For the newbies and the less active

[Kick'nAssCancer'sAss]

Just over three years ago I came home from my open LAR surgery. I had a large wound that had well over forty staples keeping it closed. It resembled the zipper on my hockey equipment bag. I had a fresh temp illio and my surgeon told me I was in for a long road of recovery, He was right.

When I arrived home it took me well over 10 minutes to walk up to my third storey condo. No elevator. Total steps was about 30. I was tired and out of breath and was a thin 170 pounds which was over 20 pounds under my usual healthy buck ninety-five. I vowed to myself two things that day. I would be back on skates within a year playing hockey. I beat that by 1 week rejoining my buddies in 51 weeks. Rusty as hell but on the ice. The second thing I promised myself would be to climb the 1776 steps of the CN tower in Toronto. I wanted to make that condo walk up the lowest point in my physical fitness comeback. Today was my third annual climb since that day and I am happy to say that I broke the 16 minute barrier with a time of 15:59. Pretty good for a 56 year old if I do say so myself.

I tell you all this and especially the ones that are beginning the journey, never give up. Set goals, make them small to start and come hell or high water work your butt off to achieve them. Reward yourself when you do and work harder when you fail. After, set a loftier one and move on. It is tough at first but physical fitness and diet are so important going forward and will be for the rest of your life. I still have lingering neuropathy that had me stumbling many times on skates and at the gym over the last three years. it is something I will have to live with since my onc tells me it is probably permanent from here on in. That's fine it will be a small price to pay butt it would of been so easy just to quit, to throw in the towel.

Like the old Nike commercials "Just Do It" It will go a long way towards your recovery both physically and mentally. You will be glad you did.

[DarknessEmbraced]

Wonderful attitude! So glad you are doing so well!

[CRguy]

Hey buddy your post reminds me of a silent promise I made to myself at 42 y.o.

" I will earn my black belt by the time I am 50."
The year I turned 50, I passed my first degree black belt grading in the fall.
It was always inside my mind, with positive thoughts and energies .. and literally became a part of me ...
thoughts into action

Like the old Nike commercials "Just Do It" It will go a long way towards your recovery both physically and mentally. You will be glad you did.

WHAT I learned from that experience is why I am still here NOW !
After grading to second degree black belt, that was my the introduction to " ...you got CRC ! "

AND I accepted it as just another challenge
just another grading
just another opponent

The mind, IMO is everything ... and we can fill it with harmful, self-destructive, crazy monkeys chattering constantly inside our heads

OR, as you have discovered and shared

Fill it with Master Yoda !

“Do or do not. There is no try.” - Master Yoda

be kind to yourself
be honest with yourself
be real with yourself

BUTT sometimes it IS time to kick some personal ASS ...
and who better to benefit from that ??? .... than ourselves !

Cheers and Mega Harmony to all on the Journey
CRguy

[tammylayne]

Wooo Hoooo for you!!!!! Goals....a wonderful thing!

On another note...did you see my thread on the crème my doctor gave my husband for his neuropathy?? It took him from a pain of 9/10 down to a very manageable 2. It might be worth trying...