Mall Walking Only for the Old?

I think not!

If you've read any of my old posts you may have learned that I have spine issues.  Herniated discs in my neck & lower back.

I've been treating them with physical therapy & muscle relaxers. I go see a Neurosurgeon in a few weeks.  I don't know if he's going to think I need surgery, but I want to at least see what else can be done.

Ok so when this all started 2.5 years ago I was in great shape.  I was working out several times a week and I was at my lowest adult weight.  The same week the odd symptoms started, I also quit smoking.  Long story short, I've gained back about 28 of the 66 I lost.

I'm not happy about this. BUT I am limited to what I can do.  No high impact... I can't even swim in the ocean if it's rough!  Ok fine.

One of the worst symptoms is the chest pain, and it's random (have had my heart completely checked out, twice, it is fine).  I could be just sitting here working on the computer and bam!

Or recently I was blow drying my hair - totally killed my plans for the day.

Well I can walk - but it's winter.  Ok most days it's fine but some days it's just toooo cold to walk outside so I've picked up mall walking.

I don't go before the mall opens, I go maybe around 10.  What's neat is my mall is a 1 mile lap.  Perfect!  And I'm not the youngest one there!  I went today and there was a guy who was maybe late 20's early 30's - definitely younger than me!  LOL

Mall walking is so easy.  Nice level floor, you don't have to worry about being hit by a car or chased by a random stray dog.... you also don't have to get all decked out in workout clothes.  Since it's a bit slower paced, you just wear whatever you want.  And if you need something, like today I needed headphones for my phone, you can stop & buy it!  OH and it's temperature controlled too!  No sweaty smelly gym smell!

I could join a gym - but that is what everyone does in January, and this is not a new years resolution... it just happens to be January for me.  I don't really like gyms. I like ones that have good classes and a pool.  Well those tend to run like $40+ a month. Not happening. I'm not allowed to do the classes (unless it's yoga) and usually the pools are overheated & over chlorinated....

I'll stick with my mall walking and on the days I can't go to the mall, I bought a bike exerciser stand.  It's one of those things that you take your regular bike & turn it into an stationary bike!  I've been wanting one for a long time now. I'm excited, it should be here tomorrow :)

Of course it helps that NJ is the mall capital of the world!

Do you mall walk or do some other "different" kind of exercise?