Crank It!

Tuesdays are widget days, so today was all about crankin' the wheels! Our session actually went by really fast today! Although, I'm not sure that's a good thing. I really like my workouts with Nicole...like she said earlier in our sessions, time flies when you're having fum!

We started our session with warm-up laps...only rather that going directly across the studio and back, Nicole had me go around the inside of the studio in a giant square. I can't say how many laps I did...because I don't know!...but afterwards, I switched directions. My backwards laps weere done straight across the studio because I don't have eyes in the back of my head! The backwards motion reminds me of rowing. My arms start out straight gripping the widget-rods, and then I pull back against thr resistance, bending my elbows. It helps that the 2012 summer Olympics are on tv right now, because I can imagine myself as a USA-team rower. I could probably take 'em!

After the laps, Nicole set up an obstacle course for me. She placed five blocks in a straight line. The blocks were about the width of a standard doorway apart. I had to weave my way around each block, then weave my way back. I did this a few times forward, and then a few times backwards. Nicole had to be the eyes for me when I went backwards, guiding me around the obstacles. The course reqyired a lt of sharp turns. It was much easier to make the turns with the left arm. I am certainly able to turn with right arm, but it takes longer, especially going forwards.

I think Nicole and I are going to change-up our sessions to Mon., Wed., Fri. starting Aug. 13th. That my workouts will be more evenlt spread out. (Right now we have our sessions on Tues., Wed., Thurs., allowing for a 4 day gap between workout sessions.)

Keep Eyes Open!

It looks like things are clearing up a bit from the Flexeril. However, my caregiver said that since I've been taking the pills, my transfers have become a lot more work for her in the sense that I don't hold myself up as well, I was using the spacticity/stiffness in my legs to help me pop right on up. According to my caregiver, I was practically standing on my own before the Flexeril. Now, with the muscle relaxor, my muscles tend to feel like mush. I guess we'll see how the next week or so goes.

It was a relief to find myself being able to workout, rather than just pooping out! Nicole was able to run through like a normal workout with me. Either the workout was killer, or the Flexeril has finallt kicked in...KEEP EYES OPEN! *Bleh!*

Nicole started me out with our old school arm warm-ups. I did small circles forward with my arms out to the sides. I switched it up and did small circles backwards Then I twisted invisible doorknobs. followed by raising my arms up and lowering them to shoulder level with bent elbows. I also stretched my ar ms out shoulder level and bent both arms in at the elbow. I repeated these warm-ups  until my arms felt like they were on fire!

I had to stop for a water break because I was suffering from a lovely side effect from the med.: cottonmouth! Nicqle laughed at me, but she had to get some water too...karma!

Then it was boxing time. Nicole stood in front of me with the "punching bag." I threw punches with one arm after time other. Then, Nicole had me punch repeatedly with the right arm, then the left.

After punching, we went right back into arm warm-ups, followed by more punching! My poor arms...they're gonna be sore tonight! Or maybe the Flexeril will save them...

Next, Nicole brought out a resistance band. She handed me the handles, one for each hand, and she held onto "rope" As I pulled resistance band back to my chest and then released it out in front of me, Nicole held the "rope" back, applying much more resistance. Then I turned my palsms towards eachother, and pulled the r.band into my chest, similar to a Bicep curl. Keeping the other arm straight out and holding on to the r.band, I did reps of about 25 on each arm.And then, of course, Nicole had me another round of the two-handed pull backs!

Then Nicole gave me a challenge. She knew that raising my legs up would be harder if I sat stright up. So, I did and Nicole noticed improvement in my legs since yesterday! The improvement since yesterday may just be because the side effects of the drug maybe wearing off, but that kind of improvement is all I need right now!

 I did leg presses for both legs individually, raised/straightened the knees out both seperately and simultaneously, and held my feet up with straight legs for 1 minute.

Lastly, Nicole sat in a chair in front of me, intertwined her fingers, and pushed her arms straight out, palms out. I mirrored her up until I went to turn my wrists so my palms faced out. I'm not sure why, but I was not able to turn my own wrists. Yet, when Nicole twisted them for me, my wrists and palms had no complaint. Then, we brought one of our arms across our chest, arm straight, and used the other arm to hold the other arm acrss our chest. We gave our shoulders a gooood stretch that way.

It's great that I'm getting more settled into the new med....I'm glad I'm not feeling so drugged...and it's really great that Nicole can sort of "up" the workouts for our sessions. I think she can feel my urgency to walk! At least, I hope so! :)  

Better Than Yesterday

Well, I'm still drugged, but today was so much more productive than yesterday's session! I'm still sleepy, but I could deffinitely work through it...unlike yesterday when I felt practically immobile! So, today I was more "together," making our session more active.

I started the workout with the TRX. I rolled my chair under it, and leaned myself back. Grasping the handles with both hands, I spent awhile doing "pull-ups." I tried pulling my shoulders and elbows back with each "pill-up."

Nicole had me do chest pesses with 4 lb weights...one in each hand. This exercise had me pushing my arms up in a raised position, arms straightened. Then I lowered my arms down, elbows bending. Nicole also hed me do some chest flies, also with 4 lbs in each hand. For these, I   straightened my arm and held them out to the sides. I would then, bring my arms up in front of me, allowwibg the weights to meet and then slowly lowering my arms back out to the sides.

Doing the chest-presses and chest-flies deffinitely made the side effects of the drug stand out! My grip on the weight in the right hand kept releasing and the muscle just so much heavier! So, although it was difficut, I was happy and just didn't give a sh*t!

Next, Nicole walked around my chair to my feet, and then it was time for leg exercises. Nicole grabbed my right foot and we bent my knee up, and I pushed my leg straight. Nicole pushes back on my leg, making pushing my leg straight a battle! We did a number of the leg-presses with the right leg, then I switched legs. After my left leg got a workout, Nicole had me raise both legs simultaneously. My right leg could easily and quickly raise up, while my right leg took a lot more effort and it took a lot longer for my right leg to catch up to the left. I used a lot of strength and concentration to raise both legs at the same/similar levels.

Thoughout our session, I switched back to TRX "pull-ups" and chest-presses/pulls. At the end of the session, Nicole had me do both chest-presses and -flies without any weights. She pressed on my arms to provide tension. I squeezed my arms together while Nicole pressed out. And I pushed my arms out while she pressed inward on my arms.

As the session ended, both Nicole and I were feeling funny cuz we had both taken Flexerol---her for stiff neck, and me for my leg spaticity! It's very convenient that Nicole is on Flexerol too because she knows first-hand how the med effects me!

Being Drugged

Today I was way drugged...but happy! Yesterday, I had a doctor appointment with my Neurologist, the man who watched my case from the beginning. He was the original doctor I saw when I was brought into the ER. I had an appt. with him yesterday and he perscribed me an additional muscle relaxor in efforts to help the spacticity in my legs. I'm currently on Baclophen for my stiffness in my legs, so my Neurologist gave me an additional muscle relaxor, Flexerol. And today was my first day taking the new med. I took it as instructed, 2 pills with breakfast. It took a little bit for the pillas to take full effect, but once I got into the studio, those pills deffinitely kicked in!

 I tried pumping my widget, and I was finding that pushing the widget-rods was sooo hard and I was moving sooo slow! And my body felt tweeked to the left in the chair and my neck was tweeked to the right. I was all messed up!  I'm pretty sure it was thanks to the muscle relaxor,leaving my muscles like mush!

In addition to feeling like mush, the Flexerol's side effects of sleepiness and don't-give-a-sh*t-ness were quickly taking their toll! Nicole noticed my drugged movements and  smiled, "Let's just take it easy today." I was deffinitely grateful when Nicole said that!

It's funny because Nicole knows the feeling Flexerol from when she hurt her neck. She had taken it right before going to bed. So, she could only imagine working out on the drug AND having it simultaneously with another muscle relaxor! Plus, this was my first day taking the pills.

So, Nicole and I just parked it in the middle of the studio, and did  Bicep curls! We chatted and I did Bicep curls with one arm, then the other, then switched  again.

One would deffinitely say that we had an easy workout session...heck, I'd say it was kind of a joke! But my body was under the influence of drugs today, so I  take no responsibility! I just hope my body  gets used to it being in my system quickly...I can see why people get addicted to this though...you just don't give a hoot about things!

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Today was another great day with the widget! I'm really starting to get the hang of it...switching directions on the widget-rods and all. I've pretty much got it down to where I don't drop the rods or fall too far forward to pick them up! And I can now apply the brakes and take them off by myself Woot-Woot!!!

So, to start out the workout I went back-and-forth across the studio floor. I went both forwards and backwards. Nicole decided to time me to see if I've improved any from the previous timing. Last time, I clocked in going forwards and backwards:  about 45-40 seconds (each direction). Today, I had 35 seconds on the forward lap, and 25 seconds going backwards. A round of applause for my improvement!

Nicole then got the brilliant idea to have me stand-up with the TRX. I don't know why, but I had a twinge of fear of standing. I think my fear came from the fear of failure. I am constantly too critical of myself, so knowing that I have failed in the past when attempting to stand, makes me harbor that fear now. And having that fear of poor results from the past, hinders me from moving forward and getting better...WOW. Can I just say that I had an Aha-Moment!...Anyhoo, I gripped the handles hanging eye-level of the TRX, Nicole crouched down at my feet to stablize my legs, and on Nicole's count of 3, I pulled myself up. The first try was tricky, but the second time around, I better understood what muscles to use and when, and I was much more successful. Although I wasn't able to stand straght up, my attempts were smoother and better than what I had imagined in my head! I attempted standing 3 times, then my arm muscles couldn't lift my body weight anymore! So, we settled me back into my chair for more widget-work!

This time around, Nicole had me zig-zag across the studio. I did this both forwards and backwards, a few times each.

As our session came to a close, Nicole had one more surprise for me...Bicep curls! I did reps of about 45 on the left arm and 30 on the right (my right wrist is weaker).

With that, our session ended and I widget-ed myself out the door!

Chugging Along

I never thought that my legs could feel so tired from doing such simple stuff. I mean, the exercises I'm doing with my legs are so minor for "everyday people." It is not a surprise to me that doing the work I'm doing is challenging for me under the circumstances I'm in, BUT I never imagined myself getting a workout from lifting my leg straight, or trying to raise my knee straight up, or even simply turning my ankles out and back in. Ya just gotta laugh...I mean, there's not much else you can do! I guess, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

So, my workout today left the muscles in my calves super wiped-out! In addition, my upper arms are painfully sore! It's alright...I can handle it! Nicole loved that when I rolled over in bed this morning, my biceps freaking hurt! "You really worked your arms with that widget yesterday!" And get this: Nicole wants me to come in the widget tomorrow...Should be fun!

I started out today with the TRX. I rolled my chair underneath the TRX, and leaned my chair back...actually, Nicole figured out how to work the buttons on my power-wheelchair and would totally be disappointed if I didn't say that she leaned the chair back ;)...Once I was in position, I did a bunch of pull-ups.

After the pull-ups with the TRX, I let go of the handles and Nicole stood down by my feet and I did leg exercises. First, we worked with my right leg. I tried pushing my leg straight out, then pulling/bending my knee up. We did the same thing with my left leg. Also, I tried moving/turning my ankles out (first position in ballet), then pulling my toes inward, towards eachother. And I tried holding my knee(s) up towards my chest, then letting go and kicking my leg out straight, holding my leg up/out straight. Additionally, I worked on raising my knee(s) up from a 90 degree angle...I was sittingstraight up in my chair.

After all that, I took a "break" and went back to the TRX pull-ups.

Then, we went back to working on my legs. Nicole brought out that circle/ring thingy that has grips on either side of the circle. She placed it between my legs and I tried squeezing my legs closed. Similar motion to a thigh-master.

We ended the session by having me do a final round of pull-ups with the TRX. I didpull-ups until I got sick...not really, I just felt nautious! I stopped for a couple minutes to let my stomach settle down, then I continued with the pull-ups. Once I realized my tummy wasn't having it, Nicole had me stop and we called it a day.              

 

Tuesdays are Widget Days

Tuesdays are always like a wake-up call to my muscles because they "sleep" on Fri-Mon. It's funny, on Fridays and Saturdays I'm grateful for the time of rest, but by Sunday, I'm bored of it. I miss Nicole and the crazy activities/exercises she has me do! But, when I'm back in the gym on Tuesday, my muscles slowly wake-up, and I always seem to feel good, refreshed after my workouts.

Nicole and I have officially decided to make Tuesdays the Widget Day. So, seeing as how today is Tuesday, I came to the studio in my manual widget wheelchair. I started out doing 10 minutes of pumping the widget forwards back-and-forth across the studio floor. At each end of the studio, I turned my chair around only using my right arm to pump. Then, I spent 10 minutes pulling the widget-arms backwards back-and-forth across the studio. Again, I only used my right arm for turning around.

After the warm-up session, Nicole set up an obstacle course for me. This first obstacle coure was modeled after barrel racing...ya know, like at a rodeo! She set up 4 blocks for me to pump my widget around, and a "finish line" block. The course was set up so that on pumping the widget around the blocks, I used my right arm on one, then when I reached the next, I would use my left arm.

Then, Nicole switched it up and set up a different obstacle course. This course was designed to make me work on switching direction, forwards and backwards. I went forward to one block, switched the widget to reverse, and backed up to the start again. Then I went forward to another block, switched the widget to reverse, and once again backed up to the start again. Then I pumped the widget forward, past the first two blocks, and made a hard right towards the third block. I pumped the widget to that block, around it, and went diagonally forward to the next block. Once I reached that block, I moved around it, then pumped straigh back to the starting-line.

I went through that obstacle course twice. The first time, I struggled with pushing myself back after falling too far forward when switching the widget from forward to reverse. The second time I did the course, I was able to keep my upper-body back in the chair, not falling forward at all. I deffinitely got a good ab workout, seeing as how my stomach muscles are feeling the after-affect right now as I type!

And as Nicole and I said our goodbyes, she decided to have me pump the widget out of the studio, to the parking lot. The exit has a big ol' threshhold that I deffinitely could not wheel myself over a few weeks ago. But with one big pump, I was easily able to pump my wheels over and out the door! 

REWIND: Tuesday, July 10th

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:36 PM

14 years ago today, my twin brother and sister, Matthew and Emily, were born! HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

Today Nicole and I both worked-out...for real! We took turns doing Bicep curls with the 4 lb weights...Every time I pumped my widget down-and-back across the floor, Nicole did Bicep curls to fill the gap until I got back. Once my widget reached the "finish line." Nicole handed the weights over to me!

But to start out, I simply pumped the widget across the studio a number of times to warm-up my muscles. I went forwards, turned around, and went back the way. I also turned my chair backwards, and warmed-up my arms and abs pumping the chair in reverse. I would say that I did about 6-8 warm-up laps...(for me, I think of a single lap as going one way across the floor).

Next, Nicole had me start the Bicep curls. I stated out with my right hand, the weaker of the two sides. My original goal was 20 Bicep curls, but every time I dropped the weight down too fast, Nicole added 10 more! So, because of my loss of control on 3 (It was really more like 6, but Nicole was nice to me and let some slide!), I ended up doing 50 Bicep curls on the right arm!

The left hand has a much tighter grip and my left arm is remarkably stronger. I had no problem controlling the speed of the weight as it dropped down. So, the first goal was set at about 20, and I was able to stick to that number!

After my first set of Bicep curls on each arm was finished, I pumped the widget across the studio and back. I have to admit, I rather enjoyed watching and listening to Nicole struggle with her Bicep curls as I did my laps!

"Hurry up! It burns!" Nicole belted as I neared the finish line.

I was caught laughing and not pumping more than once! I was trying to finish quickly, I swear! ;)

We pretty much spent the time we had on flip-flopping between Bicep curls and laps in the widget. We did the same thing with the Bicep curl goals each time. We did 3 sets on each arm (more curls on the right arm than the left), and 6 laps in the widget. At the end of the session, my arms were hot, mushy, noodle-like limbs just hanging from my shoulders! I actually forced myself to type up my blog entry earlier than usual, because I have a 4-5pm workout class at Dominican Rehab, and I have a feeling I'm going to feel the lovely after-effects later tonight! Man, I've discovered so many muscles that I didn't even know I had throughout this journey...well, I gotta say, I'm thankful I feel them!

It's A Two-fer!

Get excited readers...y'all get a Two-For-One in today's blog! Yesterday, Wednesday, I was way too tired and sore to type-up what went down at my session, so tonight ya get a Two-fer!

So, yesterday's workout was a killer! I did the TRX...which always makes me feel like the Hulk cuz I'm pulling up my whole body-weight! I also spent a fat chunk of time on my legs. Nicole held my feet and pushed in as I pushed straight-out. She also stood at my feet and held her hand out as sort of a "target/goal" for me to kick...REPEATEDLY! Lastly, I did some work with this circular ring (about the size of a basketball, maybe slightly bigger) that had two pads/grips on opposite sides of the ring, and my goal was to hold it out with straight arms and squeeze it. I gave it my all for every exercise, got super sweaty to prove it, and went home with burning calves & thighs and sore biceps...raising my arms up hurt!

All in all, it was an awesome workout day...oh! And I even buckled my own seatbelt on the wheelchair for the first time with ease & speed! Who would have thought, I'd be stoked that I buckled my own seatbelt? Makes ya think.

And today was another doozy. I started out with arm warm-ups. Little circles, forwards and backwards. Twisting invisible doorknobs. Raising arms up and down. Punches with alternating arms.Once I was warmed up, we did the same type of leg presses and kicks as yesterday. Then we tried working on my hamstring...having me kick/stomp downward vs. the usual up and out motion. Nicole held the handle-ends of a resistance band, while I had my feet together in the strap part of the resistance band. I struggled to push my bent legs down. It deffinitely was a struggle, but I got the hang of it and did end up feeling my muscles start to engage  in the pushing downward motion. Nicole and I agreed that those muscles need to be worked!

I also did some hardcore arm pull downs with the resistance band. Nicole tied the r.band to a hook in the ceiling, and I did a number with that! First, I held one handle with both hands, and with my elbows bent in front of my stomach, I pulled down. I also did a pull-across with each arm individually...straight arm in a half-T position, then pulling the band forward and across my body. In addition, I also pulled-down from above my head (with both handles). And lastly, I had my elbows bent 90 degrees at shoulder-level, and pressed in and opened out.

Nicole also had me do push-up and pull-downs with her holding and applying pressure to the 5ft long wooden pole. I also did some push/pull-forwards...(pushing out from my chest/pulling in towards my chest.

We wrapped up the session with a few sets of Bicep curls. Always oh-so-fun...syke! My arms deffinitely felt the burn today!