My Newest Injury

My newest injury started out as a small nuisance much like a continuous buzzing gnat.  I awoke my last Friday at LIFE with a niggling intermittent throb in my left bicep.  It didn’t really bother me, but it was weird.  That Tuesday I was finished with the program but went to Santa Monica to get my hair done.  Then I joined my friends at the gym for a famous Chef Seong lunch and saw the chiropractor Dr. Hans for the last time.  Dr. Hans’s diagnosis – my 1^st left rib had moved out of place.

I didn’t know I had a rib that high, but apparently I do and it moved which was causing the annoyance in my left bicep.  He adjusted it and the problem was gone…for the day.

The niggling has continued for the past month.  2 weeks ago I awoke with a screaming left shoulder and bicep and my chiropractor here (Dr. Scott) took care of it.  And it went back to being a niggling pain for another week.

Now it’s much worse.

It landed me in the ER last weekend and I’ve been miserable ever since. 

I have been on major meds to deal with the pain and it finally took an MRI to make a correct diagnosis – 1 herniated disc and 1 bulging disc in my neck.  The mass from the herniated disc is pressing on my spinal nerves on the left side, which is causing the pain to radiate through my shoulder, behind my shoulder blade, and into my bicep. 

It’s not pretty. 

It’s quite frustrating.

It’s affecting my sleep (read: I’m not getting much!).

I’ve been a slug for a week now: no workouts, lounging around on the coach reading and watching TV, applying moist heat, icing, stretching, even putting my head in a ‘home traction’.  I’m doing all the physical therapy my doctor has prescribed.  I get relief where my pain goes from a 9-10 on the pain scale down to a 4-5.  It hasn’t gone below a 4 at all this week.  Right now as I sit here writing the pain is a 9.

I’ve decided I can’t live with the pain anymore.  I’m doing everything I can to work with this injury, but some days (like tonight) I get no relief.  So here I sit at 1 am chanting, “Come On Tuesday!”

Tuesday is the day I get the cortisone shot. 

In my spine…yikes!

I figure “what the hell?”  I already had 2 epidurals when I delivered my kids.  It can’t be any worse than that, right?  But this is a big deal as I’ll have to lie down on an x-ray table while my doctor uses x-ray guidance to show him exactly where to shoot the cortisone. 

I hope it works.  If not, I’ll need surgery, which entails a neurosurgeon going into the area and snipping off the portion of the disc that’s pressing against the nerves.  Let’s hope that neurosurgeon’s skills are on par with McDreamy!

Again…yikes!

Right now in the middle of the night when I’m awake with pain and feeling all alone – it’s looking grim.  The way I’m feeling right now I suspect poor Dr. Scott won’t have a full weekend off.  Do you think I can call his office now and get him to come in? 

Dr Scott, if I can’t sleep…no one can!

Come On Tuesday!

Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow

"All I wanna do is stay right here on the floor

Get lost in the night and dance like there's no tomorrow

Don't care about the sunrise; Somebody please just hit the lights

All I wanna do is dance like there's no tomorrow."

I’m attached to my ipod.  Really.  Physically attached. 

I got so used to wearing my ipod at LIFE that I’m now wearing it at home.  Let me just say that doing mundane housework and laundry is much more fun when I’m dancing simultaneously.   I do believe it’s time to install an ipod connector into my car.

I have been home for 11 days now.  My first weekend back was one big party – with my family, with my friends, with my honey.  I allowed myself to eat out on both Friday and Saturday and I did imbibe in wine.  I was still pretty good eating…not perfect, but I was taking a short break. 

I allowed myself some entertainment food.  You know what…some of it I don’t need anymore.  I don’t crave it and I could care less whether or not I ever taste it again.  The first victim is potato chips.  I love salt & crunch so I had 1 serving of potato chips on Saturday.  I actually read the label and counted out the correct number of chips for the serving size.  An hour later I had a stomachache.  I decided the taste was not worth the pain.   So…buh bye, chips!  I’m also addicted to Crystal Light Lemonade & Iced Tea.  So I had some iced tea…YUCK!  It tasted like a bunch of chemicals.  It will no longer pass my lips.

The wine still tasted as delish as I remembered…ahhhh.  I don't think I'll ever lose the taste for wine!

I got right back into my Zumba routine.  I’ve been to Zumba 7 times in the last 11 days.  There are new dance routines for me to learn, but I still love it as much as I always have.

I also bought a bike.  I need to begin training for my Big Bike Ride in November.  We’re having a LIFE reunion during the 165-mile ride from Miami to Key West.  I think it’s brilliant…it helps us all stay in touch, but also forces us to stay accountable.  We are excited to see how much slimmer and fitter we all will be in 5 months.

So I went to see my buddy Alan at Princeton Sports and he hooked me up with a sweet ride – a Cannondale Quick Hybrid.  I didn’t realize how much gear bike enthusiasts need.  Wow!  I got a bike with an upgraded seat (I need as little butt pain as possible), padded bike shorts, a biking shirt, water bottle, helmet, tire pump, a cute little bag to hold my cell phone & car keys, and a bike rack for my car.  There’s still more I need but I’m just starting out and Alan didn’t want to overwhelm me.  Thanks, Alan. 

My Cannondale Quick

On Tuesday night I went with a local cycling group through the HILLY county roads.  I lasted 6 miles.  Not because I physically couldn’t continue, but because I kept messing up my gears.  So I had the Princeton Sports Chase/Support Vehicle pick up my bike and me.  Wayne (the driver) and I followed the cyclists for the remainder of the ride.  I picked his brain about the dos and don’ts of cycling and using my gears and I think I have it down pretty well now.  I’ll be trying out a myriad of bike paths we have here in Maryland.  I have a few friends who are interested in riding with me – Sharona, Becky & my neighbor Anthony.  It’s going to be so much fun!

I got through the remainder of the week doing Zumba and Trainer Jonathan’s ab workouts.

Friday night was a graduation party.  I cooked and ate dinner before I went.  While there I didn’t even look at the food.  I drank club soda with a lime and everyone thought I was having a gin & tonic.  I brought an apple with me and ate it at 8:30 when I got hungry again.  My friends were so excited to see the new me. 

Everyone I have seen has been very positive except 2 people.  I’m taking a break from those 2.  I’m in a good place and I cannot afford negative people in my life right now.  I’m staying on the right path to health and fitness!

Saturday morning, my daughter and I arrived at Nordstrom at The Columbia Mall by 8 am for a 2-hour Zumba party.  While people shopped we provided cat-calling, booty-busting entertainment with about 25 other women from our gym.  I burned a lot of calories.

That night we met Alan (the bike guy) and Jackie for dinner at Flemings.  Honey and I were standing at the bar; I had my back to the door when I heard this very recognizable female voice (Jackie) whisper in my ear, "Your ass is so small and cute I want to just grab it!"  There's never a dull moment with Jackie...lol!  I had a petite filet mignon and steamed asparagus (both with no butter or oil).  I ate half of each and saved the rest for Sunday lunch.  I also had a glass of wine and two glasses of water.  I was fine. 

This morning was the annual Zooma 10K & half marathon in Annapolis. Ginger and I had planned to participate back in April.  I had registered for the 10K via the internet while in California, but something went awry and my registration didn’t go through.  Then I couldn’t get to Annapolis yesterday to pick up my packet.  So…I didn’t go.  Instead Sharona and I decided to go to a local park that has a 3-mile loop and do our own 10K there.  It turns out our local hospital was sponsoring a Family Health Day at the park featuring a 5K.  We joined the crowd and did the 5K…twice.  I burned over 1000 calories in the 87-degree humidity. 

I miss the gorgeous, non-humid SoCal weather.  I miss my positive LIFE bubble.  Mostly, I miss my dear friends from LIFE.  I’m posting a picture of me and my new BFFs taken on the day before I flew back home.  They are all strong, empowered, awesome women who will accomplish each and every goal they set their minds to!

Me, Ginger, Judy & Maria

Forgive Me…I’m a Social Butterfly

Dear Readers, so sorry I haven’t written for a bit.  My last couple of weeks at LIFE were filled with socializing with my new friends from around the world while I still had time left with them.

The past 14 days have been filled with excitement, satisfaction, accomplishments, travel, reunions, and just a little negativity.

My Last Week at LIFE

Monday I began with a BANG – literally!  During Jonathan’s Cardio Boot Camp I was on fire – sprinting like I never have before.  During my very last sprint (6.5 speed) I felt a snap in my left I-T Band – where it meets my hip. 

I had to take it easy and focus on weights, circuits and biking for the rest of the day.

Later in the week I went with Bronson on the 20-mile Manhattan Beach bike ride – my fave.  Wow!  My fitness had really improved -  I passed the 20-somethings in our group twice on the way to Manhattan Beach and twice on the way back.  Who knew I had it in me?  The 20-somethings were impressed that I was a 48-year-old obese woman and kicked their butts…lol!

Friday morning was a Cute Butt Boy circuit.  Surely by now you must know how we all dread his workouts as he pushes us beyond whatever we thought we could do.  Cute Butt Boy added a couple of new exercises I hadn’t done before.  One I was confident about; the second…I didn’t think I could do at all.  To my delight, when I got to that exercise (a full push-up plank hold while lifting each leg up and down for two minutes) it was a piece of cake.  I was simply shocked.  When I first arrived at LIFE I couldn’t hold my body up with my arms – they were too weak.  As the weeks progressed I could do some exercises that required me to hold my body weight up with my arms but they were easier, shorter exercises.  It felt great to know my strength had improved exponentially.

My Last Day

Monday, May 26^th began with a weigh-in, body measurements, VO2 test & hydrostatic bodyfat testing in the dunk tank.

Before – my 1^st day at LIFE – 3.29.10 

After – my last day at LIFE – 5.24.10

I dropped another 6 pounds for a total of 30 while at LIFE. Remember, I dropped some before I left for LA so on my last day I was down 45 pounds, 32 inches and 2% body fat since I began this blog on February 15th.  Plus, my lung capacity improved and I went up 2 categories.

The New Me

I really changed – physically, nutritionally & emotionally.  I have become the woman I was back in my 20’s when I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.  Of course, I was always able to do that, but I no longer believed I could.  Claire, the LIFE therapist, helped the former me come back to the forefront…and I’m letting the real me stay in front!

Before I left my LA life behind I had one more change to make – my hair.  I wanted to go to a fab hair expert who could improve the look of the new me.  So off I went to Linda at Art Luna Salon in Santa Monica.  I’m 90% gray in the front and my hair grows quickly – I have my roots touched up every 4 weeks, but honestly, I could do it every 2 weeks (and that can be very costly!).  Linda considered my dilemma and came up with a solution: she lightened my color by 2 shades and added tons of natural highlights to make my overall look lighter and brighter.  It works!

Since my new lifestyle includes working out everyday I’m wearing my hair curly (it’s natural!) which allows me to spend only 5 minutes on it in the morning.  Growing it out will let me get my thick mass of curls off my neck by sporting a ponytail.

A sprinkling of bronzer, a few swipes of mascara and a smear of lip gloss has me “face ready” for workouts and errands.  That’s how I’ve decided to live my new life right now.

My Trip Back Home

I had to plan for my trip back to the east coast.  The first thing I did was have Chef Seong make food for me to bring on the plane.  It was the best idea I had.  Remember, I’m gluten free so my options with airport food are quite limited and I wanted to continue eating the healthy whole foods I enjoyed at LIFE.  I had yogurt for breakfast, finished packing, & headed out to the airport.  Once the plane was in the air I opened my next meal:  a roasted veggie & cheese wrap.  I ate half, 2.5 hours later ate the second half and 2 hours later had a protein bar which I brought with me. 

My daughter had just arrived home from college so she accompanied hubby to pick me up.  She came inside to the baggage claim to find me and walked right past me.  My trimmer self and lighter hair was a great disguise!  Needless to say, she was quite shocked, but ecstatic with my transformation since she last saw me in February.

When I arrived home around 9pm the dogs went beserk and my son took one look at me and said, “Mom, is that really you?”  I ate my 2^nd wrap – Southwestern chicken with black beans & veggies – and unpacked. 

The jetlag was much worse traveling west to east, but I was glad to be home with my honey living my new life with my new stronger, trimmer body and lighter, brighter hair.  

Can you hear the smile?