Tag: amputee

Unleash Your Inner Warrior

Unleash Your Inner Warrior

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:12 — 36.0MB)

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The time is now! Let’s find the warrior within you. Let’s dig deep and create the life you have always wanted to have.

After all that I went through these past several years with all the “down time” I had while I was healing from surgery after surgery, I realized that my life was shifting and changing, and I felt that God was giving me a new path and my future had so many possibilities.

My family had been there for me through so much, I learned a lot about myself through my trials, and I saw my relationship with my husband grow as I saw a man who supported me and my drive even in the midst of huge trials.

 

In this podcast I talk to you about what was happening to me, internally, as I struggled through 5 years of failed knee surgeries and the past 3 years after my choice to amputate my leg above the knee.

 

Today, I am a certified personal trainer with a specialization in corrective exercise and fitness nutrition. My goal is to help those who wish to live a healthier and more active lifestyle, no matter where they are at in their journey called life.

Take a listen to this week’s podcast to hear where my journey has led me, what my thinking was behind the years of trials I endured, and how I can help you in the next step of your journey. I get it. I know what it is to rise from the ashes and reinvent myself.

 

 

 

Life is a journey:

  • Reach out to me if you need or want a change in your life and need someone who will guide and motivate you.
  • Share this post and podcast with someone you know could use the help. Maybe you have a friend or a parent struggling with a medical issue, or finding a healthy lifestyle and you want the best for them. I’m here and ready to help.

I hope you are having an amazing start to 2022 and remember, no need for new year’s resolutions, or feeling like it’s already too late to start anew. Now is the time to start. No more excuses!

 

Let’s get at it and unleash the warrior that I know is inside of you waiting to come out and attack life.

You owe it to yourself and your family to live your best, most healthy life…NOW!

 

Before my transformation anmd right after amputation

 

Warrior unleashed with me!

 

 

As always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

much love,

Angie

 

Just Say No…

Just Say No…

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:17 — 46.2MB)

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To New Year’s Resolutions….

…and YES to a new, healthier lifestyle.

Welcome back to my podcast and the start of season 2!!! I am beyond grateful for you!

If you are new to my site and haven’t been following me then you can go back and listen to my first season here or, better yet, subscribe to my podcast on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or any other site you see below so you never miss an episode!

 

This week I am back after a 3 week hiatus from the holidays  and getting an new addition to our family! Introducing, Maggie Mae, our 4 month old Chihuahua!

 

So our “big girl”, Bella, now has a sister to play with, torment, and protect!  This has been an eye opener when it comes to my time.  I actually had to delay my podcast an extra week as I was so busy following her around, potty training her, and being sleep deprived that I couldn’t function. I may be getting too old for this! Ha ha!!  She’s lucky she’s so cute.

 

 

This week’s podcast is all about setting yourself up for success when it comes to creating a new and improved lifestyle, and it has NOTHING to do with making New Year’s Resolutions!  I do not like New Year’s Resolutions because I feel like there’s a stigma that you’ll make them every January 1st and drop them within a month. It leaves you feeling like a failure and creates a bad habit of starting and giving up.  Instead, what I implore you to do is to make small attainable goals with a deadline a month out, then another goal month out, and then again by summer.  You want to create a healthy and positive habit with your goal setting. Baby steps, are still baby steps.  With each baby step in the right direction it draws you closer to your small goal, which inevitably leads you to a bigger end result that you may or may not have perceived was even possible. Remember, hard work pays off and every little change in a healthy, positive way is worth doing…and you’re worth it!

Remember to have grace with yourself and forgive yourself if you stumble. You’re human and you will fall, every once in a while.  It’s what you do in that moment that shows what you’re made of. Do you get back up and continue to move forward or do you give up?

As we enter mid January, don’t tell yourself you’re too late to start a positive lifestyle change this year. YOU CAN START ANY MONTH, ANY DAY of the week. Start today, do it for you! Do it for your family. When you eat well, get active, achieve goals you set for yourself, then you become a happier and healthier person to be around. When you feel good, your mental state also becomes healthy. Who doesn’t want to feel good inside and out?

Don’t know how to start? Check out the Call the Action below.

 

 

Let’s get started, today!

 

*On paper write down your top 2-4 goals. Remember, they don’t need to be huge and hard to attain. Think small baby steps. As you begin to create a positive trend of goal setting/goal attaining then you can start setting bigger goals.

*Next set deadlines next to each goal. This is very important. It’s creating accountability. Make it tangible. Ex. I want to take a walk everyday. My plan: walk each evening. My hopes are that I will create a habit by the end of a month and then I won’t have to make it a goal, it’ll be a lifestyle.  The benefits; I will be more active, fresh air in my lungs will help my emotional and mental state, I may even lose weight!

*You could also add your goals to your phone and set reminders to go off when you need a nudge. Whatever works for YOU.

*If you miss a day in your routine don’t fret and most definitely don’t give up. Just get back up and start again the next day. Your life is a journey and there are going to be days where it’s almost impossible to hit a goal, that’s ok. Just don’t give up!

 

If you need help or someone to hold you accountable please feel free to reach out to me.

Check out my IG account @BAWarrior360 or Facebook: BAWarrior360

 

Best wishes and happy new year!

Let’s make it great!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

 

 

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Spreading Holiday Cheer

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:49 — 38.3MB)

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Just a quick podcast today as I am getting ready for the upcoming holiday season.  Life is moving at warp speed and even the tiniest of kindnesses seem to get lost in our hurried lives.  Stop, relax, look around you, and remember what this time of year is all about.

My 1st Christmas as an amputee

 

Smile! Bring joy into people’s lives by simply spreading joy, with a free smile.

 

 

Patience. Patience allows us to breathe and take stock in the moment before we react, or worse, over-react!

 

Kindness.  Go that extra mile and help someone through the holidays. Not everyone finds this time of year joyful or even tolerable.  Showing someone you are thinking of them could change their whole life, for the better.

 

And best of all, when we exhibit kindness, exercise patience and smile at the people we encounter we, too, get the benefit of feeling a fulfillment in our own lives.

 

The above items ARE your Call to Action for the next couple of weeks as we enter the holiday season and get ready to say good-bye to 2021.

 

May you all find happiness, joy and good healthy this holiday season. And Cheers! to a wonderful New Year!

 

As always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

 

Finding Comfort in Routine

Finding Comfort in Routine

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:29 — 47.1MB)

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Creating Positive Habits to Live a Healthy Life

The holidays are upon us and the hustle and bustle can really bring us down and out of our routine and comfort zone.

I don’t know about you but when I think about the holidays I think about all the goodies, baked goods, alcohol and dinners out that will be happening with friends and family.  Then I think how this happens every year and by January I hate how I feel.  I have created bad habits, I’m not working out or getting exercise like I should, and I have gained a new and addictive desire for sweets.

NOW is the time to build strong, healthy habits and routines.

To be totally honest, I’m not happy where I am right now.  I have recently let my normal routines go to the wayside, ever since moving homes this past summer. It amazes me that even though I have everything I need for working out right here in my home, a new home with items in different locations has made my habits drop.  I’m use to my workouts being in the evenings in my bedroom, but now my exercise equipment is on the other side of the house.  Something as simple as that has derailed me….I have ALLOWED it to derail me.

No more!

Listen in as I challenge you to approach your holiday gatherings, and the hustle and bustle of this season, with making positive, healthy habits NOW, without giving up indulging in some holiday spirits.

Don’t depend on “New Years Resolutions” to dig you out of a unhealthy hole, stay on top, eat and drink in moderation, BUT start making healthy habits today to keep you strong, happy, and positive throughout the season and beyond. You’ll be glad you did!

 

  1. Pick a time of day to do a 20-30 minute workout.
  2. Commit to doing it everyday-Saturdays and Sundays, too.
  3. Decide what you need to do: sit ups, push ups, planks, wall sits.  Those are some good basic exercises that require no equipment but can create a good feeling and kick start your new habits.
  4. Drink a full glass of water before every meal.
  5. Enjoy special holiday treats but remember: moderation is key!
  6. Take pictures along the way of your transformation. You’ll be surprised at the changes you’ll see AND it’ll be good to see these pictures down the road a bit when you fail to keep up your routine-we all have those moments that disrupt our progress.  I know I do, and am in one right now.  I looked back a year ago and saw what I looked like and knew I needed to get back at it…so here I am preaching about it. We all need a kick in the pants every now and then.

You got this. Starting now will help you during this time of year when social eating and drinking is at the highest.

As always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

Gratefulness

Gratefulness

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:28 — 38.3MB)

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A Grateful Heart Leads to a Happy Heart

It really has to be said that where our minds go, our hearts go, too.  If you are stuck in a bad way, and can’t seem to find happiness or joy in your life then check your thoughts.  How do you speak to yourself? How do you speak to others?

Everyone goes through trials, that’s just life.  The way each of us deals with those trials, those valleys in our lives, determines how we come through them.  I chose to amputate, and I choose to make the most of my life now.  I try and choose happiness, joy, and a grateful heart everyday I wake up.  Somedays it is harder than others, I get that, I have been there, but those moments do NOT dictate my overall mental state that day.  Sometimes I need to practice speaking more positively towards myself, and giving myself some grace, on those days.  Sometimes it’s easy to see the positive, and sometimes it’s the hardest thing EVER!

The point is, when you practice being grateful, and seeing all the good things in your life, in your circumstance, you will radiate joy, you will see the health benefits of a happy heart and mind.  And they do go hand in hand.

Try it!

What are you happy about? What are you grateful for in your life?

In this podcast I share with you the people, and things, I am grateful for. I choose to practice gratefulness.

As you head into this Thanksgiving week, pay attention to the people and moments that are happening around you. Be grateful for even the smallest things.  I guarantee you will feel so much better about yourself.

I am Grateful for:

 

My Guys                                                                                                                                                                    My Hubby
My Pup, Bella
Our New Home

My Family❤

 
     

                                                                                                                    

This week write down the things you are thankful for and place them where you can see them everyday.

 

*Use a smooth, fabric table cloth and permanent markers and begin a new tradition of writing something you are thankful for over the past year. Do this as a Thanksgiving tradition and each year add something to it with your friends and family.  Then each year that you pull it out you’ll have a constant reminder of the things you’ve been thankful for over the years.

*Start a Thankfulness Jar.  Have a big open jar or bowl sitting out for the holiday season with slips of paper, then each night have everyone write something they are thankful for that day, and then date them. On New Year’s Day have everyone take turns pulling them out and reading them.

*Begin a journal that is simply: I am thankful for:…..

  Write in it every night, going to bed with a full heart of gratitude.

 

Have a very special, wonderful, and blessed Thanksgiving. Safe travels!

As always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!

 

Much love and gratefulness,

Angie

Giving the Gift of Activity

Giving the Gift of Activity

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:03 — 31.9MB)

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Staying Active Through the Hard times…and Making it FUN!

Me out hiking on a “good” day….

However, you may ask,  “How about those bad days, Angie? How do you stay active and in a good place when you’re struggling?”

 

I have found ways to alleviate the pain I feel in a socket that’s not fitting properly (which happens every few months, the first couple of years after becoming an amputee, as your limb changes) or if I’m just bruised and sore from a hard workout the day before.  I like to have fun and the activities I use get me out and active, but also allow me to forget, for however briefly, that I am an amputee and let’s me play and enjoy time with my family or on my own.

 

These are just a few ideas I wanted to share, that I use often, and have found to be a great workout while having fun.  Please know, that I didn’t just accomplish doing some of these activities. Some took time and practice, practice, practice.  That was where the fun, for me, came in. I found activities that I thought would be a challenge, or ones that people would tell me would be impossible for an above knee amputee.  There is nothing more fun or rewarding, to me, than proving people wrong!

Listen in to my podcast and take a look at the list provided below of the company’s I have used.  All of these company’s I am using are only because they are what I found, liked and pricing worked for me.  IndoBoard is the only company that I am representing and I have a code you can use to get a discount when checking out.

Take a peek!⤵

Wavestorm Surfboards

 

 

IndoBoard

 

 

MagLock Bike Pedals

 

 

Kahuna Creations

 

 

 

**When you click on the IndoBoard link, above,  it will take you to my affliate link where you will recieve a discount upon checkout.

I don’t have a particular scooter I like or prefer but here’s me enjoying myself on my scooter, too!

 

Enjoy this podcast whether you are an amputee looking for ways to stay active during hard times, or if you know someone who could use a fun way to get in shape.

Disclaimer: Please know that with any of these exercises you can get hurt. Please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and always, start slowly and work your way up.

 

 

 

Best wishes and as always:

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

Positivity

Positivity

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:46 — 38.5MB)

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Positive mindset is your friend!

We all face struggles in life. Some people it’s more obvious than with others but no one goes through life unscathed.  It’s how we deal with those struggles that define us and give us the opportunities to live a great life or struggle to make ends meet.

Which are you? Are you making the most of your life or struggling to move past your circumstances?

Our mindset is a powerful tool that allows us to cope, deal with, and eventually rise back up again when we have been knocked down.  However, this is not an easy skill to obtain. As a matter of fact, it takes experience to learn how to deal with adversities in our lives.

One thing I have learned through all that I have been through is that each bout of pain, frustration or struggle is just a phase that helps me grow mentally, physically, and emotionally.  It is with these experiences that I come to you today to tell you that you can do it.  You can make it through whatever it is that is holding you back from living an amazing life.

It is just a phase.  What you are going through is strengthening you, if you allow it.  The struggles are real, no doubt about it, but they do not define you!  They are strengthening you so that you can better handle what comes next.

 

 

You can be successful just by getting back up every time you are knocked down.  You deserve that!  You owe it to yourself to give life your best shot.  Don’t give up, GET UP!!! Again, and again, and again!!

 

 

Repeat after me:

 

This is just a phase.

This is just a phase.

This, too, shall pass.

 

Now, write down a positive affirmation for yourself that you can tape to your mirror and see every morning and every evening before you go to bed.  Remind yourself that you deserve a great life.  Remind yourself to have grace in the hard times. And never forget that what you are going through is just a phase.  Take a deep breathe and step back for a moment. Find a positive in your life and then move forward again.

 

And as always:

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

❤

Pushing Past the Pain

Pushing Past the Pain

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Be Strong! You Can Get Through This!

Pain is a tricky thing.  Each of us experiences pain multiple times in life. It comes and goes. It happens when we have an accident, when we’ve had surgery, and sometimes it is invisible to the people around us. It is always very real to the person dealing with it.  Pain is different for each of us, too. Some of us have a low tolerance for pain while others may not even register it- I have a friend whose son fractured a bone in his  foot and the pain never registered to him!

There is no normal to pain OR pain relief.  Each person has to figure out  what they can tolerate and how to handle their pain when it hits.

While this sounds like a bummer because no one else can truly help you through your specific circumstance there are ways  to help yourself that works for most people. I’m talking about building up your mental game.

Being outside in the sunshine and fresh air has so many health benefits both physically and mentally.

It’s important that you find a way to navigate through your pain.  Be patient with yourself, too, there will be good days and bad days.  Sometimes just recognizing the fact that there will be bad days, days which you can’t seem to handle the pain anymore, will help you have grace with yourself when you feel lost, stuck, or like throwing in the towel.  Don’t let those moments defeat you.  Use them to fuel you to keep moving forward.  Stay as positive as you can and distract yourself, do something you love, to push through those weaker moments, just remember that we are human and we will fall short, every now and then, from handling our situations.  If you feel like you have been knocked down, that’s ok, we all do at some point or another, but pull yourself up by the boot straps, and keep moving forward.  Last week I wrote about the Chinese proverb:  Get knocked down 7 times, get up 8.  That’s what it takes to become stronger.  Change your thinking. Don’t give in!

 

Dr. Roni Prucz, my amazing plastic surgeon who performed my TMR surgery in December 2020

 

 

This week I want you to write down your positive messages to yourself on post-it notes or notecards, and place them where you look everyday or in places where you struggle.

If you struggle getting out of bed in the morning then put them by your bedside.  Statements such as:

“You can do this!”

“I will NOT quit!”

“Today is going to be great/better!”

“One step at a time”

 

Use these messages to yourself to motivate and not give up.  You could even ask someone in your circle to write short affirmations for you to help as well.  Just keep the positive vibes going.  Send yourself messages of love and grace to yourself, and use them in times of weakness.

 

Attitude is Everything

Until next time, remember:

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!!

 

Much love,

Angie

 

 

 

 

Try!

Try!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:22 — 34.8MB)

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“Nana korobi, ya oki”-Japanese proverb

Translation- “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

Are you struggling with getting up and getting active?  Are you afraid to fail? To fall?

It happens. If you decide to try something new then be prepared to fail, and fail again, until you finally succeed.  It takes trials and errors to make the necessary adjustments, in anything you do, to finally see success.  If you didn’t fail when trying something new then you didn’t learn anything and didn’t set your goal high enough.

 

A goal should be hard to achieve, but not unachievable. It should make you work, and often times fail or be so hard that when you do achieve it you feel amazing about how far you’ve come.

This past weekend I achieved a goal I set for myself over a year ago.  Part of it, no, most of it, was about my mindset.  I wanted to hike a specific trail that I knew would be demanding on my body, my residual limb, and socket.  When I first attempted it I didn’t have the necessary equipment, time, nor was the temperature conducive (100 degrees+).  I really hadn’t a clue why we even tried it but I knew how hard the first 1/4 mile was and the hike would be 5 miles round trip.  I needed to prepare physically but also mentally.  I knew I was going for it this past weekend a whole week beforehand so I had time to make necessary adjustments with materials and prepare my mind for the hardship this trek would have on me, but I WAS determined to achieve my goal!

 

I know this sounds more like a talk on goal setting but it’s really about getting out and trying things you might not normally do…and quite frankly, that takes goal setting and a mind shift.

 

 

But if failure scares you then be prepared to stay right where you are and become stagnant.  You cannot grow without goals. You cannot achieve goals without hardships and failure. And you cannot see change without trying something new pushing you out of your comfort zone.

So what are you waiting for???

 

 

Get out and try something new this week!

If you are struggling with pain, maybe shift your thinking to something different than sitting around and thinking about the pain.  Maybe that means reading a book you’ve always wanted to read, going for a drive just to get out of the house, calling a friend and having a nice conversation about something totally unrelated to your circumstance or focusing on their life or their issues.  Whatever you do, set a goal, small or large, write it down and then set the necessary steps it takes to achieve it….and then go for it!!!

If you try something new you might find that you have found a new passion, whether it’s reading an certain author or helping others with their situations or a specific exercise or activity.  It might put you on the path of a healthier lifestyle and better habits.  Who knows, you might actually, for a moment, forget about your own pain and problems!

Now wouldn’t that be something!?

I hope you found something useful here,

And as always:

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!

Almost  to the top of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots Memorial hike, Yarnell, AZ.
2.5 miles to observation point. 1,990 feet elevation change. Rocky as all get out!💪🏼

 

Much  love,

Angie

If the Shoe Fits

If the Shoe Fits

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:39 — 34.5MB)

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What You Wear Makes a Difference

Did you know that as an amputee the type of shoe we wear can make all the difference in our performance and outcome of wearing a prosthetic? When I was learning to walk for the first time I needed a shoe that was stable and would help me be more balanced. Now, 2 1/2 years later, I need a shoe that is rugged and can take me to mountain tops.
Depending on your newness of being an amputee and your level, or desired level, of activity,  the shoe you wear can help you or hurt you.
I realized that last week when I just didn’t feel good in my newest socket…then I looked down and realized I wasn’t wearing a normal athlete shoe. Once I changed what I was wearing I literally felt so much better and my socket wasn’t hurting me like it had been!
I don’t like changing my shoes out very often, it’s hard to reach my foot, and some shoes are stiffer than others which makes putting them on a two person job.
Below are my typical shoes I wear weekly.
My Adidas! ❤  These are incredible for stability and balance!

 

Saucony Trail.  Great for road walking and being active.

 

Oboz.  Awesome hiking boots… and waterproof!

 

I live in these three shoes throughout the week.  They are great for a variety of activities.

 

 

Are you having issues with your knee(s), hip, back?  Check your shoes.  What are you wearing?  Are they old and worn out? Are you using the wrong type of shoe for the wrong activity?

Are you an amputee and feel unstable? Your shoe might have something to do with that.  Look into Adidas or Van Shoes, you might be surprised the difference they will make.

Make changes to the type of shoes you are wearing this week and see if that simple change helps your situation.

You may be pleasantly surprised, I know I was!

 

And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie

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