Pain in the Neck!

It was a morning like any other. I woke Lil’J, who headed to the shower, and I trudged back to my room to change out of my PJ’s. Somewhere along the line…crick…shooting pain from my neck down my back and into my left arm. Just one small movement did it -- pinched a nerve, poked a disc, or maybe even popped a thingamajig. Whatever it was, my head was firmly cemented facing forward, and looking neither left nor right was a possibility.

Okay, so I popped some Aleve and got a heat pack and went about my day. But, my day was tough. Backing up in the car was totally mirror dependant. I survived, and didn’t run anyone over. Laundry, walking the dog, any household chores were completely out of the question. Even talking on the phone was difficult. By 10 a.m. I was already depressed and frustrated.

So, I had a few hours (24) of pain. Slow stretching and deep breathing helped. Plus, I’ll admit it, I have a stash of some really strong muscle relaxants from a few years ago and one before bed did the trick. I slept like a rock and awoke with at least some neck mobility. But my pain in the neck left an impact. This being the Thanksgiving season and all, I couldn’t help but be really thankful that I would not have to endure another day of pain and depression.

My good health brought to mind many of my friends and family who are suffering on a daily basis. People very close to me are battling with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, neck and back pain, not to mention a close relative who just had a knee operation. If I found one day of pain exhausting, imagine what these people go through every day. So, I’m planning to check in on my friends who are having a tough time, and to remind them of their bravery. It’s a helpless feeling, being around someone in pain. But maybe talking, checking in, or just an acknowledgement that they are doing a good job dealing with their pain can help.

Eating Smarter and Walking Stronger

There is a chill in the air, the kids are back to school and I decided to wear an old pair of comfy jeans this morning – only, they weren’t so comfy. The waist was a bit snug. I had to smile, remembering ice cream on those balmy summer nights, or the new tasty flax seed chips I discovered and became addicted to this summer, or the trendy Sangria I ordered whenever possible. Yes, it was a good summer, full of fond epicurean memories that linger around my waistline. But now, reality sinks in and overfloweth my jeans.
The problem is, when it comes to diet and exercise, I feel like I’ve “been there, done that.” I just don’t have the desire to hit the gym anymore, and I find running to be tedious. I’ve done low-fat, I’ve done low-carb, and I’ve gotten so confused that I end up eating low-fat (pretzels) with low-carb (nuts) which translates to a high-carb/ high-fat diet.
So I decided to do some research, and while standing in Marshall’s waiting for Lil’J to come out of the dressing room, I picked up a book called Eat Smart, Walk Strong. This sounded like it was right up my alley, or aisle, so to speak. At first glance, I liked some of the concepts of Leslie Sansone’s book so much, I sprung and spent the $3.99 for the hardcover. (Marshall’s has great bargains!)
Sansone doesn’t say anything earth shattering in her book, but she presents health and fitness as a matter of improving habits. Basically, she explains that I shouldn’t spend all my time trying to break my chip-noshing habit; rather I should start a new healthy habit that will eventually squeeze the chips out of my diet. One recommendation I like is increasing water consumption -- yes, the old 8 glasses of water a day. After reading that, I remembered how much water I used to drink, and how full it made me. And, then there’s the classic 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day. If I’m eating so many fruits and veggies, I may not have room for ice cream. These are just two of the many recommendations in the book -- I’ve decided to start small and see where it takes me.
So, in addition to walking my dog every day, and trying to squeeze in some strength training at home, I plan to change my eating habits. How are you working off those extra summer pounds?