THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO

Character is shown when you are generous to people who may never be able to return your kindness. Character is how you treat the vulnerable. It is a mother caring for children or an adult mentoring a youth. Or maybe it is shown by Karen, the lifeguard who works at the YMCA on Saturday afternoons.

I am a member at my local YMCA and right after Christmas had some difficulty walking. I had to exercise at home before I could even return to the gym.

What I really wanted was to exercise at the YMCA pool. The warm, salty water would be soothing to my achy muscles, but more important, exercising in that water would greatly enhance my recovery. It was weeks before I was steady enough to walk down the steps of the pool to get into the water or surefooted enough to even venture into the damp, slippery pool area. I was afraid of a fall on the concrete or maybe getting a cramp while swimming. 

A wave of shame overpowered me the first time I walked into the pool area. A lifeguard, Karen, approached as I grappled with the handrail while easing into the pool. She made small talk until I was safely in the water. 

The water was liberating and I could exercise in a way I couldn't otherwise. Still, I quickly grew tired and could only swim a few laps. Karen was kind enough to give me some water weights so I could exercise my arms while wading back and forth in the deep water, getting the exercise I needed. 

When I finished, Karen met me at the steps. She allowed me the independence of walking up and to a nearby bench and we chatted. I knew she wanted to make sure I was able to walk to the dressing room, but still needed to rest.

I mentioned feeling vulnerable and embarrassed. She was so kind and encouraging that I soon felt at ease. What could have been a humiliating event was pleasant because of her kindness. Because of her, I continued to come to the pool to exercise.

If you asked her, she might say she was only doing her job. She might not think her kindness was anything out of the ordinary. Good people are like that.

KEEP MOVING

Those who follow my current blog posts know I've been doing a little rehabbing. It's going well and I am walking short distances without a cane.

Even before that, my son and I got a family membership at the local YMCA. It was convenient, only a few minutes from my home. Had I realized what a membership had to offer, I would have joined long ago.

I remember being nineteen-years-old and taking my first college physical education course. The coach talked about how the body hits its peak in your twenties and by thirty, without proper maintenance, it is on a downhill journey. 

"Hah," I thought. "Not me." 

I was sure I would be young forever--effortlessly.

Many, many years later I was discussing this matter with Dr. Scott Morris of The Church Health Center in Memphis, http://www.churchhealthcenter.org/ . He said something I never really considered. Dr. Morris said that God created our bodies for movement.

I never really thought about it like that. If God created our bodies for movement, why was I acting like a couch potato?

I have lots of excuses, some legitimate, some are not.

The bottom line is, I feel better after going to the gym. Yeah, I'm sweaty and sore and all that, but there are benefits, too. There are those endorphins running through my body, almost immediately making me feel more happy. I sleep better at night and feel more rested the next day. Of course, there are the health benefits, a stronger body, stamina, range of motion, and if one's lucky, you'll lose a pound or two.

I have more to say about exercise and the YMCA, but that's all for today.

MUSIC TO GET ME GOING!

During the time I was unable to get away for a work-out, I tried to establish a walking routine. I find walking a neighborhood, track, or treadmill tedious, at best. Walking without a destination is just boring!

I bought my first MP3 player to encourage me to walk more. I haven't found the time to download songs myself, but my son, Adam, decided to help. He transferred some tunes for me, music he felt had a beat that would encourage exercise.

Now my song selection includes Edgar Winter's--Frankenstein, The Who--Pinball Wizard, Tom Petty's--Refugee. Because we live in the south, he went with Lynard Skinnard's--Free Bird. Keep in mind he was trying to pick songs from MY youth. He wasn't even born when these songs were hits.

The result was a much more enjoyable work-out, whether it was simply walking a track, using weights, or a cardio program with the elliptical, nu-step, and bicycle. Time seems to move quicker and I think I work harder, especially when moving to a fast beat.

Sometimes you just need to find the proper motivation to help you get the job done. What are some of the things that motivate you to get the job done?

BACK ON SCHEDULE

The holiday threw me off my schedule, a bit. Well, the holiday and a bit of a personal problem, but that's a topic for another time. The important thing is--this afternoon I got back on schedule.

Part of my new, healthier regiment involves water aerobics. I go twice a week to the afternoon class at the Wellness Center, in Memphis. Let me tell you, this isn't your grandmother's aerobics class!

When I first started Willie's class (Willie is our trainer) I couldn't keep up. In fact, I wasn't really sure if I would be able to get out of bed to go to work the next day. After all, you always feel worse a day or two after you start a new work out program.

My body was so unaccustomed to exercise that I took an Ai Chi water class for a couple of months just to limber up. In time, I felt I might be able to graduate to the more strenuous aerobics class, 45 minutes to an hour of constant movement; running, jumping, reaching.

At first I couldn't keep up at all. I was constantly fighting the tightness in my ankles and calves. Sometimes I would have to work out a muscle cramp. I haven't had any of those problems in awhile.

I am stronger now and my body is a little more limber. At the end of the workouts Willie always asks us to stretch a leg behind our back and grab the ankle. I have never been able to do that stretch--until today. Today I was able to grab both my right ankle, then my left ankle.

There haven't been many people attending classes this December. Willie says that the pool will probably be packed next week. After all, everyone will make New Year's resolutions to get healthy.

I think I can successfully say that I have completed that portion of my resolution this year. I will access this in further detail in my next post.

Listening to the Positive

People are funny. Well, you have to look at them with your sense of humor intact or you'll simply become frustrated.

I completed my first real week at the Wellness Center. I stayed faithful to my goals. When I walked on the scale--one of those giant things they use in a vets office--I noticed that my weight fluctuated from one day to the next. By the end of the week, however, I was 3 pounds lighter than the week before. It wasn't a lot, but I hadn't really changed my eating habits all that much, so I was satisfied. After all, the exercise program is about a lot more than losing weight. I have felt miserable for so long, I just want to feel good again.

I did exercise and show some restraint so I felt good about the results.

I mentioned the 3 pound loss to someone close to me. This person's response was, "That was probably fluid loss. Take a drink of water and you will get that all back."

Isn't it funny how some people respond with only negativity? To keep those people in your life, you have to learn to take their comments with a grain of salt--or maybe sugar.

I used to be that way, but I was in a dark place back then--very unhappily married. When I became happier, my attitude improved.

Anyway, I can't let this person's negativity get me down. I should also avoid drinking 3 pounds worth of water.

Setting Goals

May through August I felt like that guy on Office Space. Fan of the movie, know who I mean. A guy who hates his job goes to a psychiatrist and explains that each day at his job is worse than the day before. That means, on any given day he is living the worst day of his life.

When my doctor said I had to wait till I was worse before doing anything to get better, I battled a wave of depression. My future was to live each day feeling worse than the day before.

Then another doctor told me what I didn't want to hear. I had to do the best I could with the cards I was dealt. He gave me two specific things to do. 1) Take healthy body classes at The Wellness Center--formerly The Hope and Healing Center and 2) Start an exercise program several days a week at the center.

I assumed this would be like attending any other health spa or gym. I've been to gyms that give you a set of machines to work on and you are miserable afterward. Instead, I had trained professionals who worked out a program tailored to my needs.

Today I attended a class on setting goals. This is what I learned:

One should have short term goals that lead to a long term goal. That way you can periodically evaluate your success or failure.

Goals should also specific so they can be measured. Otherwise how can you monitor your behavior and see if you are on target?

The instructor didn't ask to see my goals but I will post them here.

Exercise:
I intend to work the water program at the Wellness Center 2 days a week & take a class, walk, and use the hand bicycle on Saturday. As an alternative I will walk at home.

Food:
I will have healthy, low calorie snacks in the evening (at least 4 evenings a week) instead of high calorie, unhealthy snacks.

I think these 2 goals can be easily measured. I hope they will be 2 steps toward the long term goal of regaining a healthier body.

I hope it will work. Wish me luck.