CHAPTER 2: Work it Out
To clear up any other questions from the procedure: I snapped a photo of my operation report. If you want to geek out with me about it: Please...lets talk!
My 2 week follow up was great: stitches out, range of motion was great, quad sets in place.....Now what?
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| had to throw in an awesome x ray |
I've been taken out of my 'everyday' life. My work, my workouts, my social life: its all different now.
I have to switch my mindset and start asking people for help. This has been one of the hardest things I've done in the past two weeks. If you know me: you know how independent I am. If you don't, to give you an example: I've moved 7 times in the past 7 years, with the past 3 on my own apartment. I started a paper route with my golden retriever when I was in grade school.
If I don't know the answer: I'll seek out and ask questions. However, it has always been hard to depend on people, I always want to fix it and do it myself. I have to switch my mindset on a lot, but this has been the hardest.
Now: with only one leg, I've realized how much harder daily activities (such as showering, taking out the trash, making dinner) are. I've also realized how amazing the people in my life are. My mom came the first week post op to take care of me. I don't think she sat down once. I was so excited to have her here, to meet my friends and wonderful people in NYC who have become a huge part of my life.
My friends and sisters have been here for me so far to visit: and I can't say again how grateful I am for them. Below is a picture of my sister Molly and I "strolling" in central park in my fly wheels....also known as my rented wheelchair.
I waited one week: then I couldn't do it anymore...I've had enough sitting on my couch: I grabbed my crutches, hailed a cab and went straight to the gym. Being disabled in NYC is not the best of cities for commuting. It is getting a little pricey, however it is do-able.
Just because I couldn't use my leg, didn't mean I could jump on the 'excuse train' and say I couldn't workout. The challenge was figuring out what I could do to get my heart rate up, start my body in healing itself by exercise, and stimulate my mind. The gym has always been a comfort zone to me, but now everything seemed so out of reach. I looked around at the spin bikes and free weights: my mind automatically went into overdrive for the desire to start using them. We are creatures of habit. It isn't until we start becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable that we have to realize we have to say anything is possible.
Enter: my new BFF: the UBE. Even on a light resistance: this thing is hard! The biggest upside to this is it has an RPM option on it: so you're darn right i'm still making SPINNING playlists with my arms!
I have made it a point to get to the gym at least 4 days a week to get my upperbody cardio and lifts in. Other things I've been doing at home consist of abdominal training, isometric glute strengthening, right leg strenghtening exercises. My motto: where there is a will: there is a way!
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| UBE: forward, backward: all day |
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| UpperBody Pull Day |
I mostly get looks from people that scream out "you're crazy." I give them a look back, smile and try to work a little harder :). I'm no professional athlete, however I now understand the frustration of being injured and going through this side of the rehabilitation program. It has to be taken one day at a time, but I have to also make the best of that time. I could easily sit here and watch every episode of mad men and breaking bad for hours, but my butt then starts to get numb and that's just not a good feeling--nor is it a good look. I have to become comfortable with asking people for a little extra help... knowing I'll pay it forward.
So I've decided to make the best of this. Somedays it requires getting up at 5:30 am to hitch a ride to HSS to workout and somedays it requires my friends pushing me in my wheelchair to the gym.
No matter what, I'm not riding the excuse train--I've found my will...so I will find my way!
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