May's Proposed Training Schedule

Ok, so at this point I actually don't know if I will be able to join the Mont Blanc trek in September, but I still want to train for it as best I can.

I have put down my deposit and made certain that it is transferable to another trek should I need to substitute an easier or shorter hike. I have until June 21 to make that decision. The factors that will influence that decision are how I feel about my preparation, my doctor's recommendations and my roommate. Yes, my roommate. He would like to try his hand at a trek, but is not certain that he can manage one as difficult as a two week Mont Blanc hike. So, he is also looking at shorter, less difficult treks. Since, I, of course, have gotten him into this, I will not abandon him to travel on his own. (I don't like to travel on my own either, though I am perfectly capable of it.) I am, however, encouraging him to get better hiking shoes asap as well as custom orthotics--he has flat feet. And I need to get around to picking up a light weight, but strong, trekking pole. I can't continue to use my roommates shoulder whenever I hit a section in the trail where I need to put weight on my left arm to balance myself.

Maybe I'll encourage him to work on his uphill stamina as well.

Uphill Stamina Training::

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Week 4 and 5 training update

Ok, so here is week 4 updated and complete along with the last week's training.

I wasn't able to get as much training in as I would have liked this last week, and I feel bad about that, but I have to realize that sometimes schedules just don't let us do everything we would like to do or have planned. In other words life happens and can get in the way from time to time.

My physical therapy (PT) is going very well, though it is amazing how tiring it can be. I'm still amazed at how easily they can get my arm to straighten out in the office, and with little pain at all. It's frustrating to see my arm bend back up an hour or two later. On the other hand, it is getting straighter and stronger. The elbow is starting to look like a normal elbow, with the inner bend in my arm slowly starting to turn the correct direction. And I can, ocassionally, under weight, get my arm to straighten out for a minute or two. And then there's the vain part of my soul that is getting really sick of seeing that flappy saggy upper arm hang, and wonders how much longer it will be before I can get back to such exercises as push ups and bicep and tricep curls.

Meanwhile, the trainer is working on strengthening my core--maybe we'll get the gut, butt and upper thighs narrowed down a bit--and walking and ascent training. I'll be doing 10-15% inclines on treadmill, starting this week. And, of course, more stair work. Uphill climbs are my weak point, so they need more work. Still, I do need to add in more walking. And we'll be adding weight to a few of the strength training exercises.

So here are weeks 4 and 5. I'll update as I get my new monthly training schedule.

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Training Update

Well, how is the first month of training with Body Results going?

Honestly, not bad if you take into consideration that I was in a cast until a little over a week ago. The cast did slow things down. But now I am getting back up to the level I should be at and sometimes exceeding the expected progress. Physical therapy for my left arm is also going well. I will regain full movement, though it may take a while. The arm came out of the cast much more flexible than expected and I started the physical therapy much further along than most.

Ok, so the first two days of the training schedule were a loss. We simply weren't set up for it here yet. But I did what I could that weekend.

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Week 2:: The amount of training done was a great deal less than expected. The arm tended to swell up inside the cast, cutting off circulation a bit. Also, it turns out that the healing process and carrying the weight of the cast around all day can be more exhausting than I realized.

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Week 3:: The cast came off on Monday. The arm is a little tender and very bruised (from the cast), but I am continueing training and picking up the pace as the week progresses. I had my first physical therapy (PT) session on Friday afternoon. I now do PT three times a day at home and three days a week at the doctor. I am in little to no pain, and have very little muscular atrophy. The doctor is enjoying the fact that I have a high pain tolerance threshold and that my elbow did not lock up while in the cast. It is a bit frustrating to watch the therapist easily straighten out my arm in the office and realize that by the time I walk the half mile home it will be bent again and I will not be able to straighten it.

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Week 4:: So far, so good.

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