Back to Basics: 30 Day Challenge – The End

I think it is fair to say my 30 Day Challenge has come to an end. It proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated, particularly once school started. The random pattern was evident with some days be great and others pretty awful. That made it tricky to decide whether to work out or not. Some schools of thought say do it anyway, but others suggest it is best to rest when you’re not feeling top notch. The thing is, there is no right answer, so I tended to follow my intuition and go with my gut, working out when it felt right, but not when it didn’t. Of course, it was important to notice if I just didn’t want to or feel like it…

I am planning on doing it again next summer, perhaps I’ll scale back to a 21-Day Challenge, or even a 15-Day one… and would LOVE you to join me. Drop me a note if you’re interested, maybe we can do it together 🙂

The exciting news for today is that Tavis’s Waves to Wine Bike Ride, The Jane Gang (3 of the 20 riders shown below) have already raised $28,000 and are still going!! GO TEAM!!

If you want to check out their fundraising page, visit: The Jane Gang

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 15 – 17

Things are trucking along! I’m back with my cane, but still getting stronger. I have also discovered that I’m not super disciplined about working out everyday! I think I’m doing pretty well though, so please forgive me!!!

On a vain note, two guys I work with asked me if I’d been working out during summer, looking at my ‘guns’ (biceps). That made me laugh and it does make me happy because I know that as someone with a disease, I sometimes don’t think of myself as looking strong.

Michael Franti was AMAZING and I danced my tail off all night with one hand on my cane and feet planted in one spot. Not sure I was looking quite as cool as I did a few years ago, but it was soooo fun!!!!

***On a side-note, I ran into one of those bummer situations at the concert with someone organizing the event. I asked if I could sit in the disabled section and he looked at me and asked why. He said it was for people who needed access and who were in wheelchairs. I explained my situation and he didn’t buy it. He actually hinted that I was trying it on. Urgh. What is wrong with people?!

Here are my numbers:

(assisted)            (half)          (assisted)
Squats          Push-Ups       Sit-Ups

Day 17:         59                  48                 43 

Day 16:          MICHAEL FRANTI CONCERT

Day 15:        62                  48                  37

Day 14:        54                  29                  43

Day 13:                        SPA DAY…

Day 12:         60                 21 (pull ups)   32 (unassisted)

Day 11:         61                 34 (ring dips)  34 (unassisted)

Day 10:         60                 30 (ring dips)  33 (unassisted)

Day 9:                         DAY OFF….

Day 8:           60                 40                  35

Day 7:           62                 33                  41

Day 6:           60                 31                  41

Day 5:           58                 27                  35

Day 4:           60                 25                  33

Day 3:           51                 21                  28

Day 2:           40                 18                  22

Day 1:           42                 23                  23

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Days 12 – 14 (Day 13, Spa Day!)

Woot woot, two weeks in!!!!!! Love it. Cheated a bit yesterday though and had a spa day instead of a workout, but I feel like that works seeing as it is good for the body, mind and soul!! 😉

My stats today are kinda disappointing – squats and push-ups down to day 3 & 5. Hey ho, I guess that’s what happens sometimes and what a day at the spa does for you! I am having real trouble with my half push-ups because of the weakness and spasticity (which shows itself in drop foot) in my left leg.

I would love to find out ways to modify that. If you have any suggestions please fire away. (Currently I am doing half push-ups so knees are bent, but my left leg doesn’t want to bend nor have weight put on it…).

(assisted)          (half)                     (assisted)
Squats             Push-Ups            Sit-Ups

Day 14:     54                  29                         43

Day 13:                             SPA DAY…

Day 12:      60                  21 (pull ups)         32 (unassisted)

Day 11:      61                  34 (ring dips)        34 (unassisted)

Day 10:      60                  30 (ring dips)        33 (unassisted)

Day 9:                               DAY OFF….

Day 8:        60                  40                         35

Day 7:        62                  33                         41

Day 6:        60                  31                         41

Day 5:        58                  27                         35

Day 4:        60                  25                         33

Day 3:        51                  21                         28

Day 2:        40                  18                         22

Day 1:        42                  23                         23

Back to Basics: Day 11 and an important video

Today’s post is short, but important. I came across a very raw and beautiful video portrait of a woman from Derbyshire, England called Nicola Smith. It is under 7 minutes long and for me, demonstrates almost exactly what it is like to live with MS.

Please watch and share. Thank you xo

Nicola Smith & her son, Finley

Today I began and ended my workout with gentle yoga.

Here are my stats:

(assisted)        (half)                (assisted)
Squats         Push-Ups        Sit-Ups

Day 11:     61                34 (ring dips)     34 (unassisted)

Day 10:     60                30 (ring dips)      33 (unassisted)

Day 9:                           DAY OFF….

Day 8:       60                 40                      35

Day 7:       62                 33                      41

Day 6:       60                 31                      41

Day 5:       58                 27                      35

Day 4:       60                 25                      33

Day 3:       51                 21                      28

Day 2:       40                18                       22

Day 1:       42                23                       23

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Days 8, 9 and 10

Blimey. There must have been something going on energetically as this last few days has been a roller coaster. It would seem as though I’m back with a cane again and that my flirtation with life without one was just that, a brief six day affair. A fleeting moment in time of physical strength and balance.

I kept up with my workout even though a big part of me wanted to give up the whole thing. Ultimately though, I realized that self-compassion is the key, and as often happens, I stumbled upon this beautiful reminder on one of my favorite websites: Mystic Mamma.

Here’s a summary of the last few days:

Day 8: got through the workout, albeit grumpily.

Day 9: felt sorry for myself and fatigued so gave myself a day off.

Day 10: after a rocky morning where I admit I was thinking way too much about MS, life with MS, how crap it is, etc. etc., I got pulled out of my funk by a series of fabulous events: good conversation with my honey, followed by tea with an amazing long-time friend; the matinee of TRAINWRECK – how I loved that Amy featured a character with MS; and finished with a short yoga session where I practiced mainly floor poses but also focused on Tree pose (Vrksasana) to help my balance (I did it with one hand resting against the wall to aid my balance); workout and the cherry-on-the-cake, a 10 minute relaxation with legs up the wall and an Esther and Jerry Hicks meditation.

Here are my stats:

(assisted)                  (half)                     (assisted)
Squats                   Push-Ups             Sit-Ups

Day 10:   60                 30 (ring dips)   23 (unassisted)

Day 9:                        DAY OFF….

Day 8:      60                 40                    35

Day 7:      62                 33                     41

Day 6:      60                 31                     41

Day 5:      58                 27                     35

Day 4:      60                 25                     33

Day 3:      51                 21                      28

Day 2:     40                  18                      22

Day 1:     42                  23                      23

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 7

JANE – One week in! Woot woot!

Am feeling very excited that I’ve pushed myself to do this simple workout everyday for the last week. There have definitely been days where its been easier to get motivated than others, but today was happily an easy one! I slept well and when I woke up, my drop foot had got a fair bit better. I decided to do a sweet yoga session as my warm-up, ending with 5 minutes of Legs Up The Wall (Viparita Karani).

Viparita Karani is, according to my teacher, Master Multiple Sclerosis Yogi, Eric Small, the ultimate pose for people living with MS. This is because of the fact that it is an inversion (legs inverted above the heart) which means fresh blood washes the brain and spine, bringing healing and energy to the MS plaques or lesions. I did it for about 5 minutes today, and Eric recommends doing it anywhere from 2-3 minutes when you first start to 10-15 minutes daily when you’ve been practicing it for a long time.

After yoga, I was in a good head-space to do the workout. My results are below and are creeping up 🙂

(assisted)             (half)               (assisted)
Squats            Push-Ups        Sit-Ups

Day 7:       62                  33                    41

Day 6:       60                  31                     41

Day 5:       58                  27                     35

Day 4:       60                  25                     63

Day 3:      51                   21                     28

Day 2:      40                  18                      22

Day 1:      42                  23                      23

Back to Basics – 30 Day Workout: Days 5 and 6

JANE – DAY 5 & 6

(assisted)           (half)                      (assisted)
Squats              Push-Ups             Sit-Ups

Day 1:  42                      23                          23

Day 2:  40                      18                          22

Day 3:  51                      21                          28

Day 4:  60                      25                          36

Day 5:  58                     27                          35

Day 6:  60                     31                           41

Yesterday was a great day, I was feeling strong and good. But, alas, today I woke up and my left foot was dropping again and my leg was weak. It’s been an awesome few days of feeling stronger and more balanced physically, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it is good again tomorrow. I didn’t use a cane/walking stick today, but I probably needed to as I was walking very slowly and my balance was off.

Happily, my weakness didn’t affect my workout because there is no movement that requires me to walk or move my legs in that motion.

I have to admit though, I really didn’t want to workout today and if it hadn’t have been for a friend asking me how I was getting on, I would have tried my hardest to find an excuse and not do it!!

On a side-note, I am finding push-ups really challenging as I find it hard to put weight on my left knee. Not because it hurts, but because it doesn’t have much feeling.

But, once again back to my mantra, “MOTION IS LOTION, BABEE”, so I’m glad I did it 🙂

                                                                         Supported air squats

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 4

JANE – And just like magic, I woke up today and hardly ached at all. What’s up with that?! I’m also still walking without a cane which is super exciting. My balance is a little bit wobbly and I have a limp, but at least I’m walking!

Here are my numbers so far:

(assisted)   (half)             (assisted)
 Squats.  Push-Ups.   Sit-Ups.
                        Pull-Ups.
Day 1:  42        23                23

Day 2:  40        18                22

Day 3:  51         21               28

Day 4:  60         25               36

HOW ARE YOU DOING???!!!

Today I am going to share one of the warm-up exercises I do. It’s a shoulder and arm stretch done using a length of PVC pipe. Stand straight with your legs wide and toes slightly pointed to the side. Then hold the pipe with arms straight and stretched out in front of you, wide enough so you can keep them long whilst moving them in front of you, then above your head and finally reaching them behind you. Keeping them straight, lift them up behind you, over your head and down in front of you.

 

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 3

JANE – Day 3, still trucking’. Woke up even more sore than yesterday, but raring to go, and more determined than ever to beat my last two days of numbers.

I did half push-ups today instead of pull-ups. Half push-ups are with knees on the ground.

Here’s how I did:

Air Squats: 51 (Day 2: 40, Day 1: 42)

Push-ups: 21 (Day 2: 18, Day 1: 23)

Sit-ups: 28 (Day 2: 22, Day 1: 23)
Before each workout, I do a few minutes of warming-up. This is usually a few stretches, and finishing with a couple of minutes on the mini-trampoline. Here is a video of me on the trampoline, showing the lack of movement and spasticity in my left leg. This is vastly better at the moment than it has been. I have chosen to show it on here so people without the disease can get a better understanding of what it’s about.

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 2

JANE – Oh my gosh, after yesterday’s sweet little work-out, I woke up this morning and was aching everywhere! My quads, my arms, all over, but it was that nice, healthy ache rather than a painful one. The place I felt it most was when I tried bending down at my knees. Anyway, I went into this morning’s challenge happy and excited – for myself and also for everyone who has committed to do it with me!! Let’s do this friends.

I wanted to make sure to write that the movements I am doing at the moment are modified. Although I can walk without a cane, I am still limping and a little unbalanced. I am hopeful that will improve. Here is what my current workout looks like with modifications:

1. Air squats: I squat over a large wooden box which has an ab-mat on it. My goal is to touch the ab-mat as that means my thighs are at 90 degrees.
2. Pull-ups: I stand on the large wooden box and jump and pull-up from there.
3. Sit-ups: Tavis holds my feet and today he helped me with the last few inches by holding onto my hands.

2 min max effort and 1 min break between each exercise

Air squats (40)

Pull-ups (18)

Sit-ups (22)

I actually did a few less reps than yesterday (42, 23, 23) but felt good, so shall watch and see if it improves 🙂

If you would care to share how you are getting on, that would be AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

Jane stretching out before her workout. She’s using a pvc pole to help her balance.

 

Back to Basics – 30 Day Challenge: Day 1

DAY 1

TAVIS: MS has to be one of the strangest diseases ever. One minute the symptoms can be strong and debilatating and the next they can be hardly noticeable to the untrained eye. Last night Jane said to me “Look babe, I don’t need a cane to walk around right now” I could hardly believe especially since she hasn’t had much time to exercise or anything. It just kind of came back to her where she is having more mobility in her left hip. Of course it’s not completely back to normal and she still fatigues after a bit, but it is a huge improvement from even a week ago.

Just having a little more ability to walk without a cane inspired her to start working out again, and so this morning we started back with basics: some stretching, a short walk to the corner followed by a mini workout. When we started our CrossFit journey I found it worked best if we got a gauge of what she could do in a few minutes and then use those numbers as a bench mark to try and beat. So that’s what we did again today.

With her first day back she had a hard time getting back into the mindset but it is only a matter of time before she is back into it full swing.

Airsquats 2min max effort  (42)

Jumping Pullups 2 min max effort  (23)

Situps 2 min max effort  (23)

JANE: The last few months have been difficult health wise. My balance has been off and my left hip has been weak. Also my left knee doesn’t bend very much, so I’ve been walking very slowly with a cane/walking stick. I’ve got used to the looks and questions, and have recently learned to be grateful for the help my cane provides. Then, yesterday, out of no-where, I realized I didn’t need it anymore. This wasn’t a complete surprise as during my last neurology appointment, my neurologist said she fully expected me to be walking again unaided soon. That was a couple of months ago, so I had brushed it off as something she had thought but wasn’t going to happen and then, it happened. Yesterday. Boom. Just like that. No warning, no reason, no nothing.

So, this morning, Tavis and I decided it was time to get working and get busy again. Hence our short workout. It was a little bit lame, but believe me, for someone who hasn’t been doing anything except some gentle swimming and low key yoga stretching, it was quite remarkable.

I invite you to join me over the next 30 days and see how I improve, and maybe even do the challenge yourself. (It would be great to hear how you get on!). It’s not hard: 2 mins air squats – 1 min rest – 2 mins pull-ups/push-ups – 1 min rest – 2 mins sit-ups. Done.

A wise man, (Jesse Modica), once said: “MOTION IS LOTION”, let’s see if this is true. xo

Week 24- MS Waves to Wine ride

NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY: WAVES TO WINE, Bike MS

JANE & TAVIS- September 20 & 21, 2014 is the largest annual fundraiser for the Northern Californian Chapter of the National MS Society. The ride is approximately 150 miles over two days and starts in San Francisco, goes over the Golden Gate Bridge and meanders along Highway One up through Wine Country. It finishes at Sonoma State University on the Sunday with a gathering for all the riders.

Tavis has been leading a team of riders for PEAK Adventure Travel for the last two years, with this year being the third and I have run a support station for the last three years. It is a wonderful event and raises thousands of dollars for the society. The NMSS spends a lot of money on research as well as on programs for people with MS.

Check out Tavis’s Waves to Wine Page for more information and to donate. On behalf of everyone with this disease, thank you, thank you, thank you.

WORKOUT OF THE WEEK

TAVIS- Jane started her new teaching job last week so these past few weeks have been focused on her getting everything in order. We put things on hold with her working out until she is a little more comfortable but the goal is for her to get in 3 workouts in a week. We’ll try to have her get at least 1 or 2 in during the week and 1 or 2 on the weekend depending on what we have going on.

Last weeks workout was one she has done before and unfortunately it is the first time we have revisited a workout that she was unable to improve on. When Jane realized she wasn’t going to beat her previous time I could tell she was getting defeated. I had to give her a bit of a pep talk to get her to focus on finishing and not just giving up. After the workout we talked a lot about how much progress she has made and that we have been fortunate to have her do so well on every other workout. The other thing is that sometimes workouts take longer when you improve your form and you don’t have to scale as much. I know that today her pushups are better than the last time she did the work out because she is stronger. When you don’t have to scale workouts and move towards stricter movements it takes longer to get through the workout and I had to remind Jane that there is nothing wrong with that. She did a great job today and though she didn’t beat her time I know she gave it her all and did a great job. Nice work sugar!

The Workout she did was ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, which is a progression of 10 box jumps and 2 push ups, down by 1 box jump each time and adding 2 push ups every time. She did it on May 2, 2014, Day 48 in 11mins 52secs, and today did it 12mins 14secs.

JANE- The workout was really frustrating and I was really disappointed with my time. I worked my tail off on the box jumps and did a handful of real push-ups (before several handful’s of crappy ones). Tavis gave me a talk and explained how sometimes doing more correct form movements actually takes longer at first. I do understand, but it was a bad feeling.

I’ve also been having a hard time walking recently. I am started work at a new school and had been in intensive trainings for the  two previous weeks. The school is really hot and doesn’t have any air conditioning. On top of that, the location of my classroom really gets the sun, so after a few hours of being in there I’ve been having a hard time walking. Urgh. We are working on getting a portable A/C unit to try and bring the temperature down. As Tavis mentioned above, these past few weeks I have been a bit overwhelmed with school and my new teaching position but hopefully as I get more comfortable I will be able to get back into my routine. Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!