Segway as Exercise Equipment!

[jillmac]

I haven't been around for a while - various reasons - but I suppose the main one was my daughters marriage (7/11/04)! I'm free again!

I have had my Seg since 3/3/03. Some know that I use it mainly because I cannot walk to far due to MS. I am one of those that 'looks normal' but my disability prevents me from too much exertion and also involves breathing issues.

During the time I have been Segging - contrary to the uninitiated view that the Segway replaces walking or exercise and you will get fat - I have lost 26lbs!

I have not gone on a diet (historically a huge failure at dieting and ultimately always put on more than I lose).

What I have done is been out in the fresh air, taking short trips into town and back and my attitude has changed since taking possession of my Seg. I am more upbeat, love to be outside and love to chat with people along the way. I can get places and walk a bit, and then return to the Seg to get home (or back to my car) - more than I would attempt having to park a car in a parking lot and walk a longish distance before I even reached my point of interest.

I really do put the weight loss down to ATTITUDE change. I would still like to lose a whole lot more and this way of losing a pound here and there and not even thinking about it seems the ideal method........ No diet to go off, not counting calories, carbs or anything else....... just a better mood and along with that not the desire to use food as a comfort zone.

I was delighted to see that the San Diego Zoo is not an off-limits place any more and plan to be down there some time this summer. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who worked so hard in getting that changed.

Another definite benefit to the weight loss (apart from obvious health issues) is that I can now carry more cargo on the Seg - or travel more miles on a battery charge!

Jill

Nothing is inexplicable, merely unexplained..... Dr. Who

[KSagal]

Power to you, Jill !

Karl Ian Sagal

[zoomster]

That's my favorite part about having a seg. I still get excited everytime I go for a glide. It does feel great to be out in the fresh Cali air. My wife has a seg too, but we've found it impossible to both ride with a 10 month old baby girl. This forces us to trade off seg and stroller. The end result is we're both getting a lot more walking done.

So jillmac- You're in Capistrano? You're right around the corner. What's your favorite place to glide around here? We need to get a group glide together down at doheny or the Dana Point Harbor with some of the other local segsters.

Congrats on the 26 lbs. I'm trying to lose 30 so I can consider a P model :)

Hopefully we'll see you around.


Rob

[pam]

Wow, Jill, welcome back and great on the weight thing. I find that just getting out in the fresh air makes me want to move more often, too.
Pam

[BruceWright]

Great to have you back, Jillmac!

Congrats on your daughter's wedding and your "new look"!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[defenbaugh]

Jill, I have a friend with MS I'm talking with about the Segway. I'm going to copy/paste your post to her.

Ron

[QuadSquad]

Hi Jill,

Believe it or not Leonard and I were just talking about you a couple of weeks ago. We were wondering where you were, and hoping you were well.

Congratulations on your daughter's wedding; it happens to be my favorite anniversary date because July 11th is my anniversary!

It makes it very easy to remember the date, just one week after the Fourth of July; a second day for fireworks in July!

[jillmac]

Bruce, Karl and Pan thanks for the good wishes and your congrats on the wedding. Exhausting but GREAT! Enjoyed every minute of the engagement, showers, rehearsal and wedding. We still have visitors staying at the house so not quite out of the woods yet - but getting there :)

Quad - congrats on your wedding anniversary. The couple were getting married on June 6th but a guest's auntie informed them that it was very bad feng shui for them that day so it was moved to 7/11. Hey - you need everything on your side these days.

Ron - As far as using the Seg with MS. It is a wonderful addition to my life. I really do look quite healthy having relapsing remitting MS with attacks and remissions. During the remissions my stamina and leg strength still do not allow me to walk too far and as of an attack late last year I also have breathing and swallowing difficulties that can impact how much exertion I put out. The Segway has opened up a whole lot of things I had basically given up on. Admittedly I haven't taken it a whole lot of places with me when traveling further from home - mainly due to the weight. (Segway;s - not mine). To be able to travel four or five miles without having to drag out the car is nothing short of spectacular!

Zoomster - well of course, one of my favorite places to Seg is Dana Point Harbor! We have lived in San Juan for about 22 years (San Diego for 2 before that and for the first 31 years of my life in the UK). Both San Diego harbor and Dana Point are very close to my heart. Apart from that I often Seg to and from the Mission, where I volunteer as a Gardening Angel on Wednesdays and most Saturdays. I hadn't realized that there was another Seg so close to me! I hope you and your wife get a babysitter from time to time so that you can Seg together.


Well - off to feed the guests - all visiting from Finland. Each rode the Seg yesterday and it was a huge hit. All were very proficient right away which surprised me until I remembered that they are very accomplished skiers. Even the 8 year old had it under control right away and the parents were red keying it within a few minutes (I have a custom key - red speed and black turning - but they wanted the real thing!)

Jill


Nothing is inexplicable, merely unexplained..... Dr. Who