Lu's Workout Journal

[ldematto]

Hubby had a bad night coughing and so congested. Just being around him makes me "feel" a little sick I was hoping to bike to town to watch the St. Patrick's Day parade, but looks like we'll stay home. Probably a good day to lose myself in the gym - and try to get these muscles moving!

Have a great day!

[ldematto]

I'm bad.....I'll be back when I'm in a healthier, fit frame of mind...and body! I wish you all much success!

[Boss Man]

If there is anything at all we can do Lu, get in touch with us anytime, or feel free to PM me if you'd rather have a discreet one to one, but whatever happens, GOOD LUCK to you and hubby from us all and thanks for all the constant support and humanity you've given over the past several months, you are a real diamond .

[EricFitness]

Maybe all u need is a treadmill at home.. treadmills will make some one more disciplined.. just imagine u are on a running mill and there is no stop button.. that will keep u running. cant go wrong.. lol.

[ldematto]

If there is anything at all we can do Lu, get in touch with us anytime, or feel free to PM me if you'd rather have a discreet one to one, but whatever happens, GOOD LUCK to you and hubby from us all and thanks for all the constant support and humanity you've given over the past several months, you are a real diamond .

Thank you so much Boss Man, I truly appreciate you - but the bottom line is I need to commit to eating right and getting at least a moderate amount of exercise. I need to get off the page that I need to do ALL or nothing.....when my body started screaming at me I let myself down and fell off the wagon , so to speak. I'm still a mess, but just yesterday I decided to eat "right" at least during the week, knowing my weekends won't be perfect this summer. It's the food I put in my mouth that is the biggest problem, and I know it!! So - I just need to stop!!! I'm fortunate that because I'm fairly muscular and have taken care of myself in the past, that I don't look as bad as I should at my weight - I'm still pretty solid - soooooo wish me luck, I'm about to get on board again to a healthier life.

Maybe all u need is a treadmill at home.. treadmills will make some one more disciplined.. just imagine u are on a running mill and there is no stop button.. that will keep u running. cant go wrong.. lol.

Eric, the sad thing is I have an entire gym in my home, treadmill, elliptical, spin bike, functional trainer, dumb bells, barbells, Smith, medicine balls - everything! I have no excuse

[Boss Man]

Lu; speaking about your issues is a key cornerstone to change. Identify failings then work to resolve them. Yes you have the equipment at home, but it would be easy to suddenly go urrgh, just looking at it and I can understand how that might happen.

Bear in mind you spent most of your life not living like this, so just like the individual who lives 35-40+ years with a weight problem, you lived with a long time fitness decline, through certain habits, so it's understandable that certain entrenched attitudes to life will come back sometimes and overcome you, especially becasue you were not young and thrusting when you started this, so you didn't have a good 10-20 years of constant effort, before age made it feel like it might be starting to be like more of a taxation.

I've known people like that,. that committed so much in earlier life, but are sporadic in their middle age, espeically if the greater commitment from earlier years, came from some sort of sporting interests or the military.

Edgar HF who used to be on here, was a prime example of a military man, who let it slide when he left, because suddenly the lack of forced routine, from being potentially too senior to be the man he started out as, or just from getting fed up of the life he lead, probably encouraged a looser mindset to wellbeing, causing his reluctance to treat his body right for years, until age told him to get moving again.

For me, it was probably easier to get started, as I was 23 and not very active, but I was a bit moreso in younger days, when doing the usual childhood larking about and when school made me, but I wasn't someone with bad habits, so I was the inbetweener, neither living a bad life nor a very good one, so age and being in the middle of the spectrum, probably helped me to get into it and commit properly without derailing the train several times.

Admitting you have had problems being consistent is okay, believe that because it's true. There is a beautiful truth to words like yours and I think it's so heart-warming, when you can be honest in a way that makes what you see as failings, look like a reason to smile and say "there you go, I externalised my feelings and I feel better now, knowing other people will get it and it makes it more real and more difficult to hide from, but that's good as it means I can try to recover from this now."

That is something I have always admired in you, the fact you don't come across as sounding pitying or whiney, (that is not implying anything about anyone else here past or present), but the fact you are honest, truthful and a little brutal withyourself at times, but not overly critical or harsh that much.

You'r a really, really good person and a very genuine and heart-warming Lady and I am happy that you have been able to express yourself like this, because I want you to feel something really, really positive from this, because I think you deserve to .

Nobody likes to admit negative things about themselves, because we want to be pretty flawless, every hour of every day, barring minor things like moments of forgetfullness and clumsiness, but not flawed by way of repetitive daily actions and / or on / off behaviour patterns, that dog us for years.

I have never stopped believing that you CAN achieve what you want and you CAN continue to do what is right for you, if you believe enough in it and believe in your own ability to make it happen.

I am sending you a BIG PAT ON THE BACK, because I am proud of you for talking about your detachment issues to good living and I know you wil make this happen, because you're a long time dead and someone with a lot to give to yourself as well as others.

Keep believing and GOOD LUCK.

You are a wonderful person and you ARE capable of showing yourself, the kind of humanity you extend to others .

[Nokie173]

How are you doing Lu? How's the diet & Working out?

[fitoverforty]

miss you Lu Hope you are doing well.

[ldematto]

At least now I know I'm not crazy! I need to check back into my journal for dates, but it was quite awhile ago I woke up one morning and my legs hurt to the point I found it hard to walk up the stairs to my gym, much less exercise. I know I didn't completely stop at that point but my journal entires no longer resembled someone who was seriously working out.

Well, after many doctors visits, me demanding more and more blood work (trying to eliminate lymes disease etc) going from doctor to doctor telling them my knees, legs, were in pain, finding I had arthritis in my knees.......and all the time progressively getting worse, alternately thinking (but refusing to believe)just maybe this was just art of the aging process' I called my primary physician and told her I HAD to come in again, that it was to the point I was worried I'd wake up one morning and not be able to stand/walk. I was tired of being told take some ibuprofen and do a little walking. IT WASN'T WORKING!!

I had a Lumbar spinal MRI last Friday and at least now i know why I have been in such pain. First I have a transitional vertebra (extra one), but I'm not sure yet how that relates. Anyway I have significant degenerative disc disease but even more significant degenerative arthritis in the posterior facets at L-3' L-4 and L-4' L -5, moderate narrowing of the central spinal canal at L-3-L4' and minor narrowing at L-4-L5. Disc bulging, small annular tear,and small central disc hernia tion at L-5-S-1 (S-1 being what they call my transitional vertebra.


I haven't talked with my doctor yet, they rarely get back to you on a timely basis. I expect to be referred to a specialist.

So, that's why I haven't been around Maybe they can get me healthy again,with or without surgery....that's my hope!!!!
Take care, I miss my friends here! You've all been so supportive. I wish you all the best and keep on rocking!!! Now I need to go back in time so I can accurately Inform the specialist of the timing of all my changes, I'm so glad to have my journal otherwise I'd have only a general idea.

Have a great day!

[fitoverforty]

Wow Lu! So glad you finally got a diagnosis and now can begin to find out the best way to treat it.

Take care, remember even if you don't post often, you are thought of often and are missed.

Hang in there and please keep us updated! Sending TONS of positive thoughts and prayers your way.

[Boss Man]

There are certain things that might be of use to you.

1. Chondroitin

2. A product by CNP called Joint Formula, which I think they still make.

There may be other things you could use, like Bromelain as well for mild pain relief.

I really hope this gets sorted and hopefully without the need for some full on surgery and I am sure that everyone here who knows you and reads this will be fighting in your corner as am I.

If it sometimes gets too much and you don't want to dump on people around you, please do message me for a discreet one to one if you need it and whatever happens, you are and always have been a really appreciated part of the community and we think a lot of you, because you're like some sort of grand old matriarch, but so young with it if that doesn't sound patronising, and you're just a really heart-warming Lady and a pleasure to communicate with and I know right now this must feel like a big weight to deal with and that would be wholly understandable, but I am sure that must be a way through this and if you keep believing and stay as strong as possible I am sure you'll do it and you do it with our strength and anything else we can do for you.

GOOD LUCK Lu and keep on believing and for everything you have managed to acheive in recent years, I am really proud of you .

[ldematto]

A big thank you to Lynn and Boss man! I know you guys have always been in my corner

I'm taking a product called "Joint Juice", which has Chondroitin in it and I take 400 mg of liquid filled (for faster absorbtion) ibuprofen twice a day, more if needed. The pain in my left leg interferes with my sleep, there doesn't seem to be much that helps. It's so hard to describe how it feels, a throbbing, stiffness, when crouching down an explosion behind my knee....a burning weak sensation in my ankles.....I feel like I weigh 10 tons and need to lay down ( of course I only weight 1 ton!;) )

Doc never called today. I'm anxious to take whatever the next step is, hopefully treatment plan, surgery if absolutely necessary.

Boss Man - I thank you for your offer for private conversation. You have always been so supportive and helpful in so many ways with all of us. If things get real tough, I'll reach out in a PM - all the good stuff I'll post right here! Are you familiar with what I described above? If you have any insight please feel free to send them to me privately. Thank you!

[musculArgirl2]

Good luck Lu! Hope you are able to get some relief and start feeling better! Glad you finally found the cause though, that's a start! Take care and do let us know how you are doing.

[ldematto]

Good Morning! I know I've communicated a bit in PM, not really wanting to post until I had something positive to report. Well, today is that day!

A little background: knees started bothering me, stopped working out - ate for comfort, got fat! Legs hurt all be time, no strength in my legs, could hardly walk...disc issues and spinal stenosis. Had 3 lumbar shots, then nerve root blocks...all helped some, but I was still not functioning where I wanted and needed to! I cancelled next steps meeting with the docs at the pain clinic because deep down I knew MY next step HAD to be to lose at least 50 lbs!

Today, I'm happy to report I am we'll on my way! I've lost 32 pounds since 2/11, 18 more to go to get to my original goal of 50, but frankly I would really like to get to 150 (but will be happy at 160, we'll see!) I've lost 8 inches in my waist! NOW I have a waist again!

My knees still bother me (arthritis) but my leg problems are almost non-existent! I am almost back to my old bouncy self, one who is full of energy and moves too fast! After almost 2 years of being somewhat immobile, I am ecstatic !! Today, I put on my workout clothes....feeling ready to go! Not sure what I will do yet, but think doing an upper body routine is in order. Loss of weight gave me a little extra jiggly in my arms, not much though, so I should be back in shape quickly. Even at 60, I think my body remembers the thin fit person I always was until my 40's - although I never worked at it before, it was just in my genes!

Thank you, my shapefit friends for always being there for me. Boss Man, you are a true gem!

Lu

[fitoverforty]

Today, I'm happy to report I am we'll on my way! I've lost 32 pounds since 2/11, 18 more to go to get to my original goal of 50, but frankly I would really like to get to 150 (but will be happy at 160, we'll see!) I've lost 8 inches in my waist! NOW I have a waist again!

That is awesome Lu!!! So happy for you. I think of you often, and have wondered how you have been doing.

I am almost back to my old bouncy self

so I should be back in shape quickly. Even at 60, I think my body remembers the thin fit person I always was until my 40's - although I never worked at it before, it was just in my genes!

You are still the person inside you always were. Sometimes things happen, or our bodies put some roadblocks in our way - but eventually we find a way around them, and we pull ourselves out of whatever has been holding us back or down. Yes, you will get back to your "old bouncy self" - it's who you are, and it is what makes you such a fantastic person, a fighter who never gives up!
So good to hear from you - keep up all the good work and keep posting your progress, it is so encouraging to me and I'm sure many others.
Go Lu!!!!!!!!!!!!

my new journal is in Diet Journal section called "Trying to eat unprocessed in a processed world". Stop by and say "hi"!