L

[Cathewofan]

 

[Braille]

I would like to 2nd Cathewofan's comments and thanks. I'd also like to thank you for your focus on fitness rather than appearance. I look great for my age, but I'm several decades past my 20's, so the comments about getting rid of love handles and looking great in a bikini that other instructors make during their workout instruction are distracting and tend to remind me of my age rather than how healthy I am. I find it unmotivating. You, Cathe, are motivating and fun. We work hard when we work out with you, but it is fun and satisfying. I feel proud of myself - like I've accomplished something after I've completed one of your workouts. Some workout instructors make me feel like I put in a whole lot of effort just to fit into an outfit - like all that effort is for other people rather than myself - like they think that their audience is vain. Thank you for knowing that at any age and at any fitness level and in any shape, we are people that want to achieve and/or maintain health and fitness goals. Frankly, there's cosmetic surgeries for people that are only concerned about looks. For the rest of us that want the whole kit and caboodle (strength, endurance, bone density, mental and physical health, etc., we have you. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love looking my best, but I'm glad that you focus on the things that make me feel and live my best.

 

[Braille]

Cathewofan, your goal of raising awareness and assisting with home fitness set-up is inspiring to me and touches my heart. I was 19 and doing well financially when my son was born. He was born with severe disabilities. He was never supposed to walk, talk, etc. I'm pretty tiny and told the doctors and experts that that just wasn't going to work for my son and I, because I had no intention of dragging, pushing and carrying my son (who wouldn't always be a lightweight baby) around as I grew older and older. I had to leave my career in order to take classes on how to teach all of the skills that he wasn't going to just "pick up" on his own. Insurance wouldn't cover therapy, because my son was an impossible case. Without my income, we became dirt poor, but we were happy as my son very slowly but surely learned some of the skills that the doctors had said he'd never learn. Eventually, they had no choice but to allow my son to have speech, occupational, and physical therapy. I was extremely embarrassed though when the physical therapist said that we needed a physical therapy ball at home (they're now sold at Walmart for around $10 as stability balls, but used to be over $60 because they were medical equipment), and I had to tell her we couldn't afford one. I got creative and turned a cylinder-shaped footstool on its side and was able to do help him do trunk strengthening (now called core) on that. I could no longer afford my gym membership, nor could I afford even a simple set of hand weights. I kept in shape as best I could by running and doing body weight exercises, but I was already in shape to do those things. I also had a husband at home that took care of my son while I went for a run. It would be very difficult to get in shape without child care or without equipment - at least to start with. With my son's hard work and years of therapist, he now walks and talks and does the impossible. We are okay financially now, but it would have been worth it to be poor my whole life just to see my son (now 32) able to get down the stairs of our deck to check the mail. It would have been so nice, though, to have had equipment at home to help my son and to keep myself in shape. I think what you're doing is incredible, and I hope that you are successful. We have places in our area that accept clothing, food donations, pots and pans, and even television sets for the poor, but many won't accept exercise equipment, because it's not deemed a necessity. I understood when they didn't want our treadmill (changed out to an elliptical), because it takes up space. I didn't, however, understand why they wouldn't accept my smaller step (when I upgraded to a large one) with the step DVDs (I ended up with duplicates) or my set of 3, 5, & 8 lb. hand weights (grips were too big - I have small hands and carpal tunnel). If organizations in your area have such restrictions, you might consider asking them to call you with the contact info of anybody's exercise equipment that they don't accept? I couldn't figure out back (when I couldn't afford equipment) why on earth I couldn't find any donated equipment. I didn't find out until I tried to donate some myself that many places have restrictions against it. Anyways, I've never heard of anyone doing what you're doing, and I think it's something that should be done. I wish you success.

 

[TessGeo13]

Cathewofan, your goal of raising awareness and assisting with home fitness set-up is inspiring to me and touches my heart. I was 19 and doing well financially when my son was born. He was born with severe disabilities. He was never supposed to walk, talk, etc. I'm pretty tiny and told the doctors and experts that that just wasn't going to work for my son and I, because I had no intention of dragging, pushing and carrying my son (who wouldn't always be a lightweight baby) around as I grew older and older. I had to leave my career in order to take classes on how to teach all of the skills that he wasn't going to just "pick up" on his own. Insurance wouldn't cover therapy, because my son was an impossible case. Without my income, we became dirt poor, but we were happy as my son very slowly but surely learned some of the skills that the doctors had said he'd never learn. Eventually, they had no choice but to allow my son to have speech, occupational, and physical therapy. I was extremely embarrassed though when the physical therapist said that we needed a physical therapy ball at home (they're now sold at Walmart for around $10 as stability balls, but used to be over $60 because they were medical equipment), and I had to tell her we couldn't afford one. I got creative and turned a cylinder-shaped footstool on its side and was able to do help him do trunk strengthening (now called core) on that. I could no longer afford my gym membership, nor could I afford even a simple set of hand weights. I kept in shape as best I could by running and doing body weight exercises, but I was already in shape to do those things. I also had a husband at home that took care of my son while I went for a run. It would be very difficult to get in shape without child care or without equipment - at least to start with. With my son's hard work and years of therapist, he now walks and talks and does the impossible. We are okay financially now, but it would have been worth it to be poor my whole life just to see my son (now 32) able to get down the stairs of our deck to check the mail. It would have been so nice, though, to have had equipment at home to help my son and to keep myself in shape. I think what you're doing is incredible, and I hope that you are successful. We have places in our area that accept clothing, food donations, pots and pans, and even television sets for the poor, but many won't accept exercise equipment, because it's not deemed a necessity. I understood when they didn't want our treadmill (changed out to an elliptical), because it takes up space. I didn't, however, understand why they wouldn't accept my smaller step (when I upgraded to a large one) with the step DVDs (I ended up with duplicates) or my set of 3, 5, & 8 lb. hand weights (grips were too big - I have small hands and carpal tunnel). If organizations in your area have such restrictions, you might consider asking them to call you with the contact info of anybody's exercise equipment that they don't accept? I couldn't figure out back (when I couldn't afford equipment) why on earth I couldn't find any donated equipment. I didn't find out until I tried to donate some myself that many places have restrictions against it. Anyways, I've never heard of anyone doing what you're doing, and I think it's something that should be done. I wish you success.

What an inspirational story and what an inspirational woman you are!

 

[AVeyRa]

Cathewofan, your goal of raising awareness and assisting with home fitness set-up is inspiring to me and touches my heart. I was 19 and doing well financially when my son was born. He was born with severe disabilities. He was never supposed to walk, talk, etc. I'm pretty tiny and told the doctors and experts that that just wasn't going to work for my son and I, because I had no intention of dragging, pushing and carrying my son (who wouldn't always be a lightweight baby) around as I grew older and older. I had to leave my career in order to take classes on how to teach all of the skills that he wasn't going to just "pick up" on his own. Insurance wouldn't cover therapy, because my son was an impossible case. Without my income, we became dirt poor, but we were happy as my son very slowly but surely learned some of the skills that the doctors had said he'd never learn. Eventually, they had no choice but to allow my son to have speech, occupational, and physical therapy. I was extremely embarrassed though when the physical therapist said that we needed a physical therapy ball at home (they're now sold at Walmart for around $10 as stability balls, but used to be over $60 because they were medical equipment), and I had to tell her we couldn't afford one. I got creative and turned a cylinder-shaped footstool on its side and was able to do help him do trunk strengthening (now called core) on that. I could no longer afford my gym membership, nor could I afford even a simple set of hand weights. I kept in shape as best I could by running and doing body weight exercises, but I was already in shape to do those things. I also had a husband at home that took care of my son while I went for a run. It would be very difficult to get in shape without child care or without equipment - at least to start with. With my son's hard work and years of therapist, he now walks and talks and does the impossible. We are okay financially now, but it would have been worth it to be poor my whole life just to see my son (now 32) able to get down the stairs of our deck to check the mail. It would have been so nice, though, to have had equipment at home to help my son and to keep myself in shape. I think what you're doing is incredible, and I hope that you are successful. We have places in our area that accept clothing, food donations, pots and pans, and even television sets for the poor, but many won't accept exercise equipment, because it's not deemed a necessity. I understood when they didn't want our treadmill (changed out to an elliptical), because it takes up space. I didn't, however, understand why they wouldn't accept my smaller step (when I upgraded to a large one) with the step DVDs (I ended up with duplicates) or my set of 3, 5, & 8 lb. hand weights (grips were too big - I have small hands and carpal tunnel). If organizations in your area have such restrictions, you might consider asking them to call you with the contact info of anybody's exercise equipment that they don't accept? I couldn't figure out back (when I couldn't afford equipment) why on earth I couldn't find any donated equipment. I didn't find out until I tried to donate some myself that many places have restrictions against it. Anyways, I've never heard of anyone doing what you're doing, and I think it's something that should be done. I wish you success.

You and I are soul-sisters, Braille!

I have four children and my oldest two have autism. My oldest didn’t talk until he was 5. I was also told “he’ll never talk” and “he needs intensive therapy 20 hours a week” etc. We also couldn’t afford it (monetarily or otherwise). So I rolled up my sleeves and did what I had to do to get him help. He’s 16 now and not only speaks, writes, reads and does quite well in English, but he’s also an excellent Latin student as well. He’s still different, he still has challenges (including epilepsy) but he’s a far cry from the grim diagnosis I was given when he was four.

I have to take care of myself because there is literally a group of five people (my husband included) who rely on me. That hasn’t been easy or convenient. I gave up everything I had to to make sure they thrive. But I have to include myself in that health paradigm. Cathe has always been a part of that “treatment plan”.

I am currently battling with a degenerative spinal issue (maybe from years of hauling kids around literally on my back; but mostly from genetics and extra weight).

I am 100% an advocate for at-home self-care. If I didn’t have Cathe’s enormous catalog of fitness options, I would have one more thing I had to “figure out for myself”. It’s true I could do it on my own, but it would definitely be harder.

I am so thankful to have a “coach” who has done all the research for me. I can just plug in and hit “play” and I know I’m taken care of. HUGE HUGS and thanks to Cathe and all the Cathletes who believe in good health.