Diary of a Small Planet II: The Omen

[ParanoidAndroid]

Greg-You're doing awesome. Keep up the good work;I'll be watching!

[FishrCutB8]

Keep moving forward, my friend. And while you're out walking around, pick up this month's Triathlete Magazine...

[EdChap]

Greg, keep up the excellent work! Your determination is absoloutely awesome!!

[sona]

It tired me out to read your WO--you think you need more stamina? You seem to have more stamina in your determination than any three other guys.

I'm curious: Do you work out on empty, or with a drink of some kind, or something else? I'm still working on upping my stamina, but I'm not sure it'd be a good idea at my age (55) to start playing around with things like No-XPLODE, etc.

If I remember right, your wife is a longtime nurse--does she have any tips about this? At this point, I drink one cup of real coffee about 20 minutes pre-WO and have lemon-water-dex on the floor. A diluted whey protein drink during the WO nauseates me. I thought you might have some ideas...?

Planning to add upper body pulls to my workout. I will use a band over the bar in my closet for lat pulls and will use band around doorknob for rows.

This is a great idea--I think I'll try this. I'm trying to increase my lat strength to up chins. Thanks!

Sona

[gregl515]

Because of concerns regarding blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function I don't use anything like that. I drink water during my rehab and exercise periods. I eat 4 times a day. I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack before I go to bed. Breakfast is usually the most carb intensive meal.
I emphasive an adequate amount of protein and get lots of different colored vegetables. My snack emphasizes protein content. I eat 2 -4 apples a day to keep me full and to keep blood sugar regulated. I also eat a handfull of cashews, almonds or walnuts usually once a day.

My illness has caused me to focus on good whole foods and away from chemicals that I can't be 100% sure of. When I do go back to work, I will pack protein supplements or an MRP (MetRX) to consume between meals.

My exercise program is not at all exhautive though physical therapy is. I wouldn't do most of that stuff without someone to watch me and make sure I don't fall!

[gregl515]

I realize how pompous the last post sounded. I would definitely try some supplements if I hadn't had the scare with my kidneys. I just can't do that any more.

[gregl515]

Shoulder db complex w/ 14#
Shoulder band pulls
Band rows
Leg extension w/ ankle wts
BW squats
lower body band exercises

Lousy weather bothered my leg, my knees and my hands!

[tkinsley]

Greg, your log is incredible! I work at a military hospital that gets a lot of the casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan; they are actually constructing a new amputee center there (which, not to veer off topic, but.... is NOT a good thing--just means the pre-existing amputee centers are incapable of handling the volume ), and so I have seen a lot of unbelievably heart-wrenching things, both good and bad. My favorite one, though, is when I drive to work in the morning and go past the military track, there is often a guy who appears to have two below-the-knee amputations RUNNING--and the dude is FAST. It is amazing to see, and so is your log.

Keep up the great work.

Best,

Tina

[gregl515]

Thanks! I may get a foot that is the same as the running feet this guy probably has. It would have a foot attachment that would allow me to wear a shoe so I could wear it to work. I've read good things about the military's rehab program for amputees. The rehab that the military does treats the amputee like an athlete and trains him or her to use their new limbs on obstacles, white water rafting, rock climbing. It is pretty incredible. The military has also bought most of the state of the art limbs out there.

[gregl515]

I had PT today. I walked 900 feet with a can.
I did balance drills.
I did leg presses. These are an education. I can only press 75 lbs x 2 x 25 with my right leg. My PT explained that a lot of the mechanism that allows me to perform a press with that leg is gone. Have to adapt.
I also did leg extensions. Very weak for the same reason.
Lat pulls 69 lbs 2 x 25. I am pretty weak but this should improve quite a bit because it doesn't have to do with missing muscle tissue.
My walking with the cane was very smooth compared to when I started. I will soon switch to using the cane all the time. Then I will work to get rid of the cane.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

[Bill2380]

Greg, the progress is tremendous. Take Thursday off and watch some football.

[gregl515]

I am taking the day off for football! I did walk around the island of our kitchen wothout a walker or a cane for about 10 feet to hug and kiss my wife and turned and walked back to a chair!

[Mahler]

Simply amazing and inspiriing. What else can I say?

[Marykaa]

Originally Posted by gregl515

I did walk around the island of our kitchen wothout a walker or a cane for about 10 feet to hug and kiss my wife and turned and walked back to a chair!

wow! 10 feet and back to a chair! when just before it was :

Originally Posted by gregl515

Then I will work to get rid of the cane.

You're on your way!

[gregl515]

I screwed up today. I forgot I have PT this afternoon.
I did upper body complex with 21.3 lbs
BW Squats 3 x 20
Leg extensions 3 x 8 with 3 lbs
Lower body band workout

Hope I didn't burn myself out for the afternoon.

[gregl515]

I haven't been to a store. What's in Triathlete Magazine Fish?

[gregl515]

PT was hard but it went well. I walked 900 feet on a cane nonstop and while holding a conversation. And while observing how cute the wound specialist was. . . . Did an agility drill 4 x while holding onto a bar. Walked about 50 - 60 ft without a cane or walker. Lat pulls 2 x 20 x 74 lbs. Leg Press 2 x 20 x 84 lbs. Leg extension 2 x 20 x 12 lbs. Stairstepper machine with resistance 1 x 90 sec and 1 x 60 sec. I had spots in front of my eyes when I came home and had to eat an apple. I will sleep well tonight!

[Marykaa]

nice work!