MSers in Training 2015

[Veronica]

Welcome Steph! Wow, you sound like a strong rider, with some very wonderful goals for this year. As Teena Marie suggested, please keep us informed on your training. The more I read of everyone elses's training, the more motivated I am to keep to mine.

Dave, I agree with your comment of how time consuming the stretching can be. I tend to not stretch throughout the day much, and keep these exercises to do in the evening when calming down from the day, and in front of the TV. Has gotten to be such a routine for me....When I have been an overnight guest at friends' homes, I occasionally will let them know they can just ignore me as I sit somewhere and stretch. Honestly, I don't always do this as a guest, just with my closest friends! And not in the middle of a dinner party!

I have an interesting new exercise that Herb gave me last week as a result of my having a fall. I was walking, with my cane, down a hallway at work, and someone who I have not seen in awhile walked by me and we spoke. I turned my head just a little past my comfort zone to continue the conversation, somehow tripped and down I went. Didn't hurt anything but my pride. But in discussing this with Herb, he recognized that I need some specific balance exercises to help me be able to look more to my right and left as I walk. Right now, when walking with others, it is just Eyes Forward for me. So the exercise is standing with one foot 6-12 inches in front of the other ( as if in a stride) and do long slow side to side head turns,( I'm going for about 15 per set) and switch feet. It would be so nice if this helps. Teena Marie, sounds like you are also real happy with the new PT, who sounds right on target with the exercises. Reading your regime, I can see why you would be exhausted!

Yay team!

[teena marie]

Hi Steph,

Welcome. Amazing accomplishments. It's always great hearing about others' training so feel free to fill us in.

Take good care,

Teena Marie

[Steph]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting. I found this site last year sometime, and I haven't visited for a while. I started running last summer ( ok, it's actually more of a slow jog), and I did my first 5k last year. This year, I am hoping to run a 10k in May, and if all goes well, I want to try a half marathon in November. I have always detested running until recently, but I feel like the more I run, the more I conquer my MS.
I also took up cycling last year and participated in a bike MS event on my hybrid. I was able to go 56 miles the first day, and did 27 the second! I just treated myself to a new road bike that is quite a bit lighter, so I am hoping to go at least 75 miles the first day this year. If training goes well, I might try for 100. The bike MS event is is June, so I need this snow to clear and the weather to warm up just a bit so I can start riding!
It's been great reading about everything you all are doing, and it helped to motivate me to get moving when I read some of the posts last year. So thanks to all of you!

[teena marie]

Hi all,

Such good news on the physio front. I am also getting good results with my new physio, now twice a week. Standing balance with weight shift, sitting balance on a wobbly surface hitting balloons or resisting against a theraband side to side or backwards,hand exercises,sit to stand, walking with no sticks. I'm exhausted after.
Larry, you are right. I'm sure a big ride before your sessions is a bit much. I have a brief swim to get limbered up before and save the big swims for the other days.
Veronica, you're so right. So joyful having muscles waking up.

Take care all,

Teena Marie

[Veronica]

Well, Larry ...Such great news! Sure sounds like you found yourself a "Keeper" in your new PT......isn't it such a great feeling when there is hope to be able to move a muscle or two that has been asleep at the wheel for too long? Exciting, and I'm happy for you... You and your "Girls" are rockin' it....

This is Part One of my visit with Herb yesterday. We attacked my difficulties with the side plank. He was initially (for less than a minute!) baffled by the lack of connection between my lower and upper body on the right....went off and came back with some padding that was several inches high, and shoved it in the area between the mat and my right bottom rib cage and upper hip. He said, "Try it now" and I could tell even before attempting it, that this would work.....I could get into full side plank WITHOUT having to have my foot against anything. Shocking to me, but so exhilarating. I did this several more times to get the muscle memory of how I need to do this, and my only challenge now is finding the proper materials to duplicate this at home. Needs to be sturdy enough to not just collapse, but not too rigid/high. I'm working on getting the right prop....SO happy.... By just finding a way to get the connection activated, I can now finally work these muscles.... I have other good things to report, but have to dash right now for the weekend. Have a good one everyone!

[AMFADVENTURES]

The New PT Squared

Saw my new physical therapist come personal trainer twice this week. The first time I went right after doing some hill intervals with the hot blond yoga chick - where, in the future, I will be demanding between a one and five second handicap for every year of difference in our age. Fortunately there was still quite a lot of endorphin residual running around my body and I didn't do too badly with the five or six Theraband exercises around the ankles the PT squared had me do. I was a little less successful with the balance ball exercises for the glutes, quads, hams stomach and back and, when it came to stretching everything out at the end, one of my hip flexor muscles totally let go and I ended up in an indecorous heap on the floor. NO other pt or neuro has ever seen me like that.

The second time was after a short easy ride after which, for whatever reason, I was feeling particularly fatigued. She had me doing floor exercises primarily for the low back and hip flexors where she found some small muscles I'm sure I haven't used at all in the last 10 years. At one point she commented that I was particularly skilled at compensating for those weak muscles and I really needed to stop doing that so much. At any rate, after about 10 floor exercises, several of them yoga posses that I have never been very successful at, we called it quits. We decided that the next two visits should be scheduled for days I don't ride.

One thing for sure, no neurologist or physical therapist I have seen in my 17 years post Dx has ever explored my particular weaknesses like this woman did. If I can ever get any of the weak muscles she found working again, there may be hope of, if not walking well, at least walking better than I do now. This could turn out to be one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

On the exercise front, I rode 3 times last week for about 60 miles, did weight training once, core exercises once, yoga twice and pt twice, it was all quite enough for one week. If I can get someone to go with me I might try a little extended climbing on the bike tomorrow.

Hang in there,
Larry

[Veronica]

Larry, I also am thrilled to hear this news! Can't wait to hear the details once you get started with her! WooHoo!

[ActiveMSers]

I do have to say that Veronica's suggestion of a ride w/o a time limit would totally work. As Steven Wright once said, everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time!

Working on balance and glute exercises mixed in with cardio/strength/stretching. Trying to be patient and holding my stretches longer per Herb's recommendations. Tricky when time is tight!

[teena marie]

This is the most fantastic news, Larry! I just started working with a new physio who has good experience with MS. I'm cautiously optimistic. It's been an incredible challenge to find the right person. Keep us posted.

Veronica, I love the hoola hoop. What a great idea. I'm sure my neighbours would love it! Just something else to add to the mix living beside me and all my antics.

[AMFADVENTURES]

I should post this in the walking thread but I'm so excited I've just got to do it now!

FINALLY, I got a personal trainer. I've been looking for months but couldn't find one who looked like they could deal with a declining 60 something who's had MS for 20+ years but wants to be as active as he can be for as long as possible. I don't blame them really, who wants to take on someone like that when there are so many young hard bodies around who are capable of so much more?

But I found one. She's about my age, is a physical therapist as well as a personal trainer, has experience with PWMS and in fact prefers to work with persons with disabilities. I can't wait to start! Walking/hiking is going to be my focus even at the expense of cycling. She has already mentioned interval training for walking, we're on the same wave length. Perfect!

It's a new adventure and I can't wait!

Larry

[Veronica]

Larry, I am envious of your side plank accomplishments.....It is amazing to me that at times I have to do it on the stronger side first to remember how I have to even position my body as it just feels so foreign. I find that I can do a modified side plank and lift my top arm up and feel it in the torso, but the full side plank I don't even feel it yet where I should....a work in progress for sure!

Spinning on the trike on the trainer is getting into a routine ( finally), and I actually enjoy it...Been listening to NPR's podcast of Serial during my spins, and only allowing myself to listen to this when on the trike....works well for getting a good 45 minutes in...just running out of episodes soon, so I've gotta find something else that is timed.....I am motivated and pretty self disciplined, but having an external time keeper has helped me not wimp out ....

These past two weeks have found me working a lot from home for long stretches at a time....I have been inundated with reports and computer work, and with the snow, cold, the fact that I can remote access from home, I've chosen to do this. I was having an issue with sitting for such periods of time and would just have an overwhelming desire to MOVE when I would get up to take breaks. I knew that using the treadmill or the trainer to spin would break my needed concentration. So I got out my HULA HOOP! Boy, does this do the trick...It has allowed me to take a good MOVING break, work a little on core and balance, gets my heart rate up, and shakes the sedentary blahs out of me....and reminds me to find the fun in the moment!

[AMFADVENTURES]

Hey All,

Marina, I'm all signed up for the MS 150. I checked off the first day century option, like always, but only because I don't have to really commit until the 60 mile mark at the century turn-off. Our MS 150 is convenient that way. Looks like both of our rides are in June.

TM, 6 times a week on the swimming, WOW, sounds like you're way ahead of schedule, nice job. Good point about the pre-cooling, not sure I could keep up with yours but seems like the least I could do is turn off the heater in the car when I'm on my way to the park for a walk, maybe even open a window. I find the better rested I am, the better I can walk, up to about 2 miles. It seems to have a lot to do with fatigue levels, certainly neural fatigue and probably muscular too. It occurs to me that a bright young physiologist could make a career out of studying the different types and effects of fatigue.

Hey V, got 6 more or less regular side planks on my weak side once this week, a new record! Had to brace against the wall but didn't bring the top leg over right away.

I hope we have turned the corner on the bitter cold here, I do sooo much better with my cycling schedule when I can get outside. Only got 2 hours of cycling in this week, one day of weight training, 2 days of core work, yoga for stretching twice and one day of heavy duty snow shoveling. Although I didn't even get close to my goal of 6 hours on a bike by end of January, it was still a big week on the exercise front, so I'm not terribly disappointed. Next goal is 8 hours of cycling by end of February.

Good luck all,

Larry

[teena marie]

Hi all,

Veronica, don't worry about spelling my name wrong. It happens all the time!

Marina, great to get your news and good for you (and Larry) to sign up for the ride. I'll be joining you in my dreams.

I'm working with a new physio and it's going well. We're concentrating on functional strengthening such as sit to stand, standing balance, weight shifting and so far so good. I have to say, I find it exhausting. After a session, I organize my work and sit at my desk with a drink and a snack. Last week, it took a full 5-6 hours before I perked up.

Swimming is amazing. Now up to 6 times a week and starting to think about next summer's swims.

Dave, last weekend my ski was for you. I need help getting them on, but went a little further, didn't fall-caught myself in time (my friend said "good reflexes!), felt the sliding motion was a little smoother. I was able to slide them rather than trying to pick them up like snowshoes.

Larry, I like your alternating routine. Regarding walking, what about a chill down before heading out. I put on my ice vest 30 minutes before leaving work.

Take care all,

Teena Marie

[AMFADVENTURES]

Marina, you've persuaded me to sign up for Bike MS today! Mine is also in June.

Had to change up my routine, just couldn't do it all and that seemed to lead to not doing much of it. The new routine, which is working well so far, is doing weights twice a week and core once a week separated by at least one day, then the next week doing core twice and weights once. It allows extra time for recovery. Between the core and weight days is cycling or spinning or whatever the weather will allow.

I've lost a lot of strength over the holidays and probably due to the flu but I'm starting to see it come back. While it's discouraging to see how much I've lost, at the same time it is encouraging to see that it is coming back, albeit more slowly than I'd like.

One problem with trying to do all of this is when I go out to walk I find I'm fatigued from the start. Makes it difficult to make gains on the walking. Going to try doing more stretching on my walks, see if that helps.

V - I actually got THREE normal side planks on my weak side in the other day, not pretty but still.

Larry

[Veronica]

So the good news...I have signed up for Bike MS this year, no sitting on the sidelines this time.

The Eh news.... I signed up for a ride about 2 hours away because the ride close by was moved this year and the route is VERY hilly. Who knows, maybe I will be up for the huge hills by then but decided I could actually hope to complete and enjoy the ride a bit further away. I am kinda meeeeh about this but of well.

The great news: After 2 months of set backs (healthwise but not MS thankfully) I am feeling better though way weaker then I was when I got sick to begin with. I am back to walking, using the elliptical and last night I got on my bike again for the first time. It was only 20 minutes, this was the goal with no speed or distance goals, and my right food was hurting and cramping by the end of it....but it happened.

Hopefully you'll hear a Bike MS report from me in June.

Yeay for you Marina! I don't know, with all our assorted challenges with riding, it would be rather interesting if we lived close enough to ride as a team....interesting, amusing, supportive.... Dave, of course, you would be the Cap'n! I vote for a ride without a time limit.....


And Larry, I not only have to position myself for the side plank as you described ( glad to hear it is a common issue for at least SOME of us...) but I have to have the right foot (when on my right side, which is the weaker..) up against a wall or furniture leg. I just Heave Ho with it and try to control the up and down to some degree..not always successful with that, but it has gotten me able to do the full instead of just from my knee . Not a pretty sight, though!