My Exercise Routine

I figured that it was high time to put my exercise routine here in order for everyone to keep me accountable. My overall goal is not to walk totally unassisted, which is unrealistic unfortunately. However, I do want to transition to using a cane. Or worst case scenario, a traditional walker without forearm support.

To accomplish this, I am walking an hour a day with my mom (using my walker) and I am going six days a week to a local rehab gym with my dad. Below, I will post my workout schedule. 

Workout Schedule

1. Treadmill-30 minutes 

2. Water wheel-30 minutes 

3. Ab machine-100 reps

4. Stationary bike-30 minutes 

5. Rope pulley-25 reps

6. Leg press-50 reps

7. Arm and leg machine-30 minutes 

8. Elliptical machine-12 minutes 

9. Leg extension machine 25 reps

Monday 

1. Treadmill- 30 minutes

2. Water wheel -30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Arm and leg machine - 30 minutes

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total workout time - 1hr 52 minutes

Tuesday

1. Treadmill - 30 minutes

2. Water wheel - 30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Rope pulley - 25 reps

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total workout time- 1hr 32 minutes

Wednesday

1. Treadmill - 30 minutes

2. Water wheel - 30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Leg press - 50 reps

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total Workout Time- 1hr 32 minutes

Thursday

1. Treadmill - 30 minutes

2. Water wheel - 30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Leg extension machine - 50 reps

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total Workout Time- 1hr 32 minutes

Friday

1. Treadmill - 30 minutes

2. Water wheel - 30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Stationary bike 30 minutes

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total Workout Time- 1hr 52 minutes

Saturday

1. Treadmill - 30 minutes

2. Water wheel - 30 minutes

3. Ab machine - 100 reps

4. Bicep curls - 25 reps

5. Elliptical machine - 12 minutes

Total Workout Time -1hr 32 minutes

Total weekly workout time - 6 days. 9 hrs and 52 minutes weekly

In addition to all of the workouts, I am doing my speech therapy daily. I am trying to beat this facial paralysis. Because it will be easier on me to have either limited mobility or speech issues but not both of them. 

I hope all of this effort is going to help me reach my goals. I am doing this not only to benefit myself but to benefit my family as well. Now, you can keep me accountable. Even though none of this is ideal, I still consider myself a lucky guy. 

Til next time, Tyler 

In defense of anti depressants

I have talked about this various times before. However, I can't remember specifically blogging about it. I am on a mission to de stigmatize antidepressants and getting mental health help if you need it. I would write this a million times over again if I knew it would help someone who is struggling. What follows is my experience and yours may differ.

I grew depressed a few years ago when I was sick and hospitalized. I never considered ending my life thank God. However, I was absolutely numb. It got to the point where I didn't even care if I lived or died. 

Nothing brought me joy or anger or frustration or anything. I didn't care about myself or my family or friends. I had so much to live for but I had lost all of my motivation. The only reason I even opened my eyes was because it was an automatic reflex from my body. 

It was around this time my wonderful general doctor in Spain prescribed me an anti depressants. I am forever grateful to him for going the extra mile and caring about me more than he had to. He would call up to the hospital weekly to make sure that I was taking it. 

I don't agree with anyone's decision to commit suicide but I do now understand wanting to end the numbness. Being on an antidepressant (which I am no longer taking) allowed me to have normal human emotions again.

I came back to reality from the edge. I found my joy and motivation again. I was able to realize how lucky I am to have the wonderful family and friends that I do. 

I took joy in hearing my daughter laugh, talking about boring daily stuff with my wife or even getting annoyed or angry. Just remember, if you are reading this and struggling, it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, talk to a professional or get on an antidepressant. You have a lot to live for. You would be ending your pain by committing suicide but the pain would only be beginning for your loved ones and friends left behind.

If this helps even one person it will have been worth it. 

Til next time, Tyler 

February Update

Now that I have been back home for roughly a month, I figured it is time to give everyone an update. My overall goals remain the same. I want to improve my balance and overall independence, thereby giving Jenny and Eliana a shot at returning to a normal life. 

I want to transition to using a cane. Worst case scenario, I want to be able to use a traditional walker (without the forearm support). I know that it is highly unlikely that I will ever be able to walk again fully unassisted, due to the damage to my fourth ventricle. However, I will be over the moon to get to the point where I can walk using only a cane. 

To accomplish my goals, I am walking daily with my mom at the local high school basketball court, using my walker with forearm support, for an hour daily. Then, in the afternoons after lunchtime, I go with my dad up to the gym and we exercise for two hours daily. We alternate between arm and leg days. Once this is all said and done, I will get both of my parents into good shape. 

In addition to all of my exercise, I am still doing my speech therapy and I have registered with the Texas Workforce Commission, looking for a remote job that I can do from home. I am also staying busy reading and watching TV series. I am also still teaching English to three of my students from Spain, online from here in Texas. 

Jenny and Eliana Valentina will be here to visit me in mid June until mid July. We plan on seeing and doing a lot. I will be here in Texas until the end of August. In my little spare time, I am visiting family and friends and eating good Texas food. That is all for now. 

Til next time, Tyler 

I made it home

I thought I should update this and let you know that I made it home safely. This will be short and sweet. However, I will be home until the end of August. Right now, we are just trying to stay out of the ice and snow. I am looking forward to seeing Jenny and Eliana Valentina in June.

I am also happy to be home and I am available to see family and friends. I am looking forward to working hard and hopefully regaining some of my mobility and independence. 

Til next time, Tyler Horton 

My trip home

I figure that now is as good a time as any to let all of my dear readers know that I am heading back home to Texas with my dad on Tuesday the 27th.

I will be back home until August 31st. Of course I will try and visit with everyone, but the primary purpose of this visit home isn't social. It is to train hard and hopefully make progress with my mobility and speech issues. 

Now that I am 41, I am not getting any younger, nor are my parents. This may be my last chance to make meaningful progress. Due to the damage to the 4th ventricle in my brain, I am under no illusions that I will ever be able to walk again totally unassisted. 

However, it is my goal to get rid of the wheelchair and walker with forearm support. I want to transition to using only a cane. Worst case scenario, I want to move to using a traditional walker. I will be returning to Spain August 31st. The shape I return in, is realistically the shape I can expect to be in for the rest of my (hopefully) long life. I will be returning to Spain with my mom.

Jenny and Eliana Valentina are both coming to visit me in July in Texas. I hope that we can have a good time. I look forward to seeing all of you soon. My parents no longer live in Little Elm, they moved to Saint Jo Texas. However, I hope to visit my last remaining grandma and all of the family and friends that I can. 

It will be hard being away from Jenny and Eliana Valentina. However, I don't want to be a burden on anyone. Nor do I want to live my remaining life with both a speech and mobility disability. I can deal much easier with one disability instead of two. Three of my clients (students) of English will be continuing English classes online with me while I am in Texas. This will be good for my pronunciation practice and a way to stay busy. 

Jenny and Eliana Valentina both deserve a chance at a normal life and they won't get it until I do. I still consider myself lucky to be in the shape that I am in. I am not bedridden or in a coma. I still have a lot of life left to live even if it is not as easy as before. I am also grateful for the amazing support of my family and friends and Jenny's family. I couldn't do this without them.

Next time I write you it will be from Texas. Til next time, Tyler