After all this talk about swimming... does everyone want to swim with me?
This is my idea: Each time we swim, we record our yards/meters/time by adding it to the previous post, and so on and so forth.
(The reason for the time is that I still want credit on the days I feel too bad to actually swim, and end up treading water with the folks in the deep end)
When we get to 1,000,000 yd/m/hrs we win!
I'll start ~ My stats for today are...
1,000 yds
50 minutes
Add yours to mine and post the new total in your post! Go TEAM!
Erica this is a cracking idea! I swam 20 lengths in a friends pool... it's 12 metres long... I think... will check this... but that is 240 metres. It took me about 30 minutes.
Like my exercise physiologist says... it doesn't matter how far you go, it just matters how much time you spend getting there!
When I first started swimming I could barely make it 25yd/m (depending upon the pool), where I would stop and gasp for air until I could swim back to the other end.
I don't think I could swim that far, even now, with proper breathing!
Because our pool is just 28 feet on the long end, what I basically do is hold my breath the entire length, then come up for air as I turn around, then push off and hold my breath for the next lap, etc
So on the occasional times when we are in a hotel or somewhere with a full-sized pool, I have to try to and relearn the whole coordination thing of doing the crawl-stroke and exhaling underwater, coming up and inhaling during the next stroke, and find it quite difficult!
Or revert to a much slower side stroke, which is okay, it got me through all those swimming boy scout requirements as a kid
I think I figured it out for our pool. 107.5 laps is about 2000 yards.
I keep forgetting to look at my lap counter ring thingie to see how long it takes
So that will be my goal for each day, so far I did that on Friday & Sat, but only 50 today, because we rushing to a BBQ to replace all the calories burned with fattening treats..
ok, i'll add in a walk/run distance/time and a bike distance/time and if anyone adds to those, i'll keep going, otherwise, i'll just happily cheer on the swimmers
so, this weekend:
walk: 3 miles, 70 minutes
bike: 8 miles, 40 minutes
today? its so hot out, sure would be a good day to be in a body of water, but walking or biking along one will have to suffice.
Well.... I guess if you lie flat on your stomach while floating in the pool you could count the time as prone exercise. But that's only 20 minutes a day, right?
Getting confused with totals! I added my swimming to Erica, then she did more, then I added mine onto hers again - but then she did new reply with just here two added together??!!! Are we keeping our own totals or adding everyone's???!!! I am confused!
I should just tell you all right now that I am a horrible team captain.
I always played 3rd base & left field!
My vote for co-captains are Sue & Tinkerbell, because I am out to lunch and Dow seems to be floating around somewhere
So, how should we do this? Add our time to the last person posted? Add up only our own times? And is there a way to change the team name to "FITNESS" team? Maybe more people would play that way? Hmmm....
Hey Erica! Wait to see what Sue thinks also, but I think if we keep a running total as we go it might be easier... Perhaps we could mention what we've done eg swimming 20 lengths / 20 minutes and then add it on to the last relevant activity. Does that make sense?!! I have been swimming for hours today in my glorified "fish bowl"!!! lol I've literally been swimming round in circles, so have not infact achieved any lengths at all - just lots of rounds Am off to friends pool tomorrow though and will try and get a serious swim in. Usually I have my little one's with me, which makes swimming lengths very tricky for the obvious safety reasons. I generally swim on my back to the deep end, so I am facing the children and then breast stroke on the way back! Will pop my stats in tomorrow! Byeee for now!
PS I bet Mig will tell you how to change the title of the post... It's a GREAT post by the way, Erica, totally loving it!
well, changed the title here, but maybe mig can change the heading of the start of the thread as well? since you started the thread erika, probably best coming from you.
and my mistake in adding things up. yes, i agree that we should do it the way erika initially suggested (the way you tinkerbell are reiterating it). if we just keep our own tallies it feels too much like competition, but if we add it all together, feels much more like a team event! and already its been motivating me to go out each day that i can, so thanks again!
so tinkerbell, if you want to add up the "yardage" and time for swimming and add it here, that would be great! i have no idea how to add dow's floating and your going around in circles anyway!
then as you said, every time someone does something new, they list their distance and time and then the totals of everyone's distances/times together, as you've both suggested.
sorry about my mistake and the ensuing confusion!
i'll be at work today, maybe a walk through the air conditioned part of the building, though in our lab, the AC is all messed up, its now down to about 82 degrees, was hotter earlier.
Hellooo Erica... I found your note and have changed the title of your top post. Nice thread you have going here btw!
Not sure I can play, um, unless swimming in a river last Sat and Sunday counts but I have no concept of what the distance was... from the 'dock-rock' to the falls and back, twice, x 2 days... ahhh but with flippers on! And half lounging on a swim noodle! And I mostly just floated back on the current ...does that count??? Maybe you could add it to Dow's floating time! lol
I cannot swim in the river without flippers! Well, I can, but it's not nearly as fun and is a chance I might drown if a snapping turtle startles me.
Sue I cannot believe you are walking and biking in this awful heat! Cripes. I am very cleverly hiding indoors in the cool AC.
i only walk or bike starting after the sun starts to set. last night i went out after 8:30 pm and started with a bike ride since it creates a little airflow, then walked after 9 pm. no way would i do it in the heat of day, i draw the shades and hide inside with the lights off! at least i'm not further east where they're experiencing triple digits! but a break at the end of the week!
was wondering if that was the same river where you posted that excellent picture of the heron. at least he comes back!
thunderstorms, by friday should see some as a cold front comes in, that will be good! but i agree heat and thunderstorms followed by more heat just equals mugginess. at least we haven't had that. but a good cold front will be nice.
my husband on the other hand LOVES this weather. to him nothing says summer better than heat (and thunderstorms).
Pick a sport... lol, err, ummm, wellll, I am one of those few who is not a big fan of anything that looks suspiciously like exercise. (still equate moving with pain) but disguise it enough and I'm happy - love to walk in the woods and swim in the river.
I keep thinking that I should buy a bike. I used to adore biking! Hey, maybe this thread will help to inspire me.
Ok Sue When get back from swimming today (like you, I am finding this post is VERY motivating - THANKS ERICA!!) I will add totals so far and we can start tallying as we go! GO FITNESS TEAM!!!
with woods to walk in and a river to swim in, who needs any other form of exercise; it is absolutely beautiful there! no wonder you love it so much. throw in the herons, and it sounds like paradise!
May I dive in here and say that I have had the great good fortune to visit with Mig on two occasions at her little oasis. It is stunning. She gifted it to me you know so I am re-naking the river the 'Migwash'
I got very motivated today and managed 24 lengths (there and back) of 12 metre pool, so did 576 metres and took me 30 minutes.
Ok, here we go... the story so far... math hat firmly in place...
SWIMMING: 5,480 yards/metres 260 minutes
(Dow did not give time for his 2,000 yards + 1,000 yards - so I put in 40 minutes per 1,000 yards based on Erica's best time! Also, I did not count Friday's swim Dow, because we started on Saturday - so we'll count that as a warm up if that's OK?!!! Goodness I'm strict, arent't I?!!! lol)
WALKING: 8 miles 170 minutes
(Erica did not give distance for walking - so I used Sue's 20 minute mile calculation)
BIKING: 12 miles 60 minutes
TAI CHI: 60 minutes
FLOATING 5 days Yes, the colour grey IS significant here!!! as a grey area!!! lol!!!
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON EXERCISE SINCE SATURDAY (not including grey areas!) Drum roll please... 550 minutes this is approximately 9 hours! (sorry maths not THAT great...) Yipee! Good work everyone!
and I think you got the distance part for me right, 2000 yards, everyday since last week, except one day when didn't have time and only did 1000
I didn't give my time yet, because I wanted to confirm over several days that I was really the super speedy swimmer that it looks like:
My daily 107 laps, totalling about 2000 yards takes me just over 38 minutes.
And before anybody is overly impressed by that speed, I mean it is kinda true, I do concentrate and try to go in a straight direction and all, keep my eye on the line on the pool floor, and imagine that there will soon be cheers from the TV audience...
But don't forget that in our little pool, I am just barely finished pushing off from one end, swim like maybe three actual strokes, and it is time for another turn-around and push off, so that rocket-propulsion is why I am so fast!
just in from my bike ride, waited til 8:30 pm to go so it was in the 80s instead of 90s and no sun beating down.
a nice invigorating yet relaxing bike ride. biked along the erie canal, air so still, thus water so still, perfect reflections. got to the 'basin", my turn around point, as i stood there drinking my water and eating my bar, noticed the stillness of the water, haziness of the atmosphere, birds, the only sounds, so peaceful and serene.
then on my way home, almost home, a close encounter with the slithery kind! coming out of the reeds along the side of the road, had to swerve to miss him! good thing no cars were coming! screamed like a little girl! my phobia for them runs deeper than mig's for spiders! i'm sure of it, though maybe it is a contest unto itself. anyway, that sure got the adrenal flowing! think i rode twice as fast after that!
anyway, all told:
biked 7.5 miles in 35 minutes.
so new biking total is:
19.5 miles and 95 minutes.
now i need a nice relaxing shower to get over my close encounter!
i suspected your desktop wasn't normally that empty, just didn't look quite right to me! tidying up, that explains it. yes, is a lovely desktop photo to have.
But today was special, added something that we've been talking about for over a year now, first with CC, and a few other times as well
I finally tried my underwater headphones that I got from Marsha on my birthday!
And it was really really cool!!
I already had the underwater housing for the iPod, bought to protect it from accidental droppage into the hot tub (learned that the hard way... )
So before getting into the pool, I strapped the iPod on my arm, put on the headphones, and hit the play button. It didn't sound very good, kinda tinny, but I wasn't expecting much, these are completely waterproof ear buds, remember..
But then got underwater, really thinking that something terrible was going to happen, the music would just fizzle out, or I'd get an electric shock or something
But as soon as I was completely immersed, the bass in the music came in, and they sounded full and rich!
Let me tell you, it is very weird to be swimming underwater, on the bottom of the pool, holding your breath, and listening to Peter Gabriel sing "I Go Swimming" !!!!
(The way the earbuds work is that when underwater, the water actually seals them in to make a better fit, and then magically the low frequencies can be heard)
Can't wait for a day when it rains here, nothing will stop me now!
Right on! Aren't waterproof Mp3 players the absolute bomb? We use Speedo Aquabeats because my husband and I Are too chicken to put the iPods in the water.
Belaboring a Point: My exercise physiologist says that the time spent moving is what's important, not the intensity.
The spondylitis association morning and evening exercises take 30 minutes each time. I wonder who all is doing these?
Go TEAM!
p.s. I hope you had a great time at the exhibit
I so want to visit this exhibit , but alas I will not be in NYC for quite some time. I'm hoping it makes it over to Seattle, WA or Victoria, BC one of these years.
thanks, small local artists' art exhibit (my husband is part of the art group), so only took about half hour to look at the art, take some photos, but then spent another 3 hours combing the bookstore. rarely do i have the luxury to spend all the time i want in a bookstore, so not a lot of movement, but better to be on my feet and up and down vs just my usual sitting at work.
got another sudoku book, mensa this time, hope its challenging enough, most people do sudoku for the mental stimulation, i do it because it find it relaxing, yes, i am not typical in a lot of ways!
got a cookbook of sicilian cooking, loving the photos of the region, of the food, and the recipes look good too. my stepfather is sicilian so very fortunate to have learned how to cook good authentic italian food.
saw a cheap copy of "siddhartha" in paperback, so bought that for one of my research students who i had just recommended it to the other day.
so, not much "exercise" but good to be up for a change, and to buy books, even better.
as for that art exhibit at moma, looks interesting. here we have the george eastman house and international museum of photography and film: http://www.eastmanhouse.org/ i've seen a few interesting exhibits there, though should probably go more often.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON EXERCISE UP TO FRIDAY 620 minutes this is approximately 10 hours!
Dow I have amended your swimming times to your super speedy 38 minutes per 2,000 yards! It must be a combination of your incredible underwater music festival and your push off from one end turn around and push off from the other end technique that has you ripping up the dance floor... Oh! I mean swimming pool! GO DOW!!!!!!
Erica this is the best post ever! I have been going on for ages about getting a regular exercise program going - this has been the encouragement I neeeded! Self motivation can be a struggle sometimes, but your effort becoming part of a team effort really does it for me! Thank you so much for your inspirational post.
Erica and Sue it's great to hang out with you! Dow it's fab to get to know you better! Mig so glad you have popped in to join us - love your heron pic too!
Ok, I guess we don't get to count shopping and wandering as exercize. I am truthfully quite a slacker at heart! The ONLY reason I have ever exercised is to combat pain. Well, except when I was a youngster bodysurfing at the beach near my house.
It must be a combination of your incredible underwater music festival and your push off from one end turn around and push off from the other end technique that has you ripping up the dance floor... Oh! I mean swimming pool! GO DOW!!!!!!
Thanks, Coach Tinker, that is just the motivational speech that I needed today!!
another walk along the erie canal today, and saw a great blue heron first flying, then sitting in a tree a bit above the water, so still, waiting to catch his prey, what a site to see! they are just so big and majestic to me.
walking: 3 miles, 70 minutes
and yes, wanted to add, that this will be just the motivation i need on the days i don't feel like moving........
while i've never liked indoor exercising: running around and around on a track, or some aerobics type class, i love anything aerobic and outdoors, and the better the scenery, the more i enjoy it.
add my 2000 yrds/38 minutes for today, though SI joint was hurting, maybe ok thing I won't be able to swim tomorrow, have to go to the hot big city to work in the evening
What a great idea! I just got some information about a heated pool that has arthritis classes. I may not be swimming laps with you all, but I'll keep track of my time exercising in the water in the classes. I grew up swimming in the ocean, so never got really good swimming skills. I can swim, just never really got a proper technique going. Here's a question: is it *okay* to sign up for laps if you swim slowly, awkwardly, changing strokes all over the place, like starting with back stroke and then switching to a crawl? From what I've seen at pools, not that I've much experience, but it seems as though the swimmers are fabulous and just doing so well! Thanks, Jan
I swim at our local pool and fitness clib which has a hot tub. I WISH I had a pool and sauna in my own yard, but I am not quite that wealthy... Actually not even close
Your times are giving me inspiration to swim faster.
Yay! Another teammate! In my experience pools usually have a slower lane. Ask the lifeguards, they're there all the time and know what goes on. There's usually pool etiquette that governs whether or not you can split lanes, or whether everyone swims clockwise or counter clockwise. It's time exercising that counts, not how fast you get there!
just wanted to encourage you to do the laps! as erica said, ask a little for how the pool handles faster vs slower swimmers, but really everyone should be able to swim the laps they want / need to swim.
i remember when my sister needed to swim (laps) for physical therapy (she was in a minor accident a long time ago but good as new now), she was a young very shy teenager who was afraid to do the laps because she was afraid of getting in others' ways; i went with her to encourage her that it really would be ok and it was.
usually if you ask someone who's lane you want to join, usually i've found that its easy to work it out with the other person. at most pools i was the slower swimmer. only when i found a therapeutic pool (in the other city i lived in, none here ) was i the faster swimmer. but in either case it always worked out. and i always switched up the strokes.
today we went to an arts and crafts festival. one of many in the area over the summer and fall around here, i swear this must be arts and crafts festival territory or something.
anyway, decided to count the steps and turn them into mileage since we did a lot of walking!
steps: 10,555, rounded to 10,000 or ~ 5 miles
time? if i figure maybe a third of the time walking and two thirds of the time browsing, then maybe about 1.5 hours (90 minutes).
looks like we are all a little sore today. my back and SI held up remarkably well, but my hips, knees, feet, OY! but a hot bath when i got home and lots of peppermint lotion to the feet and some ice and a nap (in front of the tv of course!) and, well, recovering.
hubby and i both so beat at the end of the day (he and his art group had a booth at the festival (nonprofit so free, the fees are so expensive to sell anything), good thing i picked up barbecue (pulled pork) on the way home, then just had to open a can of black beans, doctor them up a little, slice some tomatoes, add a few herbs......we were both practically falling asleep at the dinner table.
Ditto! Everyone gets to swim, no matter their speed. I have found that the majority of people in the pool are there for some sort of ailment, as opposed to being swimming enthusiasts. At our pool we have a SLOW lane, a MEDIUM lane, and a FAST lane. But many days it's a SLOW lane, a SLOWER lane, and a DOGPADDLING WHILE MOVING FORWARD lane.
Brilliant idea! How do you count steps? Do you have one of this little handy dandy belt clip counters? Isn't it amazing how much exercise we get when we're goofing off?
Yipee! Hello Jan Hope you get the lanes cracked at the swimming pool. I agree with the others, usually you get fast and slow lanes to do laps. In my experience fast means rocket fuel required and slow lane means anything faster than going backwards or staying in one place is absolutely acceptable! As far as choice of stroke - anything goes! Don't be shy.
Hello guys and gals Hope you are all feeling much better soon - I must admit, my neck and shoulders have been making their discomfort felt over the last couple of days... maybe we all ought to hit the slow lane for a few days. Take it easy everyone! We don't want to end up in a worse state than when we started, do we?!
yes, i have a pedometer. and at one point i walked a known mile with it on to calibrate it, that number long forgotten, but think 10,000 steps = ~ 5 miles about right.
one of the things i like about the summer festivals is that it keeps me moving, walking around, up on my feet, vs sitting which is just plain bad no matter how you look at it, for me at least.
that pedometer, given to everyone at work doing this "eat right, live right" x-week program. at first i thought a good idea, get people eating right and exercising. but many people in my department, gorging themselves on bags of dried fruit to "win". nothing like sugar induced diabetes. a good idea run amuck, and i don't need a program like that to eat well, my body lets me know how i'm doing, so never participated again, but got to keep the handy dandy pedometer, which i only use if doing a lot of walking about.
It's such a pleasure, Sue, thanks, hon! Mind you if we get an influx of exercise junkies following Erica's adverts in the main forum I may well rue the day I put my name down
well, if we get a lot of people, i could keep track of say walking and biking, you could keep track of swimming (and whatever else), and/or someone else could help out as well. another team effort!
Diddo Sue22! Tink is our scorekeeper extraordinaire!
And I am having a seriously slow week myself, so no beating yourself up! Just sitting here typing trying to get up the gumption to go swim. It might just end up with a short walk today.
gorging themselves on bags of dried fruit to "win"
It is extremely curious what people choose to think of as "healthy food". I find it quite weird that there are healthy diet programs that specifically leave out sugar & white flour ~ hello, those substances are not food in the first place. Food is defined as something that is nutritious, not just any old substance one throws down the gullet. And now the candy makers are all rushing to include wheat products in candy so that it will be untaxable as a food. As if white flour makes it food. Grrr...Harumph!
Yipee! As far as choice of stroke - anything goes! Don't be shy.
Plus which, I learned to swim by watching YouTube. Well, I sort of knew how to flail about while going forward, but now I can actually use my arms, legs, and breathe all at the same time... and mostly I never run into any of the other swimmers. (any more)
@ Sue & Tink: thanks for the good advice regarding swimming laps, I will follow up on that. Meanwhile, I walked for one mile yesterday and did some yoga. The day before, I hiked for about an hour, and did a bit of yoga. Great posts, people! Thanks ERica. Jan
i felt like dewdew today! so went for a "gentle walk" woke with such a migraine, suspect connected to my very upset bowels right now, no idea what is causing my body to spazz out so badly right now!
1 mile, 30 minutes
i suspect the photos of the marvelous sunset i took along the way helped add to my time, but still got my walk in and felt a bunch better afterwards
rained, actually poured here in the early afternoon, but then it was a nice evening, perfect for a walk
Sorry coach got a day off yesterday! Will update stats later this afternoon, team! We are doing so well aren't we!
Dow is swimming in the rain, Just swimming in the rain, What a glorious feeling, He's happy again! La la la la la - la la la la la He's swimming, just swimming in the rain!!!!
Good job you couldn't hear me singing that, Dow!
Oh! I saw your sound effects clip on the anal leakage post, btw - I put a comment on there about it for you!
still don't know why my gastrointestinal system is still spazzing out so much, but at least i'm not i'll be fine, i'm used to this! but now would be a very good time for those small bowel tests that the insurance denied......need to call the gastroenterologist tomorrow, see what plan B is.
I am VERY excited today.... My 4 year old has learned to swim! She suddenly started swimming lengths in my friends pool! She swam 8 and half lengths today in a 12 metre pool! I am sooooooo proud of her! Have been away last day or so, don't worry guys, I will tot up the stats later on! Well done everyone!
OK a huge update in stats here! As well as new team members! Yipee
SWIMMING: 15,030 yards/metres 513 minutes
WALKING: 26.5 miles 545 minutes
BIKING: 19.5 miles 148 minutes
LATH: Is there an average stationery bike time/distance calculation I could use to pop a distance in here? If not, no matter! We will just use the time
TAI CHI: 240 minutes
HIKING: 60 minutes
YOGA: Some + a bit!!!
NAJ - any idea how much time you spent here, hon?
LAUGHTER YOGA: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON EXERCISE UP TO FRIDAY 16 JULY 1536 minutes this is 25.6 hours! TOTAL DISTANCE 15,076 yards/miles
I really miss hiking on perfect days like today! The Olympics are clear as a bell today... calling, calling, and my old hiking buddies are up there without me.
Ha ha, yes Sonar may not be all that much in the IQ department, but he would make an excellent Action Figure, you can pretty much bend him into any position and he will stay that way for a while..(before falling asleep)
My lap totals for the last few days, Coach Tink!
Thursday: only 75 toy pool laps 29 min Friday: 111 laps 39 min Sat: 111 laps 38 min
Dow, YUK iritis. Does that affect your vision? Each time I got it I couldn't even read the E at the top of the eye chart. I was thankful it only happened in one eye.
This time (second since 2002) the iritis isn't so bad, mostly just some moderate light sensitivity (like opening the fridge, or a car with bright headlights makes me run for cover)
Nothing like the first time, when I had to wear an eye patch, and stayed under a blanket, any light at all was awful, needed a shot ultimately to get it under control
Most people here seem to only get it in one eye or the other, I've noticed
I did get a little nervous though one night, with iritis in the left eye, then my right eye gunked up with blepharitis, but that ended up being a 24 hour thing, Optho told me to keep washing it, that worked, phew
I'm pretty confident the drops are going to be enough this time, now tapering off to 2 a day, from 1 every hour. Even went to the movies tonight!
Lazy for me too. I worked in the yard...the temp was 100+...I came inside and napped away. Even the Tour de France has rest days...ya...that's what this is...a rest day.
Too cold to swim for now but look out once spring rolls arround. Did send my darling daughter back of to swim training at 6am this morning though. lol But I am not too mean it was in the heated pool, our pool is not heated sadly and with other kids I cant go to the heated one.
Felt like I walked 5km on Sunday though at the shopping centre, does that count?
My employer has a beautiful place for us to walk and they actually encourage it. We take a morning and afternoon walk along a path through a park that includes a lake, geese, occasional fox, peacocks, turtles, hawks and recently a boxer and pit bull pair. I didn't like the pit bull.
lath, that sounds wonderful! my last job, had a nice little lake / pond with some woods around it on one side, to walk around on campus. friends and i would do that a few days a week.
here, work gets in the way of my walks, but got a short one in. think tomorrow i will walk or bike before i go in to work!
when i started walking again a few summers ago, had this bright idea that i'd do it indoors, a good walk through several buildings, all connected. could do that any time of day or night, light or dark, any kind of weather. well, about 2 weeks into this excellent experiment, plantar fasciitis reared its ugly head in the worst way! walking on concrete floors not the best game plan for us! lesson learned; now its predominantly walking on dirt or grass as possible.
In my infinite wisdom ~ even though I KNOW this never works, I ate some candy to try and get some energy, which resulted in an almost immediate pain flare, which led to .25mg clonezapam, which has made me even more lethargic.
I know, how about I REST when I feel like crapola?
Erica, where are your Yoga Laughter stats for today? Not even a sitcom, or reading a joke from one of the Silly Forums?
But I have you covered for the team swim stats for this week so far:
Sunday: 140 mini laps 48 mins Mon: 60 munchkin laps 24 mins Tues: no laps of any size, PT day + 2 pizza slices in city Wed: 150 micro laps 52 mins Wed Nite: Ouch X100
rain rain go away, sue wants to go out and walk! tomorrow for sure!
its not the rain i mind so much, but getting struck by lightning ain't too much fun! he he! the lightning strikes i got to see on my drive to work were quite impressive though! thunder and lightning and pouring rain for about 4-5 hours straight today.
awesome! glad i found this !!! okay..so i dont swim. lungs are a mess from intersitial disease, blah blah blah. but i've been exercising when i can. helps rid all the built up stress and pains. i figure i'll shove the AS pain out as much as i can each day...of course i'm beyound exhausted by the afternoon but it gives me a big sense of accomplishment!
have you done a triathalon sue? i was just thinking about that the other day in my twisted little buggy mind. for just a brief moment. my body wouldnt make it but the thought of it intrigues me lately!
works for me..i am fueled with caffeine...aka cola for me..my only vice and 1/2 tab of norco and soma and i am fearless. or in least till it wears off after an hour. ha! i'm doing kravmaga kb and and all and all out class they offer. insane class of all classes. but i wont quit!
Proves that swimming is just like riding a bicycle* you never forget!
*Legal disclaimer: except that with swimming, you don't need a bicycle, you almost never get run over by a car, unless the driver is really really really drunk, then there can be that small problem about being consumed by sharks, on the other hand, how many bicyclists find buried pirate treasure? Local laws and restrictions may apply, this may be void on the planet Neptune, where there is no water, only poisonous atmosphere, for more information, see instructions on "How to Remove Water From Boot" printed on sole of boot..Ibid, X12-425.
*Legal disclaimer: except that with swimming, you don't need a bicycle, you almost never get run over by a car, unless the driver is really really really drunk, then there can be that small problem about being consumed by sharks, on the other hand, how many bicyclists find buried pirate treasure? Local laws and restrictions may apply, this may be void on the planet Neptune, where there is no water, only poisonous atmosphere, for more information, see instructions on "How to Remove Water From Boot" printed on sole of boot..Ibid, X12-425.
you found us! no thanks to me i might add, telling you all about it and forgetting to post the link! silly me! fortunately erika helped you out.
triathalons, no not me. LOL!
when i was in my teens and 20s, i did run and swim laps for pleasure, fitness, and the calming effects that aerobic activity always gave me. would bike as a form of transportation as i didn't own a car through my poor college and grad school existence. but never did any of them very fast......well, except for the biking when caught in a thunder and lightning storm once, but that's another story. boy did i fly then. otherwise, for me, it was always more about distance than speed.
now, i really couldn't even dream of such a thing, just really happy to be able to walk because i know what its like to have even that taken away from me. so any day that i can go for a walk is a good day
Thanks Sue..and Erika! Ok..bugs not on a swim team. Wish the km center had a pool but mostly gyms only have it. Yesterday : Light jog 2 miles at my kddos high school. Hobbled home after that. So humid even with it cloudy out Today: went to KM center and went for more torture at Pete's all in all out class. it's 1 1/2 hrs of insanity. My 2nd time. Jump rope light and drills for 15 min and intervals of one armed pushups with medicine ball then off to ropes they use for rope pulling contests...you have a partner stand on end of rope and you do an "S" motion with each arm. TOUGH...wanted to cry... AND of all things when we did situps with medicine ball..partners ran out...guess who I had for that and the self defense punching ?! PETE.the owner! I held my own..thank GOD!! finished off with gymnastic rings and steppers to lean on for pushups, pullups without it and dips. about that time i wanted to cry out "Mommi! Mommie! Mommie!" But I survived. Check back with me tomorrow...last time it took me 3 days to feel my shoulders and body again. I am a sick bug for torture! But I feel good now! Thats all folks..! Luv bug
nope.not yet. i dont care to tell my rheumy yet. my gp i'll let know next week. finishing up my 2nd round of medrol.
thankfully today i am still alive and hobbling. i didnt think it was really high impact since it was with the jump rope and the rings were for endurance. for some reason since joing the KM classes my back is stronger. i still hurt the same i did before i joined but i am much fitter. its a fantastic stress reliever.
i'll try to stay in one piece. i get the tough talk from hubby or my mom every other week. i'll behave! lol
Last summer, I developed a problem with my left underarm, I think I posted about it, because I went to a dermatologist for it, it was getting all red and was hurting. They did a biopsy on it. Didn't discover anything specific about it, but the doctor gave me a cream treatment to put on it twice a day, said it would take months to go away, which it did, pretty much gone by Christmas, and I thought he must have been clever to have predicted that.
Well yesterday, I noticed that it was coming back..felt it in the same place during swimming. and looked at it in the mirror afterwards, yup starting to get red again!
But guess what I think it is:
Click to reveal..
remember how we have a very small pool, and I spend about half the time turning around? And then I rocket-propel myself from the end of the pool with my feet, that's why I have such fast swimming times? Well, I always turn in the same direction, to my left, and lead with the left arm..
So I actually think that "rash" under my arm is likely caused by the water rushing against it!
And since I only can swim in the summer months, explains why it got better by Christmas! :
So no swimming for me today, until I figure out a way around this...
Thursday: 107 laps, 38 minutes Friday: 110 laps 38 minutes Saturday: 150 laps 42 minutes (Billy Idol's "White Wedding" came on right as I was ready to stop)
or maybe when you take that power stroke, maybe your arm and body rub against one another? if not vaseline, eucerin also a good thing to try, or did i already suggest that before, not sure? but eucerin is the only thing that heals up my trouble spots (for me that's scabby dry patches).
above all else, i hope you find a way to keep on swimming! it seems to be so good for you from what i've heard you say over the last year or so.
not all at one time. walked 1/2 mile from car to local arts and crafts festival, walked around festival which came out to about a mile, walked 1/2 mile back to the car. and after dinner took a 2 mile walk.
so tink can calculate time, i'll go with the typical 20 minute mile, thus:
80 minutes.
it was a beautiful day here! after all that rain, blue skies and white puffy clouds very much appreciated!
well, breathing is important! don't want you drowning or anything!
maybe just not such a hard pushoff, i know that would lower your time down from speed of superhuman, but, well, i'm sure you'll figure it out! as they say half of solving a problem is determining what the problem is (yes, paraphrased very loosely )
Hello Team! Wow everyone's been busy lately! I have been busy, but not exercising unfortuneately! The weather has turned ugly up until today and pool temperature dropped to 21 degrees! That is just too cold for me!
I think it's about time I did a little tot up of stats - here I go...
Monday morning light jog 2 miles 30 min...Bubba and me! Monday evening: KravMaga KB 60 min. A complete mess this morning ...dragging thanks to intervals of humidity and rain. Hoping to be at class tonight...pain pills do your thing please! Buggie
thanks for the update Coach Tink! dow...pain pills were worthless today. i dragged myself up...reminded myself chin up bug..momma's not coming with a "binky" for you so move it or lose it. what a sight i was..hobbling along...survived km kb class.. i was a wreck. instructor is in SWAT...so he's a force to be reckoned with. almost as rough as pete but NOT..thank God. hoping tomorrow i wont be flat out in bed with hands and feet again...i HATE major flares! KM KB 1 hour
Hey Trish! Nice of you to pop in and say hello! I will add your 4k walk into the stats - well done you! What sort of fishing do you do? My hubby is a mad-keen fisherman!
Hey Ladybuggie, Dow and Erica! Stats are great aren't they! No problem with doing stat control! I really enjoy it! Gets my brain going! Keep up the good work everyone! I love being part of this team guys! It's so cool!
I really overdid it tonight - I thought I'd push myself a little harder than usual (I normally only manage about 20 laps) and my poor little neck is hurting as are my shoulders and chest. I don't swim regularly enough... need to try and get in the pool every day even if it's only for a few laps!
Oh well it's nice to be adding to the stats instead of just adding them up
KravMaga KB class Tuesday nigh. Dragged myself in relunctantly. I didnt want to miss as I enjoy Tuesday's instructor. He has a great class. Plyometrics is something that can make some of the strongest cry. Had a couple of young-un's in class. Very physically fit in all their gear and new gloves. They were officially out at 20-30 minutes. I hobbled to my car....but felt accomplished either way. Sore and tired but when isnt AS like that with me? LOL Tuesday KravMaga KB 60 min
Please tell me what KravMaga KB class is! I can't imagine - it sounds hardcore!
All power to you for seeing off the newbies in the first half of the class and making it the whole 60 minutes!
You totally rock, hon! (that sounds very American coming from an English gal!!! I'm actually very English sounding indeed!!! - you guys are rubbing off on me!)
Wow! I'm pretty sure you're officially the most hard-AS-kicker on this fitness team! Krag Maga looks rockin' wild. It's the Israeli self defense system? Is that right?
a mile of that was pacing the halls drinking volumen (for the CT enterography of my small intestine), but that's walking, right!
was starting to drink it in the waiting room but hated having these two older ladies staring at me as i made these horrible faces (of course hubby just told me to stop being so melodramatic, LOL!), so started walking around, found it easier to not focus, mind over matter, so asked if i could go wander with my "milkshake".
found a beautiful courtyard garden, they really put a lot of thought into the fragrances: evidence of peonies come and gone, lemon thyme, lavender, sage, butterfly bushes (no butterflies though), clethra, phlox, roses, and a number of interesting trees, shrubs, plants that were not fragrant. thought i'd be bored there for an hour and a half drinking drinking drinking, but between walking, having free wireless and taking my mac book air, my ipod, the time passed very quickly, and i even got part of my daily walk in
hi tink! km stands for KravMaga which is a type of Israeli Self-defense that is now used in the military and police departments. the kb is the kickboxing. the class incorporates the 2 together so its 2+1 so to speak. you learn to defend yourself AND burn off up to 1000 calories in one hr.
i dont take the self defense classes yet. i'm not sure if i can handle it. i need them but waiting just a wee bit more. ive got a pretty vicious "hammer-fist" thanks to KM now. lol
what is so amazing about the class is we get anywhere from 80-100 people in each class from all walks of life. we have a BIG number of folks that have arthritis, elderly or disabled. you work at your own pace. the instructors are top notch and i love that they know how to get you going. the only thing they ask is for you not to stop. you can slow down but dont stop. if not it's like you are literally starting from the beginning b/c its a tough class. winter was really hard for me but the instructors worked with me. Pete is the owner and it's 20,000 sq feet of KB, KM level 1+up, Cardio kickbox -without bag, Kettle bell --way too much weight for bug, Cycling, Power cycling -really enjoyed that...good music, KMX which is a mx of 20min cardio, 20 min bag, 20 min of ab work in one class. there's also yoga, and pilates as well.
for now i'll stick to that i'm way too high strung for yoga. i'm not very flexible either. tried it years ago. when we stretch in KB class i STILL have the same flexibility i started with almost a year ago...thats just damage from the AS monster. so i work around it.
we have newbies that are injured, or arthiritic and i always try to help and give them tips on fighting stance, gloves, etc; there are some that are huge muscle folks--usually guys...and they are about to faint after 20-30 min of class. but it builds your endurance and that's important to buggy. even if i'm layed out for a few days afterwards ''''ring ring...stretcher carrying buggie out...
thanks for all those descriptions buggie sounds very interesting!
when you stated "way too high strung for yoga" i had to chuckle, our yoga instructor said that the mind is like a monkey chasing its tail, and not just a monkey, but a drunk monkey chasing its tail, and one of the goals of yoga, of meditation is to quiet that drunk monkey. i always got a kick out of that imagery! and your comment reminded me of that.
i loved yoga class, but always seemed to pull something or another when i did it with a class. though i tried hard not to do the things i knew i couldn't do, and the teacher was good about letting us do what our bodies told us to do, i still found doing it at home on my own to be safer in regards to pulling things.
aww shucks erika...i think KickAS has some of THE toughest folks around period! this disease took but it also gave me endurance, discipline, patience and more love to give.
yes its the israeli self defense system. i'm not doing the self defense classes though that are on youtube. but we have that. i'm trying to figure out how to post the link...its under 911 self defense san antonio. but i cant seem to figure out how to post it.
if the teacher / instructor is good, then it will be as much about the meditative aspects as it is about the poses. if it is run that way where it is emphasized to listen to one's body, do what one can, modify poses to suit one's abilities, then it could be fine. if its more about "competition", then its not a very good yoga class anyway, goes against the original purpose of yoga.
when i started it, we had a very spiritual instructor, so much so, that she went to india. the next instructor was not very spiritual at all, the class had a totally different feel, and so after a short time, i stopped going to the class, and just continued the practice at home.
now i kind of mix yoga plus PT exercises, many similar anyway, do what i can, avoid things i can't do. like the bridge pose always irritated my SI, so we stopped doing that. would never think of doing a head stand, too much pressure on the neck, but a good shoulder stand really stretches my neck in ways nothing else, not even traction can do. and the shoulder stand strengthens all my back muscles in a totally nonaggressive way. its my favorite pose. the spinal twist is another good stretch, even if i can't twist very far.
i think you should check out a class. you can always stop going if it doesn't feel right for you.
Thanks Erica Am feeling much better now. Now just got to tackle trying to eat something... am fading away! Thanks for the growling - though if your growls are bigger than the one's in my tummy, you'll have to be growling hard, girl! Hope your knee has recovered itself
Has a sinus infection Wednesday...so I was down and out Thursday..missed then and Saturday because it was a SPECIAL day..Mr. Dimples turned the big "7"!! I was putting together legos with Arthur all weekend and hot wheel racetrack and now have to teach him a skateboard! LOL. I do not recall legos being so darn tiny as they are no!!
Dragged myself to KM KB today...survived. My thoracic is super super stiff today. Keep arching my back hoping it will just miraculously straighten out and I'm good...lol. Just a fantasy! But it feels good!
Sue this is for you or Erica..Tori and I walk several times a week, we have set up 1 mile and 2 mile paths but we have never timed it, that will be easy just start timing it..my question is when I swim it's in a 24 ft round pool, I swim, walk, run around it how would I count that either in laps or just rounds? alot of times I will go around it like 200 times so I know I am putting some excersize into it just dont know how much. When I was at the Dr. for my last remicade I found out I have lost another 8lbs for a total of 31 pounds so far so Im going to keep going.
i'm thinking either just give the amount of time or estimate a number of "rounds" and tink will figure out how to incorporate it. i figure there's no exercise police keeping count so i just estimate. more than anything i think its just a way to keep one another motivated and have some fun with it. then again, i never kept score when i played tennis back in the day; for me it was just an excuse to go out and get some exercise.
ah yes, and congrats on the weight loss! wish i could lose a few pounds, but at least my legs are mostly muscle now and very little fat from all the walking and biking, just wish the tummy would cooperate!
Hello you! So glad you are climbing aboard the exercise team, hon!
I was thinking get someone to time you swimming / running / walking once round the pool and then keep a rough count of how many laps or "rounds" you do LOL then we can just multiply it up! (I will convert the feet into yards for you). Dow gave me a time for how long it takes him to swim a certain distance and so I divided it down as a time per yard and then when he puts in his yards I figure out the time for him.
I hope that makes sense!!! If this sounds all too complicated - just give me the time and we won't worry about distance. Erica does Thai Chi and that is just a minutes thing as are Ladybuggies gym trips!
You are doing great btw it's fun doing it as a team, it just pushes and motivates you that little bit more!
I just saw this fun post, yay. We have a 32 foot pool so my numbers are about the same as Dow's. (only he swims wayyyyyyy more laps than I do!)
In July I spent about 9 hours in our pool, constantly moving, sometimes just treading when I feel bad. But man, oh man, does the swimming ever help. I dropped Celebrex 2 1/2 weeks ago and flared hard as a result and the swimming helped stop the flare. I did have to have my 2 daughters (10 and 12) hold each of my hands to help me descend the steps down into the pool, but hey... I made it and I felt sooooooooooo much better!
hot and muggy today, high 80s, so waited a bit to go for a walk. now its down to 80 and the sun is going down as well, so not beating down on me. nice evening for a walk:
You should get double points for exercising today! I remember that weather. I lived in New York (Great Neck ~ not the rich people section) for exactly 6 months during 1991-1992. Moved there in the sweltering humidity, survived the perfect storm,and fled the state during first break in the snow during February! I am a west coast sissy and I am not afraid of anyone knowing. My hat is off to you who live in wild weather places.
Ok, well it's on. But if there were a hat's off icon I would use that one instead. You get the idea, right?
up here is nothing compared to growing up in southern NJ or living in Maryland or Virginia for 10 years before coming up here. yet compared to someplace like houston......well, guess its all relative.
and i always wait til the sun goes down. just watching people run in the midday sun makes me want to pass out! i too am a wimp when it comes to the heat; with that said, i spent 2 summers in a row when i was in college working on the rutgers research farm, out in the fields every day; drank a gallon of water every day, no kidding!
Hey! Here's some encouraging news I discovered that I can kick a bit harder now and my right hip doesn't beat me up afterwards. I actually swam 50 yds in 1 minute yesterday. I only did it once in the middle of my workout, but no bad after effects. Woohoo!
My stats for today: tai chi ~ 20 minutes swimming ~ 1,050 yds / 40 minutes
The bug is baaaack. lol. Dragging and suffering succatash...thoracic is testing my patience!! Anywho... Wednesday: Power Cycling 1 hr. I have no idea how to measure how many miles that is. Anyone know how to figure that out? It's like spinning supersized!
All I know is that it izzzza hard!!! Resistance changed constantly, hills, standing up, sitting down, tapping up and down...AND fricking weights...l. 1-3 lbs but yipes! Last but not least pushups while power cycling! Muyah! I survived....figured I needed some variety..shake things up. Tonight in recovery unit! aka my bed, pillows, motrin, soma and norco ....my close friends!!
Tomorrow...mayyyyybeeeesssss Petes class....if not KB and save myself for Pete's class saturday. Nite folks...good work fellow sport AS kickers!!
Happy to report that I've lost 5" off my waist!! Took measurements today to see if there were any changes. So I went from my square little 32" to a happy 27"! Weight still the same but inches are still shaving off here and there so I am pleased as punch! And I can eat pretty much what I want...whats that? Oh got to run...Banana nut bread is calling me! Arts co-worker's mom makes some...gave us a loaf...yuM!
Way to go! A pool is usually either 25 or 50 meter or yards depending upon the country. One lap is 50 meters/yards also depending. By my calculations you swam 1200 yds! I count my total yards ant also time to make it easier for our team scorekeeper, the wonderful Tinkerbell:)
Oh Sue22 on the contrary, this is the ultimate 'us against AS' competition! We'll swim, walk, bike, KM, yoga, tai chi, stretch that pain demon right down to the mat! And then we'll laugh loudly and proclaim "WE WIN SUCKER" while making the AS monster say uncle and snivel for mercy! HooAh! Oh yeah...
prep for colonoscopy tomorrow... 6 hours... Grrrrrrr at least when it's done tomorrow I'll only have 10 more days until I can start LDN!
Go TEAM!
PS my sister is taking me to the pool tomorrow after the procedure. Pray I don't drown while under the influence of fentanyl. Seriously, I'll wear a floaty belt and there are lifeguards
if you need a procedure such as this done again while on LDN, propofol was a great alternative that could be used with the LDN. my GI doc is a genius! kind too
the drugs shouldn't last in your system too long, at least for me that is true, by the time they let me leave the hospital, drugs mostly out of my system, at least the effects seemed to be.
prep is the worst part, the procedure and after easy peasy in comparison....if you've done this all before then you know all of this already.
Oh yes! Been here done this before. My mama dies of colon cancer at 57, so I and my siblings are sentenced to every 5 years from age 45 onward. Yippee!
sorry to hear about your mom, and sorry you have to go through this every 5 years, but if it prevents colon cancer, then we gotta do what we gotta do, so does sound like if the LDN works out, in another 5 years you may be trying to figure out how to do the procedure's drugs and continue on the LDN. i was all set to go off it for a bit, but the doctors and i didn't know how long and my GI doc wanted to be extra careful, he certainly didn't want the fentanyl to not work during the procedure, and his idea to use the propofol was a wonderful solution. now i know for all future procedures.
Thanks:) It's been 23+ years since my mom's been on the planet, so it's not a recent sadness. I'm religious about preventative screenings, because she had been putting hers off after lifelong bowel trouble. I might check out because of clumsiness, but not from self neglect.
oh erika..what u just wrote ...brought a tear to my eye! art truly believes i was a merchant marine or drill sergeant in another life! i've said the "say uncle" on numberous occasions...hehehe!
but so true, it's about us against the KA monster...and i'm not going down and staying down without a fight. hobble, wobble, moan, whimper often but i wont give up.
Another humid day here. Dragged myself to KM and was crying "Mommy" within 10 minutes. That instructor is relentless. No mercy and no special treatment. He must have had an extra helping of grumpy-flakes today b/c he was on everyone's booty today!!
I got very nauseated 30 min later but i dont think it was that..its the heat. the heat index has been nuts this last few days. I had that feeling twice last year. I had a huge water bottle....36 oz i think....and he gives hydrate breaks every 15 minutes. but just that short drive over there in the heat got to me. I survived and treated myself to some baked ssssshiiiicken!! KM's Pete All in all out 90 min
Yes, hope you figure out what's wrong and feel better soon, Lath.
And you, Sue Love your/Dow's cheerleading squad! I too am cheering from the side-lines again lately. My kids are all learning to swim, so no chance for me to get my laps in! Hope you are OK, hon.
better than nothing and i feel a wee bit better after the walk
and got to see another pretty sunset, usually the more clouds, the better, so long as there's some break in the clouds for the sun to come through, kind of a subdued sunset, as the break in the clouds was to the north, interesting though, like snowflakes, every one unique
I might take a walk later this evening, but I overdid a bit yesterday. It was worth it, because I got my LDN prescription and took it to the next town over for processing. Woohoo!
I'm back! I felt better starting today. I could actually walk without really bad pain. I see my rheumy tomorrow...I think I've had Humira induced Lupus...but well see tomorrow.
today hubby and i took a bike ride: 10 miles, 50 minutes
along the erie canal path. toward the end of the day, so the bugs and thus the birds were out coming back.
on the way back:
first we spotted a kingfisher, which was kind of special, don't see them very often.
then a kingbird.
then a green heron, which is always cool to see; the bright orange legs are the give away, as they are about the same size and shape and coloring when not right close up as a least bittern, but the leg coloring is the obvious marker.
then we got to a spot where there were about a dozen or so red wing black birds up in the tree tops, flying around eating bugs, the canal being a great place for bug catching, so a great place to see birds.
we stopped to get a closer look at the other birds and noticed a male and female scarlet tanager
and a nondescript little yellow warbler of some kind up in the tree (not close enough to see any identifiable markings.
all in all a good day for a bike ride and a great day for unexpected bird watching. and best of all, the bike ride helped me feel better for a little while at least.
Stats for Monday Aug 9th: KV KB 60 min. Tuesday August 10th KV KB 60 min. Hoping for my 1st self defense class tomorrow at 6. I'm very excited because I can earn my belts.
Bought a shirt from there yesterday..have to post it...love it! It says STW Self-defense-Fitness-Fighting Krav maga Worldwide The best part is the back corner that says STW on the bottom right corner below it.it says "sh*t that works" ROFL! I only saw the KravMaga part and didnt see that till I got home! LOL. But after going through this...I would have to agree with them. Simple yet effective and good for you! bug
in the other direction from yesterday, so not so much bird action...... and an eye thing going on (99% not iritis/uveitis, just something i get now and then, but if it doesn't feel better soon, off to the eye doc)
on a more positive note: lots of people walking their dogs, nice to see so many friendly dogs, except for this little dog, looked like a doberman, and mean as could be! but the other dogs were friendly, and none of them got in my way, actually impressed by how obedient most of them were. and when i got to my turning around point, ducks napping in the grass, til they saw me, and i shared some of my bar with them, then a dog came by and they high tailed it to the water, instinctively knowing they'd better get out of there.
Well sporting folks..bug pulled her wings up..dusted them off..and i DID it. I am officially a KravMaga level I student! I'm so excited. I went to try it out today. No stress on joints. Self defense and I was a nervous wreck! All the girls had partners when it was time to team up..I had to find someone ..ended up with a gentleman that was very nice and helpful. 2 instructers in there and they ask our limitations, etc. Very accomodating. One showed me how to open my stance more because he said I was a skinny little thing and with my stance wider I wont be knocked over. So he had me do it, then shoved me to try to knock me over..and my wings were still standing. yahoo!
After class I explained to him. Said he remembers me from KB class and that if I can handle KB class and SURVIVED Petes all in all out basu, etc then this will be a-okay! At the end they said..testing on the 21st...we'll be ready! WTH!!!?? ROFL!! They put fireman's hoses around our waists, and had to pull forward to hammerfist a rectangular self defense target bag. I was a sight to be seen!! They would have our partner pull us back. The other hold the target. My shoe flew off TWICE. LOL> I quickly put it back on and kept on chugging...lol
He said I did great and I can come all I want. The students were all nice cept for one giant guy that when we close our eyes and get attacked with choke hold and have to defend ourselves..he racked me in the groin, then in the chest then realised i was a girl! he was supposed to open his eyes and SEE first like they said. THEN when it was my turn later and he tried to choke him i got to hits in and he said "okay okay...thats enough"..and pulled away super fast! I was not pleased. Turd is all I have to say! hmpf!
So onwards buggy goes..maybe a belt or two in the near future! I am so happy. I am not hurt because its not direct contact on each other only on target boxes and a good sweat....so I need my Rocky song next...lol
now we're talking sue!! why thank you little lady!!! i love it!! the owner plays it when we do the 1 min rounds in KB class when he pops in to kb class about once a month *quiver* he also plays that one that say's "lets get ready to rumble..."
thanks sue...its been a whole year this month since i slowly started. still cant stretch worth a hoot. still crab-walk..but i'm alive and breathing and actually have some muscle tone. something i lost when i had my back surgery and the AS monster when it went full blown. i just wish i were more coordinated. i'm a mess. they were 3-4 moves at a time and i'm like what???
they had fireman hoses they'd wrap around our waist..one partner would hold you back, the other had the target mat and you had to pull towards and hammerfist it...i was a jumping bug! lol. i bet the guy holding the firehose was laughing his head off behind me! but hey i tried right?
and yes ma'am..i certainly dont see why ice cream cant count...you are using your biceps to lift the spoon and then your jaw muscles to open and close while eating the ice cream..correct??!! that takes work! i know art would vouch for that..he loves his ice cream! i treated myself to some nice cold watermelon when i got home.
i am having a great time. the instructors are great. real life scenarios and good exercise but no stress on my joints at all. i asked before and one of the ones that remembered me from kb said i'll be great since i survived kb and petes class. they encourage you so much you cant help but want to give it a shot. gianna is at about 95% ready to join me. but she wants alot of young un's in her class..and there is. anyone over 27 is ancient to her! so i'm a dinosaur at 41!
i am so happy we have this forum...so much happening....its exciting! even if we are hurting or sore...i'll be a lifeless dishrag in the morning..but right now i'll jam to rocky's song. lol thanks for posting it! made my day!! buggy
I'm still hanging in there for 4 hours each Monday and Friday at my volunteer job at the food bank. I love my job Ya'll are giving me back my life with your encouragement and good examples. Today I packed food boxes for the customers for 1/2 the time, and I even feel pretty good. Thanks!
and an eye thing going on (99% not iritis/uveitis, just something i get now and then, but if it doesn't feel better soon, off to the eye doc)
Sue, I was curious about your "eye thing". When my "flare up" started a couple of weeks ago I noticed a puffiness under my left eye and a slight feeling of pressure. I never had this before and nothing in the left eye (My iritis was always in the right eye). It went away or I just never paid attention to it because a lot of other pains started up. I have had blepharitis but this was different.
I noticed a puffiness under my left eye and a slight feeling of pressure.
A few weeks ago I had a puffy and pressurized right eye during a wicked flare. Around the same time my doctor prescribed nasacort which got rid of the eye problem. However, after much urging from the people here at KickAS, I went to the ophthalmologist and she found a freaking "cortical spoking cataract"! Sheesh ~ I'm only 50! NO, the cataract doesn't cause pain or pressure or puffiness - it's just a bonus of taking steroids for JRA when I was a kid. Oh, what am I talking about? Right... nasacort. I don't know why it works, but maybe it's worth asking your MD about?
and an eye thing going on (99% not iritis/uveitis, just something i get now and then, but if it doesn't feel better soon, off to the eye doc)
Sue, I was curious about your "eye thing". When my "flare up" started a couple of weeks ago I noticed a puffiness under my left eye and a slight feeling of pressure. I never had this before and nothing in the left eye (My iritis was always in the right eye). It went away or I just never paid attention to it because a lot of other pains started up. I have had blepharitis but this was different.
plans are to go to the eye doc next week. like most of us, trying to make sense of it. its basically "just pain" and "pressure" and headache inducing. could it be allergies? well, i take zyrtec every day, but allergies can get worse over time, and it is ragweed season. still, when i would get "eye allergies" before starting the zyrtec, my eyes would hurt, but then i could rub them, ball up the mucus that had accumulated in them, and they'd be temporarily relieved. no mucus in them, so thinking not allergies. blepharitis? well, as you said, this feels different than when i was dx'ed with bleph, but i went ahead and washed out my eyes and used the moisturizing drops and maybe it helped? but not like it did when it was definitely bleph, so either its not that, or its just a really bad case of it. so i guess when we can't figure it out ourselves, home remedies don't work, and it's bad enough, that's when we go to a doctor.
actually lots of "flare" symptoms, not sure which is the worst, probably whatever is hollering for the most attention at the time. but if we ran to the doctor every time something felt bad, we'd always be there, so i guess we all try to figure out, when is it important to go, and when is it just something that either we can handle ourselves, or something that nothing can be done about.
did go outside a little after 3 am last night, as that was supposedly the peak, did see a few, but only faint one's, nothing bright in the few minutes i looked up.
the coolest is when you're driving home, with the open sky in front of you, late at night, and "a big star falls from the sky", so to speak!
Hey you guys! Must get onto those stats before we pass the target without noticing!!!! Everyone is doing soooo well! Have been totally consumed with family visiting - not much time at home on PC lately! Will get you up-to-date as soon as I can! Keep up the good work everyone! Tink - over and out!
Saturday: yard work 5 hours Sunday: yard work 6 hours
I was shoveling dirt into yard irrigation trenches...about 400 ft. And, moving, cutting, stacking a woodpile. I was wonderfully tired. But no energy for a qualifying bike ride.
my husband is a gardener, does lots of yard work, and i know from watching him, how hard that is, and what strenuous exercise it is. he's always jokingly trying to get me to help him. i do have a small herb garden, wish i had more time and ability to do more in the yard, but at least i have my herb garden, and get to enjoy the fruits of his labor (and the flowers and veggies as well!).
maybe tink can add in the time, even if there's no distance involved.
This is a no-holds-barred-free-for-all FITNESS team. I think if we're working out and moving we get credit. This is all about keeping moving and encouraging one another!
has anyone tried some martial arts? I found that it assist with my flexability and strength. but it really hard work if joints dont wanna work with......
thanks erika, glad you are feeling better as well!
was going to go for a walk tonight, after i put the chicken in the oven (organic whole chicken, roasted with fresh herbs from the herb garden), was going to have hubby keep an eye on it. but then cut up some yams, tossed them with EVOO, cinnamon, cumin, and coriander, and roasted them. then cut up some cauliflower, tossed with EVOO, a little italian bread crumbs and romano cheese, and put that in the oven to roast. then decided if the asparagus wasn't cooked, it would go bad, so made that. then saw the apricots were getting pretty ripe, so cooked them down; learned the secret of making chutney last night on the food network (add a little sugar and vinegar and spices, who knew it was that simple!), so added honey, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, vanilla, and almond extract and cooked them down. and didn't want the drippings to go to waste so made gravy from the organ meats, herbs, onion, and carrot. two and a half hours to cook, 15 minutes to eat. now lots of leftovers for the week.
aww geez sue..i just read your post and now i'm super hungry!! lol!! the best i had was homemade chicken soup last week! lol. i'm hoping to make some caldo de pescado this week. fish soup. sounds scary but verrrrry yummy. i dont know ..but i think its the omega stuff ...every time i eat it..i feel so invigorated and like an energy boost of some sort for a couple of days...
right now i'm dragging bug wings...strong winds..i am HOPING rain as all weekend i suffered from hands. my right thumb is a mess. it hurts to bend it from knuckle below fingernail to the bigger knuckle below it...so puffy and stiff. blegh! hoping doc soon but have to catch up on kids new school uniforms and supplies and registration transfer--Gianna lost a book. grrr. but with art working now we are inching towards sanity money wise again....its an unbelievable feeling to be able to go to grocery store and just do regular budget shopping and not chew my fingernails from lack of coins this whole year he was laid off.
i dont know about anyone else lath, but yard work is top notch exercise !! harder with these heat as well! arts been keeping up and i only try to maintain my long slim mulched garden by front gate..but the rest i pass the torch to him...even at 8 pm here in texas its horribly hot!
hi mella! buggie here! nice to meet you! i've been doing kravmaga kb for almost a year. at my own pace, and the actual km self defense level 1 student --started last week! today was my 2nd class!
it has been a lifesaver for me as far as helping me build endurance, strengthening my back while zero stress applied to my back..thank God! i wish i had more flexibility. one of km instructors told me as long as i work on my stretching..but i told him i have none. lol. fused on one si joint and l4/l5 and lots of titanium bolts, screws plates and all that good stuff. so he said to always tell my team partner and i can take my own pace. and its helped.
what type of martial arts are you doing? i still have my pain thats for sure..AS monkey is always on my back but it has helped me an immense amount.
Monday stats: KravMaga KB : 60 minutes MOST UNPLEASANT...yes caps! lol. unbelievably hot today and they are having trouble with a/c in there. kicks in right when class starts and they've been out there 3x already trying to fix it. I looked like an oiled bug today. bleh...but everyone was.
KMaga level 1: 60 minutes. I had zero energy left after my kb class heatwave. had a real nice young lady as a partner. then don don don!!! [drum beats] we had carjacking self defense today! 1st started out with 1 attacker...its usually a higher level but instructor was very excited...ummm..not this kitty kat!! Lol by the time it was our turn..they jumped it to TWO attackers. you sit in an actual car, then partner acts like they are asking you for change...then attack you..you have to pummel or shove or what not two attackers one in back seat to get out. then open palm strike square bag -dont know technical name then get away and lay yourself on back asap and kick off attacker who has longer bag you kick off...then have to get back up and open strike the bag to fend them off. i wrapped my hands real good since my right hand is a mess. but it was more kicks which was good thankfully.
i survived. im recovering with my crackers and strawberry cream cheese spread..yet another one of my well kept recovery secrets! ....oh yes an a few motrin and a norco. lol
going to sound stupid. LDN? I by accident started doing martial arts. was actually looking to do tai chi, but no one here teaches it. So i went to see them with my AS file. We agreed that i will be able to do most of the "moves", but that it will take me alot longer to reach that point. I just need to listen to my body, and my body will listen to me! Its been a year and a half, and i am on my 5 belt. And i can actually do 50 "women" push-ups without difficulty (at one go). During a class of 90 min, we do about 150 push ups, 100 squad kicks, 150 sit ups and then all the normal stuff thats involved. So two classes a week, i feel really good. Now i just need to find something extra for the 2 days of the week.....
Tuesday stats: KravMaga KB : 60 min A/c was working again--yahoo! also had a friend join me too! She's got one more pass on thursday and hoping she'll join with me! Gets a little lonely in KM 1 when i dont have a partner! hubby works long hours driving loading and unloading so he says he's living kv 15hrs a day!
i just wish the heat would ease up...it was super windy last night..but no rain! right hand hurts so bad. wrapped it well but my left thumb is acting all kinds of bad right now...grrr! what can i do?! oh well...took a hot bath, and onwards i march!!! or drag...crawl into bed...*whimper* kravmaga bug
awesome mella! so it's tai chi you do? we do a mother load of pushups and situps--same amount as you! but they've taught me better ways to do them without harming my back. i can do the men's pushups. took me a looong time. i had to do women's for months. but i've learned to work through my breathing. soooo much heat though right now that it's physically draining me. went to class today and hands felt like jello!
oh, i dont know what ldn stands for and not a stupid question. i believe it's an alternative med that some of the ka folks here use to treat the AS monster. perhaps someone here will jump in soon to explain better than buggie can!
anywho welcome! glad to see another martial arts kickas member! belt 5 thats awesome!!! i am just on km level 1 --hope to be out of weenie hut jr. soon and on to level II as soon as I am able...
Walks are a fortunate benefit at my work. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Recently I heard that someone was complaining that some people walk too much. Ha ha...maybe I can get a note from my doctor.
LDN: low dose naltrexone. for those who can't take other meds, don't want to take other meds, or for those of us for which the doctors won't prescribe other meds. very safe, low risk drug, and hey, it has its place. check out the pharmacy and alternative sections. not really sure why people consider it alternative medicine, lots of drugs are used off label. why LDN seems to have this stigma that other drugs don't is kind of a mystery to me (not here, but out there in the medical world); my GP started giving me this huge lecture about the dangers of blah, blah, blah.......honestly, i started tuning him out when i knew how off base he was on this one. its one of the few drugs that does what its supposed to do without side effects......though the what its supposed to do seems a bit unknown at the present time, but for me it allows my body to heal up inflammation way faster than it can on its own! i was in a horrible flare for about two weeks, and just a few days past and its all but a memory, that NEVER happened before the LDN, always lots to recover from before the LDN.
"too much walking": NEVER! get that doctors note if you must! tell them its good for clearing the mind making you more productive when you sit down to do your work. and at least for me, and probably for most others, clearing the mind really does make one more productive. oh lots of reasons that the walking is not only good for you, but for the company as well. they've done studies on such things.
buggie: sorry about the hand(s). something to put on the gift list for santa to bring you: a paraffin wax bath. can't tell you how much i love mine, got a good quality, high end one that's big enough to stick both my hands and feet in (well, not all at the same time, LOL!) mine's from therabath. and one of the fun things is choosing the scent of the wax (unscented an option as well, though the mint and fruit ones are great to me). just a little affordable luxury, a bath or shower, or soaking the hands or feet would work as well, but well, i still like my wax bath. i leave it plugged in as they instruct, on the floor, but beware if you have a dog to put it in a safe place.
Hey Mella! Welcome to the fitness post! If you would like to add in your class to our stats, just write a reply with what you did and the time/distance (as applicable) each time you do it - I will add your stats when I do the next update! Any questions, just fire away!
went out for a walk, but a thunder storm approaching, so had to turn back, got home about 5 minutes before the storm hit, but it was short lived and so we went back out again about 15 minutes later. love summer thunder storms!
all told:
the first leg was .75 miles in 10 minutes, usually hubby thinks i walk way too slowly compared to him, today he couldn't keep up as i was trying to beat the storm home.
well, the imminent threat of being struck down by lightning certainly helps, LOL!
remember riding home on my bike, from my carpool, thought i could beat the storm, as it seemed so far away, 1/2 way home, so just as long to turn back, and it was lightning all around me, and all farm fields around me so no place to take cover, i never rode so fast.....before or since!
Thursday Stats: KravMaga CB class: 60 minutes. The fun part u ask? I had a good friend join me for the 2nd free pass she had..and she joined! YAHHOOOO!! She's got a vacation in Barbados planned in october so she wants to get back on track exercise wise. She is a sweetheart. i also showed her Pete's all in all out class and she was floored at the class...i passed these last 2 weeks. AS monster was flaring too viciously for me to even think of attempting! I told her Yeah!! I have a partner for pete's class!! oh the fun we will have together..muahahahha!! she's big on weight training so i know she has it in her. but she let out a soft *whimper* she's content and i'm happy as i am often without a partner and she's focused and ready so onwards we go!!! Tomorrow is meet and greet with the teachers for 2 of my wee bugs! my other is an 11th grader so i dont foresee that happening! The right thumb is .hmmm..about 5% better maybe? Still swollen but not nearly as bad. stiffness still VERY bad but i'm glad swelling is down. no rain..sniff sniff!
I've got an acre lot...lots of yard work. When I was LATH_ACHES it got neglected. Then LATH_FEELS_GOOD went nuts and planted 50 Italian Cypress and put in 1000+ feet of piping with bubbler irrigation. Now, LATH is just happy to be able to keep going. When I put in the piping I laid a feed line to where I want to put in a vegetable garden...that may be next. Then I've got about 300 feet of fence...the posts are in need of repair...replacing with steel pipe. Come on body...just keep going.
nothing like a little lightning to get our booties moving eh? glad u got home in time!
trust me ..years ago there was a horrible flooding..i believe it was in 98'. i went with the intentions of a breakfast at dennys with my mom and Gianna...only had her then. boy! all of a sudden the rain hit. my mom's battery to her trooper went dead and we were stuck at dennys. literally for hours. then we start seeing helicopters. weather alerts. we were right off loop 410 and perrin beitel road. a little incline but not much. enough to have saved us. right under the highway they werent so lucky. they shut the highway down so my dad nor art could come get us. if you ever visit here theres a dip down at starcrest road...a cozy restaurant with big oak and cypress trees..that was UNDERWATER within an hour or so. apartments were underwater.
we went there at 10an and were able to head back when they opened highway back up at 630! scary part was driving home and seeing huge oak trees and chunks of oak trees and pecan trees ON the highway. it was the scariest weather i've ever seen. before then i enjoyed shopping in rainy weather. but this was unforeseen and catastrophic. needless to say ever since then, i get nervous with heavy rain or lightning..this buggy flutters home...and quick!
thanks erika..funny i havent heard from her today! hehehe. she'll be back monday i'm sure. she works long hours and this heat is unreal over here in te'jas right now!
i'm super happy to have a partner in some classes as i hate having to wander around asking till someone accpets bug. must be these chicken wings of mine.
wow lath...all i can say...is you are hardcore man! lots of work done! awesome job! i miss my hubby these last couple weeks even more. our gazebo flew off b/c he hadnt had a chance to secure it properly. tore. and i need to get it edged -the yard. but his hours are so long now.
hope the body keeps willing and is able to let u get the work u want done!
aww shucks...thanks lath. yeah its pretty insane. i dont know why its worked for me but it has. arthur says its b/c there is no direct stress to my back or hips or si joints. they are drill sergeants no doubt, but they ALWAYS ask you if you are new, what your limitations are, any injuries, etc;
i'm only in km 1 level but hope i can test soon! today is testing but i doubt i'll be ready. right hand is still acting up. it helps release so much stress. you know how the AS monster can test us...some days more than others. my kids were teasing me today..or in least the ringleader was..aka Gianna. She was imitating me how grumpy i get if i dont get that 30 min nap on flare up days. and how she runs fast ! she's an athlete and soccer player. and she's afraid of kravmaga. lol she said no thanks mommy..i'll just watch from here and cheer you on.
wow, that's a scary weather story! i can understand your apprehension now!
i've got scary weather stories from when i lived in maryland and virginia, the threat of tornados, of course nothing like out in the midwest, but scary enough for me. a few close calls when we lived down there. when it does no damage, severe weather can be kind of exciting, but when it does damage, it definitely turns scary. the worst thing here are the ice storms. i lived up here until the fall of 1990, in the spring of 1991 they had a terrible ice storm. we came back in the summer of 2003, the spring before our return, another terrible ice storm. somehow we managed to miss them both. and the very worst virginia weather, a really bad flood and on another occasion, high winds, possibly a tornado, hit within the year or two after we left. i think we've been fortunate, my hubby thinks we've been unfortunate! but boy have i gotten caught in a few severe summer thunder storms in maryland, so dark and raining so hard, one literally couldn't see while driving.
don't get too excited though, fighting hard for my back not to get as bad as it was last fall when i was out of work for months on end. walking is the one thing that helps it. i thought the flare was over, but guess it screwed up my upper back enough to cause issues. and when i think i have it settled down with the KIP nsaid gel and ice during the day, i go to bed and wake up really bad. so tonight i need to start sleeping with an ice pack under the spot where i think i must have torn muscle and/or tendon back in 98', the spot that just hasn't ever healed up properly. prayers please!
prayers otw sue! geez..this summer was supposed to be good for us! winter was nippy for texas this past one..and summer had everyoen excited. and we were grateful for all the rain! helped all my plants...but august came and wham! hit us with a huge slap of mugginess, humidity, and blasts of heat slapping our face if we even crack the front door open! killer on my joints!
my right thumb is now going on a whole week of super sharp pain. i have been wrapping. biofreeze didnt help. i think b/c of swelling. works great on my tspine. tried voltaren..helping slightly. but not enough. i dont want to go THERE with steroids again. i cant even button my jeans or laundry without wincing. gianna helped me last 2 days. i cant even open my can of soda! thats just all kinds of wrong!
hey, i read your post about the paraffin! my mom gave me one last year! thanks for reminding me sue! at the time it was bad then it eased up and never pulled it out. its a nice big one too!! she got it through her insurance when she had carpal surgery done a few years ago. she didnt care for it as she doesnt have joint pain and it was predominently nerve pain for her. so she thought it would be great for me! i have to rummage my closet...i think i know where its at. kids are nuts right now...restless for school monday! so i'll crank that thing up monday if i can find the way or i'll find scented ones..now that would be real nice!!
have u every done the hot stone manicures? i got my nails done last week...a VERY rare treat but i had horrible cuticles. anyhow afterwards i saw that and a hot stone pedicure. i was contemplating getting the pedi one since my feet are in pain too lately.
good job anyhow sue!! i hate that feeling too of trying to fight off a pain creeping up or the thought of it being like a similar flare up in the past. i've been doing the last of back to school shopping and had to deal with angry and grumpy shoppers. one man honked madly b/c i got to the disabled parking first. i had my blinker on. i never raced him. i pulled up correctly. thing was i had my kiddos with me. uncalled for. he even circled back when we got off and yelled something at gianna. thinking she was older i am assuming!! she quickly turned around and told him "i'm sorry, my mom was here and you can find another spot--she has her tag!" she was a little stick of dynamite and i had to calm her down. but it was so ridiculous. we are ALL shopping. academy has about 50 disabled parking spots up front..but it was busy and people were leaving constantly. i was floored at peoples behavior. i guess i needed to roll out my paper saying i have AS, lung disease, etc. geez.
hope u feel better! i'm hoping to catch kravmaga 1 class tomorrow morning before lil ones r up then bag class. thats if i can peel these ol' bones up. not looking that way so far!
Good job walking through the pain , but don't hurt yourself worse!
It's a fine balance this exercise vs. rest endeavor!
(It's always a trade off for me when I take a day off of swimming to rest, because I know that the next day I'll be stiff and sore and will only be able to swim half as far)
It's one of those crazy days here where the sun is shining over my house, but the fog bank is hovering over the next street toward the water. I imaging scary shark movie music when this happens.
My stats for today: Swimming ~ 1,000 yds / 40 minutes Walking ~ 1.5 miles / 40 minutes tai chi ~ 10 minutes
I am supposed to be practicing tai chi for 30 minutes a day. Nobody tell my teacher! Shhhhhhh....
for me right now, laying down to sleep at night is the scariest thing, as laying on it makes it infinitely worse. but started once again sleeping with ice under the inflamed area and hoping i can nip this before it snowballs out of control like it was last year. but right now i am very scared, to the point i'm trying not to really think about it, but waking with a freight train racing through one's body is never a good thing.
but the ice does help, it really does. and i have these artificial "peas" ice pack from CVS (dow told me about! thanks dow if you read this!). this ice pack stays cold a long time but its hard, so i layer it under my gel ice pack which is soft. the "peas" help the gel one stay cold longer. stays chilled for about 5 hours, so can sleep about 5 hours before waking, that's pretty good. can get up and change out the ice packs if i want. can take another muscle relaxant at that time if i want. but the way i have to lay, with the icepack under the area, and with my back propped at an angle is not so great for my neck, last year the neck and even the head muscles went into terrible spasm as well. feel like i'm on a rollercoaster ride and its like "hold on" and brace yourself for this wild ride.
but classes start in 2 weeks. can i drive to and from work? can i sit at work? can i sleep enough to not be so sleep deprived doing my job is difficult? can i get this under control by then? can i go to see the rheumy in philly next month or do i have to cancel again? so many questions, and when i think about them, right now i get very freaked out, so i'm just trying to live day by day right now. i used to be so proactive, a real planner, but this disease has been teaching me that i just can't always do that anymore. trying to take it one day at a time.
but, with all that said, my SI joint was a nightmare since oct 2000, and finally in april 2010 (so almost 10 years), i discovered that if i wear a flector patch over the spot 24/7, my SI is "almost normal" (just a little butt spasms if i sit for too long, lay for too long, etc) but the "loosey gooseyness" is gone, the misaligning is gone, the lower back spasms are gone, the severe inflammation right in the SI joint is gone, the sciatica is lessened.
so when i start to get particularly freaked out about my upper back, i remember that i finally found a solution (for now) for my SI joint (so long as i can keep using the flector patches side effect free and so long as my SI joint doesn't get too bad for this to work). sadly i had to figure my SI joint out for myself, and this is with a team of doctors (2 physiatrists, a rheumatologist, a GP, a chiropractor, PTs, and other doctors), and no one thought of such a simple simple solution. thanks to all you here!
so i think its only a matter of time before we'll hit on a solution for the upper back. i have to believe that anyway. if it were the rotator cuff, they'd be thinking surgery i'm sure. but since its the rhomboid area.......i need to find a doctor that does rotator cuff surgeries and talk to him/her, that's my next step. this conservative treatment thing just isn't working. i really think i tore something and it needs to be addressed.
i do think the sleeping on ice is helping, fingers crossed, toes too! now that i've been up, think its better today than yesterday, if i can just get through this.......
never heard of hot stone manicures........will google!
as for that rude person, my mama taught me that the ruder someone is, the nicer and sweeter i am, either it diffuses the situation or really makes em' boil over . either way, at least that way i don't get all worked up . but too bad he had to be so rude to ya'll. good for gianna! good to see she had your back, so to speak!
at least the feet and knees (really the hamstring tendon entheses behind the knees which yield "impingement" in the knee when inflamed) seem over their flare!
at least the feet and knees (really the hamstring tendon entheses behind the knees which yield "impingement" in the knee when inflamed) seem over their flare!
Nice walk it seems?
Feet and knees being essential to walking - glad yours are behaving better! Way to keep moving - you inspire me
Oh MAN Sue...what else can I say but I know. I know that lying down to sleep is both a necessity and can be an evil. I know. I know about having to go on...I am the sole wage earner in this family. I know. I worry. But I do what I have to do. Oh MAN I know.
You will find a solution to your upper back problem. I know.
thanks lath, just saying you know and knowing you know is enough
I feel the same about all of you! Everyone here! When I got here, I felt like my life was almost over, and now I feel like I have something to offer my family, my friends, and my community.
I have been thinking that we should convert the walking/biking distances from miles into yards to be in keeping with the swimming distance - otherwise the figures are very skewed!
Eg. if Sue walks a mile it is equivalent to Dow swimming 1760 yards!
Can I have permission to go back and edit the figures accordingly?
I first realised the situation when I walked a mile... it's a lot further than swimming a yard!!!!!!!
today, a walk, 2 miles, 40 minutes, would have done the last half mile before it got dark, but i drank too much water on the first leg of the walk, if you know what i mean
Worked for 4 hours this morning packing boxes for hungry people. I've developed and ingenious plan by which I roll a small grocery cart into the store room, fill the order, then roll it back out again and give it to the client. That way I never lift anything heavier than a can of corn, and I don't get too sore to do my job. I love being a volunteer. It makes me feel so freaking fortunate! And it also makes me feel like someday I might actually be well enough to work for money again.
My stats for the day:
Walking - 1 mile / 40 minutes ( not Sue's 20 minute mile by any means ) Swimming - 1,000 yds / 40 minutes
Buggie is back. Hectic day of back to school for 3 buggies-!
Monday stats: KM I: 60 min KM CB: 60min
Have a new self defense partner as well! have my other buddy that i know already that is doing the cb class but i met this lovely lady today who joined me as a partner and we exchanged numbers. She said it was the most fun she's had since she joined the sd classes! We worked quite well together and our instructors were fantastic today. Learned quite a bit. Found out they now test 2x a month. I have to have my km pants and tshirt/mouthpiece and the other protector pieces dont apply to buggie!
All in all a rather fruitful day....tomorrow i'll b flat out on my back! Off to go to sleep and nurse my bloody knuckles. Wrap not enough for the wrath of buggie today..hahahha! yeah right!
Oh, I hate when that happens. It's a fine balance to stay hydrated while exercising. There's an awesome easy trail here, but there are nowhere near enough bathrooms along the way.
I was up and at it early today. I swam at 8am and now, when I'm supposed to be studying comparative mythology... I'm reading posts instead. Hmmmm... maybe this is why it takes me so long to get things done
All right, I'd better get into the pool now, while I still can, and it sounds less mentally challenging than studying comparative mythology
When I finally roughly figure out how many laps I've done since the last time I've reported, I hope it won't make Coach Tink's calculator explode, I think I've only missed about 5 days in the last month
It is stinkin' WINDY here! The Strait is wild with whitecaps and the sun is shining. My husband is out crabbing in it. Sheesh ~ these fishermen are a bit nuts I think!
Stats today:
walking - 2 miles / 40 minutes (Sue's time inspired me!) laughter yoga - 35 minutes
go erika and sue! we had quite a bit of wind the last 2 days too! our pop up screen gazebo flew clear over our private fence in back!! twice! unfortunately, it sustained substantial damage and is in gazebo heavan now! on the plus side we had rain yesterday AND cloudy cooler day today! beats that 105 temp we had going for nearly 3 days!
THURSDAY stats: KM CB: 60 min Passed on KM I ..me poor weary knuckles need to finish healing. hand wraps slipped off my right hand and i've been feeling it for last couple days. TGIF!!
last night, bent over to pick something up off the floor, something very light, and when i went to stand back up, the whole pelvic area seized up. and it was doing so well. wonder if the 1/2 a flector patch isn't enough, will be nice when i can remove the other 1/2 from the rhomboid area and protect the SI better.
but could've been worse, got away with just tightening of the muscles, those protective muscle spasms, not the screaming muscle spasms. today the muscles are just very fatigued, that's what happens when they run their spasm marathon. so even if i can't run a marathon, apparently my muscles do it without me! LOL!
today the muscles are just very fatigued, that's what happens when they run their spasm marathon. so even if i can't run a marathon, apparently my muscles do it without me! LOL!
muscles weren't too fatigued, even able to make dinner myself, until at the end of their visit for the night (they are spending the night in a local hotel, their preference). so when they left, i set the recliner up with ice packs for my rhomboids and SI and a heating pad for my complaining back muscles.......i love heat and ice! all the muscles became so relaxed, i realized just how tired i was, and fell soundly asleep for about 2 hours, i love that feeling!
i will erika i had them on okay but in km 1 room the a/c was acting up in there too and i was sweatin' bullets. i think thats why that handwrap went down for the count. doesnt take much to hurt these bony fingers of mine. since AS monster any nick or bump...major inflammation. miss sofie was kind enough to put some antibiotic cream on them tonight. all but pinky are healed..yahoo!
Hello team ka pals!! Saturday stats: KM CB: 60 min. I peeled myself up today. Was so sore and stiff but the andreniline [spe?} once i'm there is like nothing else...till i saw it was bridget one of my fav instructors but a force to be recokened with. KM big level instructor, bag teacher, and marathon competitor.
luv the gal. she is good and always modifies. i cant do alot so she always gives u an alternative. sweatin' bullets...lol but felt great after a cool shower and puppy power nap.
looking forward to cooler days so i can get my mojo back 100% heat is too draining and painful on my joints!
Hi All! My semester has started, so I might not be here every single day to cheer you on. This is my very last semester of school before I FINALLY get my 4 year degree that I've been working on ~ around injuries ~ for 20 YEARS! Barring any unforeseen difficulties, and these last classes are ALL ONLINE, I should be done by December 14th. Whew (drawing my hand dramatically across my brow)!
Laps: 108 Time: 47 minutes Water temperature: 76 Number of times bumped into side of pool because water is cloudy: 8 Number of times headphones fell out of ears: Too Many (should I try a stapler?) Songs Listened To Underwater: I get to pick the first one, the rest are from iPod shuffle mode)
Click to reveal..
Seals & Crofts: Hummingbird The Who: My Generation The Who: Pinball Wizard The Who: Glow Girl Big Audio Dynamite: Rush Renaissance: Mother Russia Warren Zevon: Lawyers, Guns and Money Divinyls: I Touch Myself Better Than Ezra: Burned War: Low Rider
boy walking is a lot harder when the muscles are still fatigued and stiff as a board, but went out and walked a mile anyway (25 minutes), not sure if this will loosen the muscles up or fatigue them more, but the rest of the body needed to get out. surprised that my time was not really much different despite the funny gait, one side moving correctly, the other side moving as one part.
and on the way back, found a tiny butterfly on the newly tarred road. thinking that was no place for a butterfly, picked him up, he didn't resist. gave him some water in my bottle cap, he still stayed on my hand, brought him home, took some photos of him, gave him some more water, and he didn't fly away. thinking maybe he was old and dying, but not sure, set him on a flower cluster of one of our butterfly bushes, thinking even if he were dying, that would be a better place to go. or, maybe he could get nectar from the flowers and regain his strength. always an adventure out there, never knowing what each day will bring.
the butterfly helped me too, took my mind off myself, which is always a good thing.
today walking was much easier! the back spasms are gone, i got off easy this time, just 3 days of spasms. now all that is left is that sore inflamed spot right over the SI joint.
lots of ice, including sleeping on ice packs is getting it back to good. today the only time it really hurt was when i first woke up, the entire pelvis was stiff and sore, think that's just the body trying to heal it up. that always happens when my body is healing tendons or ligaments. just a little sore after the walk, but really its coming along pretty good.
wish the upper back were so easy, but every time i sit or lay, it gets irritated. they say to rest inflamed soft tissue, easier said than done sometimes, but again ice and topical nsaids are helping. compared to last year, i'm getting off easy.
Thursday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Friday: walk 2 miles (40 minutes) Saturday: yardwork 90 minutes Sunday: yardwork 360 minutes! (worked my [*bleep*] off) Monday: walk 4 miles (70 minutes) we're picking up the pace
I getting caught up with posts...I've been absent the last few days...
Sue, I'm curious about your SI joint pain. Do feel the pain in your bun either left or right? And does it pain the most going down a slope? Now it isn't too bad but I've had bad pains like this. I hate them the most because it makes walking so painful.
I never thought to look for topical nsaids. I used to take oral nsaids all of the time until my GI cut me off of them for the ulcertive colitis. I would think a topical would be ok. I get an upper back ache when I stop working and sit on the weekends. Then when I get back up and work it gets better. Is there a particular name brand you use?
luv the gal. she is good and always modifies. i cant do alot so she always gives u an alternative. sweatin' bullets...lol but felt great after a cool shower and puppy power nap.
That sounds like a really good instructor who forms the class to your ability. I signed up for a yoga class at work...I was really concerned about being able to do anything...the class was full and I didn't get in...I actually wasn't disappointed. The only reason I signed up was because my friends were so supportive, convinced me, and they really thought it would be good for me. Just knowing that made me feel good.
Seal & Crofts... I saw them at the June 13, 1976 Mountain Air in Calaveras County, Angels Camp, CA. They played with Poco and Pure Prarie League. (The internet is great you can look this stuff up because I wouldn't remember the details otherwise.) Our friends spent the night at the gate and got our group THE front and center box seat in an audience of 10,000. That was a good time!
Seal & Crofts... I saw them at the June 13, 1976 Mountain Air in Calaveras County, Angels Camp, CA. They played with Poco and Pure Prarie League. (The internet is great you can look this stuff up because I wouldn't remember the details otherwise.) Our friends spent the night at the gate and got our group THE front and center box seat in an audience of 10,000. That was a good time!
have you read aloha ben's musical musings? this all sounds right up his alley.
Sue, I'm curious about your SI joint pain. Do feel the pain in your bun either left or right? And does it pain the most going down a slope? Now it isn't too bad but I've had bad pains like this. I hate them the most because it makes walking so painful.
I never thought to look for topical nsaids. I used to take oral nsaids all of the time until my GI cut me off of them for the ulcertive colitis. I would think a topical would be ok. I get an upper back ache when I stop working and sit on the weekends. Then when I get back up and work it gets better. Is there a particular name brand you use?
But, I can't image sleeping on ice packs.
working backwards:
sleeping on ice. gotta do what ya gotta do. one ice pack isn't too bad, but now with one on the upper back and the other on the lower back/butt, woke after about an hour and a half and was awake for a full half hour before going back to sleep SO COLD! then remembered last year how i'd also fill up a hot water bottle and take that to bed. the hot and cold balance out and then i can sleep. i do the same sort of thing in the recliner, ice and a heating pad on different areas, it works.
topical nsaids.
the patch is called a flector patch. think its the only brand out there. don't think there is a generic.
the gel / creme is called KIP gel, for short. its a triple antibiotic creme made up by my local compounding pharmacist. it contains: 10% Ketoprofen, 10% Ibuprofen, 2% Piroxicam.
before my compounding pharmacist recommended this, i used voltaren gel, but that was way too mild, didn't do a thing for me, but the KIP gel is pretty powerful stuff.
as for the SI, yeh, when the docs talk about lower back pain, i tell them its really more of a pain in the butt. the lower back kicks in when its acutely bad, but the butt pain is pretty much a chronic thing. even when its pretty good, too much sitting will cause the butt to kick in. more right then left, but it does shift around. before i got the cortisone injections and then 6 months later switched to the flector patches, before that going up or down stairs wasn't so great, so i avoided them. now honestly with the flector patch over the SI, this is the first real issue i've had with the SI since i started wearing them in april, but my fear is that the 1/2 patch just isn't enough medicine, but i need the other 1/2 patch on my rhomboids for now.
I just gave my tubes of voltaren gel to my sister... sniff sniffle whine. I loved that stuff, and so does she. Sue, you use flector patches? Ahhhhh.... lucky duckies
Tuesday stats: KM CB: 60 minutes of pure torture. Had Rube today as teacher. Great instructor...ferocious. lol I need to get a knee brace though. I have such a hard time with my knees..years now. I tried a brace Arthur got me but it wasnt give me correct support. May have to go skadoodling around for one this week.
Anywho..I survived and am on an anti starch night...a big bowl of spaghetti..and i dont care pffft!! i think i deserve it.
Goooo team!! windy nights lately...hoping for yardwork soon..i have one shrub that got's to go...but i dont know if i can do it without arthur. he's outta town and i'm pooped out with 3 crazy buggies! we shall see!!
so good for the SI joint to have settled down and the back spasms to be gone already!
but much more troubling is my upper back / neck. i can walk forever, seems to be the only thing that gives me momentary relief. but can't sit, and trying to get ready for the school year is becoming next to impossible.
started a pred dosepack today. will report back later. but so far no negative side effects that i can tell (9 hours into day 1; 8 mg at 3 pm, 4 mg at 7 pm, 4 mg at 11 pm, and supposed to take another 8 mg at bedtime. then less each day for 6 days total. my feet feel better after all that walking than they ever do and my right knee, no impingement from my hamstring tendonitis. and my upper back feels a lot better. right now its just my neck along my spine that concerns me, and all those bizarre symptoms that are going along with it.
True Sue! Bending is hard work...if I had to do that more than a couple times..I'd be stuck there...in my early days I was the turtle bug. I'd get stuck like that...i'd forget...or lay on the floor and couldnt get up...kids would have to roll turtle bug over!
Ran 2.25 miles this morning. Didn't run far because I am saving my legs for the half marathon on Saturday. It is 4 miles up hill then 9 miles down hill.
Sue, talking about your spine reminded me of something I read last night in the awesome trigger point workbook. Another reason it is so important to sit up straight is because when we slouch we sit on the very tip/end of our spine. OUCH. All that pressure right there on the tip causes myriad other problems and pains. Now I straighten up and think of that several times a day.
So everyone together now. Sit up straight. Roll your hips forward and viola!! Now you're sitting on your cheeks and not the tip of your spine.
On an exercise note, I got up to go to a swiss ball class and couldn't move because my hammies were so tight from picking up litter. Ohhhhhhhh well, the world is a cleaner place today.
you're absolutely correct about sitting! that's why i spent the money to buy swopper chairs, one for work, another for home, really the only chairs that don't bother my back, unless its already been bothered by something else. not only does the constant motion from the spring strengthen the lower back muscles, but the tilt that you can achieve puts the body in the proper pelvic tilt.
if i am elsewhere and seating is limited, i find a small firm chair and sit at the very very edge to force the proper pelvic tilt. my physiatrist showed me that, but i told her i already discovered it too, great minds think alike! helps take the stress off the upper back muscles. even rock on the front legs of the chair if its a light enough chair.
but if the rhomboid area is already inflamed, then all load has to be off those muscles: no sitting, no lifting of the left arm, no use of those muscles / tendons until some healing has begun.
who ever knew sitting was such a hard thing for the body to do, even when done properly.
Glad you have mentioned this because I have notice that the last few days I am slouching about more. I do when I am getting depressed, so I will have to put more effort in
I do have one good method though. I have programmed myself to think 'sit up straight' each time I stop at traffic lights, I also give my hips a little wiggle. It's my way of adding a bit of excercise without taking any extra time out of my day
boy its getting darker and darker earlier and earlier! i swear we're losing 5 minutes of daylight each evening! so hot this week, waiting til sunset to go out, but the earlier setting sun catching me by surprise! that's ok, come saturday they're saying a high of 60ish, can go out earlier then!
Wed Stats: Krav CB: 60 minutes Making an appt with doc tomorrow. Right thumb is so swollen again. We had rain last week and it eased up but its back with a vengeance. Ahh, what else is new in the life of a KickAS member eh? I barely peeled myself outta bed in time for school today. Kids were great about it thankfully. Stuffed myself right now A-gain with leftover spaghetti. Not sure whatsa matter with bug...tired? I ate a big lunch. pain..always. Lost my inner chi? possibly? Found my mojo? YES..thats it! Hubby is still outta town and buggy is plumb worn out...big time!
Go Steve [orch], go sue, erika...go team..woo hoo!!
hola sue..heck i dont know how i do it either..its a work in progress. pain is vicious. it made my life miserable for years full blown 10 yrs ago and back for over 21 yrs. i guess b/c for that short time i forget or make myself forget. they tell us to work through the pain. to push through it.. i have made myself to. but come night and mornings i am a mess.
i've tried so many meds. deathly allergic to a few. so for now my friends are norco and my all time fav soma. i was always a sickly kid in gym as a teen -back pain, couldnt do bleechers up and down. got an F in there and my mom had to raise caine at my school. i feel like it's a huge accomplishment. even though it's small in reality. but when u have pain like us AS folks in our face non stop..any accomplishment achieved is a stomp on the AS monsters head and that is all worth it!
Ran 2.25 miles this morning. Didn't run far because I am saving my legs for the half marathon on Saturday. It is 4 miles up hill then 9 miles down hill.
WOW...that is just awesome. Welcome to the team and you are starting to inspire me. I think I'm going to try short little runs with weekend walks.
Oh ya...Blue Oyster Cult...saw them June 6, 1976 with the J. Geils Band, Jeff Beck, Mahogany Rush, and Sammy Hagar at Day On The Green #4 of 1976...more good times! Yes, I'm an old rock-n-roller and I have the hearing to prove it. Concerts sure where cheap in those days.
Sue! I swear I'm having sympathy pains for you. At around 1:45pm pacific time, I had the most godawful stabbing cramp in my right deltoid ~ around lap #7, and nearly sunk to the bottome of the pool. If I find out something happened to you at the same time, that's it... I'm becoming a psychic. For pay of course.
LOL! no, actually at 1:45 pm things were pretty good! but makes me smile to know you were thinking of me. actually went to this really good chiro today for my rhomboid, sounds like he will be addressing it similarly to how it was addressed back in virginia when i had a good PT and good physiatrist. i have faith we can get this back under control. of course ask me after i've had to go to work on monday, two more days to try to heal a bit first.
today: walked: 2 miles, 40 minutes and since it rained all afternoon and was just clearing up near sunset, got to see another pretty rainbow again while out walking!
Sat stats 9/4/10: KM CB: 60 min I was shuffeling about for the 10am slot...UNbelievable! It was an absolutely splendid day because we had nonstop rain the night before all the way till about 5-6am! My yellow bells are over 6 ft tall now! There's been a breeze for 2 days and nights...sweet!
Must have been the change in temp and rain that eased the joints torture and livened me up a bit. Small class...guess lots of folks slept in or out and about enjoying the day early....and it went smooth. Only trouble with elbow balancing..planks i think they call it...trying to keep the back straight a few inches off the ground. Me'ol'spinie dont care for it at all!! Other than that I was pleased. Showered and baby buggy had a birthday party to attend at her friends gramma's house in new braunfels...so we enjoyed the small trip and weather along the way.
Only downside? Couple of muddy patches in yard + one silly boxer boy named Bubba = Muddy tracks! Ack!! But he was laying out in the sun supervising Art saw off the last shrub.
by all means! good to see you here, welcome! saw your other post about exercise. i think a lot of people have times where things are harder and then times when things are easier, so we do what we can when we can.
today i walked 2 miles, 40 minutes.
buggy,
we too had a cold front move in! 2 days ago it was 90, yesterday it was only 65, cool and crisp, and when i went out in the evening at sunset, the storm clouds were in the process of drifting away, the sky was so magnificently dramatic! a mixture of dark charcoal grey and pinks and oranges and indigo blue. i love the sky after storms, especially at sunset!
Hi, Really amazing. Great effort. I am unable to imagine, leave alone participating in marathon, even running by a person having AS problem. What is the secret? Regards.
stupid school! no time for exercise! unless walking about a mile each way to and from class counts! LOL!
and since the chiro fixed that rib, sue is a happy camper. today was a good day!
when i went to sit on the edge of a table in class, felt the same horrible feeling nearer the spine. got up immediately. so wonder if something similar going on with either the spine or maybe where the rib attaches to the spine (the other day it was a rib stuck under the shoulder blade). but thank god sitting doesn't affect it! and going back to chiro on wednesday so he can address it then.
just so happy to have found this chiro,
tomorrow i go home early to do a proper walk! at least that's my plan. maybe wednesday after the chiro as well, we'll see!
Friday: walk 2 miles (40 minutes) Saturday: yard work 300 minutes Sunday: yard work 360 minutes Monday: Bike 12 miles (60 minutes)
Yay!
Ok, my yard work time is seriously lacking. I picked strawberries for about 10 minutes tonight... and a few corn and zucchini. Any my husband picked jalapenos and raspberries. In all though, it only took 20 minutes tops and we ate as many berries as we brought in... so I think maybe that defeats the calorie reduction activity!
yes, i do have a pedometer, that's how i know how far the parking lots are.
its not the distance that is the problem except when i have a problem where i can't walk, but that is usually the exception these days.
the problem is that the distance is much to far to be carrying my lunch, all the water i need to drink (the water from the water fountains makes me feel kind of ill), my computer (even though its a light mac air), my clay ice packs (right now have to drive with one for my butt (SI/piriformis) and upper back (though both getting better, driving with ice helps not set them back), etc. shouldn't be carrying all of that any distance, think after today, pulling up to the building, putting on the hazards, taking everything in, then parking the car and walking in, and that's from the handicap parking, i will be talking to the ombudsman once again how though the transportation office is nice to me when i tell them the issues with handicapped parking, really its just all lip service. my husband thinks its totally unacceptable. they are in conformance with laws (handicapped parking must be in the parking lot nearest the buildings with clear egress (well, they don't have clear egress in the winters and i will raise this issue as well) but they do have handicap parking in the nearest lot, its just the nearest lot is over a half mile away from our building.
and walking to class isn't such a big deal but again i have to take my own laptop, they don't supply them in the classrooms, even though its an "institute of technology". so by the time i take my laptop, etc, its really too much to be lugging around the way my back is.
truth be told, i never thought of these issues before i had them, but with that said, when i bring them up to the department (chair), no one really cares. i just get put teaching where ever on campus they can find room.
don't worry, i'll adjust, i always do! but...........
well, almost made it home today for a walk, but mother nature intervened with a thunder and lightening storm, so took a nap on the couch for 2.5 hours when i got home. so good to be able to crash like that! means my body is finally adjusting to not being in that horrible pain anymore!
tomorrow have chiro at 5:30 pm, so should be home in time for a walk!
think though as it gets dark earlier and earlier will just have to plan going over to the gym at school before coming home. they have a track which is always open but must climb several flights of stairs to get there and that was really messing up my SI joint 2 years ago when i was trying to do that. they have another track downstairs in a multipurpose type room and its closed more than its open, i need to talk to them about that! or just might have to go back to the recumbent stationary bikes instead, that's not a terrible thing to do, though i prefer walking. also plan to get a recumbent stationary bike for home very very soon so i can do it here when i get home even easier. told hubby i want that and a treadmill, he said to pick one, i know he's right.
Better late than never! Monday stats: KM CB: 60 min. Tuesday- 24 hrs of slacking. Ok not slacking all day...housecleaning fiddling with digital cable...but no exercise..storms flew in!! Neighbor lost their HUGE pecan tree. Saw the damage on way to drop off wee ones right now! Was considering this mornings class..but me wee'bones are so achy since monday morning. Glad we got the rain but the flooding was scary! Be safe and goooo team!!
Yes..buggies being careful. Just extra stiff spine lately. The front that moved through knocked me off my feet...literally. Feet hurt, spine super sore. And skipped class and KM 1 all last week to play it safe. You'd think with some sturdy titanium rods and screws, and plates i'd be a wee bit stronger...not! but the mind is willing.
No not really. I just neglected it for a few years while my body was going immobile. So, now I am catching up. This last weekend's activity included septic tank work. I just had it pumped...for the first time...in 20 years! (long story) I had to dig two 34 inch diameter holes over the tank lids, insert 32 inch pipe as a riser, and install riser lids. The septic tank guy broke the tank's concrete lid...so, I had to build a form for that, form the rebar/wire mesh, and poor a bag of concrete. Then I went back to the normal yardwork: lawn, veg garden, and started cleaning out a section that needs work.
whenever i tried turns under water, even ones simpler than this, i always ended up with water up my nose, even when i breathed out really hard, etc. never did try it with nose plugs. that vid was kinda cool and so cool you can now do this!
well, still impressed with all the work you are doing!
and at this rate, soon you will have a seriously awesome yard!
once you get all the overdue projects done, i'll suspect yard work will be such habit, you'll just keep going......or your get so tired of it, you'll say "enough is enough!" LOL! but my husband just keeps going and going; always something new to work on, something new to plant, to transplant, to weed, etc.
though i got home a bit earlier, by the time i ate something first, still getting a bit dark, still, i was determined to go outside, even though it was raining, so put on a jacket with a good hood and walked in the rain, which was fine, it was a light rain. walked in the cul-de-sac neighborhood so i wouldn't get hit by a car, and took a flashlight too!
chiro again today:
he fixed up around my neck the same way he fixed that "rib under the shoulder blade" the other day (found out today he did it by a technique called A.R.T. (active release technique)). it wasn't as bad to start and not quite as perfect after (but i have arthritic changes in my C-spine so not surprised), still remarkable the difference.
on the other hand, without my knowledge that he was going to do so, and without my permission, he started on my SI. i warned him but he gave me one of those "if you don't let me do what i do, i won't be able to help you." but i'm gonna have to warn him again that if he's gonna work on it, it has to be after philly next week, and its gonna have to be very slowly and cautiously.
it was pretty settled down (even after it misaligning a week and a half ago) so long as i didn't sit too long, slept with ice under it, used my flector patches. but tonight, the right piriformis is on fire (when he pressed on a triggerpoint there i told him to stop and that's when he argued with me), my SI joint wasn't hadn't been sore (inflamed) now is on the left side of the tailbone (wasn't a problem until he mucked around back there), the sitzbones (hamstring entheses there?) are so inflamed, sitting is difficult. i was going to work tonight, but had to lay with ice to calm it down, now sitting is next to impossible! when he worked on the upper back it was sore, but nothing like this, but hoping maybe it will settle in a few days though my fear is that it won't. he's going to have to learn how to work with someone with an SI joint that is inflamed by the body's chemistry, rather than for mechanical reasons. i bragged about having a large toolbox. lets see if that is really true. let's see if he's like the good PTs i've had where they listen to my feedback, do the things that seem to help me, and stop doing the things that make things worse. if the SI joint and piriformis don't settle down soon, i can't function like this, especially going to philly. OTOH, maybe if the rheumy in philly sees my SI like this, maybe that would be a good thing. just wish my butt wasn't a ball of fire right now! hoping sleeping on ice tonight would settle it down!
I really wanted to just laze about in my pajamas today and read mythology, art history, and aspects of the novel... but in order to function I've got to keep my body moving!
I definitely got some water up my nose, but not as much with the blowing out technique taught in the YouTube. I think I used to try and hold my breath, which somehow gets even more water up my nose. I kicked my own AS yesterday by doing too many turns. Today's method: swim 5 laps FIRST, practice turning during the middle 10 laps, then swim 5 laps without turning! I was soooooo sore last night! Uff.
Adriaaaan !! Aaaaa-dri---aaaan!! I have to play that song in my head every time Sue....Pete says we have to work through the pain. We have to push past it. Psych myself out in other words!!
Heading out in a bit... where's my rocky trunks??? ....got to go find them..and my championship belt!!
New instructor. Think they are usually teaching KM defense classes only if I'm correct. He tortured us in ways that should be banned or considered "illegal". We had to partner up for 2 drills. Medicine ball and rolling them up and down our front of calves while doing crunches. Sick instructor..sick I say!! When it was all said and done i was proud...because my partner finished her turn and i did too and the rest stopped altogether.
This weather and all ..the rain was great but my joints just are so sore. I want to snap out of it, but cant seem to. I've been going to bed several hours earlier and am still pooped out. Art comes back from Victoria tomorrow..hallelujiah!!!
OMG Erika..thank YOU for posting the lauper video!! It brought tears to my eyes and made me weepy. That video epitomizes me as a teen with my daddy. Of course my dad doesnt look like him! LOl. But i was a HUGE lauper fan...and still enjoy her music.
No matter where I am at or time of day..I hear it and I cry and smile. Especially now with my daddy's cancer. He's an amazing man. And had a tremendous amount of patience AND wisdom to offer buggie. For that I will be forever grateful. And his unconditional love.
OMG Erika..thank YOU for posting the lauper video!! It brought tears to my eyes and made me weepy. That video epitomizes me as a teen with my daddy. Of course my dad doesnt look like him! LOl. But i was a HUGE lauper fan...and still enjoy her music.
No matter where I am at or time of day..I hear it and I cry and smile. Especially now with my daddy's cancer. He's an amazing man. And had a tremendous amount of patience AND wisdom to offer buggie. For that I will be forever grateful. And his unconditional love.
Well, now that you mention it buggie, that made me a little misty too...and happy. I was in exceptional shape at that time...riding my bike like a animal...walking new cross country routes in the high sierras over incredible passes...I'm just glad I did that stuff. I was just having fun!
Well, now that you mention it buggie, that made me a little misty too...and happy. I was in exceptional shape at that time...riding my bike like a animal...walking new cross country routes in the high sierras over incredible passes...I'm just glad I did that stuff. I was just having fun!
me too! i didn't own a car during college or grad school so i walked and biked everywhere and had a great time doing it! i ran and swam and played tennis too! it was so great to be so active!
hubby and i did lots of hiking around as well. we loved vacations in the mountains or at the beach. and we'd walk and walk and explore like crazy. we also rented bikes at the national seashore on cape cod. we were going to rent bikes and ride down the mountain in maui at sunrise, but chose to sleep in instead. but we did explore every nook and cranny on the road to hana, the trip (by car) took us like 10 hours, we stopped and explored so much. it could have taken longer, but we speeded up the end so we could get to the inn before they closed their doors for the night.
i too am so glad i did all of this when i could.
we have a lot of natural areas up here and still take walks when we can, but its not always a given. maybe that's why i appreciate it all the more when i can.
but the 80s, in my 20s, they were some good times! and i love my music from back then as well.
read in the thread about alcohol that you work at a vineyard, what a lovely place to be able to walk around i'm sure
though our university is out in the suburbs surrounded by undeveloped land, it really is a concrete jungle, no where very pleasant to walk, and hard on the feet. at home i walk on the side of the road, on blacktop some, but also on grass and dirt. or down a dirt path, along the dirt towpath of the erie canal, or in our grassy back field. i wish i had someone decent to walk at work that didn't kill my feet, as now that darkness descends earlier and earlier, finding time to walk is becoming a major challenge. doing it before work would be the obvious option, but for those of us who need time at the beginning of the day to start moving, that would come with its own set of challenges. i do plan to get a stationary recumbent bike and walk on the weekends for sure, but i guess i'm lamenting and mourning the passing of my daily walk. i went out today and though my knee made it slow going, it was so good for the rest of me: helped my migraine, helped my overall body (its kind of unhappy due to GI distress), good for my upper back, and didn't seem to bother my SI. its just so good for my soul to be out walking amongst nature: the beauty of the clouds and sky or sunset, the sound of the birds, the smell of the flowers, wood burning in fireplaces as it cools down, the cool breeze on my face, its so therapeutic.
Awesome Steve!! I felt like Balboa with 2 in the past!! Cours I never ran in my life. I look like a dragging jogger is more like it!!ROFL!! Back to weenie hut jr. for me!!
Hey Lath! Wow..looks like we all have something else in common!! Back then I was a teenager and had the cyndi lauper tshirts...and endless bangles on my wrists..and loads of SWATCH watches..remember those??? I would wear 4-5 at a time. I was a nut. A free spirit. I was so shy and had only 2 friends throughout high school. Was teased endlessly by the clicks for being only 1 of a few hispanics at my high school so it was a great outlet for me! Still love the song... glad I wasnt the only one that enjoyed. My girls even love it!
SAT Stats: KM CB: 60 min Up remarkably early. Even though fatigue was on my back today, I kept myself shuffling along without stopping. I knew if I stopped I'd crash and burn miserably. The kiddos and I even did a little theraupetic outlet shopping!! I found some red white and blue sequin flag trim warmups!!!Not exactly the Rocky trunks...but i feel confident that IF there was a female Rocky equivelant ...I'd get the approval!!! I'll post a pic tomorrow!! Nothing like a lil shopping to lift spirits. Only could handle one store with my feet and 2 wee ones that were well fed for breakfast but bored within 3 min of arriving. Lucky for Buggie..I'm a sifter..so I shop quickly.
A prodcutive day! Tomorrow is Bubba's 1st free training session. He was NOT good with big groups of socializing at dog adoption site today. It was for an Austin Boxer rescue. He was fit to be tied. Ever since the pit attacked us he's a wee grumpy with other dogs. Lucky a lady thats president of an animal awareness that was there gave me good walking tips. He always does so well when we walk even with other dogs near. but it was too much stimulation....dozens of yapping doggies!! So he's now a member of Big Dawgs of SA and going for free obediance classes tomorrow!! yahoo! He loves children, adults...and visiting dogs at our home...but i think he was just nervous. Overall a very productive Saturday! Arts back home and boy was I happy!! we missed him so much!!
We all do what we can do. I have been running most of my life. The last few years I have slowed down a lot. I am trying to get some speed back, but I am not sure if it will come back. I keep reminding my self that I run for me, I can't keep up with everybody.
read in the thread about alcohol that you work at a vineyard...
I work at the winery not in an actual vineyard. But, the winery does provide a very scenic walk and they encourage that we do walk. It is nice. We walk in the morning and afternoon. Here are a couple of images. If you look close on the image of the little lake you'll see geese. Those things floating on the water are there for the geese to nest. There are a bunch of birdhouses put up. Lots of wild life... One day I watched as a hawk picked up a squirrel to go for a ride. Every now and then we do go to the vineyards for the learning experience and for some tasting.
just a wee bit cooler (in the 60s) and humidity-free, nice crisp beginning of autumn air. the maples just starting to turn. was rainy all day but cleared late afternoon, so just enough clouds for another spectacular sunset. late enough that most of the birds roosting for the night, but the cardinals like to stay up til almost dark so could hear them on the way out. on the way back, almost dark at that point, could hear the eastern screech owl off in the distance.
if i hadn't stopped to take so many photos, could have walked further, but i just love taking the photos of the ever changing seasons.
I like it cooling down part, but I am starting to miss the sunlight with the days getting shorter. I am jealous of your trees in the east. I was on a business trip to Ohio a few years ago in November and all I could do was talk about the trees...probably everyday...for a week.
I love this time of year, because the nights are dark enough now that the cruise ships going by are all lit up! We have a peekaboo view, and can only see about 1/3 of the ships at a time, but it's still fun to see
my husband and i went to hawaii for our honeymoon, and flying home, as we were landing in upstate NY (it was summer at the time), my first thoughts were how beautiful and green it was (in comparison to where we had just spent the previous 2 weeks)!
i've interviewed in southern california, out in the midwest, and the first thing i noticed was the lack of trees, it was so an odd thing to me. i probably would have gotten used to it if i had moved, probably would have fallen in love with other things, but visiting other places does make me appreciate the trees.
I love this time of year, because the nights are dark enough now that the cruise ships going by are all lit up! We have a peekaboo view, and can only see about 1/3 of the ships at a time, but it's still fun to see
Hi Team! I wish I could say I was highly productive, but really all I did was get a filling, swim, and nap. I took .5mg clonezepam and 5mg cyclobenzaprine to stay relaxed during the dentist visit, then I swam under the influence ~ no worries, my husband was there ~ and I had to sleep off the meds the entire afternoon. If anyone has any better way to keep the muscles from spasming during procedures I'd sure appreciate the input!
encouraging to me to know i'm not the only one to have discovered that muscle relaxants are a necessity for the dentist.
for me its that plus my "bag o pillows"! i take a small couch pillow for under my knees, a small air lumbar pillow that i can adjust for the small of my back, and my neck pillow. my dentist like many has some arthritis type issues from all those years hunched over patients in odd positions for so many hours each day, so understands.......well, he just left his practice to another, but he seems very understanding as well, and the entire rest of the staff stayed the same, so nice that they are so accommodating! they also let me stand up in between whenever possible. and let me close my mouth and move my jaw around as often as possible.
i also have found a tylenol right after the procedure helps with any pain as the novocaine wears off.
and i use zanaflex as my muscle relaxant for both dental and other medical procedures (like US's, MRI's, etc). i take it 30 minutes before the start of my appointment so its kicking in as they are starting. it only knocks me out for about an hour, hour and a half (mostly while i'm there) and by hour say 2-2.5 i'm coming out of the muscle relaxant fog and i'm good to go shortly thereafter. the muscle relaxant effects last 5-6 hours, but the low blood pressure is only 1-2 hours long. its a great choice, i think, the short activity gives great flexibility, that's the main reason my physiatrist put me on this one in particular so many years ago.
me, getting ready for my trip, too much work to do, did do a few errands around campus today to make up a bit for not walking, but home early tomorrow to walk then pack and finish my medical resume. wanted to work on it more this evening, but needed to catch up on sleep.
GO TEAM!
i remember trish saying something about being busy (with swim season maybe?) but had been thinking about TINK just the other day! TINK if you see this, (and trish too) know we are thinking of you!
Your all so lucky you can walk so far or swim every day. I walk Scoob minimum of 3 times a day takes me 20mins to walk about half a mile or should I say hobble. Cant swim terrified of water. Perhaps I have rabies Keep it up you really miss it once you lose it.
there was a year where i could not do any form of exercise, could barely walk to and from my car and my work building each day.
and you are so right, once i could walk again, i was just so overly joyed and grateful. you are right, you don't appreciate all the things we take for granted until they are taken away from us.
sorry you can no longer really enjoy the simple pleasures of a good walk. but glad you still try to get out there with scoobs, i bet he appreciates it!
Keep it up you really miss it once you lose it.Kevin
Oh yes...I really take this to heart. I have so been enjoying working outside more than I ever have. In fact, I never did enjoy working outside. But, now I do it to keep me moving. I take my walks everyday like a perscription. I'm sure Scoob loves the walks...keep it up.
I enjoy and appreciate my mobility every single day. Every morning my first wakin thought is "THANK YOU GOD!", and I'm not exaggerating. I feel like I'm living on borrowed time and am sooooooooo grateful
It's really fun to have you and Scooby here Kevin!
hello fellow team mates! fell asleep early last night..asthma flared up and i allowed myself to just put everything on hold --chore wise so i could catch up on much needed sleep! Tues stats: KM CB: 60 minutes
Oh...I forgot to mention...I got a new bit of cardio from my buddy our boxer Bubba! We bought him a stuffed buffalo squeaky toy. Needless to say..like all his other toys..he killed the squeak in a few hours but he loves that toy. Anyhow...he usually plays toss and tag, or chase. It would seem now...Bubbay likes me to try to pull his buffalo away..and he pulls me through the house...while i sit on the computer chair!! Little stinker is a yr old and hit 74lbs and is still growing ! He wont play unless he pulls me along...needless to say I got a good workout on my biceps!! 20 min and he's pooped out..thank GOD!!
Hey everyone! Just to confirm that I have not retired!!! PC trouble again. Hope to be back on by the end of the week! Have some stats to add in! Joined a fitness class it is totally hardcore! Take care everyone, I've missed you guys! Tink
Oye me guiness! (that's grandson for "oh my goodness") I can't believe how much easier it is to do flip turns than stop each lap and turn around. I only got water up my nose once today.
Just so you know, I have submitted a request to our overworked moderators for a more manly cheerleader for the guys. But everyone keep using this one until we get another!
Aw sorry Erica, but I've spent way too long looking for a male cheerleader dude that might be small enough ... and couldn't find any. (And searching through jumping smilies was making me nauseous). I hope Miss pompom and clapping dude will suffice.
Dow's ultra happy guy is just a tad large to be adding to the list!
Amazing how you guys are all inspiring each other!! Great thread! mig
Boggled the director of our local free clinic this morning! He sat in with our laughter yoga demo this morning and was completely amazed that you get such a good workout.
We had four clowns join us which was an absolute delight, because they had horns and fake dogs on leashes and squeaky noses.
The clowns combined with the huge marimba band outside made it our most fun LY session ever. What a hoot.
thursday night must have walked at least 10,000 miles through the airport to get to ground transportation! ok, it wasn't quite that far, but boy it seemed like it with my luggage, even though what i had to carry was fairly light and i didn't even have much in my rolling suitcase. and to watch people 20 years older than me seeming to have no issues. anyway, next time i need to swallow my pride and ask for one of those people movers or something.
last night: walked around the museum area in philly at dusk and as it was first getting dark. so pretty at night with city hall illuminated in the distance behind the fountain. ~2 miles. 1.5 hours, picture taking definitely slows me down, but i love it, and its better on my currently wonky SI right now to go slow. really enjoyed myself though and discovered that the barnes foundation is moving to this area, can't wait til it does so! we visited it in its current location and i'd love to see the exhibit again: http://www.barnesfoundation.org/
tonight: biked 12 miles in 1.5 hours a few pit stops along the way slowed me down: saw 2 green herons, 2 kingfishers, all in flight, a bunch of mallards, a great blue heron standing very tall and still on a spillway off the canal as darkness was descending, the first dance of a new bride and groom in their reception tent at the local inn on the canal (originally an old erie canal tavern). other than swallowing my share of gnats (ah protein!) it was a great night for a bikeride. and it finally got rid of my migraine that i woke with! yay! i'm sure i woke with the migraine due to the excitement of yesterday, finally a proper diagnosis and treatment plan! more about that later.......
Hello everyone - I'm back! PC part arrived yesterday and we are back online, thank goodness! Next job getting my calculator out methinks!! I have been on such a guilt-trip the past couple of weeks wondering how you are all getting on. When you are part of a team you don't like to feel you are letting everyone down. Anyhow, I am back now and will be pulling my weight again! Missed you lot soooooo much.
The gym class I have joined is for the seriously fit! (which I am not). It is the one day that is great for me though!! The first lesson I made the mistake of trying to keep up! It is mainly about core strength, muscle toning, core strength and stretching.
It was concentrating on legs the first week and arms the second. We used 1kg weights and I realised pretty quickly (3 or 4 arm extensions) that I cannot lift that much weight in the ways they wanted me to!! My neck cannot cope! I did lots of breathing instead. Will just remember to take things at my own pace and leave the hand weights out of the equation!
Hey Sue! My computer is certainly feeling much better, thank you! I am just trying to mentally prepare for my "fitness" class tomorrow!!! Yowza!!! Hope you are doing well, hon.
Stats for Thursday: Krav CB: 60 minutes.. Yes..I'm late posting...but it was the wee bug Sofia's 10th birthday this weekend so skipped class yesterday and took her and her bff's to movies and cake and shopping! She hit the big "10"!!
Congrats Tink on the new fitness class!! Hows it working out? i know about the weights issue. Whats the class called? They let us modify if we have knee, back, hand, etc problems. I think to myself..."what if your whole body is a mess? lol"
we've been hit with so much rain since saturday morning! cooler days..it's 70 degrees right now!! yahoo!!!
I'm mentally High-5'ing all you arthritic folk who manage a full time job and still work in a fitness program. I worked 4 hours volunteering at the food bank this morning, then swam, then napped for 2.5 hours. Now I'm in my recliner working on online classes, and trying not to fall asleep. Arthritis makes me feel like SUCH A SLACKER! I know I'm not, but still...
Class is called Muscle reinforcement! It certainly gets you stretching! Last night we used an elasticated band which you hook onto one foot and hold the other end in your hand - you can also have in just in your hands to pull apart etc! It's a hard class and it is different every week, working on different parts of the body. It always has plenty of cardio warm up and stretching for cooling down though. I have to ignore everyone else and take things at my own pace!
Hi Tink! Thanks..Baby Buggie had a great day! Cool beans! That class sounds like fun!
Yes, the main thing is you go at your own pace. We use the resistance bands..and although its been a long time for me i still use the yellow band..the easiest one...because if i try more than that...muscle spasm city! Stretching and a good warm up and cool down...sounds like you've got yourself a good class! In class they warm us up with stretching and then the class itself and then a good cool down...kind of bringing you back down to "normaL"
One of my fav instructors last night...torturous! Art opened the front door when I got home and thought I was caught in the rain...no...just the torture chamber they call kravmaga!
Onwards to tuesday....but FIRST a puppy power nap....adios amigos! Go team!!
thanks erica! last night i definitely needed to hear those words of encouragement! after 12 hours here, i had to go home and grade for 4 more. this job definitely wears me out! but today i'm leaving around 4:30 pm to go to the chiros and then home, and no work tonight! well, not much anyway, a few emails maybe and putting together an equipment list for biochemistry. they told us yesterday that we have til tomorrow......gggrrrrrr they are so "bleeping" last minute around here.
anyway, knowing it was going to be a late night last night, went for a walk with a friend in the department to blow off some steam in the afternoon, a must after department meetings! 1.5 miles, 30 minutes.
i too can't do weights, always pulling something that way, but therabands, that i can mostly do, though my left ulnar wrist is getting a bit wonky again; certainly don't want to go back to typing one handed again.
Tuesday: KravM CB: 60 minutes Weather made me so lazy this evening..I'm sure the chicken and cheese and guacamole chalupa didnt help before hand either. hee hee! Lots of rain this afternoon and into the evening...my plants are happy..but my wood floors arent...Silly Boxer + Rain + Mud = Trouble!!
way to go erika! i bought a few cool bling hoodies and sweatpants at victorias secret outlet last week...now waiting...for cooler mornings...hurry texas weather..hurry!
Ran 4 miles this morning 38 minutes. Then walked a little over 1 mile with my wife. On the weekend we walk up and down the strip in Vegas. I found my favorite machine in Las Vegas. I always get the same amount back that I put in. Next time I will just pull up a stool and sit and feed money into the change machine. It is great.
Sue! 16 hour days and you manage to still get in a walk?
Go TEAM!
well, it did catch up with me! last night after chiro and CVS to pick up mobic to try, got home around 8 pm, took a bath, ate dinner, helped hubby make up a grocery list, and at 11 pm sat down to watch john stewart and promptly fell asleep for most of the rest of the night! picked myself up out of the recliner around 4 am, did a little computer stuff, then to bed to finish sleeping. but, zonked out for 5 hours straight in the recliner. i was so tired from the previous day that i even fell asleep in the chiro office while laying there while he left me with the muscle stim (upper back), ice (upper back and SI), and sacro wedges (to very very gently let my SI joint reposition itself correctly; worked like a charm!). even started dreaming in the chiro office, something about levitating or something, freaky! today though will go for another walk on campus, since i missed a walk yesterday!
I found my favorite machine in Las Vegas. I always get the same amount back that I put in. Next time I will just pull up a stool and sit and feed money into the change machine. It is great.
that's about what happens to my mom when she goes to atlantic city!
i bought a few cool bling hoodies and sweatpants at victorias secret outlet last week...now waiting...for cooler mornings...hurry texas weather..hurry!
LOL! encouraging cooler weather to wear cool outfits! you sound like me!
Ouchie ouchie ouchie! When does one get the "wiser" part of "older and wiser"? Never, I repeat NEVER attempt to do COMBAT SIDE STROKE! As if a 50 yr old woman has any business AT ALL thinking this could possibly be a good idea... just because the 22 yr old Coast Guard rescue swimmer in the next lane can do it. Geez. Sometimes I amaze myself with my own stupidity.... Even though I immediately took a muscle relaxer, my right sacrum, groin, hip, and tailbone have that burning nerve feeling and my heels freaking HURT to walk on. I'm taking my grumpy irritated self to bed.
LOL! i've done side stroke, but NOTHING like this!
yes, slow and easy! just cause you can do flip turns......well, anyway, want the swimming to make you stronger and stronger, not put you out of commission!
no, no drooling thankfully! but i've been known to talk in my sleep! hope that doesn't happen.
tonight, never did go take my walk, long night at work, but did pace the halls for awhile while eating, but no idea how long or how far.
and then i did a bunch of stretching....yay for backpacking pads and an office that's big enough to lay down in!
another very interesting thing. my whole body was getting to its breaking point, then remembered it was past time to change the flector patch on my SI joint. after i did that, not only did my SI joint feel better, but i felt better overall. wonder if there is anything to that? remember joanne asking if others' symptoms originated from the SI and i didn't really think so. anyway, feeling ok now, just need to go to bed. goodnight!
ya' see sue? ka sisters! lol art asked why i had so many new hoodies and warmups and tshirts...all foldly neatly in a huge shopping back in my room. hee hee. i explained that i am waiting for the cool mornings! the prices were unreal i simply couldnt walk away! plus come the first cool front, these items will be gone or the price up...and i did get some walking in there eh? lol
Thursday stats: KM CB: 60 minutes Usually skip a day in between but tonight is baby buggie's and mr. dimples reading night at school. i also get to find out what test she has to take in order for her to skip a grade. so proud of her...she's reading at 7th grade level--but she just started 4th!
Yes Erika thats it! KM Fuel food! The avocado and I have a special relationship...hubby's okay with it. He knows I would never actually leave him for an avocado...but i sure do love them!!
this has been a bad week for exercise, gotta figure something out for next week and beyond.
tuesday thought i'd have time after the chiro but ended up having to go to cvs and then it was dark once i was done that.
wednesday had to pull an almost all nighter to finish something the department dumped on us last minute, grrr, hate last minuteness!
thursday by the time i got done standing in a cold room for an hour and a half with my collaborator and research student, got home after dark.
today i chose happy hour with colleague friends to blow off steam from the insane week. mental health as important as physical health! so don't feel guilty about this at all! even managed to avoid the bad-for-me food traps by eating some yogurt and fruit before going.
so tomorrow, body and weather willing, going on a long walk and/or bike ride! its supposed to be a little chilly (60 degrees) but doesn't look like rain is in the forecast.
after walking almost every day for over a year, i'm so addicted to it and miss it so much! have to figure out a way to make it work better! wish i had a walking situation at work like LATH does! that would be ideal! but i'll figure something out.
Okay, you are officially the fitness team member with the most stick-to-it-ive-ness momentum under duress.
Good job managing to get in your exercise while grieving the loss of your sweet Buddy.
Thanks for putting up the gorgeous photo of him today. He was a handsome dude!
Go TEAM!
Thank you! I find myself for a moment of habit looking for him as I come out the garage door. He always greeted me with a hug in the morning. It was more than just jumping up on me. It was a hug. And if I didn't hug him back long enough he would jump right back up. I knew he liked it so and I will miss it so. His resting place is in front of three redwood trees in our backyard. I made a concrete marker that I poured today.
Today I ran a little over 7 miles took about an hour and eight minutes. Ran up American Fork canyon, it was beautiful. The up hill was tough, and there were many cars in the canyon. It was my first run in the canyon this year.
Thanks Dow. I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling this way. I'm sorry about your Snowball too. I guess we are just lucky to have pets that fill such a large part of our life. As you say...it's an adjustment now.
Today it was 74 degrees and sunny ALL DAY! Why am I cheering? Because I live in the Pacific NW, and this is just not something we expect on September 27th.
after spunky passed away, we kept finding her feathers all over the place. while she was alive, we'd just throw them out, without a second thought. once she was gone, every one was like a treasure, we filled up a jar with them.
it was in the 80s the last few days. down to around 60 today, but i didn't mind, actually perfect walking weather today. walked 2 miles in 42 minutes. along the road, noticing the changing leaves and golden corn fields. along the canal for a little ways, listening to the birds, mostly crows today. all in all, a nice walk.
...along the road, noticing the changing leaves and golden corn fields. along the canal for a little ways, listening to the birds, mostly crows today. all in all, a nice walk.
I swam 1,000 yards yesterday 30 minutes, going to try to find the energy to do it tonight. Its over 100 degrees in Los Angeles right now, so it would certainly feel nice!
Thanks Erica, I was inspired by you to go this evening and swam another 1,000yards. Its hard to drag myself there when I feel crummy but I always feel amazing after!!!
I really admire the swimmers. I like to swim, but my neck has a hard time turning around to breath anymore. I do scuba dive, and once I took a snorkel so I didn't have to turn my neck. I guess running is better for me.
Yes, my husband has to turn from the waist to breathe. A chiropractor broke his neck in the 90's, and he had to have C3 surgically fused. I can't imagine how difficult it is for the AS'ers who have lots of fusing.
This is definitely a mutual admiration society, because I really admire runners! But my feet & knees won't let me run on them anymore.
Bah, I completely skipped exercising yesterday. I had a little "mini-flare up" brought on by allergies I suspect, and it was 3 pm before I remembered to take a dose of my steroid nose spray ~ and voila! I feel mo'betta t'day.
This morning I got up bright and early to swim, and it turns out that the pool is not near so busy at 8 am as it is at noon!
swimming - 1,000 yds / 40 minutes tai chi - 55 minutes
I felt awesome today! We went on a 3 mile morning walk at a really fast pace. 3 miles in 40 minutes! Then 2 miles in the afternoon at the regular 40 minutes pace. But, I did notice a little tenderness in my right knee...got ice on it now.
Trench work before laying about 1000 feet of irrigation pipe:
More trench work...50 Italian Cypress went in here.
Part of the yard...the 4x4 is my portal shop with tools and materials. Around the corner behind the 4x4 is my new vegetable garden...I don't have pictures of that yet:
always a balance between doing enough but not too much, cause once the tendonitis develops, then that keeps us from using that joint, but you know this.
i used to just ice all the time. but found my home ultrasound machine gets rid of the tendonitis faster. that and my LDN make the healing process a lot better than it used to be.
i paced the halls of my building in between making up an exam today, not sure how much distance, need to pull out my pedometer on days like today.......at least i don't have to take the exam! but i will have to grade it, and another one this weekend.......way too much sitting coming up as well as too much hand use! but will try to get out and walk in between as much as possible. i miss being able to go for long walks every day. but at least i'm going every few days! always a challenge to balance work and life.
funny you should ask about the feet: been on mobic since saturday. don't know if 1) still feeling the effects of all the standing i did on thursday and saturday or 2) mobic is giving me low level edema, my feet are always the first to feel it, with more inflammation than normal or 3) the mobic's just not kicking in (yet) and my feet are simply flaring.
regardless, feets are unhappy at the moment
though being able to sit longer due to the awesome chiro helping my ribs is helping the feet to recover
Ran 4.1 miles (39:14 minutes) I didn't feel well this morning, but a run fixed that. I usually run on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I could not run yesterday so I had to run today.
Be careful! That's how my allergy to NSAIDS started. Low level edema turned into full on anaphylaxis, complete with severe facial swelling and near impossibility breathing... heart distress. Grrr...
thanks for the warning erica, i certainly don't want to not be able to use my flector patch or KIP gel.
interesting. i was reading that only like 5% (or was it even less) of people have edema to nsaids. just the lucky ones i guess. was on vioxx and had edema for 3 years before i put it together based on comments from the GP. 3 years and none of my doctors could put it all together why i was getting so so awfully bad.
hope it doesn't develop past the edema into what you had go wrong!
haven't been calculating the time or distance but did a lot of walking around campus today. all between various buildings. walked to class and back. a seminar and back. tea with a friend/colleague and back. to the computer store on campus for a video connector, still can't use my computer in the classroom, and its only a month into school! out to the distance parking lot to pull my car up near the building. to the new "global village" on campus for a chicken taco (very fresh and good) and back. think it was 2-3 miles total. things are so spread out here. though overcast, nice temperature, so nice day for walking outside. and the sunset, the clouds very cool and dramatic!
hope it doesn't develop past the edema into what you had go wrong!
thanks for the heads up!
De nada. I truly LOVED the pain relief from Mobic, so I think I just let it go too long because I was in denial. It happened really fast though. One day I just felt a little weird, and all of a sudden I couldn't breathe or lie down because the pressure in my head was so awful. Then the lip and eye swelling started like Will Smith in Hitch. Ok, not quite that bad, but it was unsettling.
Wednesday stats: Krav CB: 60 min. Got my body served back to me with a side order of fries! I didnt go monday or tuesday. Was busy registering my wee ones for Sunday school..or rather CCD on Mondays really. And I'll be going on Monday nights for adult refresher classes. Arthurs off so he'll join me too!
Weather has been awesome. Warmer days today and tomorrow but boy was the weather sweet. Bubba should be able to start joining me for walks. I think I'll take Art with me on Mondays or go during the day. Weather is too sweet to pass up! Just wish my thumb and hands were cooperating. They are a royal mess. Hoping to get into rheumy soon. Just had so much kid stuff to get done and kid projects!
may i ask how long it took for the mobic's pain relief to kick in. i've taken it 4 days now, today will be day 5.......still waiting. feet worse than ever. the rest of my joints have no idea i'm on a nsaid either.......still waiting. did it take a few weeks to build to a steady state?
and sweetie, so sorry, that sounds terribly scary and horribly awful! thank goodness you pulled through it ok.
sorry about the hands. hate when the hands act up, that was me for the first 4 or so years, could hardly handle any paperwork or books, a challenge for someone who teaches. left hand was worse than the right, just turning pages aggravated the tendonitis in the thumbs. had the students stapling the upper right hand corner of papers. the students laughed at that, but thought it mighty clever that i learned how to adapt with such simple little tricks. still, they were pretty bad. oddly enough the zanaflex helped them settle down. maybe the tight muscles could no longer "tug" on the tendons? of course just because the spondy monster left my hands doesn't mean he didn't take up residence elsewhere, but it is nice to have my hands back most days. now if the hands could teach the feet a lesson or two...........
anyway, here's to good walks in nice weather; with hubby and pets even better!
Mobic took about 8 hours to kick in for me. It was literally a cool flash that started in my knees and spread through the rest of my joints. It was divine
i've been trying to pay attention to how i feel throughout the day, throughout the week. i know the side effects of sleepiness, mental fog, dry mouth, wash over me slowly, come to a head, then slowly dissipate, will see if i notice anything regarding pain relief similarly, but probably have to wait another week or so for that to happen if it goes like i've been reading, we'll see.
just so very odd how each nsaid is so very different, both in their effectiveness and side effects.
thanks again, so nice to have all this experience of others to help me along.
Ohhh ohh i forgot to mention to you all what they were teaching at Krav yesterday! "Spiderman Push-up's" !! I completely forgot to show my son mr. dimples when I got home b/c we were finishing up on reading the Bernstein bear book he chose. He's a die-hard Spiderman fan!
Sometimes I think I am a glutten for punishment...lol. Weather is warmer today but i have a bad flare up of costochondritis. Took a puppy power nap and hoping for another round tonight!
awe sue...thanks...i wish i could do 1/4 of Lath's amazing work! my yard is super small. but i'm happy to report that my yellow bells and orange bells aka esperanzas and pride of barbados are HUGE. they are STILL blooming..texas weather..they love the heat! they are about 6 1/2 feet-7 ft high now! I moved my little patio table closer to the front and the yellow bells hang over the umbrella and it looks sooo pretty. will take pics this weekend!
also it is arthur's way of keeping an extra sharp eagle eye on gianna and her little boyfriend when they hang out. lol. in between the security checks! lol
Thursday stats: Krav CB: 60 min. I was really dragging. Costochondritis is FULL blown now. Another cool front is coming through saturday so I think thats why. Been stretching alot but that burning feeling is insane. Going to bed at 1030 with a soma to help and STILL dragging super stiff in the mornings. Worse than usual. Walker and cane are utterly useless for rib and thoracic pain. But class is done and I'm glad. I feel my inner "chi" stronger again. GO TEAM!!
all this talk of fries since my side order of fries comment now the craving is undeniable...must have some tomorrow..must show restraint....resistance is futile!
Wednesday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Thursday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes)
I almost went for a jog just to see if I could do it and to give Orch some competition. But, I had a glass of wine instead. I have been feeling so good lately...I actually mean before the glass of wine...that I wanted to give jogging a try. Maybe this weekend...
yes sue...sadly my hands are still a wreck. i do NOT want a steroid shot there. the one in my big toe last year was traumatic enough thank u very much!
i've never had tendonitis...just super stiff hands. no muscle tightening. just feels super stiff and they are red at the knuckles when i wake up for about 1/2 hour or at night when i wake up to get a drink of water. they feel like someone is stabbing the little joints with an ice pick. sharp sharp pain. just like my thoracic. dreadful. thankfully my feet have been okay...touch wood! for now its the hands, thoracic and costochondritis in FULL force in my face. pretty sad when your little ones are up before you are getting ready for school. they love breakfast tacos so i make them the night before and wrap them up and voila...warm them up in the morning and it makes it much easier on the days i'm super dragging. which is NOW! and every other day.
such is the life of a bug with a spondy monster trying to kick her down every day...bug's not staying down without a fight.
Have I mentioned how much I love LDN and cymbalta? It is soooooo nice to take walks with my husband again! And not to be in constant pain is a miracle.
Have some stats to post later - not sure at the moment if my new exercise class is killing me or making me stronger!
Will do a major update in stats so everyone knows where we are up to!
So busy with family since kids are back to school, not able to get on here as much as I used to My eldest gets homework every night now and of course it is in French!!! AAAAgggrrrhhh!
Anyway I will get onto those stats over the next few days!
My GPS is a Garmin Forerunner 201. It is getting old, but still works so I keep it. Someday I will upgrade to a smaller one.
Thanks, that gives me an idea. At my work they have a Health Vitality program where you earn points for stuff like walking, loosing weight, getting a flu shot, etc. I see that I'm 85% to the point where I'd have enough points to get a Garmin Forerunner 405. Or, I have enough right now to get the Garmin Forerunner 305. This would be a great thing to have to record my walks and bike rides...hmmmmm.
today: walking in the rain, just a light drizzle, at dusk, peaceful, with a hooded rain jacket, not even a bother.
1.5 miles, 30 minutes
tomorrow i will get up earlier, get out earlier, see if i can get a longer walk in.
looks like its gonna be a rainy weekend though, so a bikeride is probably out. but that's ok, i enjoy walking, in all sorts of weather, so long as i dress for it.
Saturday stats: Krav CB: 60 min I was able to make it to the morning one which was refreshing! I peeled myself outta bed when my wee ones woke up and headed out to visit with their great grampa Memo and breakfast with Gramma aka my momma
This morning is fantastic! My momma made me some early birthday menudo so i'm going to hit a hot bath and then eat!
Mass today and then I think i'll go for some walking this afternoon! Have some fluid in my left hand and both were super stiff today...and so were my hubby's hands...weather changes--etiher way i'm happy! So are the wee ones and miss G and our insane boxer!
I did nothing this weekend. Not even yardwork...well nothing significant...just rode the lawn mower. I had to work about 14 hours over Saturday and Sunday. But, the good news is I can start to telecommute to work one day a week...I'm thinking I'll get in noon time bike rides!
Aww Erika.. I'm so sorry to hear that.. We are a small family..just my brother and I so my momma and I are super close. She helps me so much more now that she has her little cottage in back...kids love to go visit her and hang out with her when I have to pick up Miss Gianna from highschool. Because they are out and trying to relax and watch a few toonies with Gramma Connie!
Sundays stats: Jog/walk: 2 miles 30 min. My jog is like a shuffle but I had my hands hurting and I refused to waste a beautiful day. Took the wee ones to mass and some tacos, then took my personal bodyguard with me ...aka my boxer mr Bubba. He was pleased as punch! He was so happy with the cool breeze. This time I had my dog mace spray (b/c of past dog attack) in hand while at the school so I felt a bit more at ease. Still leaves one unsettled after something like that happens All because of negligent owners. But other than a field full of teenage boy soccer players and a few sassy chihuahuas ...it was quiet and Bubba ignored the wee doggies! lol He was too happy to lose his "mojo"
Showered now and ready to get some good sleep tonight since Arthur is off tomorrow...I can sleep in till 9-10 yahoo! he's taking the kiddos to school. yahoo! GO TEAM!!
good to see all the activity in here, can barely keep up!
a nice evening here, had been rainy all weekend, but clouds breaking up at end of day.
so nice outside, makes me realize that mankind was not meant to sit at a desk all day indoors! the only real negative i have about my job..........ok, back to grading! what i've been doing all weekend: eat, grade, eat, grade, walk, grade, eat, grade, eat, grade, sleep..............but almost done, just a few more hours.......what ever possessed me to give exams in both classes this week, i'll never know! on the other hand, got it over with. grading is the bane of most teachers i think!
carry on!
oh yeh, LOL!, almost forgot:
walk: 2 miles, 35 minutes
(not sure how i walked so fast! but must say feet have settled down considerably since last weekend. yay LDN? mobic doing something? don't think its mobic, not really feeling it anywhere else?)
14 hours at work this weekend, sorry to hear that! you and me both, lots of grading to get done here. at home at least, but still way way too much sitting!
yay to the telecommuting! my husband did that for about 11 years while i taught. now he gave up sitting at the computer completely to paint. but i do think telecommuting is fantastic! especially for those of us with health challenges.
hope this allows you to get some biking in; i so enjoy biking when i can do it!
my husband lost both his parents in the last few years
Your poor hubby. It's been 23 years since my mamma passed away and 13 years since my dad, and I still miss both of them all the time. I guess. It's no fun and no fair.
They would both have thought KickAS was awesome, expecially the FITNESS TEAM. They were both proactive people. My dad walked 3 miles every day until his mid 70's and my mom was always doing Toastmasters or some sort of self-improvement seminar for work.
Today is awesome! Day 2 on the 4.5mg of LDN and I feel like I could run a marathon...
I could not make a whole marathon right now, but I could go half way with you.
Awww... thanks. I'm planning my first 3 mile walk in almost 2 years on Wednesday. Just because I feel like I could run a marathon, doesn't mean I could actually run one.
If I could just go on a medium hike with my old club I would be in heaven
Grrrr...mini-flare again today. Studied in my recliner until 3, napped until 5:30, cooked dinner and am now dedicated to watching TV until bedtime. I'm wondering if it's rebound from the increased LDN? I even missed tai chi today.
But on the up side, I aced a midterm and wrote & submitted a paper!
Have got stats upto page 65 so far!!! Slow down you lot!!! Only joking... there's NO stopping you guys Just another 17 pages of stats to do! I'm getting my moneys worth out of my calculator alright!
Hey Team Buddies! It's a good here in the neighborhood. Up early, successfully murdered Kaspersky which pleases me no end. Then over to my friend's house to work on her computer. Then... swimming ~ 1,000 yds / 40 minutes
Then laid out my last couple of classes and an exam and it looks like I might be able to graduate in DECEMBER with my B.A.. Finger's crossed.
Hopefully it won't take me as long to complete grad school as it did to get through the first round, which is exactly 20 years.
The bug is back! Major plantar fascitis but she's here! wahoo I'm going to calamazoo!! must be the 1/2 norco i just took. lol Plumb tired from a most excellent 42nd birthday yesterday with some cheesy enchiladas that took me as close to heavan as I could reach! And red velvet cake my beautiful teen made for me. Got some warmups for the cooler days for my birrrrfday!
Anywho.. Wed stats: Krav CB: 60 min
On a side note I am pleased to report that my right wrist was due to the AS monster and not Krav...it's doing 95% better...and now my left is a bit puffy but not anywhere the same or same spot..just fluid. So I am pleased. Not that it's AS related but just that it wasnt something broken!
I may attempt to pull a few weeds..just a few tiny ones in between my ferns on the side of my house tomorrow at noon. Weather is divine! OR i could be a bug slug and watch History channel with Bubba my boxer again! GOOOOOOO TEAM!! You guys and gals are AMAZING!! U all ROCK as our ol friend Linc says...because there's folks at Krav that dont do as much as you all do!! I'm so proud of all of you all!! luv slug bug
Thursday stats: Krav CB: 60 minutes Relaxed and got rid of alot of stress with mr Title aka the title bag in class. lol. much needed. Hoping to do a little walking this weekend... we had an instructor that was there when I first started. i like her alot. jen is slow and steady. and i dont see her as often b/c i think she's in alot of self defense classes. but she's a real gem! yahoo its almost fry-day!! gooooo team!!
to all the walkers, runners, bikers, swimmers, and Krav CBers:
good to see you all at your thing.
no walking the last few days, but today walked around stores and shops for several hours, running a number of errands, so that's better than sitting in my office.
one of my errands was to go to the shoe store that carries all the better brands. while there, tried the vibrum fivefinger shoes:
they were the only shoes that felt "natural" and right, except for the toe thing, that felt very odd. and they do look very crazy. anyway, didn't buy anything, but something to think about.
they were the only shoes that felt "natural" and right, except for the toe thing, that felt very odd. and they do look very crazy. anyway, didn't buy anything, but something to think about.
That is one thing I don't try to save money on is shoes. I replace mine often. When I ran the half marathon a month ago I talked to a couple people that were running in Vibram's one lady said she would get a back ache when she ran until she started running in Vibram's. She had been using them about a year.
These are very big in Seattle. The first time I saw someone wearing them I started laughing ~ yep, unfortunately out loud. Totally uncool, but I couldn't help it.
I wonder - do you have to go without socks? Or do the shoes need special socks? Hmmmm...
I ate too much sugar today. Why you ask? Because I woke up at 5am ~ not used to the 4.5mg LDN yet, and ate a good breakfast. Then took off around 9 am for the next town over to my proctor, for a midterm (which I aced ), and got really hungry around 2 pm. So... M&M's for lunch, followed by actual lunch, and cookies for dinner. What?
Oh well, before I left the house I managed
tai chi ~ 30 minutes
and of course I stopped on the way home to swim ~ 1,075 yds / 40 minutes
Now my husband and I have been studying all afternoon and might walk down to the water. A poor woman drove her car off the bluff into the bay yesterday and died, so it's a little bit sad walking down there.
Wednesday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Thursday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Friday: bike 16 miles (60 minutes)
I started the telecommute thing today. I worked my typical day, went for a noon time bike ride and felt like I had a vacation day. Too bad this is only one day a week. What a great day!
...took off around 9 am for the next town over to my proctor, for a midterm (which I aced ), and got really hungry around 2 pm. So... M&M's for lunch, followed by actual lunch, and cookies for dinner. What?
Fantastic on the MIDTERM!!!! Next time grab some fruit at 2 pm!
...took off around 9 am for the next town over to my proctor, for a midterm (which I aced ), and got really hungry around 2 pm. So... M&M's for lunch, followed by actual lunch, and cookies for dinner. What?
Today I woke up and declared " I will not let you run my life Spondy monster...how do u like them apples?!"... Sat stats: KravMaga CB: 60 minutes
I was able to peel myself up for the early class. Wee bugs hate waking up early on school days but come Saturday..they are up at the crack of dawn! It was insanity..>Explosive pushups! On a Sat morning? Bug met her match...I said "tanx but no tanx!" Took Miss Gianna clothes shopping...that in itself was exhausting at Forever 21 revamped into 2 floors ! argh!! Hubby worked late so it was Buggie with 2 wee bugs. Wont be repeating that again!
God I wish I did have one ! lol It's a pushup where when u push yourself back up you clap your hands in the air as you raise yourself and then back down to pushup...repeating over and over for 30 seconds. I would have hit the floor face down..so I hit a roadblock. After 14 mos. I accepted my limitation. I may have to practice at home instead! lol
The guy next to me completely exhausted, told his friend "And I thought I'd seen everything!" rofl
Just FYI in case anyone wonders: taking a muscle relaxer 4 hours before swimming makes it feel like you're swimming through split pea soup while wearing a pair of overalls & rain boots. Just sayin'...
How long does it take those things to get out of one's system? Obviously longer than 4 hours.
i need to catch up here, but quickly, maybe try zanaflex, only stays in the blood stream 6 hours total. about an hour after taking it, it kicks in including the drowsiness. the drowsiness only lasts about an hour, hour and a half, but the muscle relaxant itself is good for about 5. it's not the best one for all day relief, but i find it great for: 1. getting to sleep 2. procedures like US, MRI, dentist, etc 3. kind of resets my body so i don't need the effects all day long, just once a day to reset things, then under the special circumstances like in #2 or if i'm having some major issue, then i'm usually not functional anyway and just want to sleep. but really all kinds of muscle relaxants out there, just find the best one for you. the only other one i have tried was the old flexeril, i was zombie marshmallow man on it 24/7 (well, maybe only 24/3 as i went off it in almost no time, could not function on it!)
Ok! Thanks Sue, I'll check out the 1/2 life of zanaflex as compared to cyclobenzaprine. I had to take it this am, because we were going to an early morning wedding and my back was being a bit obnoxious. I thought for sure it would have worn off by 1pm... but my heart was definitely thumping at the end of my swim.
cyclobenzaprine, that's flexeril. i believe its the oldest one out there, at least its an older generation of drug. the positive is that it is cheap. the negative is that there are much better drugs out on the market now. i think the half life of flexeril is like a million years or so! ok, maybe not quite that long, but it was a long long time, for me anyhow. the side effects just didn't justify the good effects for me. but zanaflex, much better. i've heard others talk about skelaxin too. and i know there are others. but i've been so happy with the zanaflex (generic now so cheaper) that i never thought much about any other. but the flexeril, i think that should only be given to bed ridden patients because i wasn't really of much use on it, certainly couldn't drive on it, or work. but that mushy muscle feeling was kind of cool! then too, everyone's different when it comes to drug side effects.
walking in my keds today, was wondering if i'm already pretty close to the barefoot shoes. the bottoms are so thin, i can feel pebbles when i walk on them. just a flat flat bottom and thin canvas. they are one of the few things that don't bother my feet or knees.
anyway, still considering them, except for the toe thing. but there are other "barefoot shoes" that don't have the toe thing going on, so others to consider as well. http://barefootrunningshoes.org/ i did try on the nike free, but they had arch support and so weren't really so free. for me its not just the flexible sole, but the lack of arch support, forcing my foot into an unnatural position that is the problem.
as for price, agreed. the loafers i just bought were over $100 but worth every penny. did buy the $300 custom orthotics, too bad they don't work. however, for me, since its the arch support in most shoes that is my undoing, ironically the cheaper shoes tend to be better for my feet. like my keds, i think they're only about 20 dollars and i have to replace them yearly, but so far, the only sneaker i've found to work in like the last 10 years or so. there was a sneaker that worked for me, can't remember which brand, but they discontinued it, as usual.
they do have socks with individual toes that you can wear, but many people just wear them without socks. they really do fit like a glove, so socks probably not necessary.
hubby has once again emphasized that if i get them, he will not be caught with me in them. i understand, they are the most bizarre looking things. i was wearing them around the store to see what i thought of them, and every time i looked down, i just had to laugh! but comfort first!
Wednesday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Thursday: walk 4 miles (80 minutes) Friday: bike 16 miles (60 minutes)
I started the telecommute thing today. I worked my typical day, went for a noon time bike ride and felt like I had a vacation day. Too bad this is only one day a week. What a great day!
yay! glad you are enjoying your telecommuting day!
friday: got home just as it was getting dark, so walked the little cul de sac neighborhood which is nicely lit. it's only about a half mile loops, so walked around it 4 times, for 2 miles in about 35 minutes.
saturday: perfect weather. sunny and mid to high 50s. so walked the 3 mile loop that goes up to and along the erie canal with hubby. 1 hour 15 minutes. collecting all those leaves slowed me down a bit. hubby says taking a walk with me is like walking with a little kid, stopping to observe and collect everything. i see this as a positive!
sunday: even perfecter weather! sunny and almost 70. so walked the 3 mile erie canal loop with hubby again. 1 hour 5 minutes. no leaf collecting, though did stop to investigate the flora, especially all the varieties of viburnums with their wonderfully colored berries. so pretty.
no leaf collecting, though did stop to investigate the flora, especially all the varieties of viburnums with their wonderfully colored berries. so pretty.
I take 10-20mg of cyclobenzaprine/flexeril every night before bed. It helps me sleep and keeps the spasms away during the day. But yeah, I would never try to take it in the day time. It would be kind of funny.....to everyone else watching me!! lol
Todays run: 3.51 miles, time: 33 minutes 46 seconds. Today I tried to get some speed back. First I ran 2 miles, then walked a 1/10 of a mile, then ran a half a mile as fast as I could. then walked about 1/10 of a mile and ran another 1/2 mile as fast as I could. Then jogged up the hill back to the gym.
I take 10-20mg of cyclobenzaprine/flexeril every night before bed. It helps me sleep and keeps the spasms away during the day. But yeah, I would never try to take it in the day time. It would be kind of funny.....to everyone else watching me!! lol
Thanks Donette, I tried taking it last night and it worked great. It felt weird to take a muscle relaxer when I was already relaxed, but I slept well and my back hasn't been crampy yet today. It's already 2pm Pacific time.
I take 10-20mg of cyclobenzaprine/flexeril every night before bed. It helps me sleep and keeps the spasms away during the day. But yeah, I would never try to take it in the day time. It would be kind of funny.....to everyone else watching me!! lol
Thanks Donette, I tried taking it last night and it worked great. It felt weird to take a muscle relaxer when I was already relaxed, but I slept well and my back hasn't been crampy yet today. It's already 2pm Pacific time.
maybe try taking it each night, kind of preventatively. that's what i do, kind of "resets" my body while i sleep.
OK Team I am putting on my Coach Tink hat today and calling a little meeting "ahem"
Firstly, our Fitness Team is doing soooooooo well, you should all be very proud of yourselves indeed - not to mention how much this is helping our AS! GO TEAM!
Just to let you know that I have been working on the stats for a while to make them easier for me to calculate and summarise.
I have put all our stats from this thread into and Excel Spreadsheet and just wanted to let you know a couple of things:
1. I am going to do a stat update at the end of every month from October onwards, but will update my spreadsheet at intervals during the month to break the job up a bit.
2. I have re-gigged all the Swimming "Distance" figures into MILES! Walking, Biking, Hiking, Jogging and Running are all in Miles, so it makes sense to change the Swimming figures to match! Just put your stats down as you usually do and I will do the rest. Hope this is OK with you swimmers! If you need to know the stats in yards as well I will be only to happy to include those for you
3. I have gone through this whole thread again and have picked up a few human errors I made first time around as well as changing the swimming figures - so I am presenting July, August and September for you to see all our data so far! Well you might as well see them, I've typed it all into Excel now!!
OK Team Meeting is now over, thanks for listeing... or reading! If anyone has any questions, please fire away team mates
Enjoy the stats to follow guys and keep up the good work! Give yourselves a round of applause, you deserve it!
Can I join the cycling team? And the swim club? Won't be able to start until Friday (am not at home at the moment) but this could be the incentive I need to get going.
any form of exercise counts! we are highly flexible here (ok, in the figurative sense only as most of us are not highly flexible, LOL!) really any form of exercise, movement, etc. we're not much for rules and regulations around here!
as for the numbers, you can talk to tink about that.
Stayed in bed until 3:30pm with forays to clean the bathrooms and to the kitchen for food ~ NOT at the same time. This is such a weird spondy-monster, three days forward, one day back. Oh, well. It's A LOT BETTER than 2 years ago when every single day was a down day. Yay for swimming, good meds, and all of you who keep me sane here at KickAS!
Everyone is doing so well aren't they! Can't believe how much the team is growing all the time!
That's what prompted the spreadsheet really - there is too much going on now to simply jot down on a piece of A4 paper and add up with a calculator!
The spreadsheet is really good because I've set it up with a summary page and feeder sheets which hold thread page number and member names as well as times and distances - I have logged every single entry separately so we have lots of data to play with there! It is so much quicker and easier and well worth doing now when there are only 3 months to go back on!!!
Thanks so much for thinking of this team idea Erica, you are totally inspirational to everyone.
It's so nice to see regular members who come on almost every day (you know who you are guys) and also to see new people joining all the time! And of course everyone in between! Just can't say enough good things about this thread!
Just post any exercise you do, any old time you like! Mention the sport or activity you have done and how long it took you - mention distance if applicable and I will do the rest.
I am converting all the time into minutes and distance into miles - but you just enter what you are familiar with.
Erica enters her swimming stats in yards and I convert to miles.
Dow told me the length of his pool and what he counts as a lap and then just tells me how many laps he has done and how long it took him.
Angelmom does "rounds" in her pool... because it is round!!! So we calculated the pool size and she tells me how many rounds she does.
We will find a way input any figures you can come up with... within reason!!!! (had to add that before Kevin pops in and comes up with something completely ridiculous!!! Sorry, Kevin, but you know you would!!!
Lath Never got a chance to mention at the time how INCREDIBLE your yard looks! A yard in Engligh kind of suggests a slab on concrete! Your garden looks totally gorgeous, the photos totally do it justice from what I can see.
Also, the pictures you posted of where you walk, made me very jealous! I have got lovely places to walk from my front door, but there are a lot of dogs in our little area and they all go bonkers and set each other off when you go our for a stroll!!! It's a little off putting sometimes!!! That park looks so tranquille! AAAHHHHHHH!
Todays run: ran 4.01 miles, time: 40 minutes 2 seconds. It was 36 degrees F. this morning. I wore a long sleeve shirt, and was thinking I should have taken my gloves. I do like running in this cooler weather, but when it gets below freezing I will be wishing for warmer days.
hola sporting folks! bug is super sore. but i made it to class yesterday... KRAV CB: 60 min. it was real neat. we used little medicine balls and partnered up. then we had to hand the ball left to persons right, then roll under and over...works out the abs..and also helps strengthen the back. kids had alot of activities and doc appointments so i didnt get to go to school for a walk. my chicken wings have recovered and i learned how to do ONE hand clap pushup. yes...ONE. but its a start eh? chicken wings will be letting me know if thats gonna happen again!
weather is cooler again..wahooozie! going to cycling tomorrow morning if i get enough sleep tonight. goooooo team!!
I walked up six flights of stairs today; does that count? LOL. It's a very slow day so for me, that is an accomplishment! The elevator in our building was broken:(
My rheumy says I need to exercise my upper back and neck. I spoke with her about the baseline stiffness that never seems to go away in those areas. I see the Daily Exercises on this site. Let me know if you have any other ideas for developing more flexibility in the upper back and neck.
Thanks so much for thinking of this team idea Erica, you are totally inspirational to everyone.
I second that!
Originally Posted By: Tinkerbell
It's so nice to see regular members who come on almost every day (you know who you are guys) and also to see new people joining all the time! And of course everyone in between! Just can't say enough good things about this thread!
My rheumy says I need to exercise my upper back and neck. I spoke with her about the baseline stiffness that never seems to go away in those areas. I see the Daily Exercises on this site. Let me know if you have any other ideas for developing more flexibility in the upper back and neck.
if you can swim, i found nothing better, too bad it makes my SI irritable these days.
my left upper back / neck has been one of my worst areas since this all started back in 1998. one of the first things i did was a quick movement that partially tore my rhomboid. PT and physiatrist helped it a lot in the early 2000s. i had lots of active triggerpoints for one, that induced muscle spasms for another, that weakened the muscles. had a lot of work done back there that you probably don't need.
but, band exercises are great for gentle strengthening.
and i did all the various stretches over the years, spinal twist maybe the best one.
but still my ribs were subluxating. so now, this chiro doing active release technique is gently breaking up all kinds of fibrous tissue, mobilizing joints, all kinds of wonderful things, pretty gently too. and his mantra is increased flexibility / stretching. so bought this foam roller and i lay on it and it really opens up my chest. so back to more stretching, but even better this time. and a good PT and/or chiro can really do wonders to help us along. but a good one, there really is a difference in quality out there.
i had been waiting for my philly to call for the last few days and didn't want to miss the call, so i had missed my walk, so good to be able to go out today, rain and dark and all!
What time of day do you usually walk, Sue? Is it first thing in the morning? I would love to have time for a walk in the morning to clear the cobwebs... I am not a morning person at all it takes me a long time to come around!
hi tink! exactly the opposite, rather at sunset when i can, lately though it seems like its a bit later than that, start out in the light, end up in the dark, but as it gets dark earlier and earlier each day, wondering if somehow i should find the time before work, that would be such a new concept for me, just not sure i have it in me to do, so planning on getting an indoor stationary recumbent bike instead for those winter months.
Makes more sense that you walk in the evening! And now I come to think of it you often mention sunsets you see on your walks!! Silly me It was morning time for me and that's as far as my brain went!
I must admit I am a bit of a fair weather walker - I love walking when it's really sunny with a lovely cool breeze or when it's a bit of a chilly autumn day but still nice and bright, so you warm up quickly as you walk! Walking in the dark, cold and rain does not sound such a pleasurable prospect I think you might be as well to retire indoors in the winter.
I swim in the summer (it's an outdoor pool) and have started my gym class, but I am really a walker. I love spotting things as you walk, as I know you do. We used to go on a woodland walk every Sunday after dinner when I was a kid. I try to take my girls out for a walk as often as I can. They are loving the crunchy leaves at the moment!
My rheumy says I need to exercise my upper back and neck ~ Let me know if you have any other ideas for developing more flexibility in the upper back and neck.
Swimming & Tai Chi are AWESOME for neck and upper back.
...or maybe you could walk part of the way on your hands??? I crack myself up.
Thanks so much for thinking of this team idea Erica, you are totally inspirational to everyone.
I second that!
Originally Posted By: Tinkerbell
It's so nice to see regular members who come on almost every day (you know who you are guys) and also to see new people joining all the time! And of course everyone in between! Just can't say enough good things about this thread!
i second that too!
Awwww.... While I'm tempted to take a bow, the truth is that you're all saving my butt...literally! And my back. And my sanity. I love you all for keeping me afloat. I was batspit crazy when I got here in early summer. Not kidding, I truly thought I was going crazy. And all ya'll here have saved my bacon. I think about you all every single day. I thank you, my family thanks you, and my non-KickAS friends thank you.
Hola friends! Bug is awake! Friday stats: Krav Cycling: 60 minutes---There's no way to gauge the miles...I have no idea how to calculate?
Ack...maniacs! But i'm hobbling and alive. I went to bed at 9 pm last night! Caught up on a lot of sleep thank God! My knee hurts like heck now so I may stick to the KRAV CB class and walks for now--but it did kick start my weekend and the instructor is very funny and upbeat...really good music too!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Team!!
I find that swimming is great exercise for the upper and lower back as well as the neck. Swimming is great because it's a non impact sport meaning there is no pressure added while you stretch!
Ran 9.5 miles 1 hr 33 minutes. My plan was to only run 9 miles, but I was going to be a little short so I took another way back. Better to run longer than shorter. I love this cooler weather, perfect running weather. As I was running there was a 10k race going the other direction.
Buggie here...awake and sore ..but it's Sadddd-eeer day!! I was late cuz hubby made a bank run at the last minute! So I missed the 10 min cut off. On the plus side...I got to enjoy the outside weather.. Saturday STATS: Jogging: 2 1/2 miles Walked: 1/2 mile 46 minutes. I decided to try a bit more than the usual 2 because the weather was amazing and I had my pandora radio on, the stars were aligned and I could not resist! Unfortunately, my legs were still jello from yesterdays class..so I only made that extra 1/2 mile! But hey! it's a start right? Shower time and some pumpkin hunting! Gooooo Team!!!!
Up all night. My husband's brother was burned in a propane explosion, but the injury is nowhere near as bad as it could have been. 2nd degree burns on his hands, and 1st on his face and neck. THANK YOU GOD he wears glasses!
We went swimming early to burn off some nerves...
swimming - 1,550 yds / 1 hour
I've decided to just stay in the pool for an hour and keep moving, even if it's slowly after my first 20 laps. Slow being a relative turn, as it takes me 2 minutes to swim 50 yds.
I worked on a couple of vehicles today and then sat outside talking with my father-in-law. And now I think I'll test some progams I wrote. So, no activity to record for today. Tomorrow I think I'll go for a longer bike ride and maybe put together some upper body exercises.
so volunteered at our local museum and science center with a few of my students, helping kids, young and old, to make fake blood, colored slime, and make testtubes disappear in a liquid. great fun!
then came home and walked 1.5 miles in 30 minutes.
tomorrow we're supposed to go to letchworth! Letchworth
Hi Erika! Yes...krav bag class now has you take a number and you turn in to a door guy. Apparently there were folks sneaking into classes that werent members or were not signed up for it. Hmpf! So we suffer for it. Grr. That's why I went jogging instead...more like excited shuffling...lol
You would think I would remember the pumpkins with 2 wee bugs with us. Nope. But I'm hunting down items for Sofia's Draculaura costume from the Monster High book for her annual costume parade at school. Found ONE piece. Found an Iron Man book for little man's costume too at half price book thank goodness! I am pooped out. My legs are so sore..I could barely get out of the car. Tomorrow rest!!
Hubby bought some Kahlua mudlside...and I havent had some in YEARS..so going to relax in the evening with barbeque and a couple of drinks!
I am so sorry to hear about the propane accident!! Omg...I am glad that it wasnt more serious. Although burns period are frightening. Take care....much luv from the bug!
we did go to letchworth today and although it was only about 2.5 miles of walking, it was a good climb up (and back down) - felt it in my lower spine going up and in my knees coming down, and hubby was suggesting i not push myself, but anymore, i try to do the things that are a challenge in case i can't do them in the future - and it took about 2.5 hours, lots of stopping to look at the scenery, take photos, etc-fantastic gorge and wonderful waterfalls - will post a few photos later this week -
one crazy thing- a very high train trestle with big signs stating no trespassing- but a number of people ignoring the signs, walking out on the trellis- and while they were out there, a train came by- and watched all the people scatter off the tracks- i'm sure the trains have to watch out for people there all the time and probably slow down and blow their whistle and allow people to scurry off. i may not always follow directions, but the ones set to help me not die, pretty good ones to follow!
now i have work to do to prepare for the week, this weekend was all play and sleep - a lot of sleep- think the mobic must still be circulating- last night feel asleep on the couch around midnight, then picked myself up around 7 am and once my drugs kicked in, to the bed until noon......and i could have slept longer! been wondering if the mobic was making me extra sleepy or if it was taking care of the more minor pains and allowing my body to sleep like a normal person- oh well, off it now- it just wasn't doing enough- next drug ketoprofen!
P.S. Thanks re my sis. Her cancer is early stage, it's the lupus I'm mostly worried about. She's had lupus since here early 20's and she's 60 now. But, she's had lots of surgeries, so I'm sure she'll be fine.
No, but thank you for the pictures! Now I'm a little bit excited about the trip! I'll be in Sioux Falls at the hospital with my sis for week, then at her house with another sis, a niece, and FIVE great-nieces & nephews.
beautiful day today, low 50s, cool and crisp and sunny. walked in the back field, then down the road, then down through a little neighborhood. tons of seagulls descended on the field where the butternut squash had just been harvested; assuming tons of seeds to consume, it was an impressive sight.
walked 50 minutes, 2.5 miles.
would have walked more, but dinner was calling: curried lentil and eggplant soup; wild rice with toasted almonds, dried cherries, and mushrooms.
this is why i love walking outside and why going to a gym and walking on a treadmill just isn't the same! but not everyone is as lucky as we are i suppose to have such nice areas to walk! though i suspect if i lived in a city, i'd find different interesting things to catch my attention, as when i go to meetings in big cities, i love walking around there as well.
I went to the neurologist today. Checking on the MS, and making sure the Avonex is not causing more problems than it is solving. She is amazed that I can still run. I am just grateful that I can run. I do have some minor balance issues, but not bad.
In the last 36 hrs I have walked from the Bainbridge ferry to the Seattle lightrail throught the airport. Then I walked from one end of O'Hare to the opposite end and then slept on the worst hotel bed ever. I actually woke up twice in the night with numb hands from the stress on my back. My sister's surgery went well - looks like she won't even need chemo. My niece's husband was knocked off a 30" roof yesterday, and he's in ICU with broken 3x pelvic, sacrum, ankle and heel. Thank God no internal injuries! And my bro-in-law is healing from his burns at home. Now nobody else get hurt or sick! I am not kidding!!! I will Kick-some-AS!
yep lath...i'm quite a sight out there. in krav i'm a force to be reckoned with..but jogging...these bony knees just do not cooperate! i see all these runners and avid joggers...and i see my shadow..and i'm shuffling...lol. just these knees wont go up very high. but i keep going...so away bug goes...lol
Hola Sporting friends! Monday Stats: Krav CB: 60 minutes. Arrived just in the nick of time. Art worked late so I barely got there in time! whew! I healed from the cycling trauma from friday...lol Our instuctor Art LOVES jumping jacks...i mean REALLY loves them...half jumping jacks, half jacks, hands together in front of chest up and down jacks....constantly in between sets....to get the body pumping. Lucky for buggy...i LOVE jumping jacks! We have humid weather again and rain nearby..so achy bones...had such awesome weather the last 2 weeks and now 88 degrees for the rest of the week...bleh!
Another day...and I'm still here kicking the spondy monster...it's all we can do right? GOOOOOOO team!!!!
A lot of walking today. Our regular 2 miles in the morning. Then I went with a group for 3 miles during the lunch hour. Then a friend wanted to go for our regular afternoon 2 mile walk.
I surf and it's the best thing for AS, my Dr's encourage me to keep it up as it moves all the right parts of my body without over doing anything, as you lay on the board it forces you to lift your head keeping a nice and healthy arch in your back and neck. Legs and feet are also kicking so you're moving everything at once. Getting up on your board using you arms then moving your body into a crouch then finally standing is good all round movement.
Ok it's not ideal for people with AS who are landlocked, but if you're near a lake and know someone with a board just go for a paddle for 10-15 mins+.
If you enjoy sea side vacations it's obviously going to be summer and warm. Warm temperatures, vacation, surfing, relaxation = good head space (low stress) and full body movement helps keep the pain of AS away.
I've recently had really bad inflammation in the rids, I haven't been surfing for 2 months, last Sunday I had an hour in the water, now my ribs are sweet!...for the time...:-)
p.s. My sister came out of surgery recovery today speaking Spanish ~~~ teehee, her husband of the last 15 years didn't even know she knew how. He said, "oh no, she's not talking right, maybe she had a stroke" and I started laughing and told him what she said ~~~
that sounds like excellent exercise and so much fun!
i think you are correct about the ribs, sitting here too long to create an exam for my class tomorrow, my ribs are complaining; sitting up straighter is helping, but not sitting would help the very most!
how is your sister doing now? hope she is recovering nicely!
and glad you had a chance to go swimming. one of the things i like about hotel pools is that they are usually a few degrees warmer than gym pools. my favorite hotel pool is at one of the sheratons in boston, they use salt water instead of chlorine in both the pool and hottub, so much nicer!
I feel good. Walking is one thing I can still do (with the help of Humira). We normally do a 2 mile morning walk and then the same in the afternoon. There was a group walking at noon...so I said what the heck. I was going to skip the afternoon 2 mile, but someone wanted to go...what the heck.
I just wish I could regain some more flexibility of my upper back and neck so that I could comfortably ride my road bike. My rheumy thinks upper body exercise will help, but it seems like a very difficult accomplishment.
i know what you mean about the walking; even last fall with my upper back / rib issue, couldn't sit or lay so i walked, and walked, and walked some more. it was odd, who ever heard of an illness where so long as you're in perpetual motion, you're better!
as for the upper back and neck flexibility and biking. my husband has a disc problem, leaning over the tenspeed was bad for his back/neck, so he took the bike in, got upright handlebars put on it, has helped his back/neck a lot. i've also seen those rather funky recumbent bikes. but you do ride a bike sometimes i've noticed, is that a different bike? or is it the road bike and it just hurts to ride it.
i'd say be patient with the exercises. i slowly saw an improvement when i was always doing the exercises. now back to them again, except anything requiring my wrists, after 4 years of injuring it, the left ulnar wrist is only ok if i don't stress it, so that means bands, wall pushups, wall and corner stretches are all out, but i've been doing my spinal twists on the floor still, and using gravity by laying on that foam roller, that's helpful. maybe a short course of PT? could that be helpful? soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and the right exercises?
I went to the neurologist today. Checking on the MS, and making sure the Avonex is not causing more problems than it is solving. She is amazed that I can still run. I am just grateful that I can run. I do have some minor balance issues, but not bad.
I went to a sports exhibition at the weekend and one stand were demonstrating Power Balance Magnetic Bracelets. It was the first time I had ever seen/heard of them. I don't know how expensive they are and if they actually work! lol But it just sprung to mind when you mentioned your balance issues, so I thought I would mention it.
this summer at one of the many arts and crafts festivals, i bought a magnetic bracelet, mainly because it was made of picasso jasper, all different shades, very pretty. i figured it would be good to test out this magnet theory. the claims are that it can help a number of issues at the systemic level including inflammatory arthritis if it is worn near pulse points. i found that to be a stretch, but thought maybe it would help the joint it is near. i wear it on my right wrist, as it would interfere with my watch. it does nothing for me, not even my dq tendonitis or right ulnar wrist pain that it is near. nothing. does it work for others? no idea? but mine was supposed to be the double strength one, and it does nothing for me. but it is very pretty, all various shades of grey and tan and cream colored stone beads with silver beads in between; that is the main reason i bought it, would have even if it were not magnetic. but it did give me the opportunity to test the theory.
I was not convinced one way or the other with the demo. No-one was there to sell things as such though, it was more of a selling your sport kind of thing. The demo was done by a mountain biking cycling team and they swear by the bands to help with balance.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Sue. Perhaps they will end up being more of a fashion accessory than a sporting aid!
... but you do ride a bike sometimes i've noticed, is that a different bike? or is it the road bike and it just hurts to ride it.
Yes I do ride a bike and I enjoy it. I have a mountain bike...I call it the "tank". It has big tires, a comfortable seat, and I sit upright. But, I miss my road bike. It's a "biker" thing.
... but you do ride a bike sometimes i've noticed, is that a different bike? or is it the road bike and it just hurts to ride it.
Yes I do ride a bike and I enjoy it. I have a mountain bike...I call it the "tank". It has big tires, a comfortable seat, and I sit upright. But, I miss my road bike. It's a "biker" thing.
i think i know what you mean. my husband changed his "road bike" to upright, but i didn't. though its a lot of stress to my wrists and elbows, to ride my tenspeed, i'm afraid upright would not be as good for my upper back. and i did rent an upright bike to see how it felt and i didn't care for it, i like my tenspeed better. i cushioned the seat, cushioned the handlebars, that makes it better, but still looking for better cushioning.
I just wish I could regain some more flexibility of my upper back and neck so that I could comfortably ride my road bike. My rheumy thinks upper body exercise will help, but it seems like a very difficult accomplishment.
You can do it! just start with one minute per day, and do an extra minute until you work up to where you want to be!
how is your sister doing now? hope she is recovering nicely!
Surgery was long, but a total success, no chemo, no colostomy. She's having fevers and pain from the lupus and being off her arthrotec, but she walked 6 times today. She makes me feel like a sissy, because she's been so sick for so long and just puts her shoulder into it and goes!
way to go samzee!! hats off to you girl!! once you figure out what your body can handle and whats pushing the envelope then you are a okay. i now know a good sore from a ran over-by a mac truck sore from AS monster sore.
Defense? defense? what tha' hey?! That's for football players...hmpf! plyometrics in there....I'm just a bug. A bony little ladybug. lol But I did it and I finished all of them...back to back. I even stopped when i was done and thought...what? i did it???!! how??? lol.
They had some good Crazy train by Ozzy and some other good ol' rock. So couldnt help but wail the frustrations out! I am now slathered with super strength Bengay in my thoracic and hands, and had my motrin and hittin the sackaroni my fellow pepperonis! j/k ! Goooooo teammmmmmmM!!! As our ol' friend Lon would say...Man, I love this place!!
)
Aw thanks Sue, too kind... has Alan been brainwashing you by any chance? LOL 
) was i the faster swimmer. but in either case it always worked out. and i always switched up the strokes. 
It might just end up with a short walk today. 
i'll be fine, i'm used to this! but now would be a very good time for those small bowel tests that the insurance denied......need to call the gastroenterologist tomorrow, see what plan B is. 
)
i'll behave! lol
: 
uncalled for. he even circled back when we got off and yelled something at gianna. thinking she was older i am assuming!! 
)
Lucky Puppy! 
