Music good for well-being

I have written about using music as an inspiration.  Here is an article that was one of the headlines on the MSN homepage.  It is 10 ways music is good for your well-being.

For me, during the course of my recovery, I have used different songs as anthems to get me through certain stages of the recovery.  "You Raise Me Up," by Josh Groban when I was in the Cardiac Care Unit,  and "Carry On," by Fun. when I was walking again "well enough," but improvements had slowed down, but I knew I had the capability to improve/recover even more. 

Here is the article:  10 Ways Music is Good for well-being

New Facebook Page

I started a Facebook Page that shares the same name as this blog and my book.

I wanted a page for my book, but also wanted to share SCI stories on Facebook.

Toe Up to 10K page on Facebook

Tristan's Road to Recovery

I have written about Tristan before. He is the young man who injured his spinal cord as a result of a diving accident.

The expenses associated with spinal cord injury, as with any other major medical condition is staggering.  Not only is there a lot of medical follow-ups, but the costs of rehab, the non-medical adaptive devices, etc. etc.

If you would like to help, a page has been set up at GoFundMe.com

Finding Inspiration - A Guest blog post onthe Zen Reader

Recently, I did a series of posts about where i find inspiration.

I compiled a list and wrote a guest blogpost that appeared in the blog, the Zen Reader.

The Zen Reader

Gratitude - on Zensanity Blog

As part of my publicity tour, I have been asked to guest blog.

The first two I did are based on topics I've covered here, but more organized.

Here is a guest blogpost on gratitude, which appeared on the blog, "Zensanity."

Gratitude - Zensanity blog

Irony of Spinal Cord Injury and Fitness #fitfam

Yesterday, I tweeted When recovering from spinal cord injury, every day is leg day, and core day, and arm day and ____ day. #fitfam whatever your day, be great

I follow, and have quite a few followers who are fitness oriented.  Certain days are designated for certain types of workouts. These days are called, "Leg Day," "Chest Day," etc.   And this is generally done to maintain the fitness of these areas.  I'm also sure the exercises for these days are customized to the needs of that area - whether these areas only need maintenance, or some extra work. 

For those of us who have regained some mobility and strength, it's important to do work on all areas each day, but go through weeks/months with the emphasis on a particular area.  For many people, including me, that would be the legs - but depending on my situation, exercises were changed to emphasize different parts of the leg.

And I walk - I try to walk at least 10 blocks each day, sometimes two miles or more. I have noticed that when I don't go out for a walk for a couple of days, my muscles stiffen and I cannot walk as well as long.  

Here's where my tweet comes in.  As much as I can on a daily basis (and sometimes the muscles just need to rest, but something everyday - doesn't have to be excruciating every day) - not only do I work on my legs, but I also work on my core and arms.  I work with a kettlebell and plank each day - in addition to my walks.

I was working with a kettlebell even while in a wheelchair, and at the hospital, my occupational therapist always had me on weight training exercises.  This is because the stronger the upper body is, the less pressure it puts on the legs.  Also, once I was walking quite competently, my balance was still suffering. This is when a physical therapist had me start planking to strengthen my core.  I'm convinced that planking has helped me regain my balance tremendously, but being above the legs, I'm convinced that it has also helped me with my walking by placing even less pressure on the legs to do the work. 

Spinal cord injury also wrecks havoc on bowel functions.  I'm very fortunate that my bowel functions returned enough that I no longer need to be on a bowel maintenance program/routine.  However, this is also due to a change in diet.  I consume much more fiber now than before I got sick.  So, I am eating healthier now than before I got sick. 

I still have mobility issues - my legs are stiff; I still have occassional spinal cord related bowel issues; I still can't run "full speed" for more than the distance to cross a street.

What's the irony?  I think I am more fit now than before I got sick.  I wasn't out of shape before, but now, I eat better, and have more targeted workouts.  And when I was in the hospital, I lost over 20 pounds.  I've gained about 7 pounds back, but an increase in waist size has not accompanied the pounds back. So the weight gain is probably due to muscle gain. 

Finding Inspiration: Visualization

While in high school, I read the book, The Silva Mind Control Method, by Jose Silva.  The book introduced me to the concept of visualization.  Visualization helped me perform better on tests, and I used visualization alot until I graduated from college.  Then I stopped, until I read Antyhony Robbins, book Unlimited Power. 

I still read and listen to motivational speakers, but I generally do a half-hearted job of the using the techniques, now days, except when I was recovering from spinal cord injury.  But even then, I concentrated on the walking part, and not on other issues. 

When you set a goal, then visualize you acheiving the goal, it is like a premonition, and then your sub-conscious starts working to acheive it.  When you see yourself acheiving your goal, it motivates and inspires you. Give it a try.