The Westminster Diet and Exercise Plan
Also as some know, I fell ill with a mysterious illness back about a year and a half ago that left my muscles weak. I have been slowly recovering for about a year now, but during that time I have gained a tremendous amount of weight and my muscles have atrophied, although I seem to be getting a little bit stronger finally. I really wanted to attend Westminster, but was going to skip it because I felt it would be such a long trip and ordeal for me, even for just a day. (I travelled with Joan before Christmas for just 2 days and it wiped me out for a week. I also travelled at Christmas for 3 days, and that wasn't a picnic either. However it was better than the first trip.) Someone then offered me a ticket to the show, and after talking it over with Joan... I'm gonna do it! It is going to be a long day; train to catch at 6:30AM means I'm up by 5AM, In NYC at 9:45 (It's the Acela Express). Sheepdog showing starts at about 11AM, then lunch and frivolity celebrating Mandy's win until I catch the 7PM train back and home by 11PM ish. I need to be able to stand up and walk around for hours so today I'm starting with a trip to the grocery store. 1 hour of walking, and walking Mulligan twice. Tomorrow I'll walk Mulligan 3 times and maybe go to the mall for a couple of hours. I need to build up to 6 or 7 hours of activity in the next 2 weeks. I feel I can do this. So today I start my Westminster Training program! Now as for the diet part: 1 7oz bag of Bugles 1 20oz Self-rising DiGiorno Pizza 1 small apple 1 15oz box Sugar Frosted Flakes 1 1oz box Post Raisin Bran 1/2 gal skim milk OK, that sounds good! Now for lunch: 1 serving ok, I'm just kidding.... I won't be having that apple. 
Wish me luck! |
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| We wish you all the best!!! If something fun, I`s amazing how much we can do!
Lene I was in Texas 2002 OES Special, with infection under both my feet, could nearly walk, but it was fun.... |
| Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!!!!
Let's go Ron!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! |
| Go Ron Go! You can do it!
If you're not going to eat that apple, Bob the Wonder Pony will take it off your hands. |
| Good for you, Ron!! You've got good motivation and that's half the battle. |
Go Ron Go! You can do it. It'll get easier and you'll get stronger as each day passes.  |
Woohoo Ron! I know you can do this! You're going to feel like a million bucks!     |
| You can do it, Man ! |
| Hey, Ron!
Too bad you weren't close enough to join Chummie! Good luck...we know you can do it!  |
| You can do it Ron!!
That does sound like a very long day, even for a normal healthy person. Perhaps you could schedule some afternoon downtime, like a massage or something. . . Or go to a movie. Someplace where you can get a bit of rest. |
Bosley's mom wrote: Too bad you weren't close enough to join Chummie! You mean for water exercise?Not a terrible idea, except I'm afraid it wouldn't do much to help me to lose weight. Lots of really fat whales out there. I used to be an avid and very good swimmer -- I was a Red Cross "Water Saftey Aide" at 16; You couldn't become a "Water Safety Instructor" until 18, if I recall correctly, which I did. I don't know what the rules are now. I was also an advanced slalom water skier.  Slalom Waterskiing, Julie S. Kang, Photographer |
| You can do it RON !
(As long as you skip that apple.You know those things are bad for you..) 
Antoinette |
| Oh Ron! That is a long day, but your endorphines will be working overtime. The day after the show...plan on being a sloth!!!! You'll be exhausted!!!! We're here to encourage you to do the right thing. And you've certainly got the motivation to do it! GO RON! GO RON! |
| GOOD LUCK RON!!! Hey, maybe those of us that are trying to get in shape should post a day-to-day progress thread...like Sky's belly, only in reverse!!! |
Quote: You mean for water exercise?
Not a terrible idea, except I'm afraid it wouldn't do much to help me to lose weight. Lots of really fat whales out there. Maybe not for weight loss, but it would be great for your endurance. Oh Ron, you just don't know how much I wish I could go. Everyone is gonna be there, and there is nothing I would rather do than go watch Mandy rule the ring. Shellie |
| Good luck in your preparations Ron!!
You'll have a blast watching Mandy at Westminster  |
| Too bad you can't hop up on the train....
The train station is directly underneath the arena! I can find any maps of the train station! I'm going to post about that in another forum. |
| Good goal Ron. There is a lot of standing involved at dog shows. Just wear really comfortable shoes too!
p.s. There are 8 million people at Grand Central Station. Just ask people where to go. New Yorkers are very helpful!! |
| http://www.iditarod.com/2007/
What limit yourself to Amtrak ?
Go Mulligan |
| Well this morning I didn't feel well walking Mulligan, so we did a short walk. Then I came home and felt nauseous for an hour or so. sheesh.
I feel better but I realized this AM I can't go to the mall today -- Joan is out of town with the car! lol So maybe just the three walks today and tomorrow, and the mall will have to wait until Friday. |
| Go Ron, Go
Several shorter walks outside will do until you have wheels........ |
I think my post may have left the wrong impression. I don't think the walking is what made me feel ill... It may have been the 3 pizzas.. 
Maybe it was that darned apple. I KNEW I shouldn't have done that. Too much "goodness" to ask the body to adjust to so quickly. |
| True, Ron...you might have gone into nutrition shock |
Feeling better, Ron?  |
| Maybe you need to poop?!
(we seem to talk about it for our dogs all the time...... ) |
| Do we have an update today? |
| Did you get out all that gas, Ron? |
| Gas?
Lessee, I've walked Mulligan twice today, and my legs aren't feeling any stronger. Used to be that after a day or two I was able to do more. I just don't seem to have that "recovery" in me right now. Oh well, I'll keep at it. The car comes home tonight, maybe I'll get over to the mall for some level walking. The street has a high crown and it's bothering me to walk down the street. I can't believe how weak I am. Sigh. |
| I guess that makes sense, although it is disappointing, that it would take longer to build back up your stamina. When you walk Mulligan, how far can you go? |
| Only as far as he'll let me!
I am going only about 3/4 of what I used to... last September I was able to go to the end of the street. By the end of 5 days I was able to go to the end of the street then up a really big hill. I'm only going about 3/4 of the way to the end of the street. Not very far. Then again it's cold, but that's not really the issue. It's that the legs hurt and I'm carrying so much more weight. |
| Hi Ron,
Don't give up. It takes, many, many months to come back from a serious illness. I speak from personal experience. I have Crohn's Disease and 11 years ago had a bad flare and was in the hospital for 9 months in a two year period and the rest of the time home bedridden. I also had my large intestine removed. After I started to feel better it took me six months to be able to climb the stairs in my house and another six months after that before I could go for a decent length walk without feeling like I was trying to climb Mt. Everest. I did come fully back, it just took over a year and it was a very frustrating period. Hang in there and go to Westminster. Just remember to give in to your body and rest when it says it needs rest. I look forward to meeting you in person there. Kathie |
| Thanks for the advice. It's just so frustrating that even though I was getting over the acute protion of the illness, that my muscles continued to get weaker and weaker.
Cool! I hope to see you! I assume I'll be able to climb up and sit in the stands to rest. If not, I might have to push Suzi out of her crate so I can sit on her "bench". |
| I never knew about any sort of illness, so your first post surprised me. I'm definitely rootin' for you!!
I'm with Valerie on getting a massage. Every time I get a wrap along with a facial, I feel like a million bucks and motivated to do anything!!! I normally lose a few pounds from the wrap too although it's water. Mr. J is SUPER macho, but now he doesn't argue when I say I scheduled him in for a facial. He won't admit to it, but he likes 'em
Good luck!! |
| Maybe there is someplace where you can rent one of those scooter chairs?
Something like this? http://www.thescooterstore.com/products/scooters.aspx |
| Hey Ron, don't forget that we'll have the hotel room right across the street so you can always just take a siesta to recoupe!! |
| Now THAT is good news! |
| I was at Westminster last year and the thing you can't plan orr train for is the crowds and the heat, although day 2 is easier than day 1. |
OK, today I did the mall for a while, but wasn't really happy with my performance, especially in the beginning. Note to self: Don't try to exercise after having a big meal with a friend I haven't seen in a long time. Try before. 
This is not going well at all for meeting the schedule. 
But, I am feeling pretty good, so I guess in the long run that's a good thing. OK, I KNOW that's a good thing. I guess. Maybe. sigh. Actually, the REALLY GOOD thing is that I actually felt stronger as the walk progressed -- I was feeling less discomfort from the meal and the legs were feeling better. In fact I turned up the pace just a bit (from waddle to stroll) near the end when I realized I left my wallet on the seat of the car in the parking lot. I was actually breathing hard == I haven't been short of breath from exercise in a year! So maybe things are looking up.
I take it back. I guess there is improvement, and I'm happy about my performance notwithstanding the slow start. Thanks for letting me share it made me feel better! |
| Yay Ron!!! Progress is progress, don't knock it |
| It sounds like a good day . Meeting frinds, eating out, getting exercise and doing more than you thought you could. I'd say you are off to a wonderful start! |
| All this Westminster talk got me motivated enough to upload my Westminster 2005 photos which can be seen in the gallery. Ron, I just wanted to bring to your attention that there are places to sit if you get tired - like all of Madison Square Garden.
Here's what it looks like around the rings (which are on the floor of the Garden) 
So you might be able to find a seat on the lower level near the ring so you don't have to stand. This is what it will look like around the OES ring. The ring is surrounded by a crowd 3-5 people deep. 
Note the OES trying to get into the ring. I took these shots on a walkway aisle in front of the seats. You are not allowed to stand there but usually security guards won't give you are hard time if you stop to snap a couple of photos for a second. There is some room off to the side of the ring where the dog handlers can stage a little before getting called to the ring - 
Outside the rings where I guess are usually concession areas, are now the benched & grooming areas. Here is a photo so you can see how crowded it is. It is also very HOT, so dressing in layers would be a good idea. 
I also wanted to sneak a photo in of Arlene who owns Windfall kennel & the #2 OES in the US named Destiny's Child. Arlene is a super lady!  |
| I'm Back... and I mostly survived, too!
I was up at 4:30AM to get out of the house by 5:30AM to catch the 6:30AM train to Penn Station by 10:45AM then on my feet until about 2:30 with maybe 3 or 4 five minute breaks. I took the escalators up into the stands and found a place to sit for a while, then I took a walk (stroll) in Manhattan. I walked about 8 blocks up 7th avenue, turned around, grabbed a bite at a fast food joint, and my legs said: "That's enough" about a block away from Penn Station. I managed my way back to Penn and to the seating area by 4:30PM where I sat until 7:00PM and my train home. By the time I got home (11PM) I was exhausted but my legs had recovered. I'm ready for another adventure! |
| That's great, Ron! I'm glad you survived and had a good time and are ready for more...what's next on your list? |
| Great job. If you made a full day through Westminster, I'd say you are game for anything! |
| You Go RON !!!!!
Congratulations, We knew you could do it.
P.S.... Now aren't you glad you did not eat that apple????????? LOL
Antoinette |
| Yeah, apples can be really really bad for you!
You know this if you've ever been to a luau.  |
| YEAH RON!!! Good for you!!!
Were you able to see everything from your seat? Did you meet up with Mandy, and/or other forumites?? Tell all!!  Us vicarious show-watchers need details! |
| Yeah, details people, details!!!
LOL |
Ron wrote: I managed my way back to Penn and to the seating area by 4:30PM where I sat until 7:00PM and my train home. By the time I got home (11PM) I was exhausted but my legs had recovered.
Were you afraid to come back? Crowds really thinned around 4-5 ish and they let us leave early 6pm as opposed to 8pm because of the weather. Glad you made it home okay. It is very exhausting being at Westminster. Soon as we brought Suzi back to the hotel room she could barely hold her head up she was sooooo tired! |
| I was thinking about Ron and hoping you were doing well yesterday! I looked for you in the stands. |
| I couldn't - I could barely get up. I was dying of thirst, but couldn't make it to the Dunkin' Donuts across from the waiting room.
By about 6PM my legs recovered enough to get something to drink.
This is actually a huge improvement over last week, where my legs gave out at the mall after only a couple of hours of hangning around and walking around. I had to sit there for a while too. Doubling stamina after a week or so I think is unbelievable! At this rate, a 100 mile ultra marathon is just days away! |
| OK, as soon as I can get away from this keyboard, it's off to the mall! |
| Good for you Ron!!! |
| Yay Ron!!! That is just great! I am so happy for you! This sounds like real progress and I just know you are going to keep it up. Progress is never a straight path. You've got to keep focused on the overall direction. Maybe when I am finally able to walk again we can motivate each other to keep working on endurance, etc. |
| Good for you Ron! That's quite an improvement.
Make sure you wear good running shoes (get new ones if they're old) for good support and comfort. Walking at the mall can cause soreness in your joints and back if the floor is a hard surface like concrete/tile. Try walking around a carpeted department store if you find you get sore from the mall. |
| Great idea Ron!! Let us know when you get back how you did. If you keep this up, a few times per week, you'll be amazed at your progress....especially considering how much progress you made in just a week's time. |
| Didn't make it to the mall. The dentist called and wanted me to come in early.
But I walked into the dentist's office from the car. |
| Ron, what a monumental effort. That should mean so much to Mandy that you went through so much to lend support to her and Suzi. It shows amazing character on your part. Sorry, it was such a rough go for you but I'm really glad you pushed through and gave it a shot.
I hope you had some fun too. Hopefully that's just the beginning of your mobilization and outings. |
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