Here’s To My Health….Oooo, ah, Ouch….

Me and my achy body came in from my walk around the neighborhood yesterday….my new ritual that I have recently constituted along with my new, healthier diet.  It’s not an automatic thing for me….never has been; but it’s the ‘NEW’ plan on my way to a healthier lifestyle.  Why?  Because my “OLD’ plan apparently hasn’t been cutting it…..albeit is a heck of a lot more fun.   However, according to my doctor, MY plan will start working against me if I don’t take some serious action and do something about it…..NOW.  Though nothing is life-threatening, he’s worried about the possibilities of things like Diabetes, heart disease, stroke and such….all related to my on-going battle to lose weight.  I already have some of the achy knees, hips and back stuff that comes with the territory of getting older.  It’s not like I haven’t heard those words before, and it’s not like I didn’t already know what he was going to tell me.  I’m just not crazy about being told, and I don’t give him much of a chance to lecture me since I make as few appearances to his office as possible…..you know; I’ve got to be feeling pretty shitty and willing to risk a lecture. As nice as he is, and as good a relationship as we have…I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop.                                                                                                   

Unfortunately I was scheduled for one of those appointments…..I didn’t have a choice.  They were holding my prescriptions hostage and wouldn’t fill them until I came in for a complete physical.  Cripes, it had only been four years.  That didn’t seem so outrageous to me.  But my doctor knows me pretty well.  He wanted the whole battery of tests done.  I always feel like a car going in for a complete tune-up.  Heart…fine.  Hearing…fine.  Blood pressure….good. (Well fine for being on medicine.)  Mammogram….fine.  EKG…fine.  Lungs…fine.  Cholesterol….okay.  A slight elevation in my glucose count.  This is the main reason why I’m constituting the ‘NEW’ plan…..bummer.                                                                                                       

Hey, it is what it is.  I didn’t gain this weight overnight.  I’ve had a sweet tooth all my life.  I’ve loved bread and starches all my life.  What I don’t quite remember is:  When did I get so lazy?  I was always so naturally active.  As a kid I couldn’t sit still…..I was a tomboy.  As a teenager I was a cheerleader and into gymnastics and loved sports.  As a young mother I was constantly ‘on the go’ running after little ones.  That didn’t stop for years…well into their high school years really.  Maybe it happened when they went off to college and things slowed down for me.                                                                                                                      

It became a very different life in my late forties and fifties when there were really no more kids in the house and it was just my husband and I.  I worked some of those years, but things were definitely slowing down….and I must have been slowing down right along with them whether I knew it or not.  I was okay with that.  I think it was even my plan.  Then of course there are always those things you never plan for.                                                                                                                      

Death has a way of slowing you down like nothing else.  It can immobilize you if you’re not careful.  I was surprised at how well I thought I did after my husband, Joel, died 2 ½ years ago.  I did what I had to.  I handled whatever needed to be taken care of….almost like a checklist; and still tried to feel like I was existing in my normal day….or what could be normal for me at that point.  Then right on the heels of that, I got hit with my mother getting ill and her death.  Here’s how I remember my existence at that time….                                                                                    

I took care of paperwork and legal issues.  I blogged and read blogs.  I worked on BlogHer.  I cleaned some of Joel’s things out.  I saw family members.  I read blogs.  I worked on BlogHer.  I had things fixed in the house that Joel never got around to.  I’d drive out to see my mother and bring her what she needed.  I talked on the phone to my kids…a lot.  I played games on the computer.  I read  blogs. I blogged.  I e-mailed.  I reviewed blogs for BlogHer.  I met with my brother to discuss my mother. I had more things repaired around the house.  I met with a financial advisor, insurance agents and bank representatives.  I spent time with my kids.  I played and worked on the computer.  I had lunch with friends.  I blogged.  I answered e-mails.  I blogged.  I worked on BlogHer.  Along with my brother, I took care of the details of my mother’s death.  I finally flew out to see my new grandson, Bastian, two months late.  And I joyfully celebrated the marriage of my beautiful daughter, Jory.

                                                                                                          

Does anyone notice a pattern here?  Does anyone see one mention of exercise?  Well in all honesty, that wouldn’t be totally fair.  There have been periods in those 2 ½ years that I actually did exercise on a fairly regular basis on my stationary bike that my son, Joe, got for me.  My problem is consistency.  I’ve started using my bike again too.                                                                                                

I have to use the Double Whammy of walking and using my exercise bike to counteract all the hours I spend sitting in front of the computer hour after hour….day after day.  Now THIS is where I’m consistent!  And although my computer was a haven and a refuge for me at some very stressful times in my life, it is also what’s gotten me into such disastrous trouble.  I have NO guidelines when it comes to the computer….blogging…..BlogHer….e-mail…. computer games…..and everything surrounding the internet. I don’t know when to call it a day.  I go from one thing to the next to keep caught up.  By the time I’m done….it’s often into the wee hours of the morning, my ankles are swollen, and I fall into bed.  Hello?  What kind of exercise program is that?                                                                                                                    

Good news….my fingers are damn skinny.  

Comments

[Denise]

I noticed that, you do have skinny fingers! ;-)

Good job on the neighborhood walking and when we get there, we'll go for walks with you. It's more fun to walk with someone anyway - just a warning, TW walks crooked and tries to run people off of sidewalks. It's ok, I'm used to it and will run interference so she doesn't knock you over.

[junie]

OH,JOY!

That's me too!

The computer has been an escape for me- especially after my mom's death...and all the changes with my grandkids etc...

But I realize I need to balance things out better in my life now!

I need the exercise too! I need to lose a LOT of weight! Skinny fingers are fine- but I need a skinnier body to go with them! :)

Love,

Junie

PS- good luck to both of us!! :)

[kenju]

You've broken the code. I know that blogging is why my butt keeps spreading and my legs have turned to jelly.

I went to my health club today and had a good workout, but my problem is not beling able to do that 3 times per week on a regular basis!!

[jen]

Joy, good on you for taking your doctor's advice and exercising. Seriously, once you get used to going for walks I reckon you'll look forward to them.

Perhaps you can take a camera with you and take photos.

I find it also helps to have a goal in mind, eg walking to the shops or the post office. Have you thought of getting a dog? I call mine my personal trainer because she forces me out the door.

[buffy]

Oh, sweetie...I'm SO glad you went to the doctor. I totally understand how you feel about that, but you needed to hear that advice so that you'll be here for a good long time! By the way, I'm right there with you, on every problem. I need that lecture, too!

Has it ever occured to you that you might be meant to create an exercise support group for those of us addicted to our computers??? Like you, I have no stop button once I turn on the computer. Just as I have no stop button when it comes to eating.

Portion control, frequency of meals and adequate excercise will be our by-words from now on!

You have my support, always! Anytime I can help, just let me know.

[travelinoma]

I haven't had any major life crises, but I understand about the whole computer thing replacing any kind of exercise. But my fingers aren't even skinny. I admire anyone who starts (or re-starts) a health regime. Good luck!

[BearNaked]

Yes I too blame the computer for the fact that in the last three years I have gained 23 pounds. But I also think my metabolism changed when I became post-menopausal.
Bravo to you for starting to walk around your neighbourhood.

[storyteller]

Ohmygosh! You must be a ‘sister separated at birth’ … for my doctor behaves similarly regarding ‘meds’ when I let too much time pass between visits … and (although I’ve only been at it a relatively brief time) blogging has caused me to exercise less (much to Molly’s dismay). Perhaps I’ll make an effort to follow your good example and make a commitment to myself to turn over a new leaf too. Of course, the Photoshop class I'm taking won't help me with that goal. Good luck with YOUR changes.
Hugs and blessings,

[Suzz]

Hey, get up and get going. I learned the hard way to take better care of me. I'm doing good now, but it took an emergency to scare the ice cream out of my hands!

[chancy]

Good for you Joy. I love Suzz comment about:
"it took an emergency to scare the ice cream out of my hands!"

[Nancy]

Joy,

I won't say I'm fat but:

At our supermarket they have one of those giant talking scales. There was a crowd looking on as I stepped on the scale yesterday. Then it happened.

Instead of announcing my weight the scale intoned:

ONE AT A TIME PLEASE!!!!!

[Peter]

Hi Joy,exercise all you want... some of us are meant to be "robust".... with skinny fingers though.

[Liz]

I have skinny fingers too! That sounds a lot like me - not knowing when to stop blogging and go to bed. But I do have George who insists on a dilay walk. Have you thought of getting a dog?

(Now that's an interesting way of typing 'daily'!)

[Martin Tip]

Just found your site by accident doing a search for something completely unrelated. I very much like what i have seen so far! Added your RSS feed to my rss reader, looking forward to reading more. thanks

[Suzann]

One thing we both know for sure, Joy - life really is short. I am so glad you are taking your doctor's guidance to heart. I know how difficult it is - I am now working on losing the weight I have gained since banishing the ciggies from my life - cripes, it is hard. I am here for you - cheering you along every step of the way. Hugs

[Merle]

dear Joy ~~ Good on you and do please keep it up as when you get to my age, you CAN'T exercise, and you DO have health problems. You will find it easier the longer you are doing it. The bike and walking are both good and just watch what you eat. We are all cheering you on my dear friend, lots of fruit and juice drinks,lots of water. Best of luck which means hard work. Loved the photos of Bella and Bastian - they really love each other and it shows.Take care my friend,Love you, Merle

[Mary Kay (the sister-in-law)]

Not to discourage you're walking regiment but here are a couple of things to think about, (or add some humor to your thoughts as you walk/ride the bike)

"Walking adds minutes to your life, this enables you to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home, at $8000/month."

"I have to walk early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing."

"The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again."

We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.