Radiation, Blood Sugars, Results, Recovery, and Halloween, Oh My!

So... it's been a week and a day since treatment # 1. I am tired. More tired than I thought was possible, but I also did a lot last week on top of treatment and surgery. Yesterday I had treatment #2 and it knocked me down for a good part of the day. Like full out, fell asleep while Corey was home for lunch and didn't even know he left, out of it.  My last week was full and restful at the same time.

I worked really hard to bring Piyo to Crested Butte, finally got a class of my own going and I wasn't about to stop it due to a little thing like surgery and radiation (haha, I am being sarcastic) but seriously, I really don't want to let it fall by the wayside so I taught on Thursday night. I was able to teach my full class - minus the piyo flips, power section (burpees and squat jumps), and knee pulls - but it was not a walk in the park by any means (and for that matter a walk in the park is not so easy either...). But that does not mean I am going to give up on my dreams or my lifestyle. Fitness is a HUGE part of who I am and I am not going to let this change me! A lot of people think I should spend all day, every day resting... and that is just not me. I am most comfortable when I am doing a good workout. (Yes, I am sleeping more than normal too, but I am not giving up my fitness!) Life is, and always will be about how you handle the curve balls God throws at you, right? So my thoughts are you can sit around and be sad or mad or defeated, or you can adjust your sails and move right along.

Friday was Halloween party day. First the preschool I do marketing and development for - Paradise Place had their pumpkin party. I can't even stress how cute these littles are or how lucky I am that I have this job. I seriously get to work on a website from home, come in and take photos of the kids, and work on ways to raise money for the school (we're a non-profit) I think about going into work feeling like I do, at my previous job and I don't know if I could handle the longer days, long commutes, traveling to clinics more than an hour away, and I just know I am lucky to be in my position.

Then it was time for Brody's school party.  In complete honesty I need to be thankful for how blessed my life is.  When I am working I am either coaching, taking photos of cute preschoolers, planning fundraising for them, or working on their website, doing photography sessions, and teaching Piyo. When I am not I get to go to school with the Brodster and experience all that I would never get to when I was working on the front range. So while my circumstances may not be the absolute best at this exact moment in time, I have a pretty good life. 

A few from Brody's Party: 

Anyways, the weekend came and trick or treat was Saturday. I started to get really sick on Thursday, but kept brushing it off. It was cold and windy, but we had a great time with some new friends. 

On Sunday I got really really sick. My doctors say the radiation, diabetes, and surgery all lowered my immune system and also amplify my respiratory infection. I did get a big shot of antibiotics Monday morning and feel much better today, but still so exhausted, and I cannot breathe. I have also been using a ton more insulin than normal, because of all of the craziness my body is going through. That is really driving me nuts.  Oye. 

All in all it is not entirely bad news: my results from the surgery came back with no cancerous cells on the outlying tissue so YAY!!  2 more rounds of radiation and I should be declared cancer free. For now I am going to keep on keeping on with my cannabis oils (mainly because they help me sleep while protecting my cells from harmful radiation), working out, getting rest, and eating clean-  because it truly does make me feel good! 

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PIYO Ski Conditioning is Here!

Since I'm sitting here getting ready to launch PiYo in Crested Butte tonight, it seems like a good idea to address how to use it to get your body ready for snow sports before it's too late. Since we are just about 5 weeks away from opening day you might think it's already too late. Luckily, with Piyo you can get awesome results with your strength and flexibility (eh hem - Injury and joint protection!!)

In a perfect world, you'd begin your training for skiing as soon as the last season ended. This would give your body time to adapt and grow strong before it needed to engage in the rigors of the sport. But we don't live in a perfect world, so let's start today!

PiYo Strength is a mix of basic yoga moves (primarily basic Sun Salutation, Warrior 1 and 2, Triangle and Reverse Warrior) My class is a fast-paced workout designed for balance, coordination, strength, and stamina, and is recommended for anyone from the beginner to the advanced athlete. PiYo is a mixture of Pilates and Yoga, a bit of cardio, and a lot of strengthening!   The plus is that attendees of PiYo classes should go and can go at their own pace  This dynamic fusion workout is easy on the joints, yet delivers strength, balance, agility and flexibility in one unique calorie burning workout - which will all help you prepare for a great season on the slopes or Nordic trails. 

You know that feeling after the first day or two back on your skis? The "i'm so sore, I need to hobble around" feeling? Well conditioning your joints and muscles beforehand can help lessen that initial soreness. Often the large muscles can take the constant motion and pounding of the legs, but it is getting the secondary muscles trained and conditioned to help avoid injury: that is the key to avoiding that sore muscle feeling. 

Here are the primary muscles used in skiing and how they are utilized: 

Quadriceps: Quadriceps are probably the most used muscle group in skiing. These muscles hold you in position as you ski and provide protection for your knees. Great exercises for the quadriceps include squats and lunges.

Hamstrings and Gluts: When skiing downhill, you typically hold your body in a flexed position, which is leaning forward from the hips. This requires great strength from your hamstrings and glutes as they help stabilize your body. Work your hamstrings and glutes with squats, one legged squats, warrior 3, down dog, and single leg down dog. 

Inner and Outer thighs: Your inner thighs work like crazy to keep your skis together. Your outer thighs keep your body stable and help you steer. Some great exercises are side lunges, inner and outer  thigh strengthening muscular movements, and bowler squats/lunges.

Calves: Because your knees are bent as you ski, your calves (specifically the soleus) help you stay upright so you don't fall over (your boots help too). You can work this muscle by doing seated or standing calve raises and of course keep it flexible with stretches. 

Abs and Back: As you're in a flexed, bent over position, your back has to work like a maniac to hold your body in that position. To protect your spine from injury, your core must be conditioned. Work these muscles with exercises like beast (you'll learn!), kick throughs (pictured below), V-ups, back extensions, planks, and push-ups!

Arms: Along with your back, arms help push off with your poles while stabilizing your shoulder joints. Be sure to work your biceps and triceps along with the rest of your body and Piyo will certainty get that done!

This is a whole body workout to do for the ski preseason which will be great for getting your body in shape and keeping it flexible and strong to prevent injuries! 

Leanne is an APTA accredited Physical Therapy Assistant for the past 12 years and has been in the health, fitness and wellness industry since 2001. Leanne carries a passion for assisting clients and athletes in the planning and execution of any and all mind, body and wellness goals. She is a certified PiYo instructor and certified diabetes educator specializing in clean eating and nutrition as well. Since moving to CO in 2011 she has taken a passion in outdoor activities and getting the cross training experience indoors to help you become a better outdoor athlete! 

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Do You Ever Have One of Those Days?

Oh My GOSH!

Today was one of those days. 

Busy to the max. Stressful. Fulfilling. Challenging. Rewarding.

The day started with happy tears. I got to announce one of my best friends as she rank advanced as an Emerald coach. 

As soon as I posted her rank advancement - I immediately teared up. I am so proud of her! 

Then the frustration of working a full - time job set in: Today was Brody's first field trip ever. To the pumpkin patch. Growing up I have this picture: Me in Kindergarten at the pumpkin patch. My parents were chaperons on that field trip. Hence the reason I have that photo and the memory.  Since the day Brody started Kindergarten I envisioned going with him on his first field trip. I found out last week that because of my work schedule, the only day I could not change in the month of October, was the day of his field trip. 

He wanted me to go so badly. This is his "I'll just have to go with my teacher Miss D. then" look. 

Breaks my heart. 

I vow to him - from 1st grade on, I will never ever miss a field trip with him again. 

I promise him, a job will never get in the way of me spending time with him again. 

Sacrifices now = happy fulfilling life later. - This is my current mantra.

His bus was 10 minutes late picking them up this morning which threw off my schedule for the day and if that weren't bad enough as he was getting on the bus I noticed that he was not carrying his lunch bag - So there I was: crazy mom running out of the car yelling for the bus to stop rolling away because my son boarded while leaving his lunch in the park. 

Oye! 

Then I got to do something today that was really exciting!! My first PiYo Live class! LOVED teaching. Wearing the mic, in front of a class: what an experience. I had a blast and although they said it was tough, my class members said they loved it too! (I am SO SORE!!  Maybe practicing release 33 2 times a day since Tuesday was not the smartest thing to do prior to teaching a class! haha!) 

I ended the day with a call with 2 of my teammates and no matter what that always lifts up my spirits and then there's this: 

All in all I can't complain. A day can start rough, but as long as you are positive you'll get through it. 

How do you push through a tough day?!  

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