[Yong]

As the unfortunately number of you might already know, us 'gimps' have a easy time gaining weight around our mid-section and a helluva time trying to get rid of it.

I was in the US Marine Corps before my injury and running 5 miles a day kept the weight off..but after the accident and not much of a change in my diet..I gained about 20 pounds of fat in the 10 months I've been injured.

I've decided to quit whining about my fat self and go out there and EXERCISE.

I signed up for a wheelchair tennis league here in Georgia and went to my first practice on Friday. Already blistered pushing the chair with the racket, but I absolutely love the feeling of my heart pumping.

My goal for now is to move on up to A Class in tennis wheelchair (A, B, C with A being the highest) but ultimately I would really like to go to the Olympics. Too early to say anything now..but I can have dreams right?

[ryan08/06/88]

Go for it!

I have similar goals although round here there is no wheelchair sport whatsoever so I'm having to drive to london, whihc, when you're a student, I you can't afford to do too often

[Texaswheelz]

It's great isn't it? I got to try it last Sept and have been itching to do it again since then but haven't been able to. I was only in a tennis chair that day learning the basics for about 10 minutes but it felt like the most exercise i have had in years. Gotta find some place around here to get out there and start playing this Spring.

[Yong]

ryan08/06/88, on Feb 18 2008, 07:14 AM, said:

when you're a student, I you can't afford to do too often

Isn't THAT the truth!? I'm having to drive about 100 miles (160km) plus round-trip to play 3 hours of tennis. Killer on gas but I think it's well-worth it in the long run. Plus the lessons and the coaching is free.

As for the actual chair? I'm having to postpone that purchase until a later date

[Yong]

Just got word from my tennis coach that he has a tennis chair for me to use! I've been going to practice and borrowing a chair there but now I have to take home and practice.

This is good stuff.

[Texaswheelz]

Nice, the chair is the hardest part to come up with. I went last weekend and met the coach that coach's several wheelchair tennis players in the area. I'm going to a clinic that he is having over the next 4 Saturdays and then seeing where I go from there, wether I pay him for lessons after that or just play some on my own with some other guys I know. He also has a chair I can use, but only when he's around .