Precerpt from Grandma Ninja's Training Diary: Grandma Ninja vs. Prednisone: The Day Balance Took a Holiday

Most days, Grandma Ninja can take on the world.
Steep hills? No problem.
Ninety‑pound garbage cans? Bring them on.
Workouts with planks, glute bridges, and Russian twists? Just another morning in the dojo.

But then came a pinched nerve, followed by prednisone.

Not the whole‑body‑weakening, can’t‑lift‑a‑thing kind.
Oh no.
Prednisone chose a far more mischievous strategy.

It went after my balance.

Not my strength.
Not my endurance.
Not my ability to haul a garbage can down a 30‑degree incline while a well‑meaning neighbor tried (and failed) to “save” me from it.

No — prednisone went after the tiny stabilizer muscles.
The micro‑adjusters.
The little ninjas inside the big ninja.

And suddenly, the BOSU ball — my old friend — became a treacherous, wobbling island.
One moment I was centered.
The next, I was sliding off like a cartoon character stepping on a banana peel.

Strength? Perfect.
Coordination? Fine.
Balance? On vacation.

Prednisone had declared itself the new sensei of instability.

But here’s the thing:
A ninja who can haul a 90‑pound garbage can down a very steep, 60-foot hill is still a ninja, even if she can’t stand on a half‑inflated dome without tipping sideways.

Prednisone may have smudged the edges of my balance for a few days, but it didn’t take away my ninja.
It just made the dojo a little more entertaining.

And when this medication finishes its course, Grandma Ninja will be back on that BOSU ball — steady, centered, and ready to reclaim her title.

Until then, I’ll keep hauling garbage cans that defeat passing men.

Because even wobbly, Grandma Ninja is still Grandma Ninja.

Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a septuagenarian grandmother who dared to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with her coach and trainer, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.

Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.

Grandma shares what she’s learning; her coach explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.

Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.

To read more precerpts from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary, click HERE.

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