Happy New Years to everyone....resolutions and I mean it this time!!!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Must lose weight and strengthen all my muscles, especially the legs, knees and back....

My computer is acting up....

Short and sweet....will eat half as much breakfast (about 250 to 300 calories instead of 500) as I have been doing.

Also, I plan to carry a pad to write down everything I eat when I am away from my laptop.

My daily calorie goal is 1200 to 1500 (according to SparkPeople) and apparently I have been closer to 2000 or more....so no wonder I have gained 15 lb in the past 6 months.

My internist said it is "understandable" why I have gained weight in the past 1-1/2 years with 2 knee replacements....whether it is "understandable" or "forgivable" I feel bad about it as it is obviously affecting my "quality of life."

And again, "today is the first day of the rest of my life."

(hope I don't hit that mysterious combination of keys that wipes out my blog before I can post...again).....
Happy New Year and don't drink and drive and don't ride with anyone under the influence, please!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RAINBOWFALLS 1/1/2011 9:25AM

I have those mysterious keys too! I have had issues with writing blogs and somehow selecting everything and wiping it out. I started using word to write the blog so if it happened I could undo and get what I wrote back. Good Luck in the New Year! Report Inappropriate Comment

CATLADY52 12/31/2010 6:09PM

Have a very good New Year! Report Inappropriate Comment

DR1939 12/31/2010 4:41PM

I have the same keys on my laptop. We need to alert the computer manufacturers. Report Inappropriate Comment

MCGS62 12/31/2010 2:20PM

Happy New Year! Report Inappropriate Comment

PATTYKLAVER 12/31/2010 11:02AM

Here's hoping you have a great new year. Report Inappropriate Comment

BARBARAJ73 12/31/2010 10:18AM

And right back to you.... ! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHALLENGER75 12/31/2010 10:06AM

Sounds like a good plan! Report Inappropriate Comment

FISHING88 12/31/2010 10:01AM

Sounds like you have a very specific achievable plan for yourself. Hope you are successful and have a wonderful new year! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGA99 12/31/2010 9:59AM

GOD BLESS U Report Inappropriate Comment

CATHY629 12/31/2010 9:50AM

Glad i'm not the only one who manages to hit those mysterious keys that wipes out everything i've just typed. Have a happy new year Cathy Report Inappropriate Comment

Faux pas at the doctor's office....ooops.....(I've fallen and can't get up)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

I took off my clunky winter shoes to get weighed for my annual physical and when I got off the scale I tripped on my shoes and fell on my behind. I was not able to get up and the nurse couldn't help me up, either and so it took two large nurses to get me off the floor.

Quite embarrassing...when I told my knee surgeon later in the afternoon about this, he was concerned as he said what are you going to do if you are alone and this happens....????

His suggestions were to get busy doing more knee and leg strengthening exercises and lose some weight. (I knew that....but I have been not facing reality.....)





P.S. I have only a few bruises from this fall.

I have googled this evening regarding building muscles and strategies for future falls (I have fallen several times in the past year) and so I am sharing a website I found with an article about this problem.

I searched for knee exercises on Spark People and found some really great ones...

Just search under exercises and knees and you should be able to find it. Some of these are the ones I was supposed to be doing ever since my second knee surgery.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MILLISMA 12/31/2010 2:51PM

Thanks for sharing this site. I also do leg strengthening exercises every day so this could be useful. Sorry to hear about your fall but glad you were okay. Report Inappropriate Comment

FRAN0426 12/30/2010 10:47PM

Glad to see you have decided to check into the strenghtening exercises for you knees and legs. Thanks for sharing the website. I will check it out---I do srrenght exercises for kness every day B/cuz of bursitis in left leg, so may find some more to do myself. Report Inappropriate Comment

Spring seems so far behind..........exercise plans for 2011....

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Especially when my back and neck are bothering me, staying in bed too long makes everything worse. So when my alarm went off this morning (I forgot to unset it) I just fed the cats and went back to bed for another 2 hours for a total of 8.5 hours. My recent neck pain started after I slept 12 hours on Christmas.

I was able to swim about 20 minutes yesterday and that felt good. I am a bit disappointed in myself as I hoped to exercise 1000 minutes this month again like I had for the previous 3 months. But I have to remember I am only human and January is a new month coming soon and I know I can exercise 1000 minutes in January.

My goal for exercise in 2010 was about 8,500 minutes and I have passed 10,000, so I am proud of that accomplishment. My 2011 goal is 12,000 minutes for the year and I know I can achieve that, especially if I don't take too many days off from the gym. The swimming is the best and what I enjoy most. My plan for the coming year is to do more variety at the gym and home incuding leg press and recumbent bike. When my neck and back are done spasming I will even get on the treadmill again and when the weather is better (in about April) I will get outdoors and walk in my neighborhood. Oh, spring reigns eternal in the human heart!!! (is that the worst paraphrase ever?...it is actually "Hope springs eternal in the human beast....I mean breast.")

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DEE107 12/30/2010 10:12AM

there are times we dont make our goals.. try mini goals instead of one large one Report Inappropriate Comment

RAINBOWFALLS 12/30/2010 9:51AM

I wasn't able to reach my minutes this month either due to illness. I think not beating ourselves up is important Report Inappropriate Comment

Going to work today ....

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Today my neck is much better and the headache is only a dull not severe one. The "new ache of the day" is my mid to lower back. I haven't decided whether to use a cane or just use my old lady grocery cart to carry whatever I need to carry to work (purse and lunch). I might just pare down to the bare minimum and wear my jacket with the big pockets. I probably carry too much junk around anyhow. Let's see...
My need list when I leave the house:
Wallet
Keys
Nasal spray & inhaler
brush, chap stick
dental floss
Acetaminophen for back/neckache/headache

Lunch....(orange & protein bar) Have peanut butter and ww bread in my desk.

That could be put in my pockets of my jacket. Today I should be okay at work and will manage with the lower backache if I remember to get up and stretch at least every 45 minutes or so. Thank goodness I have tomorrow off from work.


An important P.S.
I found this on someone else's blog and found it appropriate:

Please Copy and Paste if you have enjoyed the blessing of meeting people online that you never would have met any other way. This is my end of the year shout-out to the many "friends" I have never been in the same room with but who have inspired, amused, comforted, encouraged, and touched me in so many ways. I love you people! Here's to another year together.'

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RAINBOWFALLS 12/29/2010 5:28PM

I hope your day went well at work. A Happy New Year to you too. Report Inappropriate Comment

CATLADY52 12/29/2010 3:10PM

Sometimes all we need is someone to say "Hi" and we are happy. Have a good New Year and say "Hi" to someone else. Report Inappropriate Comment

DJS-DEBBIE 12/29/2010 11:31AM

Have a good day - sounds like you have a good plan for your back. Great news about your eyesight! Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 12/29/2010 7:38AM

Have a Happy New Year and take care of yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

Chapter 2: Good news, eyes are better and I need weaker glasses....

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I had just seen the opthalmologist about a month ago for a yearly exam and so going again today, I felt a bit sheepish...about returning so soon. First thing I said was the orhopedic doctor told me to come here. I also said I could see better for driving without my glasses and I woke up yesterday with a neck ache, headache and blurry vision. Went to work and had to hold my head about 4 inches from the computer and leaning forward also increased my neck pain.

It turned out I don't need glasses for driving and and I need a weaker reading correction. I had used the driving glasses for almost a year and suddenly I could see better without them than with them. As for reading and computer I had been using 2.25 to 2.5 strength readers for at least the past 2-3 years and today was tested as needing only 1.5 strength readers. (This change happened suddenly overnight as far as I could tell. It might have happened more gradually but the biggest change coincided with waking up with a horrible neckache and headache.)

I was afraid I had some horrible eye disease or was losing my vision as I was seeing double with each eye separately and together.
I have to thank God for this blessing! My eyes have actually improved over the past year and I am greatly relieved.

If my neckache and headache are improved tomorrow morning when I wake up I will go back to work.

I am unable to see physical therapy for my neck until a week from Friday and I am scheduled to see the neurologist next week on Thursday. I will try some more ice as suggested by the chiropractor this evening and take a muscle relaxer before going to bed.

For now, I will stay away from the gym as I don't want to strain my neck.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RAINBOWFALLS 12/29/2010 5:39PM

I wish my eyes would improve - I've had to get stronger glasses every year. Report Inappropriate Comment

ALMOSTRETIREDRN 12/29/2010 3:14PM

As our eyes change shape as we age, we actually can get improved vision as we age. Yeh for us!! You could also have been holding your head in an unusual position because you couldn't see well which could also have contributed to your aching neck. Hopefully the new glasses will also decrease the neck pain. I was very nearsighted as a child and have vastly improved near vision. Now if only my knees and ankles would get the message and improve with age. Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 12/29/2010 7:40AM

So glad your eyesight is better! Report Inappropriate Comment

DR1939 12/28/2010 7:47PM

Good about the glasses. Hope the neck pain gets better. Have you had a neurological and/or orthopedic evaluation? I had neck and shoulder pain and headaches for years, and it was a ruptured disk. I used popsicles for icing. Just freeze bathroom cups filled with water and either a popsicle stick or a spoon in it. They work really well. Before you rub them on lay a towel soaked in cool water over the area. I ended it with a heating pad. This was prescribed by a physical therapist. Best wishes. I know how miserable it is. Report Inappropriate Comment