FitOKay's Journal, 31 May 2014

hey that's a awesome ideah! I think I'll gauge my month to month totals too. Thank you for sharing and keep up the great work! 

I like the idea of watching the averages too and juxtaposing that against the diet to see the hits and misses. Awesome idea! 

Thanks Luc2 and LAdymist! Just reminding myself of how it all adds up =) 

Those exercise stats are impressive! Like you, I have various health issues that made me have to change the way I exercise. Unfortunately, since mine involve my low back (herniated disk 11 years ago), I will not be emulating your performance, lol. I think I'll take a page from your book, though, and try to capture my 4-month weight loss in an easy-to-view blurb. WTG!!! Keep it up! 

Gilliansings. I have advanced thoracic degenerative disc disease. There are ways to use cushions and etc to help and there are lots of different ways to do things like crunches to keep from pressure off or on certain parts. I also have physical therapy that I do to strengthen specific muscles to help things (I actually suspect the physical therapy is why I was able to up my reps so quickly on these is from years of doing the same physical therapy daily). When I was diagnosed my arms were numb, my reflexes were a mess, I had trouble holding onto to things or making my arms and hands do what I wanted them to and typing was nearly impossible. I was told surgery was the only option. Surgery is one of my biggest fears though so I started looking for any other option. Physical therapy and chiropractor were able to completely turn my symptoms around using the principal that if you put things back the way they should be and strengthen the muscles around them you can radically slow the progression of the disease. For me it not only slowed the progression but also gave me feeling back in my arms and normal use of my arms and hands back with only occasional slips. Anyone with spine issues I would heavily encourage to look into using pt training muscles and chiropractic care to help strengthen the back and realign the spine. When I was diagnosed strength training exercise wouldn't even have been an option. Today my doctors are fine with it as long as it doesn't involve weight lifting. 

Well done! All the little bits add up, you are doing great :-)  

CalynLZ, I agree with everything you said. Unfortunately, my herniated disk did not respond to physical therapy after four months and was severe enough to warrant surgery. As many people know, surgery equals scar tissue and my numbness/burning/pain came back at about 20% of its pre-surgery level. If I overdo it in ANY area of my life, I end up limping for days. I have done core muscle exercises recommended by my PT, physiatrist, and neurosurgeon WITHOUT FAIL and still cannot do more than a certain amount, no matter how carefully I try to work my way up to them. Have tried swimming, walking, yoga, pilates, strength-training, etc. Pretty much have similar issues with all of them, so just have to learn my limits and be OK with them. So glad that you are able to exercise smart and work your way up to the level you are at. I know how challenging thoracic symptoms can be. I had some cervical spine narrowing and experienced right shoulder/arm/hand numbness and pain for a few months. With my previous surgery history, I chose to just play it smart and wait for the inflammation and impingement to abate. It hasn't come back so far (fingers crossed). No doubt I have some degree of degenerative joint disease as well, or all this wouldn't keep happening. I have NEVER done any extreme sports and I was a very careful nurse, always using proper body mechanics. I think I was just destined to have this happen.  

I'm sorry you had to have surgery. I honestly feel that our medical community jumps to surgery way to quickly. I still have anytime a new doctor looks at my imaging tell me that I needed surgery yesterday and am doing the worse possible thing by putting it off. But my current situation is better then what I was told to hope for after surgery. The damage obviously is still there, and pain is a daily thing- but I've always dealt with pain better then most. It's been years and I'm still doing better then most people with less progressed damage. I really think it's the mix of the chiropractor readjusting and pt strengthening the muscles together. From researching other patient's stories, like your own, I strongly felt that surgery had to be last case senario because, as you mentioned, the damage form the surgery can severely limit you afterwards. You are still doing great, even with the limitations, Gilliansings =) 

Thank you Shaz! 

Wow! Impressive work-out and dieting. I agree- you take it on daily, not in a week. We need to be on a food plan for life, not a quick sprint to the finish line.  

Exactly MrsRatfire =) As long as I keep heading in the right direction when you look at the big picture I'm happy! 

Great work! Especially all the crunches! WOW 

you are doing greaat!  

Exactly a stone in loss, fantastic! It's even too, which is best. 

Nice Work Calyn! :) You got it just right! Slow and STEADY! Continued success in JUNE!