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Gyms are like a second home to me. I have logged countless hours doing cardio, weights and stretching in rooms with multiple sweaty and smelly bodies. I may glance annoyingly at the thirtysomething with a great tan and taut muscles working out next to me, but I have never been intimidated by whoever or whatever I encountered during my workouts. That changed after surgery last fall. At the recommendation of the surgeon and with encouragement from Dr. Scheinberg I embarked on a 24 session program to rehabilitate my remaining lung and restore muscle tone to a body that had not lifted a free weight since April 2008.
The prospect was daunting. Last November I strapped on the oxygen and spent 10 to 15 minutes on various machines trying to build up respiratory capacity. Then I was handed a set of pink free weights. Not a good sign, I thought, and I was right. Two lbs. That was an emotional punch for someone accustomed to (relatively) heavy lifting. Then came the December setback and I retreated from even this mild exertion.
In January, with a few weeks of Tarceva under my belt, I was determined to once again participate in the rehabilitation program. 10 to 15 minutes of cardio turned into 15 to 20 minutes, gradually increasing to 45 minutes on a single machine. A little incline and some speed didn't make me sweat but I knew I was getting somewhere. I'm not doing any heavy lifting, and may never get back to where I was, but I have definitely progressed from the pink two pounders.
The thing is, I did not do any of this on my own. With every step I took and every weight I hefted there they were. Kim, Prince and Megan (r to l). At first I needed oxygen, and frequent O2 saturation, blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Gradually I stabilized and the need to monitor my every move subsided. But whenever I looked out of the corner of my eye, there they were.
I have now graduated from the program and received my certificate. I am free to exercise wherever and whenever I please. But I just can't seem to leave the warmth of the small gym and the watchful eyes of the therapists. Maybe someday. But not yet.
8 comments:
As someone panting to keep up with you recently, (or was it Sammy Davis Junior, Dewey and Dash with whom I was trying to keep up?) happily, I would agree that you are back on track. So,go girl, go!
Hugs, Susan
I still say you can outdo me in everything...you can beat me in exercise, in walking/interval training(remember that???), canoeing(!!), and even # of four legged creatures(I'll resume the contest, but never catch up). So keep it up, and never give up...you have proven that already this past year.
This is why I continue to admire you!
Ann
Congrats on graduation...Great to be able to do your grad courses in the same place...and then there's the doctorate...
Ali;
That's the worthiest graduation I have witnessed in this graduation season. Tougher than a mudphud - MDPhd .. you are awesome.. ok time to laugh a bit
_________________
Finally some good news from the American auto industry. Fiat, which took over Chrysler this week, says it plans to build its cars with American, not Italian, workers. Fiat says it got the idea from the Olive Garden.
A top Republican is angry that Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor belongs to an elite private group. The top Republican is angry and so is everyone at his country club.
Political experts say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to endorse what he calls a “two-state solution” where Israelis and Palestinians live side-by-side but have no contact. Netanyahu said, “It’ll be just like being married to a Jewish woman.”
Recently, Michael Phelps released a children's book he wrote called "How to Train With a T-Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals." Then he wrote another book called, “How to Make a Bong Out of a Milk Carton.”
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Reasons Regis Philbin Is Not on the Show Tonight
10. I'm not available.
9. I'm out of town.
8. Just not interested.
7. You know, I never really cared for this show.
6. I'm waiting for the exterminator.
5. I gotta do a thing – anything.
4. I'm just not a fan.
3. It's the digital TV switchover.
2. Honestly, I don’t feel like it.
1. Frankly, it’s none of your business.
If you have an old TV, tomorrow it won't work unless you digitalize it. You've got to get a converter thing, and a lot of people are confused about this. For example, earlier today, John McCain was confused. He wanted to know, after the conversion, will his tv dinners still work?
Have you folks been following the Iranian elections? President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he's running for re-election. Have you seen this guy? Looks like the kind of guy that tries to get to you buy a cell phone you don't need. He looks like one of those guys that would be wearing a member's only jacket. He looks like one of those guys they drag away every week on ‘Dateline.’
Earlier in the week, I made some jokes that upset Sarah Palin. I was telling jokes about her family and stuff. She got really upset. And I think everything's fine now. I think everything's going to be great because she called today and invited to take me hunting.
Karl Rove called the New York Times’ Maureen Dowd a “bitter, twisted, deranged columnist,” -- and a “dour, downbeat liberal” - and more - a “nasty, snarky person.” Hey - get a room!
Venezuela has banned the sale of Coke Zero because of unspecified health risks. And still not banned in Venezuela: actual coke.
According to the Congressional budget office deficit hit a record 189 billion dollars in May. Or as it’s known here in New York – Four Yankee Tickets.
Congress is considering a bill that would force advertisers to lower the volume of their TV commercials. OK, how did my mother get in Congress?
Elyse:
"I may never get back to where I was"
Potent words. But the bottom line is who cares where we were, the important thing is where we are.
We both have had setbacks and surprises, but again, who cares. Let's enjoy every day and even enjoy the pink weights. There may be no more jogs for me nor heavy weights for you, but again, who cares. Look at everything we still have.
It was great to see John on Saturday. Missed seeing you, but hopefully we will catch up soon.
Joe Rosen
As always--you amaze me. Keep it up! --mb
I'm embarassed by how long its been. I take it you are doing well...am I taking that for granted? I hope not. Happy Fathers Day to John!
Access Pubmed or Medline. Enter "antidepressants" and "cancer." More than 60 articles attesting to the amazing anticancer properties of antidepressants.
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