she calls me and says, "are you using your old ipod for anything?" (I have an iphone) I told her no and asked why, and she says, "Well, I was thinking.. Maybe you can put something on the ipod for me.. and I can start walking at night when it gets cooler. And then, I could maybe start power walking.. and from there I don't see why I couldn't start running.."
Oh. My. God.
I can't even tell you how happy I was to hear this. And my dad already agreed to train for a 5k with me one day. So what I want to do is to sign up for a 5k walk maybe in September and do it with both of my parents!!!!!!!!!

ECSTATIC

Only problem-and here's where you guys come in- my ipod is a piece of crap. It's a 1st generation itouch. It works great for music.. but apps? Nothing. It keeps crashing when you open itunes. And we aren't exactly made of money.. and my mom doesn't have a smart phone.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a 60 year old woman to get into shape? Or a program she can follow? Something to complement the ipod? She needs motivation. About 15 years ago she used to go to the gym every day for a few years..and then just stopped.

I'm hoping with therapy coupled with my encouragement and maybe a set day of a walk race, she'll keep up with it.

ANY suggestions would be great!!! Any walking plans, starting off slow type thing. She said after she can power walk for a while she would be happy to try the c25k.. but she needs something that starts even slower.



Sorry for the long post! I'm a very thorough person haha..

I appreciate any help at all!! Thanks!!!:drinker:

Mommyof3loves

Does she want the ipod for the apps or music? Maybe just put some of her type of music on it for now for her to listen to while she is walking and then maybe get her a better one for apps for the holidays or something? I have an old one that doesn't hold apps either but the music is great while working out, completely takes me out of the exercise mode and just enjoy listening to music and I forget what I am doing lol. I plan on asking for a newer ipod touch for Christmas myself :-)

And congrats to your mom for wanting this for herself!

MinnieInMaine

I just googled "train to walk 5k" and this about.com article came up:
http://walking.about.com/od/beginners/a/5ktraining.htm

I trained to walk a 10k last year and for me, it was just about pushing myself to go a little farther every week until I met my goal. Not always easy but I did it!

Good luck to your Mom - hopefully having a goal like that will keep her motivated!

Edited to add: just found a great little link from WW too:
http://www.weightwatchers.com/images/1033/dynamic/articles/2010/03/Walk-Chart-v2 (2).pdf

RissaDean

Yay for your mom!!!

Not a techie answer, but a C25k suggestion....why not have her power walk during the "run" intervals?

Also, you might look at BestBuy or something for an MP3 player that's NOT an ipod. They have all different price ranges, starting at $19.99.

horseryder77

Thanks!!!
She wanted the ipod for the apps.. and it can have apps I just can't find any compatible with the first generation touch..

I'm definitely going to give her this suggestion