I am now in the best shape that I have been in since I was in high school. I might be 41 years old but I can still get in a good workout. To his credit, my 71 year old dad works out right along with me. So, even if this doesn't help me (although it can't hurt) then at least I can keep him in good shape.
I have made big progress on the treadmill. I started out at 1.0 speed with 0 incline. Now, I have progressed to 2.0 speed (it increases by 0.1 each time you increase) and 8.5 incline (maximum 20).
I have reached the maximum level of resistance on the waterwheel, which you pedal with your arms to strengthen your forearms. I am also doing lunges and squats (without weight) to improve my physical condition. I am up to 150 lbs/68kg on the ab machine. I also alternate between doing the leg press, leg extension exercises and arm pull down exercises.
However, I am most proud and excited to see my progress on the elliptical machine. Starting out, it was really a struggle for me. Because of the brain damage, my brain will send a command to my body, for example, move your right leg. Then, my body will either: A) ignore the command completely B) Respond too slowly or C) Respond in the wrong way.
So, at first I was struggling through just ten minutes on the elliptical. My knees would lock up or my arms would lock up. I struggled to coordinate my arms and legs together. However, now that we are in May, I have noticed big improvement.
At first, I was struggling through ten minutes only. I could barely get through .25 of a mile and two laps. Now, I can go for 33 minutes and I can do nine laps and around 2.8 miles. That is not the most exciting news though. The most exciting news is that I have gotten my lap time down to 2:25 and I fee perfectly normal and able bodied for the first time in six years.
The first time it happened to me I cried like a baby because I was so relieved to feel like I was normal again. Luckily, I have now increased the amount of time in which I feel normal, from 2:25 to 3:15. I hope that it will continue to increase.
Even after 3:15, when everything starts to fall apart with my body, it is never dangerous to me but it is enough to be annoying and throw off my rhythm. Having this normal feeling, gives me hope though that my brain will eventually heal itself enough for me to walk with only a cane. Even if I never walk again totally unassisted.
In addition to going to the gym with my dad six days a week, I am also walking with my mom up at the local basketball court five days a week for an hour a day using my walker. I am trying to transition to using a cane. However, in order to do that, I need to first get off my walker with forearm support. So, I have started using a traditional walker with no forearm support.
In addition to all of my exercise, I am doing short term memory training online via the Texas Workforce Commission for three days each week. My short term memory is terrible now due to the brain damage. Although, my long term memory seems to be unaffected. I feel like my brain training is helping.
I use a separate brain training app, daily to help keep me sharp.
Additionally, I practice daily with some AI apps which are meant to teach people English. However, I use them to talk and have my pronunciation graded. I am also teaching three students from Spain, online. I teach them English. Not to make a ton of money for myself but more to stay busy and improve my pronunciation. I am happy that I can do it as a benefit to myself, but also to their benefit.
Still no work for me online but I have not given up looking. Honestly, right now I am concentrating on getting in the best shape that I can because I can deal with having either a defect in my speech or limited mobility but having both at the same time is hard and the girls (and all of my family and friends) don't deserve to have to constantly care for me when I still have the power to better myself and gain more independence.
Well, that is all for now, Tyler
