Peggy's Progress Blog - Project Walk

GOOD VIBES! ;-)

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:12:00 -0700

Wow... anybody out there? Anybody in HERE? Wait a minute... where am I? Oh, that's it; I'm on my webisite! (or is that IN my website? Whatever...) Anyway, I'm HERE. I've been doing SO many incredible things since my last post, I don't even know where to start. Actually, I do know where; I'll start with the good vibes, seeing as that's something I'm going to be getting shortly. I'm going to have acupunture at ADAPT Advances (the former Project Walk) with Estim (which stands for electrical stimulus). I've experienced lots of acupuncture in my day, but it's been NOTHING compared with what I've experieced from Nicolas LaPuma. His education is huge, and he is hugely exiting to be involved with. Nick is gutsy, and he's intuitive. Along my PT at OHSU and my doc. who supports me in everything I do, I feel this is really what's going to get me up and walking again. All of this has been EXITING to say the least so, probably needless to say... stay tuned!

Hey hey hey

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:24:00 -0700

She's ba-ack... and even better than before! Actually, better than ever... I'm not walking as of yet, but my energy has been HUGE. The holidays were wacked with all the snow; lovely yes, but also a royal pain in the butt, seeing as I wasn't able to get to either ADAPT or OHSU for three weeks. The incredibly cool thing, however, was my session with Marvin last week when I finally WAS able to get back to OHSU. I got there early, so was surprised that he was able to see me when I first arrived. After I got hooked up in this coset-like thing (I'm not kidding; I swear I have flashbacks to previous lifetimes) he had me begin. And it WAS harder than I remembered. When I said, 'Marv, this thing is set slower than I remember'; his response was, Yeah, I'm making it that way so I can see where your body is at after all this time. The crazy thing was, seeing as I hadn't been there for three weeks it should've been a lot harder, but it wasn't tough at all. He told me he was impressed. When the person who was scheduled after me called to say she was going to be late, he then asked me if I wanted to keep going. I wasn't tired at all and felt great, so I did. When it was finally time to end my session; now he was VERY impressed. He told me that for 50 minutes I had walked longer than I ever had before; a mile and at a slower pace (which is more challenging) and supposedly the whole time I was doing 20% of the work. The thing he was really amazed about was the fact that I had the endurance to do so. Even though a locomat is an automatic locomoton device, the corset-thing is hooked up to a computer that monitors your movement, and can be set to stop if the person using it isn't exerting any energy. A computer screen is in front of you so you can watch your progress, then move as the therapist instructs. In the past Locomat has been enormously tiring--more so than ADAPT--but it's getting easier and easier as time goes on. My healing progress is getting VERY intriguing... Stay tuned!</p>

Ho ho ho...

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:22:00 -0700

My Christmas gift to you, is... me! Isn't that special? (winK) It's been too long, I realize... the most exiting news I have to write is that for the last few months, I've been undergoing homeopathic treatment for Lyme from a man who is (supposedly) one of the best. And, wow, it's been quite something. It's actually been the most difficult treatment regimen I've ever been on: http://www.wholisticresearch.com/info/artshow.php3?artid=81 But it's also been the most exiting. My energy has gone from being almost non-existent to being so huge I actually have to remind myself to slow down and take it easy. It's not 100%, and no I'm not walking as of yet, but I'm shocking EVERYONE with my abilities. Abilities like (oh god, I don't know if I should put this in writing but, oh well, here goes) abilities like... cleaning! I'm (unfortunately) very good at it, thanks to my mother. After I asked for a new bike when I was ten, she told me she would only get me one if I paid half for it. When I expressed shock and confusion--what? ;I'm ten years old! Where am I gonna get the money she just shrugged and said, you figure it out. So I went around to the neighbors, and started cleaning. Call me old fashioned, but the young women who help me out don't do it very well, and they say if you want something done right you have to do it yourself, so... I'm doing it! The reason I'm including that in this post is because it exemplifies that I have the ENERGY to do it. I'm still going to ADAPT (formerly known as Project Walk) once a week and am working with the head physical therapist at OHSU twice a week. And I'm of course still writing when I have he energy and spirit for ir; you can't ruse the muse. My book is in no way, shape or form ready for publishing as of yet, but it WILL be published; mark my words. Stay tuned.. I hope you all have enjoyed this early Christmas present Now let's all have the happiest of holidays, and make 2009 the greatest year of our life!

HUGELY belated progress update

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:07:00 -0700

The story on why I've been so horridly late posting (yet again) can be summed up pretty succinctly (think I can do it? ;-); it's simply because been feeling fantastic. I have had fantastic energy, so have been able to get things done that I've been putting off for ages, simply because I wasn't feeling so great. I'm feeling HUGELY better, plus... Jay and I have added a new member to our family! She's a five month old Calico kitten named Sabrina. We her at the local animal shelter just last Tuesday. We already love her immensely, and she adores us. She loves to be loved, loves to snuggle, and loves to play with her toys and look at herself in the mirror! She runs after her toys like a dog; it's incredible. After we throw them, she brings them back to us so we can do it again! I've never considered myself much of a cat person--always partial to dogs--until I met this kitty. After she started giving me high fives at the shelter (no joke) I knew she was the one... I was immediately in love! So again, physically I'm feeling incredible. Jay and I recently went on a restrictive Lyme diet, and BOTH of us are already noticing HUGE benefits. I saw my brother (who was visiting from Alaska last week) and he asked, how's the walking coming? Obviously it's not happening as of yet but (lucky for him) I wasn't feeling my usual sarcastic self. But its VERY close; I can feel it. As with everything else in my life, I know it will happen when it's meant to. It's--ABSOLUTELY--its going to happen. Count on it!

BELATED PROGRESS UPDATE!!!

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:33:00 -0700

Please do accept my condolences. I realize I haven't posted for well over a month, so know everyone must have been not just incredibly sad, but simply missin' me somethin' fierce. Well, turn those frowns upside down, because you're going to be feeling super swell when you hear the reason why I haven't posted... It’s because I've been getting my butt kicked, somethin' fierce! I’ve not only been going to the former Project Walk twice a week; I've been going downtown to OHSU's Center for Health and Healing, also twice a week. Which has been incredible. Yesterday Ryan and Marvin (the physical therapists at OHSU) hooked me up to something called Biodex for the first time. Known as The World Leader in Neuromuscular Education and Therapeutic Exercise, the biodex goes further than the locomat, supposedly being the fastest way to identify, treat and document the physical impairments that cause functional limitations (italics from website). Like you are while using the locomat you’re hooked up to a computer, the Biodex just going more in depth in its statistics as you perform the movements the therapists ask of you. It is NOT easy. But it’s very, very cool; fascinating, really. Check it out: www.biodex.com/rehab/rehab.htm .

As for the former Project Walk; the Beaverton office is no more. The owners simply told Nat (the manager of the Beaverton office) they were going to close it. The way Ted and his wife Tammy (a co-owner) conducted themselves was incredibly unprofessional, but the way the trainers conducted themselves at what is now going to be called ADAPT Advanced Training was beyond professional. They’re joining ADAPT, the business next door. ADAPT is an acronym that stands for Advanced Development And Performance Training. The trainers I’ve been working with for almost a year now are so knowledgeable; after you check out their site www.adapttraining.com , I can assure you it’s a perfect match. I feel so lucky to be a part of it!

Rest assured I’ll keep you all posted about any new events. Enjoy the beautiful weather having! So, until I click again…

April 27

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:32:00 -0700

Last Thursday was an amazing day. I had a really good workout with both Elena and Jeremy at Project Walk. Elena had me doing arm work the first hour, then Jeremy had me on the red table working my legs the second. As usual, he would ask me how I was feeling then, more specifically, would ask where I was feeling the movement was originating from. I remember telling him I felt I was connecting really well—better than I had in the past—because I felt I did know where it was originating. I remember telling him I found it odd that I could feel my left leg was stronger doing some movements than my right. I felt both legs were actually doing really well, just that they were oddly mismatched. Hold that thought…

After Project Walk, Jay and I then jetted downtown to OHSU's Health and Healing Center for my 1:30PM appointment, to use something called Lokomat. You definitely have to check it out; http://www.ohsu.edu/health/page.cfm?id=13701 I worked with Marvin Smith, D.P.T., one of OHSU's lead neurological therapists, the physical therapist highlighted in this video clip. Marvin then set me up using the Lokomat. The device is absolutely amazing. They strap your legs into this machine then, after given cues you focus on moving as instructed. And the absolutely mind blowing thing is that the machine’s calculations showed my body moving the exact same muscles as Jeremy and I said we were moving, earlier this same day! When Marvin was doing the intake and doing a manual examination before they strapped me into the machine, and both he and another PT there were very positive, saying, “Oh yeah, you definitely have motion happening.” Marvin wants me to come three days a week. They’re pretty booked, so currently I have only two more appointments scheduled. But it’s definitely going to happen. I'm still going to Project Walk (which is why I have to raise some money so if anyone reading feels like making a tax deductible donation, feel free to do so here on my super secure site!;-) Jay, the super originator of my super secure site (as well as my super sexy finance, bit I digress) is also working on a new video for the site so... stay tuned for further enlightenment! (believe it or not that's a hint, of what's yet to come...) ;-)

Oprah

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:54:00 -0700

I’ve been super lazy getting my posts up (obviously) but there’s something I’m hoping someone reading this can help me with. A bunch of us from Project Walk are going to submit some sort of proposal to the Oprah show, hoping we can get on it. Seeing as Project Walk is much, more than traditional ‘physical therapy’ and the people who go there are much, much more than what you think of when you hear of people who are either ‘in', ‘confined', or ‘bound’ to wheelchairs, with their ‘traditional’ labels of gimp. cripple, or invalid, I have no doubt we’re going to get on the show. Much like Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope and the man himself, who inspires people to dare to become more than what cultural mores of their time told them they could be, both Project Walk and the people who go have the ‘audacity’ to reject ‘labels’ and are daring to become more than what traditional medical mores of their time told them they could be.

Project Walk is not ‘traditional physical therapy; it’s exercise therapy. My own doctor inadvertently validated the benefits of this the other day when he called me to discuss my latest blood test results. He said, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep doing it. You’re blood looks better than I’ve ever seen it. Your red blood cells went from being abnormal to the mid-range of normal.” He went on to explain a major function of the red blood cells is to carry oxygen to all the tissues from the lungs and then transport the carbon dioxide from the cells, breaking down the nutrients for assimilation. Red blood cells therefore are essential for healing, and since exercise stimulates bone production and bone is what’s responsible for red blood cell production (and the hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone’s connected to the collar bone, the collar bone’s connected to the…but forgive me, I digress. Not only do I digress, I’m constructing one wacked body…;-) All that to say: EXERCISE PRODUCES HEALING! (Physical healing, that is. As for mental healing, one can only dream…;-)

As for how my sessions at Project Walk have been since my last post, they’ve been smashing, as usual. So again, I’d love it if anyone reading could help us make this happen. And I have some exiting news…anyone who can help us swing this just might get a free autograph! This would have to be from Oprah, of course. As for a free autograph from me, like I’ve said before; one can only but dream… ;-)

March Sixth

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:59:00 -0700

March sixth was also a very good day. The first hour I worked with Jared. He had me on the red table, and was really concentrating on my ankles. No offense to Jared but—seeing as this was about as interesting for me to do as for you to read—I’m not going to belabor the point. He had me finish up by using the adductor machine which was interesting, seeing as what Kandice told me Tuesday. Because I was obviously very strong on my left side; my right side embarrassingly wimpy. Sigh…

The second hour I worked with Elena. She had me doing some core work on the grey table for the first half hour, then had me move to the gait trainer. I have to confess I was getting tired and definitely more than a bit hungry, but the remaining fifteen minutes were pretty wild. I was crusin’ along, thinking I was the cat’s meow while using the trainer, when she switched it off. I started to get down when she said, “Wait a minute, you’re not done; I want to try something you’ve never done before.” I was still using the gait trainer, but she turned the power off. OFF, meaning I had to power the thing by myself! She would start me out by pushing one of my legs, then I had to take it from there! It was not easy; I was mad, I was sad, but I did it. Okay, so I wasn’t all that mad or sad, I was just really hungry. So, until I click again…

March Fourth

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:57:00 -0700

March fourth was another day I felt was going to be very good. The first hour I worked with Elena. She had me start out by using the adductor machine, with a bit of a twist. She started out having me work my legs; the twist is that she had me work my arms, as well. This is hard to explain without a visual aid; suffice to say she had me pulling on some elastic tubes (I’m gonna leave that to your imagination to figure it out; trust no small mammals were harmed. Will, on the other hand… ;-). Elena then had me move to the grey table to do some core strengthening exercises. They were not easy, but she actually complimented me at the end—a compliment from the dominatrix herself!— so I have to say I think she felt it went well.

The second hour I worked with Kandice. She had me move to the total gym and while I was using it she kept questioning where I was feeling it. She had me switch between legs, and in no time at all she said, “Do you realize you’re not doing any load bearing in your right leg at all?” This, again, is hard to explain without a visual aid but after she told me what she saw my body doing and how to correct it, I did! Know that this correction didn’t come easily but, like I think I’ve said before, once I find out how my body has been misaligning itself in order to favor my ’supposedly stronger side, it makes sense. it just felt right. Kandice also confirmed something I felt was true; she said even though it appears my right side is more strong, she said I actually connect better on my left. It was truly fascinating to learn about. The work she had me do was actually more than very good; I felt it, truly, was a watershed moment for me. So stay tuned…

February 28

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:55:00 -0700

Once again, forgive me for being so remiss in posting. I remember thinking, after Feb. 19, I was looking forward to posting the 21 but then, something rather unusual happened: a full moon lunar eclipse. It was absolutely stunning. A full moon nearly always throws me off, but my favorite astrologer, Susan Miller of astrologyzone.com says a full moon eclipse is even more challenging; beautiful to look at, yes, but fatiguing not only physically, but mentally and emotionally, as well. I always say a full moon is like a curve ball everyone has to par and counter to the best of their ability; that being said, a lunar eclipse is like having to dodge three or four balls curve balls coming at you all at once from different directions, at differing speeds! Suffice to say, I’m sure it was draining for everyone. (Yes, I had about three or four balls coming at me all at once, but luckily it’s as if they were thrown by Will, so it wasn’t that challenging or draining at all;-)

People may roll their eyes at all this and say this is just so much silliness, being astrology, but I beg to differ. Like differing languages using words that appear to differ actually mean the same thing in English, not only is talking about the effects of a full moon astrology; it’s science. Remember, the moon is what pulls the tide of the oceans, and humans are made of water; percentages I’ve heard range anywhere from 70-90% .) All that just to say I didn’t post because of the lunar eclipse. How’s that for an excuse? Not bad, not bad at all, if I do say so myself… (insert sound of crowd cheering;-)

I’m posting about last Thursday, Feb. 28, because it was just very, very good. I woke up early, and had great energy, so knew it was going to be a good day. The first hour I worked with Jeremy. He started out having me do table work (which was excellent; he could feel my muscles doing all the things he was asking me to do) and then he had me move to the fly wheel bike, which I rode for a solid half hour! It was, I feel, my best performance yet.

The second hour I worked with Will. And…it was fun! We had moved to a different table. He had me rolling around, sitting up and down—doing all sorts of other super fun stuff I’m sure (even though I can’t remember what it was, exactly) probably because the final half hour he had me balancing on a bolster, which is when he had me commence to doing what I, truly, feel I was meant to do in this life. We began throwing a soft foam ball, then a three pound ball (which was more difficult, but I got my mojo back pretty quick, so never fear;-). Elena had joined us, and when she was throwing the soft ball she told me to try catching and throwing it with my left hand. If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ll recall I’ve always said my left is my weaker hand but…oops, I think I’ve been found out (does this mean I’m gonna have to give up my free parking? Say it ain’t so… ;-) On the very first try, I caught it and threw it back, no problem at all. Then did it again, and again and again… Will, literally, was dumbfounded. “Peggy,” he said, “What are you doing? Where is this coming from? You’re not supposed to be able to do this!” I knew I had to do something to preserve my free parking status (and free food, free desserts, and very soon to be free stickers;-) so I did what, at times, a woman has to do just to stay in the game. So—you know what I’m gonna say— I pulled out the tears. Oh so carefully orchestrated (as to not smear my mascara, of course) but they were gushing. I mean, literally gushing; my shirt was wet! And Will, being something I can’t put in print so I’ll save for his face, didn’t even care! I was crying, he was laughing; déjà vu, all over again, the story of my life) So, I did what a woman has to do when she finally has to put some sort of closure on any untenable situation; I went to get some Japanese food. I stormed out, literally stormed. Admittedly, storming isn’t as effective when you’re using a chair but, if someone is relatively near (or not so near) you can always careen your manual chair out of control and ‘accidentally’ run over their foot, which they’ll then apologize to you for (which is always fun but, still, a seated storm is not the same as a walking storm). Suffice to say, Mr. Will, when I get these bones up and around again –which is going to be sooner than later, mark my words—just for last Thursday, I’m going to owe you a real storm! And you’re gonna get it (if you’re lucky, that is. ;-)

February 19

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:18:00 -0700

Today was another very good day at Project Walk. The first hour I worked with Will, who started me out doing arm work on the total gym. It’s hard to explain without a visual aid—and Jay’s camera is not working currently—but suffice to say what I was doing on the total gym was not easy. Seeing as my right hand is definitely the strongest I can say I’m lucky my right hand is dominant, but my left hand and arm are still very weak, so it was quite a workout. I finished the hour by doing some throwing and catching with Leslie-- a new trainer at Project Walk—while using a stranding frame. Throwing and catching while using a standing frame with Leslie was very good, but throwing and catching the second hour, with Jeremy, was even better.,,

Jeremy started me doing some passive exercises on the table, and then he had me move to and sit on the edge of a table. He moved across from me, and had me throwing and catching while balancing; point being to challenge to my balance. It was a challenge when I first started but in no time at all it became easy, and wasn’t a problem in the least! It was actually really fun. I finished up by using the gait trainer for the remaining fifteen minutes. So, once again, it was a tremendous workout. The more I go, it’s obvious I’m getting better and better and better. Needless to say, I can’t wait to go back! So stay tuned… ;-)

FEBRUARY 5, 7, and 12

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:17:00 -0700

Please forgive me, once again, for being so late in posting… I have to tell you I don’t remember the details of February fifth and seventh exactly, just remember they weren’t the best. seeing as I hadn’t yet sunk into a rhythm. I do remember Feb. 12, however....

I knew as soon as I awoke it was going to be a good day. I worked with Jared the first hour. Jared actually was the person who evaluated me the very first day at Project Walk. For whatever reason it had been while since I had worked with him, so it was intriguing. He had me use the total gym the whole hour and…it was fun! It was fun because I was freakin’ him out somethin’ fierce; he had me doing all sorts of different exercises on the total gym and kept trying to push me off balance, but I stayed balanced and upright the whole time. He told me he was very impressed with my progress as supposedly I wasn’t able to do anything I was doing when I first started at Project Walk. The best part is—and you’re not gonna believe this, so you might want to be sure you’re sitting down— he told me if I keep up the good work, I’m just might get a sticker! ;-) The second hour I worked with Elena. The amazing thing is I wasn’t feeling fatigued at all and had really good energy for pretty much the whole hour. She was surprised, too, but I wasn’t surprised one bit. All I can say is, never underestimate what the power of a compliment, plus the incentive of a sticker can for a person. So yeah, February 12^th was definitely one of my best…

When I woke up February 13, however, I felt as if I’d been hit by a Mack truck. Truly, I felt like hell. I was surprised since I had felt so good the previous day, so thought I must be getting a cold. But I wasn’t feeling any of the usual cold symptoms, so that didn’t make any sense, either. I called Nat—the manager at Project Walk—to cancel Thursday, seeing as they charge for appointments not cancelled 24 hours in advance. Shortly after we finished talking Jay called on his lunch break. After I told him how I was feeling and how I couldn’t figure it out why, just felt it wasn’t a cold, he said, “I know you’re not going to like to hear this, but seeing as you just recently started upping the meds, it’s probably a herx” . We did the math over the phone, and he was right: it was definitely a herx.

For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a ‘herx’ is short for something called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, named after the German doctors who discovered it. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, a ‘herx’ happens when large quantities of toxins are released into the body as bacteria die, due to antibiotic treatment. A person experiences a herx when the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process performed by the kidneys and liver. A Herxheimer flare reaction may be the first indication that the antibiotic is reaching its target, therefore is considered a good sign.

Super fun, huh? I talked to my doctor who’s prescribing it; she wants me to take a few days off, then start the meds again, albeit slowly. I’m feeling better, actually have been doing some of the exercises Willl recommended I do home (and kicking Jay’s butt instead of yours, Will, but doing so is just making it more likely I’m gonna take you on then take you out the next time we play, so consider yourself forewarned ;-). I’m planning on going to Project Walk this coming Tuesday so, who knows? Maybe, if I play my cards right, meaning just be my super sweet self (okay, fine: act like I would, if I ever was super sweet self) then look really sad, maybe squeeze out a couple tears… I just might get my sticker, even quicker! (yeah yeah I know it’d be more likely to happen if I deep-six the bad rhymes and tried to, once again, act like I would if I ever had some semblance of a super sweet self but…nah, ain’t gonna happen. Meaning I’m still gonna take you on then take you out next time we play catch, Will; count on it! ;-)

January 31

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:59:00 -0700

Sorry I’m so late getting this post up… Last Thusrday, January 31^st was my six month evaluation at Project Walk. I worked with Elena the first hour; she took measurements of my muscle mass and nerve sensation, recording my stats, both written and by video. After she was done assessing me on the table, she had me move to the floor. And this was very cool; she had me rolling from my front to back, and then sitting up, moving from side to side, and…she was surprised! I didn’t find what she was having me do hard at all but, according to her, I couldn’t do any of what I was doing when I first came to Project Walk.

The second hour I worked with Jeremy. He had me start out doing some table work, which I found rather boring, so I told him about the work I did last Tuesday with Jared and asked if I could do it again. So he went to get some gloves and we went into the room next door, which is where I commenced to… kicking some butt! Okay, so I didn’t kick butt literally (as of yet. But I’m not a very nice woman and I’m getting to the point where I’ll be able to, so be afraid, be very afraid… ;-) Anyhow, what I did was put some gloves on, got situated in a standing frame, and then began pummeling an Everlast bag. I have never done this before but now think this is the quintessential way to work out because I’m working everything; not only is my body challenged by standing; my core is being challenged by punching the moving Everlast bag. The first time I did this—which was Tuesday—it started out very hard. Jared even told me before I began I might not be up for this kind of thing as of yet. And, again, it was wildly difficult when I first began and I was thinking I might have to stop, but after about five minutes my body sank into a natural rhythm, and it wasn’t difficult at all!

When I get my mojo back, I want everyone reading this to know there are two thingsI I’m going to do forthwith. The first is sign up for and drag my man to ballroom dance lessons. The second thing I’m going to do is get the best lawyer I can find, then commence to suing whoever is responsible for tanking my vocabulary. I mean, one consonant, one vowel, repeat the first consonant, then call it good? That is not good? I’ve said the exact same thing way too often; I just think it’s wrong to be so lacking in originality. But until I get my mojo and start making some money from the very successful lawsuit (albeit somewhat slanderous, and yeah I’m talking about you, Jeremy) I guess there’s really nothing else to say… It was just another WOW kind of day! Until I click again…

January 24

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:39:00 -0700

Today was another smashing day at Project Walk. I initially woke up feeling tired and was a bit worried because I had chelation Monday, which always knocks me for a loop. But I've also started some new medication, so was feeling a bit more knocked than usual. (Notice I didn't say a bit more loopier than usual? I refuse to screw myself with my own words. I’m not any more loopier than usual, just a bit more knocked. Hey, wait a minute, let me re-phrase that… ;-) Okay, so when I finally got myself out of bed and started getting ready, I told myself this was going to be a very good day. Actually, I told myself this previous night, as I was falling asleep...

I got to Project Walk about fifteen minutes early, then started getting busy with Elena. She again had me begin by doing something I have never done before; had me use the most challenging standing frame they have there, by pretty much taking most of the fame itself away. This is hard to explain without a visual aid, but she was having me tilt from side to side, then back and forth, over and over, with no support. I think she was a bit surprised at how well I was doing, but I felt very balanced and strong, so didn’t find the exercises hard at all. She then had me move to the Total Gym, and had me work my legs. This wasn't as effortless as the standing frame, but still did pretty well. She had me finish the hour loosening up my hips by doing some stretching. I’ve always considered myself an unusually limber person but—wow—after doing the stretches she had me doing, I would say I’m not only limber, I’m also lucky my appendix didn’t get unscrewed and end up next to my left frontal lobe. Elena's a very good trainer and I know she’s well schooled in what she’s doing, but I swear she gets some sort of sadistic pleasure from it. I swear it… ;-)

The second hour I worked with Will. He also had me use the Total Gym; using various tools to work my arms. I did well the first fifteen minutes or so but when it was obvious my arms were starting to fatigue, he had me move to the gait trainer. I used the gait trainer for the last half hour, then had to get gone so I could get some grub! Exercise, go get some Japanese food--some eel and snow crab sushi, maybe a little seaweed salad on the side--go give some blood; can a day get any better than this, really? Actually it can get better, because I haven't seen my man yet! ;-) So have a cozy warm weekend everyone and try not to freeze. Until I click again...

January 18, 2008

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:22:00 -0700

She’s ba-ack… YES, I’m BACK! And here to stay (better than ever and I won’t go away; rap courtesy of Jay;-). I want to let you all know in this new year (the year I’m going to be walking; mark my words) I am no longer going to be numbering the days at Project Walk as I go along; I’ll just be using dates. So now, for the spell binding scoop about my first real day back (real good, that is) which was Thursday, Jan. 17th…

I was thinking Thursday wasn’t going to be that great, considering how I felt I did Tuesday. I actually had my first day back the previous week, but didn’t post because I wasn’t feeling the best. Call it the holiday hangover, but both Jay and I were feeling under the weather, because we just weren’t ourselves. However, oh, ye of little faith… because when I work UP Thursday morning, I felt tremendous. I actually got to Project Walk early, which was unusual. I even had the feeling Thursday was going to be one of my best days ever. It was looking good…

I first hour I worked with Elena. When she asked me how I was feeling I told her I felt great, even felt today was going to be one of my best she kinda gave me a funny look, then said, “Okay, show me what you got.” She started me on the fly wheel bike. I could tell she was surprised I was doing so well; it wasn’t perfect, but I could tell both her and Will were a bit surprised. She then had me move the gray table, and had me work my legs. She was impressed here, too. When I told her I felt I didn’t do that well when we were doing this same king of work Tuesday because I think I had some sort of bug, she said, “Peggy, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I thought you did really well Tuesday.” This was nice, but it was intriguing because Elena never says something just to be nice. She says it like she sees it, which I appreciate. She kept asking if I was getting tired, and when I said I wasn’t tired at all—in fact felt really good—she said she was going to have me do something I’ve never done.

She then had me go to the power plate, and had me do semi-squats while standing. Doing standing semi-squats would be difficult anywhere, but the added and quite bizarre dimension to the power plate is that the plate itself is actually vibrating. Elena would have me push a button which would set it vibrating for about twenty seconds, then after it was finished, would ask me if I felt I could do more. The bizarre thing is, I kept saying yes! Over and over and over…I did this for at least five minutes, if not more. Afterward, when I told her I was surprised at how well I did—and surprised that I was able to do it at all—she told me she was surprised too, as she’s never done that exercise with anyone; in fact, she told me she had just thought of it this morning, and said she was very impressed.

The second hour I worked with Jeremy. This is when the day got really fun. He started me out on the red table, saying he wanted to see where my legs were at in order to ascertain what I could do. So he had me work my legs for about five minutes, then said, “Yeah, this is just like I thought. You were doing some tough stuff with Elena; your legs are pretty spent.” So I asked what he was going to have me do if he felt they were okay. He said, “Well, I was planning on having you do standing squats, just not on the power plate. You definitely could have done this the first hour, but you’ve already done it and your legs are gone, so not today.” I didn’t even ask what he was planning on having me do otherwise, just said, “Jeremy, that’s not true. My legs aren’t spent at all, in fact I’m feeling I’m feeling really good.” He gave me an odd look, not saying anything. I said, “Let’s just do it.” So he called Will, and we went into the next room, which is where they had me do standing squats. And…it was fun! I could tell they were both surprised, which I always love.

After about ten minutes of stellar standing squats (okay, maybe not stellar, just really good) I then used the gait trainer for about a half hour. When the day was over, I not only felt good; I felt elated. The day turned out to be exactly what I was expecting; one of my very best. I do want everyone readin to know I’m scheduled to see my naturopath for chelation Monday. Seeing as chelation always wipes me out somethin’ fierce, I’ve already cancelled my Tuesday appointment at Project Walk. But I’m definitely planning on making my Jan. 24^th appointment. So, until we click again… ;-)