Wednesday, August 21, 2019

WWU - Cheese and Crackers, I Need to Get it Together!

Last Thursday as I drove to my workout with Jared, I made every green light on both roads that I travel on to get there.  I was so jazzed about that (it never happens) and then I glanced down...FLIP FLOPS??? 
I forgot to change my shoes.  

Also, see my ghostly white legs?  I've given up on using fake tanner this summer.

Luckily since this was a private workout it was OK, but seriously?  I can't believe I did that.  I wore them for most of the exercises but when I was doing box squats he had me go barefoot and it was interesting to really feel how much of the floor my feet stayed connected with as I did the squat.  I did pretty good with that until the last few when I started to get tired and didn't concentrate as much as I needed to.

Since I'm not supposed to "load my back" which means pushing no weights above my head when I'm standing, Jared gets creative with my exercises.  I have to say that I enjoy every one, even when my arms are shaking.  It's so good to be doing something again.  I need this in my life.

PT update:  Just when I think I've mastered some of these exercises, Amanda ramps them up with "part 2" - and there I go again, back to kindergarten.  Oh, the other thing is I wasn't doing one exercise correctly, as in there was much more to do than what I thought.  And of course it's harder.  I think I'm approaching 45 minutes with all of my exercises!  Glad I only have to do them once a day, although I will repeat a few of them in the evening after I've done my arm killer press ups (aka a McKenzie extension exercise).

The arm killer press ups are going well for me and I'm able to do many more now before my arms want to die.  I'm to do this, as with every exercise, to fatigue.  So at the end of my exercise routine, I'm fatigued all right!

I'm still experiencing nerve pain when I do the exercises a certain way, so we worked on how to move a little differently to stop the pain.  I like that I can do this, but I'm ready for that nerve pain to be gone, permanently.  This morning I have an appointment with the PA at my pain doctor's clinic; I'm interested to hear what she thinks of my progress.  Of course I'll report back soon, hopefully with...hope? 

14 comments:

  1. Thank goodness you only have to do your PT exercises once a day since it takes 45 minutes that is quite a time commitment. I bet your PA will be impressed with all your progress.

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  2. So excited for you! I too have found joy in strength training. Glad it's helping you. PS My old coach used to have me take my running shoes off and lift in my socks so I could have more stability on the floor.

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    1. I don't know how much aerobic exercise I will get at the gym because I can't let myself do anything quickly lest I lose form. So yep, at least I can strength train, and I do like that.

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  3. What are arm killer press ups? 45 minutes of exercise every day? You are doing great!

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    1. It's a McKenzie exercise, or protocol, for back rehab. You can google it and see images - I wouldn't do it if I didn't have to, haha.

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  4. You are a model patient! I'm sure if most PTs could get their clients to commit to 45 minutes a day of exercises they would be so happy. You deserve to be healed and I hope you get a good report this morning.

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    1. Well I am giving this injury everything I can for a good recovery, that's for sure!

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  5. It has to be absolutely crazy to make such a small adjustment in your form and see the nerve pain lesson. You are going to be the queen of ‘proper form’!!!

    I’ve been doing this yoga thing and it’s barefoot and she is always saying Feel the earth-foot connection and to focus on how we are really using our feetz

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    1. Even when I wear shoes to the gym, I wearing my Nike Frees because I do get a lot more control with my feet that way. Bare feetz are in...basically we're reverting to our childhood summers, right? ;)

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  6. That reminds me of doing yoga in my jeans once! I had forgotten to bring my yoga clothes to the office but was determined to not let that deter me. I was only doing gentle yoga so it was doable, but I did get some strange looks ��45 mins of exercise every day is great! I have a really hard time doing my PT exercises at home, I just don't have a good set up here. You are doing great :)

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    1. Hey Kerstin, nice to hear from you! Yoga in jeans might bring on strange looks but hey, you were there and doing it, so kudos! As for doing PT at home, I have a little set up in a corner of my bedroom which helps - everything is all right there and once I get started I just keep on going. Listening to a podcast helps, too.

      BTW I read your blog - congrats on the 20 pounds down! I tried to leave a comment but I'm not logged in and Squarespace and my Gabapentin brain fog just couldn't make it work...lord I do miss my brain.

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  7. I used to forget to put certain things in my gym bag, so now I literally have a "closet" in the back of my car (basically a box). It contains one or two of everything I normally use when I work out, so if I get there and discover I've forgotten something, I can still work out.

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    1. That is such a good idea...stealing it from you!

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