Think about training methods – for people in similar situations, challenges, back story, what I can currently do and what I aim for including targets.

Summary of illness

I contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia and Pneumonia in February 2020, and as a result of this I’ve had both legs amputated below the knee and lost all 8 digits from my hands.

Challenges

I am currently finding it quite difficult to motivate myself to get out and about. This is due to the current COVID-19 lockdown. I find it difficult to go to the gym on my own and prefer to be part of a class, around others. The main factor in getting past this is BOXING. Everybody loves putting on gloves to punch a bag or hit focus pads when permitted (or even sparring in some cases). I’m fortunate that I have prosthetic legs and can get up and about. My balance isn’t quite 100% but I’ll keep practicing walking and standing and hopefully this will progress. From a coaching point of view, I’m struggling to come to terms with the fact that I now have to “verbalize” my instructions to boxers because I may not have the ability to physically demonstrate the instructions to them.

Current training

I take part and coach “Zoom” classes. There are some exercises that I cannot do so if I cannot adapt the exercise I change it to something else. An example of this could be during burpees/squats, I just do oblique twists in my chair. This allows me to stay warm and still taking part. A lot of the class consists of weights exercises and as I have limited use of my left hand, I use a weights strap to secure the dumbbell to my hand which reduces slipping. I do have a membership for a local gym but as i stated above, I find it hard to motivate myself to go.

Boxing

This, for me is the best form of exercise. I do however face a few challenges, which include:

  • Balance – I can’t really move around on my prosthetic legs the way I used to on my legs (yet) so this can be quite frustrating.
  • Moving – when I’m in my chair, it is difficult to move the chair with gloves on. I have purchased rim covers for my wheels, which makes them thicker but still difficult to move. Possibly an adaption to the gloves and chair would make a massive difference. 1) Cut thumb attachment off gloves 2) Extend wheel rim out (this could be made possible by longer screws fitted to each wheel).
  • Chaffing – when moving around in the chair (throwing punches), this causes a great deal of rubbing on my inner legs. I don’t really know how to get past this ☺ and it can be quite sore.

Advantages of boxing are that it is the best way for me to get a good sweat on and feel as though I’ve had a work out. As my old exercise regime consisted of mostly cardio based exercises, listed below are the benefits for me:

  • Reduce stress
  • Physical exercise which can promote wellbeing
  • Weight loss
  • Interaction with others (Inclusion)
  • Learn new skills

A – Acceptance

A – Access

A – Apparatus

A – Action

A – Achievement