Page 13 - 2020 Spring CMTA Report

ON THE MOVE

FROM THE NEW FACEBOOK PAGE:
Here is a sample of group member’s comments and answers to moderators’ questions:

How do you motivate yourself to Anyone here into gardening?
be active and exercise regularly? By “listening” to others we What tactics/tools do you use to
learn so much—support make it more comfortable to use
• I think CMT IS my motivator. If I
didn’t have CMT I don’t know if I’d and encouragement is your green thumb?
be as active as I am. Because of powerful medicine— • Great question! I now container
CMT I’m hyper aware of what’s keep MOVING! garden almost entirely. I love
happening to my body and what daylilies and they are in the
will happen over time. As a result, ground. I have a beautiful raised
I’m super motivated to stay active Who has a routine to walk their bed my wife gave me. I grow veg-
and make sure my body is as dog (or pet) to stay CMTActive? etables and flowers in it. I grow
strong as it can be. In many ways annuals in pots of various sizes.
being active and exercising has • I have not walked my dogs on my
become a personal passion feet for years. I now walk my ser-
because of my CMT. vice dog using my power
• Just ran a short mile race. Running wheelchair. Every day, twice a
is becoming a big part of my fit- day—morning and evening—she
ness and CMTActive journey while insists!
I still can! Second-to-last in my age
group, so not last! Regardless, it’s What activities do you enjoy the
important to me to keep pushing most? Trying to see what every-
myself. one does to stay healthy and
• I am a professional horse trainer strong.
and a PATH International Certified
Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I • “G’day! At 69 many of my activi-
started my own self study of CMT ties have been reduced but I still
and I’m trying to develop a pro- continue with regular trail horse
gram using horsemanship to riding in the bush (which requires
exercise/strengthen the muscles daily ground activity to keep my
affected by CMT.” horse fed, clean and healthy).
• By “listening” to others we learn so • Lots of distance wheeling in my
much—support and encouragement manual wheelchair, which provides
is powerful medicine—keep 90 percent of my mobility—100
MOVING! percent when working, shopping,
• This group helps me keep my posi- etc.
tive attitude! Seeing other people • Can still crawl around a campsite
coping with CMT shows me that I to put up my tent, cook a meal, etc.
am not alone! I know I have to • Playing physical games with my ten
wear AFOs, and carry a walking grandchildren (ages 2 to 19).
stick, but there are things I can • I do go to the gym and use non-
still do! weight-bearing machines to maintain
• CMT = Courage, Motivation & strength in arms and legs but find it
Tenacity. I believe you have to have boring (weight and strength resis-
the courage, motivation and tenac- tance, no aerobic).
ity to keep moving forward and not • Hands/fingers strength loss and
let the challenges in life, including reduced fine motor skills present
those of CMT, stop you from your many barriers that continually
passion. require lots of individual and
changing solutions to maintain
activities.

All CMTers are invited to join the conversation at www.facebook.com/groups/cmtactive/

SPRING 2020 THE CMTA REPORT 13