Embrace Your Destiny: Eat to Live or Live to Eat?

I didn't realize how much my diet contributed to how good or how bad I could feel. I should have known! You don't know what you don't know. I was good at dismissing low energy, fatigue and joint stiffness. I thought I felt  good or okay because feeling just okay was my new normal. Then, suddenly I started feeling really good! My energy was fantastic, and joint pain was at a minimum. I had forgotten how good "good" could feel. This premise of "you don't know what you don't know" was fundamental to analyzing the findings of my research for my dissertation. I found it to be fundamentally true then and whenever I taught or embarked on a new learning project. 

Embrace Your Destiny: Enjoy the Improvements

A new stretch 

Week by week, I'm getting stronger. I see improvement in leg strength almost daily. How do I know? My most immediate example is what else, just walking. 

I had done hot yoga followed by an hour workout at the gym. I had worked on leg strength that day. Normally, after doing both activities, my legs feel heavy and tired.They did feel a bit tired, but my son-in-law, Philippe invited me to take a walk with him. I love walking and it was a beautiful day. Of course, I said yes. We walked on a gravel road that was very rough in places. It had holes and uneven loose gravel and was hilly. We went to the top of a hill then turned around to go home. Even on the return hike, I had no problem with balance or leg motion. My right foot rarely toe-tapped and I didn't need to hold Philippe's arm very often. That's progress!

Embrace Your Destiny: Try Acupuncture

Me and Sarah at the Asheville clinic entry

I decided on a whim to get a facial in late August 2016 from Sarah Fields. Sarah is lovable and was getting established as an acupuncturist in Brevard, NC. I had no notion of what to expect, but thought, "what could it hurt".  Let me tell you, it was amazing. What I didn't expect was the impact it had on my entire body. She did a series of treatments to improve the skin and appearance of my face. It also gave my walking a boost after about a week. 

Embrace Your Destiny: Working on Core Strength

I'm slapping the ropes from side to side

My trainer, Lacey has a long list of core strength exercises. I think she gives me a new one every time I have a coaching session. She likes to pair core strength exercises with leg strengthening. 

The work plan always starts with a warm up series of 3 or 4 exercises. I repeat the series 2 or 3 times. Then we shift to another group of exercises for some part of the body such as shoulders, core, front legs or back legs. Sometimes we stay in the same area and use a mat and other tools. We usually end in the free weight area or in the machine area to work the same muscle group.

Embrace Your Destiny: Little Bit by Little Bit

Change happens little bit by little bit. It's easy to get discouraged with what seems to be lack of progress, with anything we do. Spasticity slows me down doing anything. For example, I have noticed very slow improvement in my piano playing. I've been taking lessons and practicing everyday for three and a half years. Practice is the key for me.  Everyday and over a L...O...N.NNNNNG period of time, I can finally see some small, but significant changes. I see the same thing in hot yoga practice, speaking at Toastmasters, walking, and building strength.