Here's a nice little distraction...
About a year ago I felt good enough to start exercising again, but I was having trouble getting motivated. I can't recall exactly how (I think it was one of those ads all over the place on Facebook), but I ran across a product called "Goji Play" from a company called Blue Goji. It has great reviews so I spent $100 or so and got it. It's basically a set of controllers that can be strapped to a piece of exercise equipment, in my case an elliptical, that allows you to play games on your iPhone or tablet will exercising. There are quite a few dedicated games available and my favorites are the lane-changing type where you are a character that is racing along avoiding obstacles, collecting coins, racing against other characters and the like. The buttons on the controllers change your direction or make you jump and your speed is determined by how fast you run or spin on the piece of exercise equipment. What is amazing about it is that the games require just enough concentration and entertainment that time literally flies by.
Earlier this year Blue Goji introduced the next generation of controllers and as a promotion created a contest, called "Goji Madness". Contestants could enter in one of four categories, open, over 60, BMI over 28, or veterans. The top 64 contestants, 16 in each category, would go through elimination rounds with prizes at each round. After 3 rounds there would be only 4 contestants left, one in each category, and the four would be flown to New York City where the semifinal and final rounds would take place live. I entered the contest in the "Seniors Rock" category not thinking much about it, and was totally surprised that I made it to the elimination rounds. I initially thought the email notification was spam and almost deleted it. Elimination rounds would be held each weekend where I would be paired up with another contestant with the winner of 2 out of 3 games would progress to the next round. Well, I won the next three rounds and I am one of the final four! My wife and I will be flown to New York City for the semifinals where the final winner drives away in a Chevy Camaro!
What's amazing to me about this, other than an old fat guy made it this far, is that a year ago I was entering the infamous 2-year flare and was shivering, sweating, unable to sleep, itching like a mofo, covered with oozing, cracking, and flaking skin and wishing life away. Even though I am going through a mini-flare right now (limited to my hands) I generally feel fantastic and am ready to take on the other contestants!
By the way, the folks at Blue Goji have been incredibly nice! http://www.bluegoji.com/gojimadness
That's so cool Dave. You've got to do this for team TSW! Go Dave!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Louise! They asked for a "blurb" about me so I gave them this:
ReplyDeleteCapnDave
I am a happily married 61 year old aerospace engineer from Keller, Texas. I have three wonderful daughters, including identical twins who just graduated from Texas Tech University, and two grandsons . I presently work for Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth Texas.
My nickname “Cap’n Dave” comes from living aboard an old wood trawler for a year while single in Seattle. My lovely wife Robin is a retired wedding cake bakery owner, and is now a full time volunteer seamstress and administrator for NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown® Program. They lovingly create and provide free bereavement gowns made from donated wedding dresses for babies that do not make it home from the hospital. I am presently helping out the program by using my design experience to redesign their gown patterns.
I have struggled with skin eczema my entire life. I became addicted to over-prescribed topical corticosteroids to the point where 4 years ago even the strongest ones stopped working. I have been going through topical steroid withdrawal, a long and debilitating process, for the past 3 years. About a year ago my health had improved to the point when I could start exercising again. When searching for a way to become motivated, I ran across the Goji Play system. Based on positive reviews I gave it a try on my elliptical. It is amazing! When the offer to enter Goji Madness came up I of course entered, as part of the “Seniors Rock” category. Honestly, I never thought I would even make it to the elimination rounds, let alone the final four! It has been a blast, the prizes are amazing, and the folks at Blue Goji have been incredibly friendly.
Visiting New York City has been on my bucket list forever, and I am so excited to be given this opportunity! Thank you Blue Goji!
My personal topical steroid withdrawal blog: www.davestsw.blogspot.com
Topical steroid withdrawal support organization: www.iitsan.org
NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program: http://www.nicuhelpinghands.org/programs/angel-gown-program/
I truly believe that you and Robin deserve to win. You both do so much to help others. I will be rooting for you both on Saturday! Can't wait to see how it goes!
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise! Well, I won the semifinal round, but lost the final round, coming in second overall. The guy that won really deserved it... he had worked very hard. By making it to the final I won a Bowflex trainer, but the nice folks at Blue Goji are letting me pick out a machine, and I am looking at getting a home gym to help Robin maintain what leg strength she still has (she has muscular dystrophy and struggles going up, such as curbs or stairs). I can't believe I made as far as a did in the competition, and Robin and I had a blast in Manhattan!
ReplyDelete