As  I related in my last endeavor on these pages, this is the first post totally covering my therapy and efforts to avoid or at least delay hip replacement surgery. Day 4 includes my second day of water therapy and my 4th day of excercise at home.

Day 2 in the water went much better than day 1. A bit discouraged as I didn't feel I had done much good, I decided to increase my efforts to two sets of each exercise. My therapist instructed me to take it right up to the edge of pain and today I could feel the resistance of each exercise. Some were still easy, but several were definetly working my muscles. As a result, I felt much more encouraged with the effort.

I also increased the post workout whirlpool to 15 minutes and 12 minutes in the sauna.

My weight at the end of the session was 268 so I have now lost 8 pounds since my first visit to Dr. David last month. (276)

Later today, after I relax a bit from this morning, I'll do Day 4's exercises at home. By tomorrow, I plan to increase the home workout to 2 sessions per day. Those workouts still are a strain and each hurt like hell. I'm also still feeling soreness after each session which should decrease soon.

I am also realizing the importance of maintaining a positive mental outlook to this whole program. My getting discouraged Monday didn't help my efforts yesterday and today. When I started feeling I was doing something good, everything worked better. So, I need to work on the positive outlook.

On Friday, I want to ask the therapist about use of some of the equipment at the Y and trying actual swimming.