It's funny. Nicole and I are just in total denial that today was our last session. Throughout the entire hour Nicole said "No tears," and I tried hard to not bring up the subject of our final minutes in the studio...if the subject was acknoweledged, I was sure to break down in tears. Although today was our last session, Nicole wouldn't allow it to be our "goodbye session." She will come over to mi casa to help make sure I have the right set-up to continue on my own.
And I will. Nicole has gotten me sooo far and has truly made my ultimate goal of walking, something that I know I can realistically strive for...And hopefully, it's not too far off! It's great because I can do things now where I can identify different muscle groups that need to get stronger, and I have the knoweledge to know which exercises I need to do in order to work those muscles. For example, yesterday I attempted to stand-up from a loung-style chair with my back brace and a walker. I discovered that I was putting too much weight through my arms and into my wrists. I need to put more of my weight into my legs, and also work on strengthening my triceps to get a better push-off from my arms. I figure that if I can do some resistance band work, I'll gain some more tricep strenength.
So, today we started out doing arm warm-ups. This time Nicole switched it up a bit, by having me raise my arms above my head and dropping down/raising up one arm at a time to shoulder-level, holding both arms out to the side and raising them up & down, teeter-tottering my arms, bending my arms in at the elbows and doing the chicken-dance, and more! I have to say, my arms got sore as hell, but Nicole has the type of personality where you just wanna keep doing it cuz she's laughing along with you.
Our arm warm-ups were followed by a bazillion arm raises with the wooden pole. At one point she had me do teeter-totter movement with the pole. It was challenging keeping my elbows straight and my arms raised. I would say that it was more of a challenge for me to keep the left elbow straight...my right arm stayed straight the whole time.
With both of my armrests back, I tried a new exercise that targeted my triceps and upper back muscles. I leaned forward so my hands were at my feet, and I pulled my elbows back, imagining my shoulder blades touching together.Iused the wooden pole in my hands to keep my arms and upper back equal on both sides. Eventually, I'm going to use weights rather than a pole.
After a quick water break, Nicole had me practice leaning forward, no armrests, and handing her my waterbottle. I did about 5 with the left hand, then I switched over to the right. My wrist is weaker and my hand can't grip as wide on the right hand, so we switched the waterbottle for smaller, lighter roll of tape.
I also practiced leaning all the way forwards, scooching my left leg out while I was leaning down, and sitting myself back up. Nicole also had me squeeze a foam block between my knees while I leaned forwards and sat back up.Nicole reallywanted me to get through my head that I could do this exercise all by myself. That I wouldn't fall over because I could use my ab muscles and arm muscles to catch me. Apparently, Nicole says, it's all in my head. I have the muscles now to stop myself from falling off my chair. That's aa really good feeling to have when you've previously lost all faith in your body!
Our final exercise involved the 4 lb weights. The armrests stayed back, allowing for me to place my arms at my sides. I held a weight in each hand, and with my arms straight down at my sides, I tipped/leaned over to one side, then the other. Back and forth until our time was up.
I'm not sure what this mean, as far as my 3-day-per-week-blog goes. I definitely plan to continue working out at home (got my widget, my TRX, my resistance bands, my weights, my weekly "standing date" with my buddy Rob, and I'm currently up to 300 crunches per night) I feel as though I'm on a roll, and I can't stop now! I'm a lil nervous about keeping my progress going without Nicole, but in reality, I'm kinda excited for this next chapter! It's all on me. And I have thisthing about letting people down, including myself. It's a big fear of mine. So, I got this!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Straight Hips Needed
OK. This weather is CRAZY! I just wrote in the blog how it was reminding me it was still winter with the grey skies and rain, but now it's like summer again! Well, I am defintely not complaining!
Today we started our session with arm warm-ups. Man, I highly dislike doing arm warm-ups. First, we did forward circles, then backwards circles, made C's with my arms, twisted invisible doorknobs. bent my elbows up and straitened my arms back out, and held both arms out to the sides before dropping my arms with releif.
Then, Nicole handed me the 4 lb weights, one for each hand. I started with the weights down in my lap, then I brought up one weight at a time, bending my elbows, bringing the weights to my chest. Nicole had me do a bunch of these to wear out my arms so that I wouldn't be dependant on them for what was to come!
Next, Nicole set up one of the large boxes under the TRX. She used her own height as a referance, and sat down on the box, measuring the perfect height for the TRX handles to hang. I motored on over to "the set up," and Nicole transfered me over to box where I sat down. With the help of Nicole, I reached up and grabbed the TRX handles.
My first task was to "wipe that terrorfied look off my face." I can't help it. Anytime my body is put into "uncomfortable" situations where I just don't have that faith in my body to hold me up, I seem to automatically get that worried look on my face. Nicole did a nice job reassuring me, telling me "you got this," "I'm not going to let you fall," and "you're doing great."
Nicole had me lean back to the piont where my arms were straight holding the TRX. I pulled myself back up to sitting using my arms and core. I did this a few...maybe 5...times.
Nicole squatted at my feet and helped spread apart my feet/legs to give me a sturdier, more stable base. I worked on balancng my upper body using the TRX for support. Then, I released to TRX handles, and used Nicole's hands to balance me. To help my balance even more, Nicole had me open my arms out to the side..."like trapeze walkers do," Nicole said. I was able to find my balance and engage the heck out of my core, and I sat there unassisted for approx. 10 seconds.
I also tried to get enough balance to sit using only my left hand up on the TRX handle. My left hip kept coming up, which caused me to lean over and put all my weight in the right hip. This is of course, NOT what I wanted to happen, but it definitely makes me want to wear my back brace more to level out my hip bones!
Nicole had me stand after sitting on the box. When I was standing with both legs firmly straight and planted in position, my right knee started really hurting. Around my kneecap started "burning" and I could handle the pain for about a minute, but the "burning" turned into sharp pain and I had to sit! Once I was back in my wheelchair, Nicole and I discussed it, and figured that since I never get that pain when standing with my back brace, and since I have complained of my right knee hurting during my standing attempts before, it seems that my right leg is carrying/holding-up too much of my body weight. So, moral of the story is...I need to constantly wear my back brace! I think my friend Rob is coming over to help me stand-up tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get some better "standing results!"
So next, Nicole wanted to have me do this new exercise that she would like me to do at home. She took a resistance band and wrapped it around my left hand. She stood a few feet away holding the other end of the band, and I swung my arm back, pulling the resistance band. I did the left side, then the right arm, followed by the left again, and finally the right side. ..15 each set? This exercise targets the triceps...a muscle that I really need to work on!
Another exercise I can do at home, is the one Nicole had me do next. I wrapped the resistance band around each hand, about 6 inches apart out in front of me. Then I seperated my arms/hands as far as I could get them, and brought them back together. This one targets the triceps and shoulder muscles.
Last, but not least, I buckled my seatbelt.....pretty flippin' fast and easily!
Monday is my final day with Nicole. Depressing.
Today we started our session with arm warm-ups. Man, I highly dislike doing arm warm-ups. First, we did forward circles, then backwards circles, made C's with my arms, twisted invisible doorknobs. bent my elbows up and straitened my arms back out, and held both arms out to the sides before dropping my arms with releif.
Then, Nicole handed me the 4 lb weights, one for each hand. I started with the weights down in my lap, then I brought up one weight at a time, bending my elbows, bringing the weights to my chest. Nicole had me do a bunch of these to wear out my arms so that I wouldn't be dependant on them for what was to come!
Next, Nicole set up one of the large boxes under the TRX. She used her own height as a referance, and sat down on the box, measuring the perfect height for the TRX handles to hang. I motored on over to "the set up," and Nicole transfered me over to box where I sat down. With the help of Nicole, I reached up and grabbed the TRX handles.
My first task was to "wipe that terrorfied look off my face." I can't help it. Anytime my body is put into "uncomfortable" situations where I just don't have that faith in my body to hold me up, I seem to automatically get that worried look on my face. Nicole did a nice job reassuring me, telling me "you got this," "I'm not going to let you fall," and "you're doing great."
Nicole had me lean back to the piont where my arms were straight holding the TRX. I pulled myself back up to sitting using my arms and core. I did this a few...maybe 5...times.
Nicole squatted at my feet and helped spread apart my feet/legs to give me a sturdier, more stable base. I worked on balancng my upper body using the TRX for support. Then, I released to TRX handles, and used Nicole's hands to balance me. To help my balance even more, Nicole had me open my arms out to the side..."like trapeze walkers do," Nicole said. I was able to find my balance and engage the heck out of my core, and I sat there unassisted for approx. 10 seconds.
I also tried to get enough balance to sit using only my left hand up on the TRX handle. My left hip kept coming up, which caused me to lean over and put all my weight in the right hip. This is of course, NOT what I wanted to happen, but it definitely makes me want to wear my back brace more to level out my hip bones!
Nicole had me stand after sitting on the box. When I was standing with both legs firmly straight and planted in position, my right knee started really hurting. Around my kneecap started "burning" and I could handle the pain for about a minute, but the "burning" turned into sharp pain and I had to sit! Once I was back in my wheelchair, Nicole and I discussed it, and figured that since I never get that pain when standing with my back brace, and since I have complained of my right knee hurting during my standing attempts before, it seems that my right leg is carrying/holding-up too much of my body weight. So, moral of the story is...I need to constantly wear my back brace! I think my friend Rob is coming over to help me stand-up tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get some better "standing results!"
So next, Nicole wanted to have me do this new exercise that she would like me to do at home. She took a resistance band and wrapped it around my left hand. She stood a few feet away holding the other end of the band, and I swung my arm back, pulling the resistance band. I did the left side, then the right arm, followed by the left again, and finally the right side. ..15 each set? This exercise targets the triceps...a muscle that I really need to work on!
Another exercise I can do at home, is the one Nicole had me do next. I wrapped the resistance band around each hand, about 6 inches apart out in front of me. Then I seperated my arms/hands as far as I could get them, and brought them back together. This one targets the triceps and shoulder muscles.
Last, but not least, I buckled my seatbelt.....pretty flippin' fast and easily!
Monday is my final day with Nicole. Depressing.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
2 More Studio Days...
Quite unexepectedly, I was reminded that it is indeed, still January, and T-shirts still need to be covered by hooded sweatshirts to protect you from the rain! I guess that I was just starting to get used to the super nice weather, and all of a sudden, back to reality.
I went to the studio this morning in the rain...it caught me off gaurd! However, with my cozy sweatshirt and socks on my feet, I think I was prepared to weather the storm!
I brought my widget in today. I started out by going backwards in giant circles around the studio. I need to work on keeping my core tight when I'm pulling the widget-arms backwards. I've got the forwards motion down, but it's pulling backwards that causes me to fall forwards, or off to the side, at times. So, although my core has undoubtedly gotten stronger, it still needs a lil work!
When I finished with the giant backwards circles, Nicole had me do tiny forwards circle with only my right hand pumping the widget-arm. I rotated around about 3 times, then I did tiny backwards circles with only my left hand/arm. Because me left arm is stronger than my right, Nicole likes to challenge me more on the left side!
But there was nothing more challenging about one side or the other when Nicole had me raise both feet/legs off of the footrests, and had me do tiny circles while holding my legs up! It was super hard no matter which direction I was going!
After that, I took a water break before we did the killer arm exercises! I really don't think "killer" adaquately describes the brutality of the workout! ;) We did arm circles forwards, arm circles backwards, twisted the invisible doorknobs, drew C's with our arms, held our arms out to the sides at shoulder-level and bent/straightened our elbows, and punched our arms forward...right, left, right, left. When we finally finish, and I can drop my arms down, I'm always sooo glad to be done!
Then, Nicole got out the resistance band. I firmly grabbed ahold of the band, and with Nicole standing to my left side, I twisted my upper-body to the right, pulling the r.band with straight arms. I did 20 on each side, and did "full-on" sit-ups in between my second round of 20 pulls on each side. And I finished with a final round of "full-on" sit-ups.
I had taken my seatbelt off during my sit-ups, and once I was finished, Nicole had me buckle myself back up. This appears to be a simple task. HOWEVER, it's quite tricky when the seatbelt on my power-wheelchair is designed opposite the widget! So, I fumbled around with it for a few minutes, but in the end, I figured out how to make my hands cooperate and I successfully buckled my seatbelt!
Next, Nicole had me work on applying my wheelchair brakes, and disengaging them...REPETATIVELY. I know it sounds rather simplistic, but it's good practice for myy brain to get the right signals down to my hands.
And that was my very last Wednesday at the studio. Sad. But we still got Friday and Monday!
I went to the studio this morning in the rain...it caught me off gaurd! However, with my cozy sweatshirt and socks on my feet, I think I was prepared to weather the storm!
I brought my widget in today. I started out by going backwards in giant circles around the studio. I need to work on keeping my core tight when I'm pulling the widget-arms backwards. I've got the forwards motion down, but it's pulling backwards that causes me to fall forwards, or off to the side, at times. So, although my core has undoubtedly gotten stronger, it still needs a lil work!
When I finished with the giant backwards circles, Nicole had me do tiny forwards circle with only my right hand pumping the widget-arm. I rotated around about 3 times, then I did tiny backwards circles with only my left hand/arm. Because me left arm is stronger than my right, Nicole likes to challenge me more on the left side!
But there was nothing more challenging about one side or the other when Nicole had me raise both feet/legs off of the footrests, and had me do tiny circles while holding my legs up! It was super hard no matter which direction I was going!
After that, I took a water break before we did the killer arm exercises! I really don't think "killer" adaquately describes the brutality of the workout! ;) We did arm circles forwards, arm circles backwards, twisted the invisible doorknobs, drew C's with our arms, held our arms out to the sides at shoulder-level and bent/straightened our elbows, and punched our arms forward...right, left, right, left. When we finally finish, and I can drop my arms down, I'm always sooo glad to be done!
Then, Nicole got out the resistance band. I firmly grabbed ahold of the band, and with Nicole standing to my left side, I twisted my upper-body to the right, pulling the r.band with straight arms. I did 20 on each side, and did "full-on" sit-ups in between my second round of 20 pulls on each side. And I finished with a final round of "full-on" sit-ups.
I had taken my seatbelt off during my sit-ups, and once I was finished, Nicole had me buckle myself back up. This appears to be a simple task. HOWEVER, it's quite tricky when the seatbelt on my power-wheelchair is designed opposite the widget! So, I fumbled around with it for a few minutes, but in the end, I figured out how to make my hands cooperate and I successfully buckled my seatbelt!
Next, Nicole had me work on applying my wheelchair brakes, and disengaging them...REPETATIVELY. I know it sounds rather simplistic, but it's good practice for myy brain to get the right signals down to my hands.
And that was my very last Wednesday at the studio. Sad. But we still got Friday and Monday!
Monday, January 21, 2013
"I Don't Stop When I'm Tired, I Stop When I'm Done"
Unfortunately, February is coming fast, and so my days of training with Nicole are dwindling. But I totally have this sense of denial that's keeping Nicole and I from talking or acknoweledging her departure. So, today we just exercised as if everything was completely normal...talking about funny stuff that happened over the weekend, and laughing at fart-stories.
.
I started out with the TRX, lifting my upper body and butt out of my chair (which is leaned back, by the way) I lifted myself up for awhile...I can't remember how many "pull-ups" I did, but my arms were deffinitely tired at quitting time!
Then, Nicole had me move to the legs. She sat down at my feet, and I brought up one leg at a time, simulating walking. One leg up, the other leg down. Kinda like stepping forwards, only "airwalking." My legs move too slowly for a quick walking motion, but what's important is that I was re-teaching my legs the walking motion.
After that, Nicole had me raise up my legs so they were straight out in front of me, and we worked on pointing and flexing my feet. At first, Nicole had to point and flex my feet for me, to show my muscles how to move that way, and what it was that I was asking/expecting them to do. Then it was my turn. It turned out that I could point better with my right foot, and flex more with my left.
Then, still tilted back, Nicole had me try to push my leg(s) out straight in her chest, while she used her arms/hands for resistance. First, we did the right leg, so Nicole bent my knee up to my chest. I grunted and groaned while I pushed my leg straight...I sounded like I was giving birth! I repeated this 5 times on each leg. Each attempt to straighten my leg felt long, tiring, and impossible. But, I came across this quote yesterday that said, "I Don't Stop When I'm Tired, I Stop When I'm Done," and next to the quote there was thise picture of a woman working out. So, I just kept playing that quote in my head every time I just wanted to give up.
Lastly, Nicole had me sit my chair up, and raise my legs straight out in front of me. While I worked on lifting my legs, she used her hands to apply a ton of resistance. It was super hard, yet rewarding because I was still able to lift up my legs!
After my morning workout with Nicole, my firefighter friend, Rob, came over. He has been coming over to help me stand up in the garage with the TRX' that Nicole gave me. Today, I wore my back brace while I stood, wich straightens out my spine and helps my hips to sit straighter.
And today was a big day for me...I stood with a walker today! I can't step forward yet. but Rob and I are deffinitely thinnking that is coming! I need to build up my leg strength first. And by doing more of what we did today (me standing with the walker, in my back brace, with Rob standing close by if I fall), taking steps will be in the not too distant future!
.
I started out with the TRX, lifting my upper body and butt out of my chair (which is leaned back, by the way) I lifted myself up for awhile...I can't remember how many "pull-ups" I did, but my arms were deffinitely tired at quitting time!
Then, Nicole had me move to the legs. She sat down at my feet, and I brought up one leg at a time, simulating walking. One leg up, the other leg down. Kinda like stepping forwards, only "airwalking." My legs move too slowly for a quick walking motion, but what's important is that I was re-teaching my legs the walking motion.
After that, Nicole had me raise up my legs so they were straight out in front of me, and we worked on pointing and flexing my feet. At first, Nicole had to point and flex my feet for me, to show my muscles how to move that way, and what it was that I was asking/expecting them to do. Then it was my turn. It turned out that I could point better with my right foot, and flex more with my left.
Then, still tilted back, Nicole had me try to push my leg(s) out straight in her chest, while she used her arms/hands for resistance. First, we did the right leg, so Nicole bent my knee up to my chest. I grunted and groaned while I pushed my leg straight...I sounded like I was giving birth! I repeated this 5 times on each leg. Each attempt to straighten my leg felt long, tiring, and impossible. But, I came across this quote yesterday that said, "I Don't Stop When I'm Tired, I Stop When I'm Done," and next to the quote there was thise picture of a woman working out. So, I just kept playing that quote in my head every time I just wanted to give up.
Lastly, Nicole had me sit my chair up, and raise my legs straight out in front of me. While I worked on lifting my legs, she used her hands to apply a ton of resistance. It was super hard, yet rewarding because I was still able to lift up my legs!
After my morning workout with Nicole, my firefighter friend, Rob, came over. He has been coming over to help me stand up in the garage with the TRX' that Nicole gave me. Today, I wore my back brace while I stood, wich straightens out my spine and helps my hips to sit straighter.
And today was a big day for me...I stood with a walker today! I can't step forward yet. but Rob and I are deffinitely thinnking that is coming! I need to build up my leg strength first. And by doing more of what we did today (me standing with the walker, in my back brace, with Rob standing close by if I fall), taking steps will be in the not too distant future!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Just A Quick Update...
So,
My computer broke down the day of my last blog entry! So I was without my laptop up until the present! Now, Nicole needed to cancel todays session so that she could study for a real estate exam that she has tomorrow. This of course, was a major disappointment since my days with Nicole are numbered, but it is totally understandable because due to her circumstances, she HAS to pass this exam!
Trying to take the bull by the horns, I did some at-home working out! I took my widget up and down the street outside the house, I did some full-on sit ups where I leaned all the way forwards to touch my toes and the pressed back up in the chair, and I did 50 resistance-band-pulls with each arm. Oh! And i'm up to 200 crunches per night.
I tried the "full-on" sit ups in the widget and then in my power-wheelchair. I had the armrests moved back, and leaned forward to touch my toes. When I went to sit back up, I really noticed how much looser my abdominal muscles are on my left side. Hopefully, Nicole will have some tips for me so that I can tighten-up those muscles. If any of you know how to tighten stretched-out muscles, let me know! (I know it's super confusing to leave a message at the end of this blog...wish I could help, but I'm just as clueless! Message me on facebook!)
Thank y'all for keeping up with me through the blog...Sorry for the recent lack of entries!
My computer broke down the day of my last blog entry! So I was without my laptop up until the present! Now, Nicole needed to cancel todays session so that she could study for a real estate exam that she has tomorrow. This of course, was a major disappointment since my days with Nicole are numbered, but it is totally understandable because due to her circumstances, she HAS to pass this exam!
Trying to take the bull by the horns, I did some at-home working out! I took my widget up and down the street outside the house, I did some full-on sit ups where I leaned all the way forwards to touch my toes and the pressed back up in the chair, and I did 50 resistance-band-pulls with each arm. Oh! And i'm up to 200 crunches per night.
I tried the "full-on" sit ups in the widget and then in my power-wheelchair. I had the armrests moved back, and leaned forward to touch my toes. When I went to sit back up, I really noticed how much looser my abdominal muscles are on my left side. Hopefully, Nicole will have some tips for me so that I can tighten-up those muscles. If any of you know how to tighten stretched-out muscles, let me know! (I know it's super confusing to leave a message at the end of this blog...wish I could help, but I'm just as clueless! Message me on facebook!)
Thank y'all for keeping up with me through the blog...Sorry for the recent lack of entries!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Workin' the Core!
Today was a make-up session. Nicole was sick with the flu on Monday, so we met today (Thursday) in order to make-up for the lost day.
I brought my widget wheelchair today. Nicole really wanted to focus on my abs today, and doing workout with the widget handle-bars and sitting in the smaller, more upright chair, makes my abdominal muscles work. I started the session by just going back and fowarth across the studio floor. I pumped the widget arms forwards for a number of laps, then I switched directions and pumped the widget arms backwards.
After I got my body warmed-up, Nicole had me park my wheelchair and let go of the handle-bars. I did, and she pulled up a chair in front ocole demonstrated leaning down and touching her toes. Thenf me. She told me that she wanted to try something new today. Nicole demonstrated leaning down and touching her toes, then using her abs and I back (no arms) to sit back up. Then, it was my turn. I was able to muster up the strength to slowly lower myself, and bring myself back up to the sitting position. But it was ALOT of work! I continued to do them without arms for a very short while...maybe 1 or 2 more times!
Then, we tried it a little differently. I tried lowering myself to touch my toes, then bending and crossing my arms. We thought that maybe my hands were accidently getting stuck down by my feet But it was still super hard for me.
Nicole helped figure it out when she suggested I place my arms on my knees to help push me back. So, I would drop down, touch my toes, bend and cross my arms, and use my abs to sit up high enough to place my arms/hands on my knees where I would push myself back the rest of the way I did until the cows came home!
Nicole had me tryleaning down with my arms straight out in front of me, then sitting myself back up. I actually really liked doing it that way, but by the time we got to doing them this way, Nicole was ready to get on to the next exercise!
I sat up in the chair like normal, stuck my straiught arms out to the sides, and tilted to the right, straightened back up, then tilted to the left. This exercise was for my obliques.
It was really good that I was able to get to the studio today. I'm without a doubt going to miss it when Nicole has to shut it down in February. I've known about Nicole having to close down One 2 One for awhile now, but I just didn't want to talk about it...I was just ignoring the sad reality of it.
We're still figuring out the details for what I'm going to do when Nicole's gone next month, so all I can say is...It will be revealed...
I brought my widget wheelchair today. Nicole really wanted to focus on my abs today, and doing workout with the widget handle-bars and sitting in the smaller, more upright chair, makes my abdominal muscles work. I started the session by just going back and fowarth across the studio floor. I pumped the widget arms forwards for a number of laps, then I switched directions and pumped the widget arms backwards.
After I got my body warmed-up, Nicole had me park my wheelchair and let go of the handle-bars. I did, and she pulled up a chair in front ocole demonstrated leaning down and touching her toes. Thenf me. She told me that she wanted to try something new today. Nicole demonstrated leaning down and touching her toes, then using her abs and I back (no arms) to sit back up. Then, it was my turn. I was able to muster up the strength to slowly lower myself, and bring myself back up to the sitting position. But it was ALOT of work! I continued to do them without arms for a very short while...maybe 1 or 2 more times!
Then, we tried it a little differently. I tried lowering myself to touch my toes, then bending and crossing my arms. We thought that maybe my hands were accidently getting stuck down by my feet But it was still super hard for me.
Nicole helped figure it out when she suggested I place my arms on my knees to help push me back. So, I would drop down, touch my toes, bend and cross my arms, and use my abs to sit up high enough to place my arms/hands on my knees where I would push myself back the rest of the way I did until the cows came home!
Nicole had me tryleaning down with my arms straight out in front of me, then sitting myself back up. I actually really liked doing it that way, but by the time we got to doing them this way, Nicole was ready to get on to the next exercise!
I sat up in the chair like normal, stuck my straiught arms out to the sides, and tilted to the right, straightened back up, then tilted to the left. This exercise was for my obliques.
It was really good that I was able to get to the studio today. I'm without a doubt going to miss it when Nicole has to shut it down in February. I've known about Nicole having to close down One 2 One for awhile now, but I just didn't want to talk about it...I was just ignoring the sad reality of it.
We're still figuring out the details for what I'm going to do when Nicole's gone next month, so all I can say is...It will be revealed...
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I'm Back!!!
Happy New Year everbody! 2013 is going to be a great one! I got a fortune cookie that said in 3 months from today (December 27, 2012), something really good will happen. And everybody knows that fortune cookies speak the truth!
Today was my first day back---back in the BZ (BurnZone...aka the workout studio), back with my Nicole, and back to the hardcore workouts! Nicole had me roll up to the TRX right away! I leaned my chair pretty far back, and reached up to grab the TRX handles. Nicole had me do a sit-up in order to reach the handles...worrking out before the workout begins...it's good to be back! Once I got the handles, I pulled myself up, raising my upper body (mostly) and hips (a lil) out of the wheelchair.
I then raised my feet up/did leg lifts while I was pulling up on the TRX.
Then, it was time to get some use out of the 4 lb weights. I grasped a weight in each hand, and brought my elbows out to the sides (keep in mind that I'm still tilted back in the wheelchair). With Nicole helping to kinda guide my arms, I pushed the weights up, then slowly bringing them back down to bent elbows. At one point, I think Nicole just got bored with the up and down motion, because she mixed it up a bit by having me one arm, then the other, 2 on the right arm, and 2 one the left.
Giving my arms a rest, Nicole went and stood by my feet. She wanted me to lift only the right leg, keeping the left leg in the bent/sitting position. It took a lot of concentration, but I was able to bring the right leg up without moving the left leg! It of course, took a few tries, my left leg would start to lift up, and drop back down once the right leg was going up. Yet, I was able to figure out a way to keep my left leg down and relaxed while the right leg did all the work!
I lifted and released the right leg only a number of times, then we practiced raising my knees. First I raised the left knee multiple time. Then the right knee. Then both knees simultaneously. Last but not least, I tried raising one knee after the other, like I was walking.This remains as a challenge for me, but it is obviously something i have been working on and need to continue to work on.
Next, it was sit-up time. I was relieved to hear Nicole's positive feedback because sit-ups are something I've been doing every night for a little ove a month and a half...(I think,,,). I started out with 25, and I worked my way up to 175 sit-ups per night. I secretly desire a 6-pack! ;)
Nicole made the sit-ups harder for me by having me raise up both legs and hold them up there while I sat-up, reaching for my toes. If this sounds hard, IT WAS! And Nicole randomly threw these in (5 at a time) the rest of the session.
Then, it was back to the arms with the 4 lb weights.With a weight in my right hand, Ibrought my straight arm out to the side (my wheelchair is still tilted back). And with Nicole helping to guide my arm, I brought the weight up above my chest with a straight arm. When I finished with the right arm, I switched the weight over to the left.
Lastly, I unreclined my w,chair and sat up straight. I grabbed ahold of the TRX above my head, and I pulled myself up to a stand. Nicole and I just wanted to see where I was at as far as my muscles go. Her and I are going to just work on muscle training this week, to get me back in the swing of things, then we'll do more standing next week...and standind workouts after that. Yeah, I said standing workouts! My Pops bought me this rock climbing harness and a couple of straps that can be hooked to the sides of the harness and to a beam in my garage...I know that I did a horrible job explaining that set-up! My Mom's going to call me up when she reads this..."That doesn't sound safe!" But anyhoo, that will be my exciting new way of getting the muscles in the back of my thighs a good workout!
Today was my first day back---back in the BZ (BurnZone...aka the workout studio), back with my Nicole, and back to the hardcore workouts! Nicole had me roll up to the TRX right away! I leaned my chair pretty far back, and reached up to grab the TRX handles. Nicole had me do a sit-up in order to reach the handles...worrking out before the workout begins...it's good to be back! Once I got the handles, I pulled myself up, raising my upper body (mostly) and hips (a lil) out of the wheelchair.
I then raised my feet up/did leg lifts while I was pulling up on the TRX.
Then, it was time to get some use out of the 4 lb weights. I grasped a weight in each hand, and brought my elbows out to the sides (keep in mind that I'm still tilted back in the wheelchair). With Nicole helping to kinda guide my arms, I pushed the weights up, then slowly bringing them back down to bent elbows. At one point, I think Nicole just got bored with the up and down motion, because she mixed it up a bit by having me one arm, then the other, 2 on the right arm, and 2 one the left.
Giving my arms a rest, Nicole went and stood by my feet. She wanted me to lift only the right leg, keeping the left leg in the bent/sitting position. It took a lot of concentration, but I was able to bring the right leg up without moving the left leg! It of course, took a few tries, my left leg would start to lift up, and drop back down once the right leg was going up. Yet, I was able to figure out a way to keep my left leg down and relaxed while the right leg did all the work!
I lifted and released the right leg only a number of times, then we practiced raising my knees. First I raised the left knee multiple time. Then the right knee. Then both knees simultaneously. Last but not least, I tried raising one knee after the other, like I was walking.This remains as a challenge for me, but it is obviously something i have been working on and need to continue to work on.
Next, it was sit-up time. I was relieved to hear Nicole's positive feedback because sit-ups are something I've been doing every night for a little ove a month and a half...(I think,,,). I started out with 25, and I worked my way up to 175 sit-ups per night. I secretly desire a 6-pack! ;)
Nicole made the sit-ups harder for me by having me raise up both legs and hold them up there while I sat-up, reaching for my toes. If this sounds hard, IT WAS! And Nicole randomly threw these in (5 at a time) the rest of the session.
Then, it was back to the arms with the 4 lb weights.With a weight in my right hand, Ibrought my straight arm out to the side (my wheelchair is still tilted back). And with Nicole helping to guide my arm, I brought the weight up above my chest with a straight arm. When I finished with the right arm, I switched the weight over to the left.
Lastly, I unreclined my w,chair and sat up straight. I grabbed ahold of the TRX above my head, and I pulled myself up to a stand. Nicole and I just wanted to see where I was at as far as my muscles go. Her and I are going to just work on muscle training this week, to get me back in the swing of things, then we'll do more standing next week...and standind workouts after that. Yeah, I said standing workouts! My Pops bought me this rock climbing harness and a couple of straps that can be hooked to the sides of the harness and to a beam in my garage...I know that I did a horrible job explaining that set-up! My Mom's going to call me up when she reads this..."That doesn't sound safe!" But anyhoo, that will be my exciting new way of getting the muscles in the back of my thighs a good workout!
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