Genius

"Doing easily what others find is difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius." - Henri Frederic Amiel.

“Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and used" - Dr. Carl Sagan.

Both of these are perfect qutoes to describe what Brian's been able to do with me in training. He's found ways to do things that none of my previous 3 trainers were able to come up with. He is so intelligent and so talented at what he does that it boggles my mind. He didn't go out searching to become a nurse or a doctor simply because it paid a lot of money. He found something that he loves and is passionate about. He loves to help people and he's perfect at his job.

He's getting braver with me. He's pushing more limits. And, it's never going to be my favorite thing, but, I'm actually surprised at how okay I am with it all now, because I've had the chance to get to know him before I had to really trust him with a lot of major things at one time.

He's definitely still in for it with me. I'm still not quite over my embarrassment from all of last week's events of nature. And, unfortunately I think it still shows when I first go in. But, the more circumstances of life happen and the more he tests me in training, the quicker and better I'll learn that everything's okay and there's no need for embarrassment or fear. He still needs to not tip-toe quite so much when I don't like something. But, I think he saw that a little bit today. He'll learn that the more he pushes, the funner it actually becomes for him because he gets to tell me "I told you so" at the end. ;-)

Today was full of experiments. Not much of what I haven't experimented with before with the other guys...but the other guys never knew how to rearrange physics so that it worked for someone without leg use. Brian is master-genius at this. It really amazes me that he's never had experience with someone who's paralyzed because I've never talked to anyone with quite as much knowledge and understanding as he has. And on top of figuring out how to stabilize me all day, he even remembered to keep me talking...and even more importantly, he spoke up and reminded me that he's there and nothing's going to happen to me. And he did it discreetly and at the most needed time.

Cambered Bar Rows - (Genius part 1) 70 lbs (i think) 12, 4 sets of 10, and 12. He strapped me, PLUS he got this new material on his benches that makes ya stick instead of slide. It was AWESOME. And the strapping really helped to keep me from sliding side-to-side. These felt so good today.
Single Arm Dumbbell Rows - (Genius part 2) Brian gave me two 30 lb. dumbbells and had me hold onto one to stabilize myself while I 'rowed' with the other arm. Then do the same thing with the other arm. And he strapped me around mid-back. It was an improvement, but my butt was still sliding. SO, he strapped diagonal, so the strap was across the left side of my back and under the right side of my butt, and vice versa with the other side, so I was kind of laying in a sling. It was amazing. It helped so much.
Commando Chin-Ups - (haven't done these since Brent, I think). 2 sets of 10. I liked these too...much easier on my elbows.
I don't know what the next was called. Some kind straight-arm push down that is supposed to work my lats. He had me strapped across my legs, but, it kinda made my legs be in the way. He wasn't extremely happy with my feedback but I think with some tweaking that it'd probably work out. It wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't one that really bothered me. He had me do reverse ones too and I kinda liked those. I didn't think I'd be able to do them, but it wasn't bad. We were around 50 lbs & 60 lbs.
Cable Bicep Curls (both hands) - (Genius part 3) This was the most un-fun part of my day. Here he just got plain gutsy. He had me on the preacher curl seat, like when I do tricep stuff. He wanted me to curl up and I couldn't make my arms move. I felt I was pulling myself forward. So, he stood behind me and grabbed my shoulders...but about #3 he let go of my shoulders (but, kept his hands there). On the second set, he took my straps and strapped me diagonal both ways, like two seatbelts going in opposite directions. Again I began because he was holding my shoulders but he let go. He was right to do what he did...I know he's realizing more that when I say I can't do something, a lot of times it's fear, not being incapable. So, he has to figure out which one it is. But, I still told him that he sucked. o:-) He wants me to do them, but was trying to convince ME to say we should do them. Not going to happen. Doesn't mean I won't...but, it's not something that's going to be elected by me to be done. He said I was fine and not going to move, so I'm sure they're in the not-so-far off future. Oh, I was doing 30 lbs.

Because he tries so many different ways of things and really puts thought into what I'm doing, it makes me really believe him when he says that I'm fine and I'm not moving and the exercise is okay for me to do. Today, he was stepping away (except on bicep curls) and looking at me from all angles to see if I was moving around too much and what other ways he can secure me. I still trust him a lot more than my straps, because if one of my straps gives, the other isn't going to catch all my body weight. But, I know he's right there waiting to react if something should happen. And, in the mean time, he deserves some aid by my straps so there doesn't have to be 15 of him running around just so I can do one exercise.

Thank you all for listening today. I needed the emotional release of getting it all out.