The Water

I love water. I love swimming, boating, fishing, etc. In fact, a lot of the best memories that I have from childhood involve water in some extent. We always had a pool in our backyard when I was growing up, and I can't imagine my life without a pool somewhere near.

That's why the last two months have been especially challenging for me. I found my water cardio class about 6 months ago, and it was an answer to my prayers. It gave me a way to get my heart rate up, and I was actually getting a lot healthier. However, as I mentioned in another post, the heater on the pool was broken, and the class had been canceled. But not anymore.

Today was the first day back, and I am soooo happy about that. I missed the teacher, Michele, and I missed all of the people in the class. I NEVER thought that I would miss anything about exercise, but I really did. But, I mostly missed being active in the pool.

My favorite thing about being in a pool, is the fact that I am just like everyone else. The water keeps me bouyant, so I do not need a wheelchair or crutches. That is such an incredible feeling for someone with a disability. Since I can put weight on my left leg, I am able to get around in the pool ununcumbered. That is such an awesome feeling.

Now, I can't do everything that all of the other people in the class do, but I try to do a variation of their activities. So, a lot of my movements tend to look the same. But that's ok...I'm moving and burning tons of calories. In fact, I know that I am really going to be sore tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to it.

It is frustrating though, because so many of us were wiped out after the class, and we all lamented on how we seemed to have lost a lot of the physical benefits that we had gained in the classes prior to the pool closing. But, we're all motivated to get it back.

My back is kind of strangely shaped, and it is obvious that there has been some trauma to it. But, when I am in the water, and my back is covered, I look just like everyone else. In fact, there have been many new people who have noticed how I tend to do my own thing with regard to a lot of the exercises, and they have jokingly commented that I was "cheating."

It's always interesting to see their faces turn to panic & embarrassment when they see me climb out of the pool and get back into my wheelchair. They always apologize, and I always do my best to let them know that I was not bothered by their comment. But that truly shows how I am just like everyone else when I am in the pool.

Actually getting back into my chair is my least favorite part of the whole class. As I have mentioned before, I have been disabled my whole life. I am fine with it, and I don't sit at home at night pining to walk. But, I do get a little deflated sometimes, when I get out of the water, and I have to get back into my chair. It can be demoralizing.

I feel like John Locke, who is one of the characters on the show, Lost. Before the plane crash, he was in a wheelchair. But, he was able to walk, after the plane crash. So while most of the characters on the show want to leave the island, he wants to stay. Because, he doesn't want to go back to being in a wheelchair. Being in the pool, is like being on the island for me. I just don't want to leave it.

I'm so excited to get back into the pool. I know that I have some work ahead to get my fitness level back to where it was, but I will do it...and have fun at the same time. :)

Enthusiasm followed by disappointment

Several months ago I made a discovery that really changed my life. I have had a weight problem virtually all of my life. To be honest, I don't eat as well as I should. I'm a single guy, and although I do enjoy cooking, it's just as easy sometimes to stop through the drive-thru and get dinner that way. So, I tend to eat high-calorie foods that aren't very good for me. Fortunately I made a discovery a few months ago that improved my diet quite a bit, but I'll talk about that more in another blog.

Another big reason why I have gained some much weight is the difficulty that I have in getting aerobic exercise. I have always really enjoyed lifting weights, so that part of my exercise program has been easy. But the aerobic part has always been a challenge.

Then I found out about a water aerobics class at the gym that I just joined. I LOVE swimming and the water. There are a lot of reasons why I love the water, and I'll discuss them some other time. Anyway, when I found out about the water aerobics class I was very enthused. But, I wasn't sure how well I was going to be able to do the class.

So I showed up one evening, and I talked to the teacher. She was very nice, and I asked her if I could just observe the class that evening. She had no problem with that, so I sat and watched about 15 minutes of the class.

During that time I saw several positive things. The first thing that I noticed was that there were two other guys in the class. When I thought of water aerobics I thought that it was just going to be me and a bunch of old ladies. Fortunately, that wasn't the case, because the women that were in the class ran the gamut in their ages. So there was a nice cross-section.

The other thing that I noticed was that the movements looked like something that I could do. There were things that I would have to modify, but I could definitely do most everything that everyone in the class did. So I talked a little bit to the teacher, and I told her that I would show up two days later for the next class.

Fast forward to now. I have been going to this class three times a week for several months now. It has been extremely beneficial to me, and I have lost some weight, as a result of my increased activity level. This class has been a godsend to me, and I'm sure I'll write more about it in the future.

Unfortunately I haven't been in the class for a few weeks. The heater in the pool has been broken, and the pool has been way too cold to have class. I have been lost without this class. I have felt sluggish and lazy. I have truly missed this exercise--and I never thought I would ever miss exercise.

I went to the gym on Saturday, and I happened to run into the teacher of the class. She mentioned that the pool had finally been fixed, but she said the gym owners weren't able to get the class on the Sept. schedule. She wants to just make signs and get the word out. She feels, and I agree, that we shouldn't wait until October to start the class again. She told me that she would let me know when the class starts, and I'M VERY EXCITED.

The title of my post is "Enthusiasm followed by disappointment," and that was the enthusiasm. Now the disappointment...

I got home, and I was very happy. Then I checked my email. I am on the mailing list of a local band, and I love listening to live music. This band was promoting an appearance at a local bar. Now I am not a big drinker, but I do spend a considerable amount of time at this place. As I said, I love listening to music, and I know a lot of people there. So this place has become my "hangout."

This email mentioned that this would be the last night ever for live music at my hangout. I'm not sure why they are discontinuing it, but they are. I'm sure it has to do with finances, and I have noticed that the place has been kind of empty lately. But, I am very disappointed to hear about it. I am a creature of habit, and I feel like one of my favorite activities has been taken away.

So, I'm thrilled to have my water class back, but I'm really going to miss listening to all of these local bands. Now, I know there are a lot of other places in the area to listen to people, but this place was perfectly accessible for me. Accessibility and comfort plays a HUGE part in deciding many things for me, and this was great.

But even though that news was disappointing, it has been a great weekend overall. My high school won, the Mizzou Tigers won, and I have tomorrow off.

I have a family thing at my parent's house tomorrow, and that should be lots of fun. I haven't seen my nieces in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see them again.