"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.
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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!