MSI Press Blog

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 s...

So, last month when my trainer was having her baby, she gave me homework for the time she would be out. I found the homework so useful that I continued it even after she came back. Just the right aount for me right now, and I can start to see some small (wish it were large, but it is small) differences. Still, a year and a half ago, I was much pudgier, 11 pounds heavier, and with no muscles. So, since pictures do not lie (well, not usually and not unless doctored), here is my first attempt at recroding some progress. The pictue is so helpful, I will start to do updates for my 6-month assessments. (Short-term goals are as motivating as andmore doable than long-term goals.) For the record, here is the daily homework: 30 minutes of cardio (yeah, I get to choose and to mix and match) 100 abs (another choice and can mix and match) 50 squats Monday, Regular Tuesday. Sumo Wednesday. Chair Thursday. Jump  Friday. Front lunges Sat-Sun. Burpess (really difficult right ...