Tag: succeed

The Future is Now: Part 1 of 5

The Future is Now: Part 1 of 5

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Limb Loss Awareness Month 2025

Colorado State University: MediFlex Prosthetics LLC

 

CSU MediFlex Prosthetics team

 

Here we are again for the month of April and bringing awareness to the Limb Loss/Limb Difference community.

Every year, in the month of April, I shift gears on my podcast and create a theme centered on the amputee community and interview people versus talking from my personal experience.

Each year I have met some amazing people from doctors, to athletes, to innovators and entrepreneurs. This year I am excited to announce the future of our community, students!

Each of the 5 weeks of April I have students, of varying levels of their education, from all across our nation, talking about what they are studying, inventing, building, and perfecting in the prosthetic world. We have undergraduates to PhD students, all of whom are spending their college careers, and life after, making our community a better place by creating the next generation of products meant to allow us to live fuller lives as amputees.

 

Today, I am excited to introduce Garrison Hayes and Eric Gutierrez-Camacho, two of the five student team from Colorado State University, they are the founders of MediFlex Prosthetics LLC and their creation is part of their senior project at CSU.

                 

 

The work they do focuses primarily around 3D printed feet modules for amputees, both above knee and below knee. Their idea, which I will allow them to explain, is a tough, indestructible foot that allows for more energy return to the user.

This could be life changing, not to mention energy saving!

So many of us already struggle with moving around for long periods of time due to fit or phantom pains, but we also deal with exhaustion due to a loss of energy as our foot hits the ground, giving nothing back.

 

Internal carbon fiber skeleton of foot

 

3D printed foot shell that is built in sections for ease of replacing portion that might wear down over time

 

 

Garrison, a lead in the creation of this foot, is also an amputee. He has been able to trial each prototype and give instant feedback from an amputee’s true perspective. A vital component when making a new prosthesis before marketing it.

This team of students has created an LLC to continue building, bettering, and supplying this type of equipment to our amputee community well after their college careers end. Their goal is to make their product quick to get and affordable for everyone.

                               

As they formulated their ideas and worked around getting large 3D printers to create such strong feet with high quality materials they have also been competing in this field with their product and I am excited to say that this past weekend they received an overall 1st place finish at the Murals competition at CSU for their product The Goldilocks Foot.

Way to go,Team!!

 

These students are just one example of the intensely competitive world of biomedical and medical engineering that can be found in our universities around the nation. Each team, each level, building off of other projects, creating all new ideas, and researching the field of prosthesis and a deeper level, all in all, working towards making the life of an amputee as comfortable, balanced, and natural as they once were with the part they are missing.

This month, I want you to make sure to like, share and subscribe to my podcast as we go deeper into the world of engineering for the amputee community and what these inspiring students are bringing to the table.

If you would like to watch the whole interview it can be found on my YouTube channel

The future is NOW!

To find out more about Garrison and Eric’s prosthesis and the work their team is doing by visiting their Video HERE 

You can also ask for more information or ask questions that you may have for their team at: mediflex.co/outlook.com

They are also seeking testers that live near them or can travel, so if you would like to be on the cutting edge of this technology please scan the QR code below and fill out their form to join their testing program.

 

 

Thank you again, Garrison and Eric for reaching out and allowing me an hour of your day. As an amputee, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring, creating, and dreaming about a better future for all of us. You are all so inspiring! Keep doing what you’re doing and let’s chat again as you continue to grow and enhance your product.

I hope you all enjoyed hearing, first hand, what our college students are inspiring to do for the greater good of the amputee community.

Continue to listen in this week as I bring on students from east coast to west coast and undergraduates to PhD students. Their stories are inspiring and their drive to do good in our world needs to be shared. These students are our future, and the future is looking bright!

Have a beautifully blessed week!

And as always and until next time,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!

 

Much love,

 

Statistically Speaking

Statistically Speaking

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:42 — 30.7MB)

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The Reality of the Numbers and What We Can Do About It

 

The stats on amputees is staggering.

In the US 1 in 200 people have undergone amputation!

Over 2.1 million people live with an amputated limb.

Worldwide, 1 million ampuatations happen annually, that’s 1 amputation every 30 seconds!!!

 

1 EVERY 30 SECONDS!

Amputee Coalition’s diagram of statistics taken from Promedeast.com 2023

 

Even more alarming is the projection of the 2.1 million in the US doubling by the year 2050!

(🚨Please excuse my error around the 3 minute mark. I meant to say over 4 million, not 400 million)

On a different note and other statistics:

The #1 cause of amputation, currently, is vascular disease, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease at 54% of major amputations.

A close second at 45% is trauma with cancer being  less than 2% of amputations.

From this we see the emotional impact an amputation has on us. Amputees deal with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Work is also impacted, making it harder to earn a living, keep a job, and even getting a new job, adding more stress to a person’s life and complicating relationships, new and old.

Why am I talking to you about all of these numbers (especially since I am NOT a numbers girl)? These stats and the aftermath of amputation have a huge impact on how people function in society and how well they live their life.

Next week begins the month of April which is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month.

Every year I use this month to interview people in our community to shed light on and inspire the world.

This year I am excited to announce that this month I will be talking with students from across our country who are working in the fields of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Engineering. This field has seen a boom across the country and the competition is intense! Each of these interviews are with students in the midst of creating, testing, or improving on products that will enhance the lives of amputees all over the world. Most are not even amputees (however, there is at least one who is), they are just looking to make a difference in a growing population.

These students are our future. They are striving to find a better way for those of us who have lost a limb.

I wanted to spotlight them and the hundreds of others who are studying biomedical engineering, in hopes to make a difference.

Please make sure you like, share and subscribe to my podcast here, on my You Tube channel, or on most streaming platforms so you don’t miss these April interviews and all the good these students are doing.

Apple Podcast

Spotify

iHeart

With such a growing interest and determination to improve the lives of amputees I am filled with such hope for our future and what we will be able to accomplish DESPITE our limb difference.

Join me this April as we see the heart and minds behind our bright future!

 

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

 

One Step At A Time

One Step At A Time

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:59 — 28.0MB)

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Goal Setting and Climbing Your “Mountain”

 

Nothing in life that’s worth achieving is going to come easy. Working toward a goal, putting your best foot forward and sweating through it makes achieving it all the more sweet.

Why would becoming an amputee be anything different?

If you were active before your amputation, then you know what can be done with a lot of work, grit, and determination.

It won’t be easy. It’ll test your resolve MANY times, but, when you get to the goal you set for yourself, you will feel such a sense of excitement and joy like you’ve never felt!

Don’t worry about what others are doing or achieving. Remember that comparison is the thief of joy.

You focus on you! Do what you can do now, and each day try to be better than the last. The next thing you’ll realize is how far you’ve come since you started.

One step at a time has been my mantra since my amputation. I can’t look at the big picture or I’ll get nervous or doubt what I’m capable of. Instead I focus on putting one foot down at a time, at my pace, and what I can do in this moment. And each ,moment is different. Today I might be whipping around the neighborhood, feeling confident and without pain, and then tomorrow I could be struggling with just walking slowly around my home.

All you can do, is work hard with what you have been given each day, but if you can honestly say that you gave it your all then I promise that you will see strides at reaching your goals.

One step at a time is meant to be metaphorical, and also very literal, for us amputees. Don’t think about walking all day in your prosthesis when you get up, and don’t just tell yourself that you’ll put it on for a little bit or later today. Put it on with the mindset that you’ll wear it for all you can, however long that will be today, knowing that each day brings its own struggles and accomplishments, but you don’t know what kind of day it will be until you are in the midst of it.

 

Skiing on one leg is definitely a mind over matter exercise!

 

Mindset matters!

What you tell yourself first thing in the morning is how your day will go. When I wake up, I know I will put my leg on first then go through my day. Somedays I cannot get to the gym because it hurts too much so I do what I can at home, keeping it on, and building my tolerance up for wearing it. Other days, I put it on and get a burst of energy and hike 4 to 5 miles without even thinking about it.

Mindset matters and what you tell yourself will be the direction your mind takes, and what your body believes.

Always get moving with your best intentions and your heart and mind in the most positive place you can be and then see how your day unfolds. One step at a time.

 

This week, it is pretty straight forward.

This week I want you to remember to keep speaking positivity to yourself.

Write down “ONE STEP AT A TIME” on post it notes and place them in places you spend a lot of time in and around your house to remind yourself to take your goals and your actual steps at YOUR pace and ONE AT A TIME.

 

Hiking is my favorite activity. Every hike is different and challenges me to be focused and push myself.

 

Set a goal. Wherever you are right now physically, mentally, and based on your weather and location and decide what it will take each day to break it down and work towards it at your pace.

You can achieve anything you put your mind to if you set mini goals for yourself, or stepping stones to that goal. Make the steps small enough to find success, and big enough to challenge yourself.

 

First time hiking on snow!

 

And then watch yourself break the barriers that you thought were there because of your circumstance.

I believe in you! I believe we are all born to fight for what we want and desire. THAT is a Warrior mentality.

So, rise up warriors, and sieze this moment. You are not broken, or weak, or disabled. You are a warrior of epic proportions.

Get after your goals and dreams today, ONE STEP AT A TIME!!

 

Have a beautifully blessed week and as always, until next time,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

Much love,

 

 

 

Be Prepared

Be Prepared

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:02 — 27.9MB)

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Building Strength For a Better Future

 

 

If you are a new amputee or an amputee who hasn’t been wearing their prosthesis for one reason or another we need to talk.

What are you doing to prepare your body for movement?

Balance is so important in preventing falls, even when being silly!

 

After becoming an amputee you spend weeks healing only to find yourself getting use the weight deficit of not having a leg. This makes adding a cumbersome, heavy metal and carbon fiber limb to your body feel like double the weight.

You will wear it, but it won’t feel great,  and it’ll be hard (not to mention exhausting) to move.

Within just a few weeks, your body has adjusted to weight change, the balance change, and your muscles will be decreasing since they have not as much flesh and bone to manipulate on each step.

You might think that your job after amputation is to heal, and some of you might even be struggling with phantom sensations and pains, which will be a learning curve as well, just don’t deny yourself some activity level to get yourself ready for movement!

Even if you are stuck at home you can still do some very basic exercises and stretches, that take no equipment, to help maintain or even build strength and balance.

At this point there are no excuses. If you really want to be mobile once you get a prosthesis you need to prep NOW!

The main things to work on are; stretches, balance, and core/back strength.

Stretching will allow your body to move freely in your prosthesis and avoid hip contractures.

Balance will be key to avoiding unnecessary and painful falls. Remember, your center will be off now that your weight distribution isn’t equal on both sides of your body.

When your core and back are strong you will be able to move with greater ease and avoid hurting your back as you learn to walk again.

The best benefit of simple exercise: endorphins! Happy chemicals released by your body when it exercises, and trust me, this is when you need it more than ever. Losing your limb can be like losing a best friend or close family member. You may grieve, be angry, scared, feel alone, uncertain, and many other emotions. You will want as many happy feelings as you can get to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind so that you CAN achieve success.

Where do you begin?

 

 

Keep it simple.

You can do these basic exercises throughout the day, in your own home.

Let’s get started.

Your challenge?

Start the exercises below today and continue to do them throughout the next several weeks. As you do them try to do more, or hold it longer each day. Work on building each exercise, and as you repeat them you will begin seeing a difference in your flexibility, strength and balance.

1. Stretch hip flexor

 

A) I suggest just simply getting off the couch or out of the chair, and lay down on the floor on your stomach. Allow your legs to lay straight behind you and just hold that position as long as you can. Do this several times a day, especially if you are home bound and sitting a lot. When you are standing up you want your leg to hang straight down, with gravity, to ensure the best fit possible for your prosthesis.

B) Same stretch but use your couch or bed, and laying on your back this time, hang your residual limb off the side and let gravity or a friend gently hold your leg down. Feel the stretch on the front of your leg? Do these two exercises several tines a day, especially if you are sitting more often than not.

2. Balance work

A) Don’t make this complicated. Find a safe place to stand on your one leg. Make sure you have a stable structure next to you that you can hold on to as you get your balance. Make a game of it. How long can you stay balanced before you grab a hold of the wall. See if you can grow your time without needing to grab something for stability. Sit, rest and repeat. Before you know it you’ll be a pro at keeping your balance. This takes time, especially if you have always had balance issues, but it can be learned. When you gain balance, you avoid falls. Falls are a part of the leaning process but if they can be avoided from happening often, you’ll be better off.

3. Core strength

 

Modified Plank on elbows and knees

 

A) Everyone knows that sit-ups can build a strong core but so do planks. Planks can be modified to using your knees and on your elbows at first, remembering to keep your back and butt in a straight line like a plank of wood. Physical reminder: picture a string coming from your belly button, through your back, and up to the ceiling, pulling your stomach up and in. Hold that for as long as you can, work your way up to 30 seconds to a minute.

 

Up, like a push-up, and hold.

 

B) Plank challenge: straighten legs, toes on ground and up on your hands like you are going to do a push up. Keep you butt tucked, stomach tight and in, hands shoulder width apart directly under shoulders. hold.

C) Simple sit-ups. Bend knee(s) raise hands to ceiling and lift shoulder blades off the ground, then lower. No need to go all the way up to your knees, we do not need to hurt our backs.

4. Back strength

 

A) Superman; while laying on your stomach stretching your hip flexors out, raise all of your limbs up and off the floor. You should look like Superman flying. feel the glutes tighten and your lower back muscles being engaged. Hold for up to 30 seconds then down, rest, repeat.

 

It doesn’t take fancy equipment, a gym membership, or even a lot of time to give yourself an edge to becoming mobile in your prosthesis, it just takes commitment.

Work on these stretches and exercises each day and when the time comes to fitting on your leg, you’ll be a step ahead.

Remember who you are.

You are a Warrior!

Believe it!

Have a blessed week and as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

 

 

 

Limbs For Humanity

Limbs For Humanity

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:42 — 23.8MB)

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Making Mobility Great Again, One Prosthesis at a Time

 

When I walked into The Limb Center office prior to amputation I met Randy West and David Banks for the first time.

 

They are a Phoenix based company

 

From that moment on, they were there for me, reassuring me that I could do this, that they would make sure I had the best fit and they asked about my hopes and dreams as I entered amputee life, allowing me the space to dream and hope as large as I could.

And they delivered, over and over again!

 

 

Getting a prosthesis is a process, and it takes time (and patience). It’s not a one and done, and these guys aren’t just fitting a leg and walking away.
They are there for future care and concerns!

 

About a year after my amputation they started talking to me about this idea they had for a non-profit, that they wanted to help more people that were struggling and in need of an advocate in their corner. I knew that this would take flight, it was just a matter of when. Their business was growing quickly since I got on the scene, they had families of their own, and we knew time was limited and precious.

A couple more years went by and now they are officially a non-profit, Limbs For Humanity, and I couldn’t be more excited and proud of them.

 

Rocky Point Medical Clinic

 

 

Today I want to introduce Randy and David to you, allow them to tell their story, and let you hear their hearts.

Join me in celebrating their dream that helps others realize their full potential.

These guys don’t just make prosthesis for people without the means of getting one, they allow people to dream, become mobile once again, and get them back to being productive members of society, many of which would be helpless to achieve that without the proper parts and a whole lot of money-prosthetics are NOT cheap. Not only are they bringing mobility back to individuals who are in need, they are also relieving stressors and depression that can take hold of someone, post-amputation.  Mental health is at risk when we are left to feel that we cannot help our families, our communities, or our employers.

What Randy and David do is change lives, one appointment and one prosthesis at a time.

 

A young boy getting the help he needed in their Phoenix office

 

 

You can be a part of this monumental changing of lives. Here’s how:

1-SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! Share this podcast, share their story, share their links with everyone you know.

2-Donate money! Prosthesis are so expensive, and this is usually the roadblock for many amputees on why they can’t get one, or get one that is suited for their level of activity and lifestyle. If you have even a dollar to share, It will go to funding a new leg for someone in need. If you know of, or work for a company that is looking for a great way to donate each year, please consider sharing this with whoever is uncharge of donations. Limbs For Humanity takes a village to make a difference.

3-Donate parts! If you are an amputee or know of one who is not using an old leg, foot, liners, etc, please reach out to them or myself to see if we can use what you have laying around. You may have received a new leg or foot, and there is someone in the world in desperate need of it. Let’s put everything to good use. With your help, you could change someone’s life forever!

 

Limbs For Humanity, is truly what they are, we all should have the basic human right/need of mobility available to us. It changes lives, it brings hope and joy, it allows people to be productive and feel useful once again.

Check out their Instagram, Facebook pages, YouTube and TikTok pages: @limbsforhumanity

Also, go to their website: Limbs For Humanity to see stories of them changing lives, and ways you can help. There is also a DONATE button to click so you can be a part of the change that brings hope and happiness back to individuals who had none.

 

May you feel blessed by their stories and bring blessings upon others by helping Limbs For Humanity grow.

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!

 

Much love,

 

 

Real Life

Real Life

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:25 — 31.0MB)

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Morning Routines to Get Motivated

 

Life as an amputee is already hard enough just learning to live without a limb that, for most of us, we were born with.  However, what you don’t know is the little things, the minutia of everyday tasks that can sometimes be enough to halt you in your tracks.

I got an interesting question the other day, one I haven’t been asked before: “How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?”

I realized, based on that question, that many people wonder about our “secret” lives behind closed doors. How do we sleep, bath, get ready, change clothes, etc is a mystery for most people.

First off, please realize that I choose to do the things I do, therefore I choose a more hectic and demanding path each day. That is my choice, but I chose amputation so I could live a full and healthy life.

Notice the difference in clothes and shoes for each of these activities that I absolutely love to do.  A simple change of clothes is absolutely exhausting for me, and I must motivate myself even more to do them. I must WANT it, each day.

 

I work hard so I can handle getting older as an amputee

 

I hike for my sanity as well as building resilience in my socket

 

She brings me peace and helps me refocus energy

 

Today I want to share with you MY struggles every morning. Yes, struggles. It isn’t easy getting ready for the days I set up for myself which may include, gym time, horse time, hiking, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, going out with friends and date nights with my hubby.  What you may not understand is that many of those tasks take different clothing and shoes, not to mention showering midday for a date so you don’t smell like a horse.

Join me today as I take you through the challenges of getting ready as an above knee amputee using a skin fit socket, how I streamline my morning routine, what I take with me to change clothes midday, and how I handle the energy it takes just to get ready.

I DO love my leg and am grateful for this second chance. I wouldn’t change a thing, and that is mindset-it determines our successes

 

I wished I could tell you that it’s easy everyday, but it’s not, and that’s my choice. I want to workout or hike, I want to get dirty working with horses, and with each of those daily activities I make myself work hard everyday to be able to enjoy them.

I think it needs to be said that if you want something bad enough then you are willing to go the extra mile, well, my extra mile means pushing myself physically each day, in just getting ready.

 

 

This week I would tell you that if you are struggling with getting motivated each morning when you wake, or you are dreading getting ready to take on the day then start the night before.

Create, even if only in your mind, a schedule of events that you WANT to accomplish the next day and see yourself doing them, visualize accomplishing the tasks and what you will need to complete them. I go to bed this way every night so in the morning I have direction. Without it the days fly by and nothing gets done.

Also, if you struggle with energy make sure you are fueling your body correctly and enough. We use more energy than the two loggers so we need to add in more nutrition to our daily intake. Don’t skimp. I did after the holidays and I was always lacking energy, which destroyed my motivation.

 

Setting yourself up for success is up to you. Start today with visualizing what you want to do and accomplish every night before bed and make sure you are fueling your body to work hard, because it is.

Have grace with yourself.

Know when to push and when your body needs a break.

You are a warrior and capable of doing great things!

Believe it!

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!

 

Much love,

 

The Ocean is Calling

The Ocean is Calling

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:05 — 30.9MB)

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Healing and Finding Purpose

 

This Illinois, born and raised, girl never knew she had a connection to the ocean.

It’s a beautiful thing to find in yourself so late in life. It was surprising, and breathtaking when it happened.

Many years ago my family moved to Florida for a job. I never thought I would leave Illinois, EVER! All of my family and my husband’s family live there. That was our support system.

We enjoyed Florida a lot while only there for 4 years but I was a mom of two young boys and going to the beach was more of a chore than anything. Keeping an eye on them, making sure they didn’t go in too deep, and then getting sand off of them (which, of course was on every square inch of their bodies when we were done!) before getting into the car.

But, fast forward 11 years and I decided to try my hand at surfing, for the first time ever, and as an amputee. My prosthetist, Randy West, helped me make my dream come true and made me a surf leg the week before our trip to Kauai. I arranged surf lessons and have to say I was a bit nervous at first… I don’t like to fail and I had no idea how this would go seeing as my surf instructor had never given lessons to an amputee before.

Needless to say, I found my joy in surfing from the moment I got on the water.

 

 

The ocean was soothing and yet so powerful. The Hawaiians call this power, Mana, and I understood why. While a wave looks so peaceful and ignorer as it moves its way across the ocean to the beach what was going on under the wave was strong, chaotic, and so powerful.

It seemed to me a metaphor for how my life felt now as an amputee.

 

 

To me, though, even being on the beach and close to the waves, I can still feel her power and her beauty as I watch and listen.

I find myself breathing to the waves as they come in and crash on the beach. I watch the sun shine through the water and watch the ultimate chaos of sand being churned up and plant life whipping around as the wave pushes forward.

This is my happy place. I find my peace here and long for that feeling often, always excited to go back to the ocean whenever a chance arises.

You may not live near a beach or have the means to get there right now but you can recreate this feeling by finding video footage of the ocean and/or the sounds of crashing waves that you can listen to, right now, in your own home. No, it’s not exactly the same but it can do the trick, if you are in need of finding some calm and center in your life.

The ocean has given me a place to finding healing because it calms me, declutters my head, and asks me to breathe with it.

These actions place me in a better place, mood, and mental space.

 

You guessed it! This week I want you to find your peace at the ocean.

This may be a literal ocean, if you live near one, or find video and audio of the ocean that you can immerse yourself into in your own home.

Don’t cheat yourself. don’t find a video and then work on laundry or do the dishes. You must find the time and space to stop everything you are doing to center yourself and focus on the present.

Find rhythm in your breath with the ocean. Close your eyes and listen to ALL of the sounds. Relax your body and your mind and just breathe.

 

 

If you can just find time everyday this week to give yourself this gift of quieting your life, stopping the momentum, even for just 5 minutes, you will find yourself in a better mood, and in a happy space. You might even find healing of what you are struggling with right now.

Surrender to the ocean, Warriors. You and your body deserve that much.

Have a beautifully blessed week,

And until next time,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!

 

Much love,

 

 

“Sleigh” Your Goals

“Sleigh” Your Goals

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:22 — 25.7MB)

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Start Today!

 

Start Now!

Today!

What are you waiting for?

 

I know, I know, it’s the holidays. You are busy and can’t find the time.

Me too! But, if you are serious about your goals, and know your ‘WHY’ then get to it.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of “New Years Resolutions”. For a majority of people it is a procrastination technique to get thru the holidays, feel horrible about how you celebrated all holiday season, to join a gym or set goals that are extreme, only to drop them by February or March.  Instead of being excited and uplifted by the challenges, you are left feeling defeated and miserable for failing. Who needs that?

 

Instead, start small now.

No matter what your goals are in life, starting when you are busy just requires taking baby steps to begin a new routine and make it a habit.

If you want to stand and make dinner while wearing your prosthesis then start by wearing it longer each day, or refusing to take it off. Then stand to wash a few dishes. Eventually you’ll be able to maneuver around your kitchen and create a meal and feel proud of your accomplishment….which will inevitably lead to another goal to achieve.

If you want to get or stay physically active and you are struggling to find time then carve out some smaller portions that you CAN commit to and do it. For example, take a short walk around the block after dinner every night, or do some sit ups, push ups and/or planks before bed.

You don’t have to have a gym membership and commit 2-3 hours 4-5 days a week to be active and stay fit, you just need a plan and stick to it (again, to build a positive habit that will carry on thru the holidays and all next year).

 

 

 

Starting today and carrying you through the new year here’s what you need to do to form good habits that will keep you moving forward.

 

Write down your dreams and goals on paper, don’t keep them secret up in your head.

Decide the most important ons and which ones need to come before others. There probably is a progression of them for example, learning to wear your prosthesis comes before walking a mile in it.

Set deadlines to help keep you on track.

Make smaller steps that you will need to do to hit your goal by your deadline.

Speak positively: I want to go to the gym. I want to go for a walk. Etc, etc.

Find someone you can share your goals with who will push you and hold you accountable (when times get hard and they will, it’s good to have an outside person keeping you on track), and maybe they can join you in setting goals and you can hold each other accountable.

Have fun and know your ‘Why”. Why are you setting this goal? Who are you doing this for?

 

 

Setting these things into place will give you a better chance of succeeding at what you want.

As always, you don’t need to go it alone. We all have weak moments and need some help.

I hope you have a blessed holiday season and a happy healthy new year!

This is my last episode of Season 4. I’ll see you next year!

Until then,

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

Much love,

 

 

Busyness

Busyness

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Tis the Season

 

 

As we enter the holiday season:

Special gatherings and parties,

Gift giving and making,

Cooking and baking,

And traveling and to see friends and family create a very busy month or two.

 

As amputees it can have a toll on our bodies as we try to do it all.

If you are new to being an amputee, try to remember that it’s ok to ask and accept help, it’s ok to not have everything perfect and done like you’ve done every year before amputation, and above all else….

 

This too shall pass!

 

Enjoy the moment.

Use your slower pace this year to breathe in the moments.

Watch your children be in awe of the magic of this season.

Entertain yourself with special movies together and listen to Christmas carols.

You’ll be back on your feet in now time and wishing you had sat back and enjoyed the down time.

Don’t allow guilt to over take you. Allow people to step up and be helpful.

Ask when you need assistance. Be careful not to overdue it and hurt yourself. You’ll be more disappointed with the set back than the rest in the moment.

And most of all…

Be present!!

 

Hope you have a beautiful holiday season making memories and preparing your hearts for the blessings to come.

 

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

 

Much love,

 

PS Pictures of my socket that I promised.

My very 1st socket. I used a t-shirt to cover this one.

 

The size difference from 1st socket to about the 11th one in just 2 1/2 years!

 

Paint job up close. Stickers Made using my Cricut machine.

 

One of my 1st skin fit sockets and the use of auto paints and vinyl stickers I made with my Cricut.

 

Most recent leg

 

All of my prosthesis since the beginning. Minus 4 (one I’m wearing and the three yet to come as of this picture-including the new one being made right now).

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