(no subject)

I'm really bad at fitting regular exercise into my schedule when I'm not biking, which includes things I really ought to be doing to keep my bad knee at optimum functionality. Over the last year I made several attempts at making myself exercise regularly before bed. It worked for a month at most, then I'd have a few late nights -- get home at 11 after a gig, or stay up too late gaming -- decide to hit the sack without working out, and fall off the wagon.

I don't think I'm magically going to get more willpower anytime soon, so instead I'm trying a different approach. I'm going to try to make a half hour of exercises a morning thing, before I go to work, on the theory that the morning time slot is more reliable than my evenings.

The one problem is that I've been waking up later and later over the last few years, but waking up earlier is a goal in and of itself. For Christmas my parents gave me a wake-up light alarm clock, which seems to be helping -- not a miracle cure or anything, but a start. I've been setting it for the same time as always, but I wake up better -- I haven't yet hit snooze in my sleep (which I managed repeatedly with my phone alarm) and I've gotten out of bed on average a half hour earlier than I was, which is a start.

The next part is making myself do the exercises even if it means getting to work late (I have a lot of schedule flexibility, so this just means I end up staying at work late, too). So far, so good. I did 3 sets of 10 of each of my four knee-xercises yesterday, and 2x5 core-type leg lifts and 2x25 diagonal crunches this morning. Tomorrow I'll do arms. I still need to either get better crunch form or learn a core exercise that hits the sides like diagonal crunches but doesn't make my shoulders miserable, though.

I want to keep track of my weights (for kneexercises and arms) and reps, this time. I didn't before, but I think seeing improvement should help with motivation. I think I may use the kitchen garden calendar westrider's mom gave to me, if I can figure out where I stashed it 'for safe keeping' when I cleaned the house a few weeks ago.

EDIT to add: I know quickly abandoned New Year's exercise resolutions are a truism, but this one is really more about the wake-up light and schedule rearrangement. I'll consider it a success if I can keep it up for even a few months. By then the weather will be warm enough (and my knee tough enough) to get back on the bike.

[crossposted from tumblr] Variability in disability accomodation

[I remembered recently that there may be a few people reading this who aren't LJ users who were really looking for the more serious posts. I've mostly been posting those to tumblr so they can get spread around a bit, but just in case, here's one of 'em.]

People who need one accommodation (a wheelchair, say) on one day may be walking perfectly well next week. Someone walking this morning may need a crutch by day’s end (and yes, a single crutch IS actually ‘doing something’ — that’s a misconception I’ve run into a time or two).

The variation really isn’t rocket science, by the way. Ever been tired? Really tired? Okay. Now, imagine that because of bodily limitations you can just about manage to walk if you’re full of energy. Now you’re tired. Boom. You can’t walk anymore. When you’re that close to the line, normal wear-and-tear can and will put you over. And pain tires you out. Everyone’s body has fluctuations; they’re a lot more noticeable if you’re closer to the ‘can I or can’t I’ line to begin with.

There was a time, back in the distant past, when I’d walk into my school at 8 a.m. with both crutches under one arm and stash them in my locker. At 10 I’d stop and take one out. By noon I’d need both. A few times, when my family wanted to do something that involved lots of walking — a trip to the zoo, say — we rented a wheelchair. You do what you have to do. Often ‘as much as you can manage’ is even a doctor’s or therapist’s instruction.

The only reason no one whispered around me was that I had a big fucking metal contraption sticking through my leg, which acted like a giant neon sign saying “THIS IS A LEGIT ISSUE PEOPLE.” I know that’s the only reason because I’ve heard people make those comments about people doing the exact same thing I was (And I’ve educated those commenters, in no uncertain terms. Naturally).

But this is all background information, because people are curious and like to know things.

The more important lesson is when someone says they need an accommodation, it’s not your place to judge. You don’t know their situation and it’s not your business to be their self appointed judge, jury, personal trainer, physical therapist, mother, or doctor. The person with the disability knows more about what they need than you do. End of story.