Catching up

I know I have not write a blog in a while so I will write one later today. Let you know how the whole navy thing is working out. 

New exercise

My best friends gave me a book called Foundation training. It is a workout book that is supposed to help with back pain and moving my body better. I have just started it so I am not too sure how long it will take to work but I have a feeling that it really will.
Let me explain a little about Foundation training. I don't have to book right next to me so next time I post I will tell you about the authors. I believe that you can find it on Amazon.com but not too sure.
Foundation training was developed by a chiropractor from Santa Barbara in order to ease his back pain. Basically it is a proven idea that you are changing the idea of your "Core". Everyone knows that when you are talking about your core it is talking about your abdominals. The idea of Foundation training to to change the idea of your core from your abs to your lower back. The main muscled that are supposed to support you while moving and working out. It focuses on strengthening your lower back, buttocks, and hamstrings. There are three levels of the exercise and I am only on the first level. The book says you only need to stay on the beginning level for two weeks but I know that it is going to take me much longer than that. Thank is okay though.
I have done the exercises three times now and I have to say, wow! It sure as hell works out your lower back and hamstrings. Unfortunately you do have to be able to stand and have some sort of balance in order to do the exercises. I don't think there would be a way to tweak it for someone in a wheel chair to complete. Every time I do the exercises I walk away with my lower back sore. I definitely know that it is working it and strengthening it. I am hoping that it will help me with my back pain so that I can stop taking my pain meds. I want it to also help me with my walking and other movements.
I will keep everyone posted as I progress through the workouts and levels. So far though, I do recommend the book for everyone that has back problems and isn't stuck in a chair. I think its going to work great for me!

Stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will"!!

Working hard

I work as hard as I can every day. There is no other way that I can go about my life besides that way. That being said, I sometimes need a break. It has been over ten months since my accident and I feel like I am making progress, just never enough for me. Every day at the gym I push as hard as I can and I am always looking at ways to get better. Whether that be trying new workouts or lifting more weights.
I am thinking for my one year anniversary I might need to take a break and maybe do some traveling. Just take a trip somewhere, anywhere, to take my mind off of all the work that I have done and all the work that is still to come. Even if a break is needed, I will never stop working and never stop continuing to better myself whether it be physically or mentally. Just never quit. EVER!!

Cowards never start. The weak never finish. Winners never quit!!!

New Tattoo

After everything I have been through I wanted to get a new tattoo that embodied everything that I stand for.

It is a lion and a wolf that are conquering a mountain top. I think thatI have conquered a lot of obstacles that have come my way. It is not finished yet. I still need to get the color put into it. I can post an updated picture later.

The reason that I chose a lion and a wolf is simple. The lion is because I am the king! Simple as that. Anything that comes my way I will use all my power and strength to dominate it. I have my pride and don't have to worry about what other people thing. I am me and that is that. The wolf is because it is a  pack animal. It took a lot more than just me to get to where I am right now. I consider everyone that has helped me to be basically family. And with that I will do anything I can do to support them as well. 

Over all it is to show strength, passion, pride, and so much more. 

You say I dream too big, I say you think too small.

Relaxing Sunday

Today is actually Mothers Day and it is a day to stop and reflect on everything that my mom has done for me. I am the luckiest guy in the world to have a mother like mine.
Just thinking about it, I owe a lot of the credit to my recovery to my mom. She has motivated me more that she will ever know. I know that she always says that it was all me and she is impressed by what I have done but it was her support, along with the rest of my family and friends, that got me to where I am today. I do have a whole lot of work to do still and with all the support that I am getting from everyone all I need it time. I know that it is going to happen.
Throughout my life my mom has been there for me for absolutely anything I needed and I cannot thank her enough for everything that she has done. My life would be so much different if it hadn't been for her. She has sacrificed so much in order to give me and my sisters the best life we could have.
She is the main reason that I am not going to get back on a motorcycle. I just can't put her through anything like this again. Not just her, but my whole family would kill me if I ever tried to ride again. Even though I love it and I miss it, its not going to happen gain.
I love you mom, more than you will ever know or realize!!



Training is about you vs. yourself. Push to new limits and create the person you want to be.

Time for an update

Hey everyone, I think its about time that I update everyone on what is going on with me.

I am still going to the VA for my physical and occupational therapy every day. Also on fridays I go to the pool over there and have a good pool workout. I am still pushing myself as hard a humanly possible to get better and back to as close to normal as possible.

My physical status is still slowly improving. I am getting stronger with each week. The range of motion in my left shoulder is still lacking and I work on that as much as possible. I measured the circumference of my legs the other day and my left leg is still about an inch smaller. That is not a surprise to me because I have to walk with it every day. I know that I have posted about it before but I am able to "run" now. I think tomorrow when I get to therapy I am going to try to run outside of the parallel bars. Maybe do some laps around the outside of the SCI gym. My arms are still off, but that was always the case. Being right handed, it made it so that I did most everything with my right side so that help build up the muscles more. I am working on leveling out the muscles of me body so that both sides are closer to the same. All in all I just need to keep pushing myself harder and harder. I would say there is an end in sight but I don't think there is ever and end point. I can ALWAYS improve and ALWAYS get stronger and better.

On to the mental and emotional side of everything. I have been getting out of the house more and hanging with friends. One of my best friends was a student at the VA while I was there. We always have a good time hanging out and it makes it easier because she knows my back story better than anyone else. Also, my best friend is home in Austria for a while but that drives me to work harder so that when she does come back, she will be impressed and proud! Mentally, sometimes things are hard to handle, but I always get past it. The best way for me to get past it is to just look at where I was less than a year ago and compare it to where I am now. I don't like to say it too much due to the fact that A, I don't like talking about myself and B, it isn't that big of a deal, but I have come a hell of a long way from where I was.

The most important thing I can say to anyone in this situation is to never give up. Your body is so much stronger and more capable than you think, you just need to push yourself to achieve your goals.

If anyone needs help getting through things like this please just leave me a message and I can email you. We can talk about things and I will help motivate in any way that I can.



A few tears won't kill you, only heal you. A little pain won't destroy you, only strengthen you. So cry, forgive, and move on.

Oh this weather

If you are reading this and you're not in San Diego, the weather has been hot lately. With that it has been really hard to get the motivation to actually do anything. Since my accident I have had limited energy throughout the day. It has something to do with the fact that I don't sleep very well but thats another story.
It has been very hard to push myself to get out and do things. I still make it to therapy every day but anything else, is hard to do. Tuesday of this week I woke up with a head ache and was unable to go to therapy It is because my house get so hot sometimes that it makes me feel sick. Thought after I was up for a few hours I was feeling better. I had forgotten that I told my friend I would go to the gym with her until she called and told me that she was on her way there. I wanted to say I wasn't going to go because I was too tired. That wouldn't have been a lie, I was worn out from the heat of the day. Instead I reached deep down and grabbed the remaining energy I had and went to the gym. I am so glad that I did because I felt great afterwords. I had that post gym high that I was able to ride the rest of the night. I do owe it to my friend for the kick in the ass I needed to get up and do something.
What that means it just push yourself as hard as you can every day. The only way that you can get better is to push yourself past your comfort zone and work as hard as you can to do your best.



One of the most important keys to success is having the discipline to do what you know you should do, even when you don't feel like doing it.