Healthy with Shani

doc today: The cataract in the left eye has grown, but the inflammation is quiet; The inflammation in the right eye is active yet reduced a grade since last time (three is highest - was grade 2/3 last time, was grade 1/2 this time); the vision in the right eye has improved from 20/70 two weeks ago to 20/50 today! My regimen will remain the same - one drop PredForte in each eye every hour and 3g Cellcept daily.  It's working slowly...but it is working. If the left eye is still quiet when I return in 3 weeks, he will finally schedule cataract surgery :))

since my physical therapist has advised against doing squats the way I was doing them before (sumo style) i've had to modify a LOT of my training. I train sloooowly and consciously - making every move count and burn.  i was also told to stear clear of the stairmaster. But I have a confession to make.  My cardio of choice is still the stairmaster. I know I know.  But hear me out! I've slowed to a snail's pace as I climb.  And I actually get just as amazing a workout as I do when I am run-hopping with plates or medicine balls held over my head as I climb.  Ok - maybe not that  awesome a workout - but the slow pace burns MORE and I sweat massively.  I have also noticed much about my posture that was a bit off.  I've noticed that I have the tendency to bring my knees inward toward one another.  So I climb slowly, with weight almost exclusively in my heels, SQUEEEEZING my ass and hamstrings and keeping my knees perfectly parallel. My focu...

This weekend I thought a lot about what limiting beliefs I have been placing on myself  But the thought process was making me feel vacant.  Cold and dead behind the eyes.  Sometimes impatience is my worst enemy - it makes me feel as if I have to hurry up and make "it" happen NOW or "it" never will.  Hurry up and heal NOW or I never will. Today I took a few large steps forward with my business idea and plan....something I haven't touched since I started experiencing complications with my vision. Have you ever been hit so hard with a burning desire to make something happen that it wakes you in the middle of the night?  Do you ever get emotional when you think about the impact you know you'll have by putting your idea out there?  Do you talk from your heart about your idea?  Does your plan make you sick to your stomach with excitement and fear all at once? Is the fear stopping you from doing anything at all? Mine does sometimes.  I'm definite...

Yesterday I had one of the most uncomfortable experiences with a doctor.  And it really taught me a valuable lesson. After receiving a referral from someone very close to me, I called the doctor and spoke over the phone about what I was seeking and he agreed he could help - particularly Allergy testing and an Immunological workup. I arrived for my appointment yesterday at 2 and felt a bit off when I walked in.  There were no other patients there - it didn't even look/smell/feel like a doctor's office.  There were no nurses and the doctor had no staff -  he processed my insurance info and did all admin tasks.  There was even no receptionist (he always answers his own office phone).  I kept an open mind because I trust the person who referred me. The question and answer session was detailed - as in, 2 hours detailed.  But I'm vulnerable about my condition and was open to hearing and talking through all possibilities.  After 2 hours of answerin...

I saw the orthopedic surgeon today. Good news: I don't need surgery. Bad news: I better pull back because if I keep doing all I'm doing, I will need it. He's ordered for me to begin physical therapy for the next 12 weeks at 2-3 times a week. He's demanded I stop Jogging...running Jumping Squatting, deadlifting; leg workouts Taking stairs even in the subway (use the elevator) No yoga No walking more than I need to... My knees are a mess. My stubborn mind uttered "yeah right but what if..." But my stubborn mind landed me in a heap of medical issues with my eyes. It's not worth pushing the limits or rebelling against authorities who know what the hell they're talking about. Besides, he's one of the best in the world. For what reason would I rebel or reject 'doctor's orders'? It's my body. He doesn't care if I don't listen. I'm the one who has to live with my decisions. I'm going to do exac...

I dont often work abs since every exercise I do, I tend to engage them in a very targeted way (standing exercises vs sitting, such as shoulder presses, skullcrushers, and leg exercises).  Every two weeks I like to throw in an intense ab day just to keep things "growing."  Abs are a muscle group like any other in your body.  To pop em up and out, hit them hard and heavy.   Oh, and if your eating habits suck and youre not doing cardio, then forget about seeing cuts... Unless youve been genetically enhanced with the metabolism of a Hummingbird - then go on....eat your Big Macs and sit on your ass.  Nice abs, by the way.   Here are a few ways I have gotten creative with my ab exercises.  Because yeah, I hated doing ab exercises.   "Who needs them...theyre boring!" Well you do, sweetheart.  Trust me, your workouts will be so much more effective. Regardless of seeing definition in your mid or not, it's important for all ar...

I've been making a conscious effort to keep my goals close and remind myself of them daily.  I have placed a small card in my wallet that goes with me everywhere and have posted a note near my bed and on my fridge to remind me of what I am working  to achieve. At the top of every one of those lists is 'having clear and healthy vision.'  That means doing whatever the hell it takes to tame the inflammation so I can start having the necessary surgeries that will hopefully restore eyesight.  I am truly hopeful and optimistic. I recently took one week off from training then went back for two days until becoming really sick and needing three more days off. I haven't taken that much time away in a very long while. After the first week off I felt like a big fatty and couldn't wait to train again.  My mind was a mess. As that week went on, I felt like I was looking in the mirror and seeing someone large and sometimes felt panicked that I was back-tracking on my...