Hey my first weight was a 2ltr milk can barely half filled with water. I used to take it on walks with me during lock downs. I used to do arm curls along the way, it also helped stop my arm from lifting into the handbag position 
Lorraine
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my left side is more often than not in that position, we’ve just started farmer walks with 12kgs but also few variations where I carry a 4kg weight over my head in the yoga studio… handbag arm is not a good look with the mini rucksack I have on the other side which leaves me with that confused look, which i am.
smiles
Nicky
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love it 
sorry my apropriatness filter isnt quite there yet I sometimes say what I’d say with close friends but out loud…
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And I do that myself a lot of the time😊
Just be you Nicky, we all have enough to contend with just to do that 
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Absolutely fantastic
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Amazing achievement @NckWhlr 
I love swimming, such a great exercise! Remember that most people at the gym or swimming are too busy concentrating on what they are doing to notice others so don’t let it hold you back!
Anna
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Hi Ann.
Going to miss you and your help and chats!
Best wishes Janet
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Hi Janet, I’m still going to be around the forum cheering you all along just not doing the moderating whilst they review it.
Hope you’re getting on ok & your stepping up & down practice is coming along.
Best wishes
Ann
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That’s good Ann. As for getting up kerbs etc think it will never happen! No way can I get on that stepper with just my stick for support. It’s so stupid!
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I wonder if you have a mental block. They are harder to get past than the physical bit I think. You might need a distraction technique - although not too distracting. Can you get on & off a kerb with someone helping you? Is it the stick thats the issue. What if you tried a quad stick would that make a difference? Keep persevering you’ll get there I’m sure.
Best wishes
Ann
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Yes can do it with someone helping. Can get up and downstairs holding onto the banisters! Can do any step however big as long as there is something solid like a wall to hold onto. Just can’t rely on the stick! Mental block is probably right!
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Sounds likeyou need to build up trust in the stick & that it isn’t going to give way when you put more weight on it. I wonder if that is something you could try without a step involved. Just try transferring your weight onto it standing still then perhaps try it on a step but without then taking a step. Sort of like taking it 1 stage at a time. I’ve never tried it - just thinking out loud but yoy never know.
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Will give that a try. Who knows it could help! Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks Ann
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You’ve got the step now I take it?
You can set the step beside a counter or back of a couch or anything you can hold onto.
This exercise will also be easier standing side-on to the step, because you are only going to lower your to to floor.
Standing on the step, bend one knee and lower other foot to touch floor and come straight back up again. Do not step all the way off.
Then repeat, and keep on doing that until you feel the muscles burning in that bent knee.
Take a minute break and start again on the other foot, 3 rounds with each leg if you can and do them daily for a week.
After a week, raise the step one level and repeat the exercise for the 2nd week.
On the 3rd week raise another level and repeat the exercise again for a week.
After 3 weeks of doing that consistently, you should be ready to consider progressing to actually stepping off the step at it’s lowest level.
The muscles in your leg, particularly your knees, should be feeling stronger and with a bit of spring in them to raise your confidence in your leg’s ability to hold your body’s weight as you descend that short step.
You’ve had a few falls, even broken your wrist as a result. Confidence in your body’s ability to hold you up is shot, you just don’t trust it, do you? And that’s not going to build up overnight as a result. You are going to have build trust in it, but first you have to get those knees strong enough to put your trust in them.
You are going to have to build that back up and the exercise step is perfect for that. The exercise itself is weight resistance training using your own body weight.
Build the strength first, then rebuild the trust and confidence, it’ll be far easier that way round
Trust me, I’m not talking out of hat here, I’ve had to do it myself 3 times in the past 8yrs. Stepping off a kirb on crutches and land on one foot without going splat is no mean feat. To do it after a stroke with no stick at all, well, actually I started out going down sideways hanging on to my hubby😅
What you do need though is a motivator, someone to encourage you and spur you on.
How about a mouse…or a spider 
Good luck Apple, let me know how it’s going and I want to hear positive progress in 3 weeks 
Lorraine
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Thanks Lorraine. Yes the step is here! Why I thought that once it arrived I would be able to immediately step up and down on it I have no idea! I stand there holding my stick and can’t step up 4 inches!! Most of it is I can’t rely on the stick. We’ve tried putting a heavier more solid rubber on the boot the stick but no help! I am quite strong in that I do sit to stands and squats fairly easily now but will try your tips - thank you. In the meantime I too will cling on to husband or preferably the nearest wall to get up a kerb or step! Thanks again for your help!
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Could it be the style of the stick, and I don’t just mean the bottom, but the top too. The handle, the style/method of grip, even the height can be the to our stroke brain even if its only out by a centimetre. Or it could just be lack of trust in yourself, which is understandable. Do you still have the balance issue?
Lorraine
Hi. Yes bit of balance issue but better than it was but still have very strange buzzy head. Not getting any answers from GP or Neurology at hospital so just trying - not very successfully- to ignore it!
Thank you very much for all your help I’m now off to do sit to stand, squats and to fight with the stepper thingy! Janet
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