My Whole Body Challenge Story

New U Life started a new blog feature on their website.  When I opened it, I was surprised to find that the company’s new creative writer had delved into my Whole Body Challenge reports that I posted each week, and compiled and wrote my story.

What an honor! Than they posted it on the company’s You Tube channel for the world to see.  Amazing!  

Thought you might like to see the story.  Click on the link.

https://newulife.com/paralyzed-man-climbs-mountains-in-the-whole-body-challenge-inspires-others/

My Whole Body Challenge Award

To be recognized and honored by an award was most gratifying. i thought you would like to see the video of the interview of the presentation.

I did what I should have been doing anyway – to exercise and push to gain more strength and mobility. I’m 85, and we do everything we can to extend life and the quality of life. 

When New U Life came along 2 years ago, we discovered a community of people who cared about helping others — first the company people, and then others using the products who have been so supportive and encouraging. I believe the products gave me the nutrition for energy, and God gave me the will and Spirit to fight through the Whole Body Challenge.

The cash award is timely. I will use most of it to finish and publish my next children’s rhyming story picture book,  “The Ladybug Known as Lil”.  My vision is to help children with reading with my gift of rhyme. It helps me to have a purpose in life beyond just living.

Click on the picture to view video.

Whole Body Challenge summary report – May 28, 2020

My before and after pictures will not portray my progress like the other participants, because my goal was not to lose weight, but to gain muscle weight, and have better body mobility and strength.  For weekly reports, I posted videos of me doing various exercises in my routine.

For me the whole body challenge does not end on May 31. 

In 1950, when I was 15 years old, I was almost completely paralyzed by encephalitis, a virus in the spine and brain wall fluids. The virus left me with muscle weakness and atrophy, muscle spasticity, loss of balance, and unequal muscle tension that gradually caused severe scoliosis.

Now, I am 84 years old and dealing with post-encephalitis syndrome, a recurrence of the same symptoms. Daily exercise has been a necessity, at first for the recovery from the disease over a 10 year period.  For 9 years in the middle, I walked without any supporting devices.  In 1980, I began losing my balance, and I had to start using a cane again. The post-encephalitic symptoms have forced me to move to crutches, then to using a rolling walker, and now, a power chair.

Regrettably, I tended to exercise only as much as I could get by with, rather than to build my body.  I signed up in the Whole Body Challenge in order to intensify my workouts, set some goals, and plan a workout that would help me progress, rather than just get by and slowly go down hill.

After starting the Gel in August of 2018, I was sleeping better, had more body flexibility, and had more strength to walk with a 4 wheel walker.  Friends came twice a week to give me an assist standing up, and to be my “spotter” while I walked.

I added KG 4 when we learned that it was whole body nutrition on one of Thomas DeLeuer’s videos.  I added KetoDay and KetoNight because I was having digestive issues, and these products helped metabolism.

The Whole Body Challenge has helped me get an organized exercise program, and helped me log in measurable progress in strength, mobility, and weight gain.

I have achieved my goals of more strength and mobility!

Goals:

Leg lifts.  3 sets of 10 — started at 2 sets of 5

Full squats. 25  —  started at 6

Walking with walker. 100 yards — started at 40 yards

Stepper 100 — started at 20

Weight gain. 2 lbs — started at 132 lbs.  Ended at 135 lbs

Now that I have a program that has improved my quality of life, and demonstrated that I can continue to make progress, I will continue to do the exercises as a lifetime routine.  I have set new goals, and will aim to be able to walk unassisted with the walker.

We love the SomaDerm Gel and the Keto products, and they are now a part of our life!

I was surprised, and greatly affirmed by the amount of encouragement and support by a large number of other Whole Body Challenge participants. We have met new friends, and look forward to developing new relationships in the New U Life family.

Betty and I feel blessed that we were introduced to New U Life, and to Alexy Goldstein.  Alexy and the products he has created have given us hope of a long and higher quality of life!  Thank you Alexy!

I am blessed by all of you who respond to my posts with your comments and encouragement!    Thank you.

#wholebodychallenge

Whole Body Challenge report May 21

A most remarkable day! I reached my goal of 3 sets of 10 leg lifts!

I had given up on making the goal, but some of you said I would make it, somehow, and I did!  Perhaps the day of rest yesterday helped my muscles recover, or perhaps my increasing the Gel a little helped also.

It is encouraging to be able to transfer from the power chair to the leg bench by myself.     This was to document my increase in mobility and that I have gained some independence.

Betty was filming, not standing by as “spotter” or to help.  When I first started transferring to the bench, my male helper had to give me a little boost.

Did 20 leg presses!  Walking was 120 ft, and my weight is holding at 134 lbs.

I went 60 steps on the stepper, which is more than the usual daily amount.

I am elated to have made the leg lift goal, especially after thinking it was impossible!

Check back next week for the conclusion of the Challenge contest.

Whole Body Challenge report – 5/15

 This week I see progress in the little things.  I “tested” myself doing squats.   I did 18, a new record.  My goal is 25, so there is hope I’ll make that goal. 

The video features one of my upper body exercises.  I start with this exercise, pulling with the triceps and muscles in the shoulder girdle.  I do one set with my palms up, and one set with my palms down, to get different muscles in the upper arm engaged.

Today on the weekly measuring/picture day, I again did all the exercises in my routine.  We walked 180 ft for the second day.  That is more than half the distance of my goal of 300 ft, so a little bit of progress.

My weight settled at 134 lb, down a bit, but still in the range to make my goal of 135 lb

Whole Body Challenge Report May 8, 2020

It is encouraging to see my exercise log sheet getting checked off again. We are glad to have the SomaDerm Gel again!

Featured this week was my leg “firm up” of standing and moving my right leg side-to-side, and squats at the sink.

Most of my side-to-side moves are the right leg, because when I was paralyzed by the virus in my spine fluids back in 1950, it was the right size that was most affected.  My right side is therefore weaker.  The weakness on the right side affects walking, and, of course, using the gas pedal when driving.

I’ve maintained strength to do 3 sets of 5 leg lifts, and back to 20 reps on the leg press machine.

My weight is holding at 135 lbs, which is good.

Generally, I feel I am making transfers to and from the power chair more easily and with more confidence. 

Betty took a picture of me getting some sun out in our driveway.  Good to get some fresh air and vitamin D!

Whole Body Challenge report – 4/18

Finally got the Gel – it really made a difference for both Betty and me. It perked up my energy and ambition level, so I feel back in the game again.

Featured today was one of my upper body exercises, a lateral pull out with an elastic band. For the video I did 10 pulls, but usually I do isometric and just pull out and hold for 5-10 seconds. I have torn rotator cuff muscles, so the isometric is better for stabilizing the shoulder.

The leg press is progressing, as I add more pounds to the lift. I’ve started adding 6 pounds at this point.

The scale read 135 Lb; we’ll hope that will continue next week.

April 3 – Whole Body Challenge report

Today marks a full week that we have not had Gel. Our order has been delayed. I noticed the difference!   The edge has gone off my energy level, and I have to get psyched up more to exercise.

Squats were my leg strengthening exercise that Betty videoed today. Normally I do only a few to warm up. For today’s video I did 15, a new record high (My goal is 25 reps) Notice that I do squats with the legs going to, or almost to, 45 degrees!

Walking has slipped a bit to 180 Ft, which is still good. The leg press is good at 20 reps, and once I added 3 lbs to the weight I push.

My weight today was 134, which is encouraging to see that I have not lost any weight.

If you want to learn what the “Whole Body Challenge” is – or would like to join me in the Challenge – check it out.

https://www.wholebodychallenge.com

Whole Body Challenge report 3/29/20

Everyday is exercise day. I start with my upper body firm up to prepare for the more strenuous routines.

I am very pleased that I am walking a consistent 240 ft each day, and my weight is okay at 134 lbs.

Today, I did two sets of 20 reps on the leg press machine. I think the leg presses may be why my walking is better.

Since adding the KetpDay and KetoNight in our nutritional supplementation, I am sleeping longer without as many middle of the night waking periods.

Inch by inch we climb the mountain – it takes time and great effort, but the view at the top is worth it.   🙂

Whole Body Challenge report 3/19/20

Challenges are like mountain climbing.  There are peaks and valleys.  This week had both ups and downs. An exciting peak was to walk with the walker for 300 ft – it was a surprise!  I’ve been staying consistent at 180 ft, and for no good reason, it jumped to 100 yards, which is actually my final goal.

Remember my main goal is to gain muscle strength and mobility, and to be able to drive to the Convention in Orlando in August. We had to go out to the mobility equipment store because the lift in the car that loads my mobility scooter was slowing down. We learned that the motor in the lift is dying; no more lifts or motors are being made because our model of vehicle is no longer made, and our best option is to keep going until the motor quits. 

Please pray with us that the motor does not quit in Orlando!

The drive to Orlando is about 100 miles, and is supposed to take about 2 hours. The drive to the store and back was 25 miles, and my legs were very tired. That’s motivation to keep building strength!

Working to increase leg strength on my stepper!

If you are curious what the “Whole Body Challenge” is – or would like to join me in the Challenge – check it out.

https://www.wholebodychallenge.com