Will muscles

How in the hell did I ever go to the gym 6 days a week and do cardio and lift weights?

Oh, wait.

I know exactly how.

I forced myself.



Experience shows that I can force myself to do just about anything even if (especially if) it's painful. 

I'm proud of myself for that. My will triumphs over my...

well, my weaker will.

Will over will.

I've got good will muscles.





Today in physical therapy we used "the machines"; a recumbent stepper and a leg press machine.

I was not happy.

The memories of my gym days,

the disappointment,

the sadness,

the downgrading of my health

added extra weight to my efforts.





I toughed it out.

I did all my exercises without complaining.





The leg press was the hardest, well it was hard after the first two sets of 10. Halfway through the third set of 10 my DPT (doctor of physical therapy) used me as an example to show his student intern how to judge when a patient is using just enough weight. He pointed at me doing the "grrrr-strain' for the last 5 reps and at the relief on my face when I was finished.

Glad to be of service, boys.





With my muscles nice and warm he did some great manipulations of my legs, hips and pelvis. Such relief.



Then we did exercises on the table targeting my hips and butt and areas with technical names that will give support to my new knees.

I did some grrrr-straining with them, too.

I broke a sweat.





The hour session was a mixture of pain, anger, struggle and relief.

We ended at noon. It was time for Doctor Joe to go to lunch.





"Before you go, Doc, can you design me a modified push up? One that doesn't impact my knees or if it does it impacts them in a positive way?"





"Why" he asked, "why a push up specifically? There might be something you can do that would bring you the result you're looking for that's more effective than a push-up."





I didn't have the time or the words to explain why they needed to be push ups.

I just told him I wanted upper body strength.





I didn't tell him that push ups were something I never did back in my gym rat days. I didn't tell him that push ups represent something that those "other" people can do but I can't.





He fetched something fancy to extend my arms since they're short.

He showed me what to do at home. All I would need is a steady, flat chair.

I did 10 reps while his stomach growled.



I thanked him for staying past our scheduled time.





Here comes the money...

He said,

"When someone wants to do MORE than what is required, you stay late and help them."





Good on ya, Doctor Joe.



Oh, and get used to it, cuz that's how I roll.



*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

Cardio.

Sometimes it's good.

Sometimes it's not so good.

click here or click below