This is a blog about Jill’s husband Stephen and his quest to fix his dodgy hips and back. To read Part 1 of this series please click Here.
Lets Start with Goals
When I first started this challenge I wanted to give myself some realistic short-term goals to start off with. These might sound simple but they give you an idea of how immobile I was before I started.
Firstly, I wanted to be able to put my socks on in a morning without groaning out loud and making a painful lunge in the hope that I can hook my foot into the hole first time round. Secondly, I wanted to be able to pick up anything I have dropped, or our dog has dropped (if you know what I mean) without first of all mentally building myself up for the pain I am about to endure.
I do have a longer-term goal that again probably sounds ridiculously easy, but for me feels like mission impossible at the moment. I want to be able to get into my car like a normal person and not have to back in and swing my legs around like some female celeb trying to protect her modesty from the tabloid paparazzi hoping to get a photo of her knickers.
Also, as I said in my previous blog I don’t want to compromise the enjoyment of our family holidays by not doing anything the boys want to do because I don’t have the confidence that my body is up to it. However, the cliff diving that Joshua wanted us both to do in Menorca might still be off limits!
I might even let Jill set me a challenge of her own – a decision I know I will regret!
First Steps
As I write this I am on the plane back home from Menorca so I thought I would give my first progress report.
Following my decision to commit to doing this Jill gave me a series of exercises and stretches to work on in the pool. These included lots of leg lifts, and various forms of hip stretches (sorry I don’t know the official name for these). At first these were extremely uncomfortable and I apologise to the boys and our neighbours for any profanities they may have heard, however, after perseverance they became less painful and I could start to see an improvement in my range of movement after only a few days.
I was able to walk for about 30 mins without developing a limp, although not totally pain free (It’s not going to be that easy I guess). I was even able to fasten my own sandals – whoopee!
I am taking these as definite signs that Jill knows what she is talking about so I will allow her to continue!
The Challenge Ahead
I have no doubt that this is going to be a long road that I am traveling and once I go back to work I will find it more difficult to do the amount of stretching that I have been able to do on holiday. After all, stretching in a lovely warm pool with a cold beer less than an arms length away is no real chore.
Finding the time and space to do my stretches during a busy day at work is not so easy, especially as some of the stretches I am doing could appear to those ignorant of what I am doing to be rather rude (pelvic tilts in the canteen queue would probably raise a few eyebrows).
I also know from experience that the exercises Jill has me doing are a lot more difficult out of the water as my legs feel a whole lot heavier! I have no doubt that Jill will encourage (or nag) if she sees me struggling, or more likely slacking.
I believe that I am also booked into Jill’s Pilate’s class on Friday night, so I will be the one creaking and groaning at the back so apologies in advance to those Friday night Pilates ninjas. The fact that this class is called “Power Pilates” scares me so I have a feeling that this class is either going to make me or break me!
I will keep you informed of progress. Onwards and upwards!