Day Eighteen

So the Weimar journey comes to an end. Graduation last night. During the day, Kim texted me to say they were bringing another guest.  I wondered who it could be. Surprise!  Leah hitched a ride and came for the celebration!!  I was the only participant who had guests, so it was lucky I had enough to go around.

So we all know this isn't the end of the journey, but the beginning of another phase. Learning to keep up the program at home will be the real adventure.  So keep watching for periodic updates, right here. Love you all.

Day Seventeen

Well, down to the last day.  I repeated the treadmill test this morning, and doc said I walked 5 seconds longer than the first time.  Big progress, huh?  But, I didn't get AS tired this time, and my blood pressure recovered fairly quickly, so it really is progress.  After the test, I rode the bicycle for 25 minutes.  I wonder how much credit I get for the treadmill exercise, since I didn't walk outside today.  The weather was really nice; everything looks clean and green after the rain.

This afternoon we went back to the farm and the farm manager talked to us about some of the practices they use.  He showed us how they set up their drip irrigation system which was very interesting.  He also talked about some of the particular soil amendments they use.  He told us about their philosophy of using the same elements and minerals to grow their crops that occur in our bodies.  It makes the food more nutrient dense, and therefore more healthful.

Tomorrow is my last appointment with the doc to see how much weight I've actually lost, whether or not my cholesterol is improved, and any other results from the blood work.  One more foot bath and one more massage.  Kim, Rabbit, and Greg are coming tomorrow afternoon to have supper and attend my graduation.  Then Thursday it's back to Valley Acres.  Puppies get ready for lots of hugs and treats!  Grandma get ready for a new and healthy caregiver, and don't worry--I won't take away your cookies or your Mounds bars!  Love you all.  Good night. 

Day Sixteen

Happy Labor Day.  It's rained here almost all day.  Can't have a better holiday than that.  Although, I guess Weimar doesn't know it's a holiday.  We just went about our usual activities.  We had our blood drawn again this morning so we can see if anything has changed in the last two weeks.  One of the things I am eager to find out is whether my cholesterol is low enough without my medicine.  The doc said today that I can discontinue one of my blood pressure meds and watch to see if my pressure stays below 130/80.  He's leaving it up to me to decide if and or when to discontinue the other.

I had Nicole's next-to-last hydro therapy and massage treatment today.  One more on Wednesday just before I leave.  It's been nice!  Thanks, Nic.  I've lost a few pounds here, but I don't know whether it's enough to notice yet.  When I talked with Mom a few days ago on FaceBook she said she thought I looked thinner--was she kidding or serious?  The doc said this morning I looked more cheerful.  I thought I was always cheerful.  Anyway, you will have to decide for yourselves when you see me.

I told Kim this afternoon I will have to get up when she does to do all my chores before breakfast.  I have stretches, strength exercises, walking, checking blood pressure, and then cooking my beans for breakfast.  Sounds like a full day before I even feed the livestock!  How many of my occasional bed & breakfast guests want to join me for a lovely breakfast of beans and toast, oatmeal, ground flax seed, and fresh fruit?  You can have some some nuts with your oatmeal, and if you are really nice to me, I'll give you almond milk to moisten your flax seed. For lunch we can have a zucchini burger, and some nice potato salad (not Grandma's potato salad, but tasty nonetheless!).  I won't be joining you, but if you want supper, you can have some nice lentil soup and a slice of whole wheat bread.

Well, have a good evening, and stay tuned.  The Weimar experience may be ending, but there's a lot of fun still to be had.  Love you all.

Day Fifteen

Three days left!  I think I'm starting to get it, but I don't know whether I'm ready to be on my own.  For sure I am ready to come home.  I miss Grandma, and my own bed, and my puppies, but am I really prepared to do this by myself?  It's kind of scary to think about.

It's been hot here the last couple of days--well, high 80's, which as all y'all know is too hot for me.  I walked the 1/2 mile loop this afternoon about 5:30, though, and it was really pleasant.  I sat on a bench to rest, and the breeze was cool.  People say it's quiet at our house, but it was really quiet there.  I sat longer than I needed to for rest, and just relaxed.

I was up early this morning to do laundry, and since the laundry is right across from the gym, took the opportunity to do my 20 minutes on the exercise bike.  So I did really well with my exercise today.  I have to repeat the treadmill test tomorrow or the next day.  I wonder whether or not I'll see any improvement.  I don't feel like I have really come very far on the exercise front.  I do have periods of time when my back doesn't hurt and I am thankful for that.  My feet (ankles) may be some better, but are still quite troublesome.  I'm definitely going to set up something so I can keep doing the hot and cold foot baths.  I think that helps, and for the first time in a long time the skin on my heels is not so dry and cracked. 

It seems like I should have some more exciting news to report, but I don't.  There was an outing to the Placer Gold Mine today, but I decided to stay here and finish laundry and work on homework.  The description said there would be extensive walking and standing.  Standing is one of the hardest things for me and wears out my back so quickly.  Also the air conditioning in the bus isn't working, and thinking of riding in there for 30 minutes each way wasn't appealing.  I think in the end they took a van, because there weren't too many participants.

Well, keep on keeping on, and I'm looking forward to talking to all of you in person about this experience.  Until the next time, Good Night.

Day Fourteen

So, two weeks complete.  Today we spent mostly talking.  We have gotten to know each other well, and the stories of the other participants are so interesting.  This morning after breakfast, a group of us sat at the table and talked for two hours.  After lunch several of us sat again for more than an hour just visiting and listening to each other.  I talked with Grandma and Kim on FaceTime after I got back to my room, and finally spent some time working on the "R" in NewStart (remember? it's Rest).

This evening we watched a video by a motivational speaker named David Ring.  The program is called Triumph Over Odds.  His back story is that he was born with cerebral palsy and lost his parents to cancer about four years apart during his early teen years.  His message is about choosing to be a winner in life, and illustrates his case with his life story.  After the film was over, we had another gab fest.  So today, instead of using my walking muscles, I have exercised my aural and verbal skills.

In only five more days I will be headed home with all my new knowledge and skills to begin the rest of my journey to health and fitness.  I will need all your support even more after I get home.  Thank you in advance for that. I love you all.  Good Night.

Day Thirteen

Short and sweet tonight.  We just got back from having supper and fellowship at the home of one of our doctors and it's late.  Boot camp this morning was an indoor circuit training exercise with stations for weights, rowing machine, stepper, cycling, treadmill, resistance bands, and a couple of other things.  We worked at each station for 60 seconds, but even at that by the time we finished, I was tired.  Lunch at Sizzler was nice.  We had our own room with a view of the mountains beyond.  We've spent quite a bit of time today just visiting with each other.  Our group has really developed some close bonds, and now we are already starting to realize that we will miss each other when we leave here. Thanks to you all for your support and encouragement.  Love you bunches!

Day Twelve

Happy Birthday to one of my super supporters, Leah Hawley Page!!

Down to the last week!  This was a busy day.  I had about 45 minutes earlier this afternoon for a nap, and I was ready for it.  Up at 5:30; Stretchercise; 3 laps around the yard (0.13 miles according to my new app, Nike+, thanks, Rabbit); breakfast; chaplain's morning presentation; counseling section; half mile on recumbent bike; dr. visit; walk with doc (3 more laps); foot bath; cooking lab; lunch; exercise guru (EG); massage; and FINALLY! a few minutes for a nap.  4:30 lecture; two more half mile sessions on bike; 6:45 lecture, and now here.  It's like working for a living!

At the session with the EG he watched me do all the exercises he had given me yesterday to help me get them right.  They take about half an hour so that's not too bad.  Here they give me a schedule at the beginning of the week with all my appointments scheduled.  I probably should do that for Gma and me when I get home and make sure the stretching, strengthening exercises, and walking are appointments just like doctors and hair dressers.

The evening lecture was on Food Borne Disease, and most of it concentrated on beef.  Mad cow disease was covered, as well as some pretty gruesome details about processing the animals for food.  Chicken and fish didn't fare any better.  I guess if we haven't been convinced of the positive benefits of eating "Healthy Whole Plant Foods Eaten Whole", the idea is to gross us out by sharing the negative effects of meat eating!

My back has been the best today since I've been here, so I'm excited about that.  I think my ankles are better, too, and if they don't keep me awake half the night I'll really be pleased.  I haven't built up much stamina, but I think with the cycling that might improve more quickly.  The walking I did this morning was pretty normal.  By this evening I am shuffling and waddling a little bit, but to be able to walk normally for a half day is a definite improvement.  Happy, happy.

No more bear sightings today, so nothing to report on that front, except that now the story of the encounter has expanded to say the hiker tried to Mace the bear.  Probably by tomorrow there will be multiple bears or something.  Haha.

Tomorrow looks lighter, except there is something called "Boot Camp" at 9:00.  It's in the lecture room, so how bad can it be?  Stay tuned.  Also tomorrow is our field trip to Sizzler.  Mostly quiet in the afternoon and something called "Home Hospitality" in the evening.  You know as much as I do at this point.  Meet me here tomorrow, same time, same place.  Good night.  <3

Day Eleven

Big News!  A bear!! was sighted on campus yesterday afternoon.  Staff members came around and told us not to be frightened, but to keep to the walkways near the buildings. No wandering about on the more remote trails.  So exciting.  This morning at breakfast, our botanist told us that the person who met the bear tried to scare it, and the bear didn't retreat, so the man came back saying the bear was aggressive.  After we discussed it, we decided the bear probably went back and told his buddies to beware of the humans, because he saw one acting aggressively!

We cooked our own lunch again today.  We made a Japanese stir fry, some shredded veggie patties, mushroom gravy, and brown rice.  It was very good. In fact, most of the food we have here is very tasty and we have generous portions, so feeling deprived or hungry has not been a problem.

I spent some time with the exercise guru today.  He showed me some exercises to strengthen the muscles in my back, knees, and ankles.  He explained the settings on the exercise bicycle, and I used that a little bit this afternoon.  It's a nice bike with a chair instead of a little racing seat, so it doesn't poke a hole in your posterior after a few minutes.  Also had another hot and cold foot bath this morning, and hot and cold fomentations with massage this afternoon. 

This evening we studied restaurant eating, and how to make appropriate food choices when eating out.  On Friday we are going off the reservation on a field trip to Sizzler.  How does that sound for a group of folks trying to learn to be vegan?  We will find out if we are up to the challenge.  Somewhere in Neil Nedley's Depression Recovery workshop he challenges people to go 14 days with out saying any thing negative.  If they slip up, the clock resets, and they have to do another 14 days.  I'm wondering if someone slips up and orders steak at Sizzler, do they have to reset to 18 days at Weimar?

One of my compatriots said this evening that when he leaves here, he will be travelling and visiting with friends for another week before he goes home.  He is going to have a very challenging transition.  I'm thankful to be going home to supportive and knowledgeable people. Thanks again for caring, all y'all!

Day Ten

Wow!  Into double digits now.  Today's been a little better.  Woke up on time and didn't have to rush to Stretchercise.  Do you love that word?  Today was our hike and picnic.  We were bused to a ranch near Auburn where there are several trails, and an area where a fairly large number of people could be fed.  We were divided into groups according to our various capabilities, and directed to walks of one-half, two and 1/2, and three and 1/2 miles.  I was with the pastor and the lady with the walker.  We were assigned the half mile trail.  We climbed a fairly steep little hill, and crossed over a ridge to see a pretty little pond with a walking trail all around.  We walked and rested, walked and rested, etc., until we finally made it around and back to where we'd left the bus.  We waited there for the trekkers and lunch.  Haystacks again, and cookies!  Well, one cookie.  When we got back to the lodge, I was ready for a nap!  More sessions in the afternoon, and one more in a few minutes, then early to bed.  I slept better last night, and hope to repeat the experience.

Lectures this afternoon are on arthritis and rest, two of my favorite subjects.  The doctor explained how joints work:  the cartilage doesn't actually receive nutrients from blood directly.  There's a fluid sac around the joint, and as the joint is flexed, nutrients from the arterial blood stream are released into the fluid.  When the joint is relaxed, waste products move from the cartilage to the fluid and are expelled into the venous blood stream.  In order to keep joints healthy, they must must work.  Now after all that work, I'm anxious to hear about rest, because I like that one really well.

I'm so ready to feel like something's happening, but I think I'm looking too far ahead.  I've lost a couple of pounds, I am walking more than I have in years, but I still hurt a lot when I'm walking, and after I've been walking.  It's going to take a lot of discipline to continue after I leave here. It not only isn't fun, it's almost like torture.

Again, many thanks to all my supporters.  You all are the best.  Love you all.

Day Nine

Day Nine - Halfway point!!  Well no one said it would be fun and games all the time.  Last night I didn't sleep at all well.  My feet and ankles would not stay still.  I'd sleep a little bit, then wake up and have to go through the restlessness all over again before I could get back to sleep.  However, I was sleeping nicely when the alarm went off at 5:00 and instead of getting up then, stayed "just a minute longer".  So at 5:52 I leapt from bed to rush to Stretchercise at 6:00.  Earlier bedtime tonight for sure.

Through the day, my back and ankles are almost back to where they were when I came.  My only consolation is that the doctor told us that arthritis usually will get worse before it gets better, and that it can take 7-10 days to start to alleviate.  So maybe tomorrow will be better. Or it might not be.  I've had this problem a long time, and it is going to take a while to reverse things.  I iced my back and ankles during this evening's lecture, and it feels better right now.  I didn't walk this evening as I had intended, although I did get in a few extra steps here and there.

We're starting now to plan for going home.  How will we implement the things we have learned about meal planning, exercise, dealing with stress?   That's going to be super-important.

This is pretty short, but I'm really tired, so I'll quit here.

P.S.  Don't tell Nicole that I had another one of her massages this afternoon after a car wash session. 

Day Eight (including Day Seven)

Well, now I know I have some avid followers, because I've been chastised for skipping Day Seven.  Let's try to catch up.  Yesterday was a nice day:  we started with the breakfast we had prepared in the cooking lab on Thursday and Friday.  It was really good.  I told you the menu back on Day Five.  I enjoyed everything: the tofu was good, the blueberry crisp was *wonderful*, the hash browns needed a couple more minutes in the oven, and to be hotter, but I had some wonderful Weimar bread with almond butter and the raspberry jam we made.  Just need a cup of coffee to be totally delightful.  Oh, well.  I learned to drink coffee; hopefully I'm not to old to learn not to drink it.

We were bused down the road a piece to a church called Meadow Vista.  It is a small church in a very pretty rural area.  Tall trees, and parking sort of found in odd pockets in the forest.  Apparently other Weimartians attend the church as well.  By the time the morning service started the church was full to the seams.  Folks were sitting on folding chairs in the aisles.  An energetic young pastor gave a passionate sermon on faith. Our small group lingered in our pews after most of the congregation had gone out of the building, but we were not recognized as guests of the church by anyone.  Where have we heard that before?  I spent an hour or more on Facetime with the Sabbath afternoon group at Grandma's.  It was like being there with them, and so enjoyable.

So, today, Day Eight.  Breakfast was scheduled for 8:00, so it seemed a good time to get my laundry done.  I went to the laundry room at 6:30 and started my 2 loads of laundry, then used the washing time to listen to some nice music on my phone.  After I transferred the clothes to the dryers, I walked around the flagpole to get a little exercise.  After breakfast we went to the farm which is within walking distance for some of my fellow travellers.  I rode in the van. At the farm we saw some of the tomatoes and sweet potatoes they grow here.  The farm manager happened on our tour, and talked to us for quite a while.  A lot of the produce is taken to local markets and sold.  We have also been eating their tomatoes.  They are really special.  Then we went along to the green house to see more tomatoes, and some herbs.  The tomato plants in the greenhouse looked absolutely beautiful.  The way they were trained to grow was particularly interesting.  The plants were in a shallow raised bed, and each was supported by what looked like cotton string.  Small plastic clips were placed about 12 or so inches apart up the string and around the stem of the plant.  Then each plant was pinched so that there was only a single stem.  As the plant gets taller and taller, the string is moved horizontally so that eventually the old non-productive part of the stem is lying on the ground, and the vertical portion is what bears fruit.  Some of the stems on the ground were five or six feet long.  The tomatoes were so pretty and red.  I told Kim I want a green house.  She suggested painting the one I live in green. Somehow it doesn't seem quite the same.

This afternoon I soloed on the half mile loop.  Since I have decided to skip supper, that seemed like a good time to do a walk.  I set out with my new trekking poles, and just went for it.  Took me about 30 minutes, but I made it.  Oh, yeah.  I took my new pedometer out of the box and put it on my waistband.  It isn't properly calibrated, but it will tell me if I do better from day to day.  It didn't seem to be working too well in the box!

We've watched two of the Neil Nedley DVDs on Depression Recovery now.  It's amazing how all these problematic health conditions are so interconnected.  I know you all have been telling me all this stuff for years,  but hearing and seeing it all in such a concentrated format makes it all make more sense.

Even though the pain in my back and ankles is far from gone, I feel less tired than I did a week ago.  I haven't had a nap the last two days, even though there were fewer things going on, so I'm putting that in the progress column.

Tomorrow we get back to the grind, so I better get to bed so I can get up at 5:00.  Love you all!

Day Six

Big accomplishments today.  Three laps around the lawn after stretchercise and before breakfast.  I actually walked instead of waddled. Wow.  Then a half mile walk beside a small waterway in the woods. It was not on Weimar property all the way, so we saw some residences tucked into the forest.  One place was getting spruced up for a wedding.  It was very pretty: small patio with a pergola, pond, and green grass.  Seemed a little out of the way for a wedding, but what do I know?  It might be just off the main road. I wish Darrell was here to help me figure out where north is!!  It took about 45 minutes to complete the half mile, but I did it, standing up, and amazingly am still upright! Gus and I used to do about a mile and a half in 25 minutes.  How I've deteriorated.  Right now my determination is strong, and I know I can get better.

 We prepared Sabbath supper in cooking class.  We are going to eat well tomorrow! I may have to have supper tomorrow evening.  It can be my indulgence for the week.  I've been eating really well since I've been here: plenty of fresh veggies, good carbs, and beans and tofu.  Raw beets, shredded, from the on-site garden.  Really tasty.  Lots of beans.  They offer them every day for breakfast.  Even before I came here I had started wondering how certain foods came to be breakfast foods, and now we have beans three times a day--one more food to add to the breakfast list.  I tried quinoa at this morning, and it was perfectly edible.  I'll probably stick with oatmeal for most days.  It's just more comforting. 

This afternoon we went shopping at Target. I found the trekking poles, and also picked up a pedometer so I can see how many steps I can add each day.  We bussed into town somewhere, however I have no idea where we were.  Just know we got back on I-80.  Doesn't matter. Most of the other folks were excited at the notion of going shopping.  I wish I could have given one of them my list and just stayed here.  The nurse said I needed the exercise, so that's that.  It wasn't too bad; I used the shopping cart like a walker just as I do at home, and managed to get to most corners of the store.  When I walked down the aisle adjacent to the food section, I just looked to the left!  No food on my list!!

This evening there's a concert in our lobby.  There's a harp set up next to the piano, so maybe some duets. There's usually a peaceful DVD with hymns playing in the lobby that makes a relaxing place to take a rest. Live music will be a pleasant change.

The first week is almost over, and has gone by quickly.  I hope the rest of the time doesn't go by so quickly, or that I start making progress more quickly.  I want to be a lot better before I go home.  Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and support.  Love you all bunches!

Bogie, Dixie, Gabby, if you're reading this, I miss you and hope you're behaving for Aunt Kim.

Day Five

I had to look at the calendar to see what number day this is.  So it's day 5.  We were having our 6 am Stretchercise session this morning, and a group of deer (a buck, two fawns, and three does) came up on the lawn across from our gazebo.  They trotted up, took a look at the funny people, out in the dark doing absurd activities, and turned up their noses and trotted away.  I've also seen hummingbirds playing in the spray of the fountain in the middle of the lawn.  It's really fun.

Almost everything was fun today.  I had another foot bath, but this time in the real tubs. Increasing the blood flow in the feet is supposed to be good for the other parts of the body as well, and I think my ankles feel a little better this evening.  As it happened, I also had my second massage today (Nicole thinks its hers, not sure why), so I feel like I've really been to the spa.  We cooked our Sabbath breakfast in cooking lab.  We will have scrambled tofu, blueberry crisp, hash browned potatoes, and we made raspberry jam but I'm not sure what we will use it on.  It all looked very tasty.

Second appointment with doctor today.  Weight and blood pressure haven't changed, but those things will come.  Even though I don't have a diagnosis of diabetes, the doctor said I do have the conditions taken in combination called Metabolic Syndrome.  Insulin resistance contributes to both conditions, and can be improved by following the regimen being set out for us. The food here is controlled, and we are encouraged to exercise as much as possible, so that's a good start.

The two evening lectures were given by one of the doctors, and she is absolutely passionate about her job, and about doing all she can to give us the information we need to be our best selves.  I must be feeling better, because I was not even tempted to nod during either hour.  Her enthusiasm was helpful, too.

[Nicole:  The lady (Dr. Karen Jensen) we saw carrying the gallon water jugs out to the plants in front of the building is a retired teacher and PhD in botany.]

I'd like to tell you something about my fellow travellers, but I'm not sure whether this blog is secure, and I certainly wouldn't want to violate any HIPPA rules.  They are all Adventists; one is a pastor, another a pastor's wife.  We have a married couple, and two other ladies besides me.  One of these other ladies is 79 years old, and walks the trails almost all day long.  I think that will be me when I'm 79, as I'm learning now how it's done.

There's something called Group Walk tomorrow.  Not sure how I'll fare with that, and then shopping at Target in the afternoon.  Exercise guru wants me to get trekking poles to help with my balance, so I guess I'll have to go on the shopping trip. I'll let you know how I do with that.  Anyway, day is done, and it's time to get some sleep.  See you tomorrow.

Day Four

So what to report today?  The highlight is probably the fact that I went out and walked around the 1/2 mile loop with the exercise guru.  It was very slow, and I needed two bench stops on the way, but I am still here this evening to report to you.  The guru looks like a slightly shorter version of Mr. B., for those of you who know him. When I got back from the walk, I went straight to a hydro therapy session consisting of hot/cold contrast foot baths.  The actual equipment wasn't working, so the therapist filled one five-gallon Home Depot bucket with HOT water, and one with cold water.  3 minutes hot, 30 seconds cold, repeat twice.  Just the ticket for tired feet.  This afternoon I went back to the massage therapist and had hot wax treatments and massage on my hands and feet.  I asked if I could get a pedicure after, but she said she didn't provide that treatment.

On food:  today we made our own lunch, and if I say so myself, it was quite tasty.  Zucchini burgers with tofu mayo and mustard, and nut cheese sauce (along with Wiemar-baked buns!).  Also a very nice potato/avocado salad with red bell peppers, olives, and some seasoned salt.  We even had ice cream for desert.  Imagine a serving of ice cream the size of a ping pong ball.  But it was very tasty. Again no supper, and I don't feel particularly hungry.  It's good to be busy and not have time to think about it.

I've been very tired still.  I'd like that to go away.  I'd also like to have my ankles start feeling better so I can do more walking.  My assignment for the immediate future is to try to make a half mile inside the building.  Six laps from my room to the end of the building and back will do the trick.  I only have to get the six laps in during the day, but I don't know if I can count the times I walk back and forth to the Lecture Room (which is a little farther) or if it has to be six extra.  I expect the latter is true.

I hope I will see some recognizable progress soon, so it won't get too frustrating.  I keep telling myself that I didn't get this way in 18 days, and it may take more than that to reverse it.  I am getting a good foundation though, so that's encouraging.  Thank you all for your interest and support.  Love you all.

End of Day Three

Well, I've made it to the end of the third day.  I've decided to take the option of skipping supper and eating only twice a day.  I thought I'd be famished by now (almost 8:30), but just remembered a few minutes ago that I hadn't eaten since 1:30, and am not hungry now.  A twinge of a headache, but almost not worth mentioning.  I still don't feel at all like walking, which is strongly encouraged , so I just did a turn around the flagpole.  There's a marked 1//2 mile loop that I need to check out.  So far when I have a few minutes, I just want to lie down and rest.  I thought I'd wait to try walking 'til I didn't feel so tired, but now I'm beginning to think I need to do the walking so I won't feel so tired.

Had my treadmill test this morning.  They asked me if I thought I could walk a quarter mile.  I said I'd be surprised if I could.  Isn't that pitiful?! At any rate I was able to stay on the thing for three minutes and get my heart rate up to what the doc wanted, but I was beyond breathless when they finally turned it off.  Amazingly I recovered fairly quickly and was able to walk back (uphill a short distance) to the lodge.  I need to put that in the positive column.

It's sad that I already know so many of the things they are teaching here.  The time has come to put them into practice.  I have my consultation with the exercise guru tomorrow, so I'll find out what the doctor thinks I can do as far as exercise is concerned. Also tomorrow I'm scheduled for contrast (hot/cold) foot bath.  Wouldn't it be great if it made my ankles feel better? 

Things are starting to fall into a pattern now, so not so many new things to report.  Enough for now.  I'm going for water and some Sleepy Time herbal tea, then to bed.  Good night.

Day Three

Day three began again at 6:00 am for "Stretchercize".  I set my alarm for 5:00, but didn't save, so it didn't go off.  Woke up at 5:50, threw on clothes, and hurried to meet my compatriots.  I should have told you there are only seven of us.  Apparently most groups have around 20 participants, so we are very small.  Anyway, we did our stretches and headed to breakfast.  More breakfast beans.  Protein.  Also corn pones with "chicken" gravy.  And, of course, hot cereal, fruit, and flaxseed.  We need to have ground flaxseed every day.  After breakfast, treadmill test.  I lasted 3 minutes on the treadmill, but barely.  So embarrassing to be so very out of shape! 

I also had a session with the nutritionist to talk about what I should be eating, and whether I think I can keep to the regimen when I get home.  No more coffee? no more coke? no more cookies and ice cream?  But they are going to teach us how to make ice cream.  Yeah!  I'm looking forward to cooking class this afternoon. 

Weather has been good.  Apparently there's a fire nearby, and lots of smoke in the area, but today it's pretty clear.  Not too hot, and yesterday a few drops of rain--so cool.

My Weimar Adventure

So, after months of hobbling around in more and more pain, and with less and less stamina, I reached a point where I decided something drastic needed to be done.  I have always been a fan of drastic solutions.
After some research on my own, and with the help of Kiminnette, I registered for an 18-day program at the Wiemar Institute in Colfax, CA.  The analogies that come to my mind are "rehab", "reboot", and "immersion", so I've chosen to call this blog Eileen's Reboot.  The program is called NEWSTART. which is actually an acronym:  N=nutrition, E=exercise, W=water, S=sunlight, T=temperance, A=air, R=rest, T=trust. The focus of the program is to incorporate those elements into a daily regimen for a more healthy life. So here I am getting ready for the rest of my life.

Lots of people are following my journey via text, and so Evonne suggested I write a blog about what I'm doing here and how I'm doing.  Here it is.  Sunday, August 18, was the beginning.  Nicole picked me up at 7:30 in the morning and we drove here to arrive in time for lunch at 1:00 pm.  We had lunch in the student cafeteria--haystacks!  After lunch I registered, and Nicole helped me get settled in my room.  My room: probably an 8x10 cubicle, with a twin bed, night stand, small table/desk, and chair.  Kim worried I'd fall out of the bed the first night, but I did not.  I slept instead.

On Monday morning, I was up at 5:00 to get ready for blood draw at 6:00 am.  Then to breakfast at 6:45.  The food:  all plant based, no meat, fish, chicken, eggs, or dairy.  So, oatmeal, fruit, toast, almond butter, and of course, breakfast beans!?  First meeting with the medical doctor was next: he did a thorough physical and asked plenty of questions.

Next came a meeting with the chaplain/counselor, and then to lunch.  The main dish was corn muffins (or dumplings) in a pot pie sauce made with soy curls (whoever heard of soy curls?).  It was very good.  Lots of salad, avocado, and fruit.  There's homemade bread, but my plate is always full before I get there, so I haven't eaten it yet.

After lunch, my first hydrotherapy/massage session.  Let's do lots more of those!  Hot and cold contrast shower: 3 minutes HOT water (102 deg), 30 seconds COLD water (actually only about 80 deg), and repeat twice.  The second hot session was a little hotter and the cold a little colder, and the third more of each.  Then to massage for my aching back.  Very relaxing but also rejuvenating.

Each day we've had lots of orientations and study sessions, so I'm skipping some of the activities, but suffice to say by the end of the day I felt very tired and ready for bed.