Talking and working out

Yesterday afternoon at the gym, I got to talking to two other women (this is a common occurrence to stop and chat) on the topic of getting into shape/staying in shape while dealing with ailments. One woman is just done with chemotherapy again for chronic recurrent ovarian cancer and is new to the gym. The other woman has osteoarthritis among other problems and has belonged for five years or so.

The woman with ovarian is trying to get back in shape so she can go on a three week vacation to Turkey and Spain. She said it is quite difficult quite understandably to get some muscle tone again. I shared that I had been diagnosed with RA and fibromyalgia since joining the gym plus two cancer diagnoses as well. They both said they were impressed by what I could do in my workout. I said I thought I was in better shape at my diagnosis because I had already been going there regularly.

So the discussion quickly turned to the important of working out before a life changing diagnosis and after the diagnosis. All of us agreed going to the gym was important and helped us greatly. The third woman with osteoarthritis had  had a lot of back pain before working out. Her improved muscle tone had helped her a lot and helped get rid of a lot of pain.

Then the conversation came to the benefits of swimming. All of us agreed we could not be paid enough to swim laps. One woman dog paddles, the other woman had her face pushed in the water by an instructor as a child and never learned to swim. I just hate swimming laps. So all of us agree the gym is  a great way to get in shape but you won't catch us in the pool.

So while talking and working out, I learned a bit about others and how we can all agree on different things.

PS this is a lame post today. I know it.

Surprising people

As I have mentioned before, I go to an amazing gym for dilapidated people. Its a combination of PT and a gym and is full of people with ailments. I see people there daily in wheel chairs, on oxygen, and wearing various types of splints and braces. I know most of the people who go there have medical issues and greatly benefit from the additional support, like me.

When you first join, you get assessed by one of the physical therapists - which consist of three of the four owners - and then work with either one of the exercise specialists or one of the PTs to set up an exercise plan. Then every three months you go back to one of the PTs or an exercise specialist to reevaluate your program.

I went to one of the PTs three plus years ago when I joined. Since then, my health has increased its downward spiral and I decided I needed to go back to one of the PTs and start over. I met with one of the two brothers yesterday to do that.

We started by going through which of my body parts have issues and my medical issues which impact my abilities. At the end of the conversation, he turned to me and said "I had no idea you had so much going on. I see you here going through your routine and did not know".

I had surprised him with my ailments and that I am still exercising. At one point, he did say "I'm sorry" and I said "no you are not supposed to say 'I'm sorry'. You aresupposed to say 'That sucks.'"

But I am a little sore after my new routine but I will be back tomorrow.

Now that is a misconception

Yesterday afternoon I went to the gym after work. I know a bunch of people there, mostly women, that I chat with while there. Do I remember their names? Of course not. I am sure we introduced ourselves in the past. I recognize them, they recognize me. We chat about the latest  news, weather, our inabilities to balance on one foot as much as we should, and more. And skip addressing each other by name gracefully.

There is one woman who is always relatively stylish, excessively thin, and very much a doer - always on the move. I can't remember her name if you paid me a million dollars. She always says she likes talking to me because I am so perky and positive all the time. (???) Now that is a misconception.

Yesterday I stopped her by saying I was ready for winter to be over. She replied she never heard me say anything negative. (!!) I said it was due to be above freezing for five days in a row so our giant glaciers (still 2.5 feet of solid snow drift I can walk on in the front yard).

She said she was glad to hear me say a positive thing because I never say negative things. I'm always perky. Yes she called me perky.

She has such a misconception. Not that it is a bad one. I think I won't fill her in on the real me.

Talking and working out

Yesterday afternoon at the gym, I got to talking to two other women (this is a common occurrence to stop and chat) on the topic of getting into shape/staying in shape while dealing with ailments. One woman is just done with chemotherapy again for chronic recurrent ovarian cancer and is new to the gym. The other woman has osteoarthritis among other problems and has belonged for five years or so.

The woman with ovarian is trying to get back in shape so she can go on a three week vacation to Turkey and Spain. She said it is quite difficult quite understandably to get some muscle tone again. I shared that I had been diagnosed with RA and fibromyalgia since joining the gym plus two cancer diagnoses as well. They both said they were impressed by what I could do in my workout. I said I thought I was in better shape at my diagnosis because I had already been going there regularly.

So the discussion quickly turned to the important of working out before a life changing diagnosis and after the diagnosis. All of us agreed going to the gym was important and helped us greatly. The third woman with osteoarthritis had  had a lot of back pain before working out. Her improved muscle tone had helped her a lot and helped get rid of a lot of pain.

Then the conversation came to the benefits of swimming. All of us agreed we could not be paid enough to swim laps. One woman dog paddles, the other woman had her face pushed in the water by an instructor as a child and never learned to swim. I just hate swimming laps. So all of us agree the gym is  a great way to get in shape but you won't catch us in the pool.

So while talking and working out, I learned a bit about others and how we can all agree on different things.

PS this is a lame post today. I know it.

Surprising people

As I have mentioned before, I go to an amazing gym for dilapidated people. Its a combination of PT and a gym and is full of people with ailments. I see people there daily in wheel chairs, on oxygen, and wearing various types of splints and braces. I know most of the people who go there have medical issues and greatly benefit from the additional support, like me.

When you first join, you get assessed by one of the physical therapists - which consist of three of the four owners - and then work with either one of the exercise specialists or one of the PTs to set up an exercise plan. Then every three months you go back to one of the PTs or an exercise specialist to reevaluate your program.

I went to one of the PTs three plus years ago when I joined. Since then, my health has increased its downward spiral and I decided I needed to go back to one of the PTs and start over. I met with one of the two brothers yesterday to do that.

We started by going through which of my body parts have issues and my medical issues which impact my abilities. At the end of the conversation, he turned to me and said "I had no idea you had so much going on. I see you here going through your routine and did not know".

I had surprised him with my ailments and that I am still exercising. At one point, he did say "I'm sorry" and I said "no you are not supposed to say 'I'm sorry'. You aresupposed to say 'That sucks.'"

But I am a little sore after my new routine but I will be back tomorrow.

I try to be flexible

In July I went to see my new rheumatologist.  We talked about all sorts of things related to my rheumatoid and fibromyalgia. Among other things, she wanted to see how my flexibility is doing. She said my knees are 'snap, crackle, and pop' which did not surprise me at all.

However she was impressed with the flexibility I have retained in my shoulders and hips.  I said it was due to the gym that I go to where they work with the members and their ailments. My back pain doctor is also impressed with my flexibility.

Yesterday I was at the gym doing all sorts of complex things like balancing on the flat side of the BOSU and pumping iron at the same time - with my giant one pound weights - and 30 second planks. I am a stellar athlete. I can even balance on one foot and sit down on a bench and stand up again unaided. These are complicated tasks.

It has been just about a year since I was told I had fibro and a few weeks later I learned about RA. In that past year, I have had to significantly alter my workout program because there are many things I can't do any more. Mostly I can't get through the same workout I could a year ago.

First we cut it way back, then we started stretching things out - more reps and lower weights, etc. Now I think its time to start trying to build more things back in.

The thought did occur to me as I pumped iron yesterday that it is a very good thing I have been going to this gym for as long as I have. It means I was in relatively good shape (for me) when diagnosed and I have been able to maintain the basics of balance, strength and flexibility which are some of the biggest problems for RA and fibro people.

I really want to retain some flexibility in my body as well as balance. All I can say is I am trying.

Now that is a misconception

Yesterday afternoon I went to the gym after work. I know a bunch of people there, mostly women, that I chat with while there. Do I remember their names? Of course not. I am sure we introduced ourselves in the past. I recognize them, they recognize me. We chat about the latest  news, weather, our inabilities to balance on one foot as much as we should, and more. And skip addressing each other by name gracefully.

There is one woman who is always relatively stylish, excessively thin, and very much a doer - always on the move. I can't remember her name if you paid me a million dollars. She always says she likes talking to me because I am so perky and positive all the time. (???) Now that is a misconception.

Yesterday I stopped her by saying I was ready for winter to be over. She replied she never heard me say anything negative. (!!) I said it was due to be above freezing for five days in a row so our giant glaciers (still 2.5 feet of solid snow drift I can walk on in the front yard).

She said she was glad to hear me say a positive thing because I never say negative things. I'm always perky. Yes she called me perky.

She has such a misconception. Not that it is a bad one. I think I won't fill her in on the real me.