Feeling good about myself...

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:27 am

A few weeks ago my doctor started me up on some meds that have really helped with my chronic pain issues. I also quit drinking soda's and cut way back on "junk food". This was even before I found out I might possibly be diabetic.

Anyways, for the last two weeks my son and I have been walking 3.5 miles a couple of evenings per week. Tonight we stepped it up and went 8 miles, and I not only made it home alive, but feel pretty good, with the exception of my legs from the knee down. I don't think I have walked that far, non stop (except to get Gatorades at a gas station), and did it under 1 hour and 20 minutes, since before I became disabled.

So I am pretty happy with myself right now, except when I move my legs. They do hurt a lot right now.
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Rigon · Post by **Rigon** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:51 am

Well done sir. I played basketball with the heathens for 3 hours this morning and then for an hour this afternoon. Summer work is awesome for getting back in shape and getting active.

For your legs, ice them for 15 minutes, then take the ice off for 15 minutes. repeat as needed.

R-
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 3:02 am

Rigon wrote:
Well done sir. I played basketball with the heathens for 3 hours this morning and then for an hour this afternoon. Summer work is awesome for getting back in shape and getting active.

For your legs, ice them for 15 minutes, then take the ice off for 15 minutes. repeat as needed.

R-

I am finding Rum is working remarkably well to loosen up my legs.
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Relaxo · Post by **Relaxo** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:08 am

Good for you!

Sounds like maybe a shin splint, a classic too much too soon injury.

Prolly not a big deal though if you let them heal up before you do that again.

I read in Men's Health you can drop 10 lbs a year by drininkg one less soda a day... those beverage calories really add up!

koralas · Post by **koralas** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:22 am

Relaxo wrote:
Good for you!

Sounds like maybe a shin splint, a classic too much too soon injury.

Prolly not a big deal though if you let them heal up before you do that again.

I read in Men's Health you can drop 10 lbs a year by drininkg one less soda a day... those beverage calories really add up!

First of all Tree, congrats! I know personally how hard getting going and exercising again is, though each person has their own challenges and it can be considerably more difficult base on the situation of each individual. In any case an 8 mile walk would be an accomplishment for most "healty" Americans these days, let alone anyone that has any other health conditions to be concerned about.

Relaxo, yeah, at 140 cal/serving, one less serving of soda per day is 51,100 calories. And don't forget that serving size is a can, that is 12 ounces. A bottle of coke is 20 ounces, and packs roughly 233 calories, so dropping one of those is 85,167 calories a year.

There are 3,500 calories to a pound of body fat, so assuming you are at a stable weight, and maintain the rest of your lifestyle in the same manner you are now, dropping one sugared soda can help you loose 14.6# - 24.3# in a year. This is just by the math, actual numbers will vary of course.

I had recently had a kidney stone or two, after going to the ER because of near blinding pain, they found one in my kidney still, but I probably had passed a smaller stone. Developed an infection that two days later that put me in the hospital because the fevers were over 103. While there my blood glucose was through the roof, the urologist was saying it was just the infection, but Type-2 diabetes is in my family, and not being in the best shape, or having the best eating habits, my doctor and I are working with that assumption until the trauma has settled and we can test appropriately.

So, I am working on a diabetic diet, have cut out soda, trimmed back some carbs, and trying different foods. I have since had that stone removed since it was not moving around and showed no signs of passing soon. However; since leaving the hospital and just through alterations in diet (since i had a stent in I was not exersizing much until that came out when they removed the stone), I have in the last 45 days lost almost 40 pounds, 4 notches on my belt, and am now spending money on new clothes. I had a one-two bottle of soda habit, now it's unsweetened iced tea, I loved that prior to kicking the soda, so while I do "jones" for a coke every now and then, I have been good. Reeses and Whatchamacallits are my other weakness... Though the miniature Reeses are only like 30 cals and 3.6 grams of carbs, technically a "free" food... though that doesn't mean you can eat a ton of them for a snack, especially if you are diabetic. Had my first piece of candy two days ago, the aforementioned Reeses mini, only one mind you, but it was like heaven on earth! Ah well, it is what it is, another 20 or 30 pounds, and a more rigorous exercise program (bought a new bicycle, the Schwinn BeachCruiser, 50's style, gotta love it!), and I should be off the medication. Thankfully, my blood glucose has been averaging well within the normal range when testing two hours after meals; however, my range in the morning has varied slightly above the normal range, which is evidence of pre-diabetic conditions. Now nothing will substitute a full suite of testing, so that will be happening soon, but I am much more at ease than I was with the levels while in the hospital.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:08 pm

Keep on, keepin' on brotha man.

~O
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:57 pm

Yeah, I am hoping I am not diabetic. They "suspected" I was before, and it turned out not to be, but I am getting "old', turning 44 next month, and my diet, and most certainly my health, has not been the best for too many years.

So if nothing else, this is a wake up call for me to be serious about taking care of myself. So combine that with the fact that I am currently on a very good non narcotic drug that handles my chronic pain issues wonderfully, I'll be working on having good health habits for the rest of my life.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:59 pm

Bummer! My "Walk Meter" is way off according to my car. I just drove the route my youngest son and I walked yesterday and according to it we only walked 5.4 miles, not 8. So the 3.5 miles we thought we were walking every day was 3.2 miles, and our end point yesterday was only 1.2 miles further along, not the 2 or so miles my walking meter indicated it was.

Oh well, still darn good exercise, for me at least, just not as impressive as I thought, all things considered.
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Christina Stiles · Post by **Christina Stiles** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:36 pm

Treebore wrote:
Bummer! My "Walk Meter" is way off according to my car. I just drove the route my youngest son and I walked yesterday and according to it we only walked 5.4 miles, not 8. So the 3.5 miles we thought we were walking every day was 3.2 miles, and our end point yesterday was only 1.2 miles further along, not the 2 or so miles my walking meter indicated it was.

Oh well, still darn good exercise, for me at least, just not as impressive as I thought, all things considered.

I was wondering! I think most people walk about 3-3.5 mph. That was always the standard travel time in the game books, anyway.

Also, take it from someone who is diabetic (type II), you certainly don't this crappy disease. I've started an exercise plan, too. I'm treadmilling it to episodes of Farscape. That gets me 45 minutes in a day. I'll continue to work at it until I'm up to an hour or more.

As for sodas, I've been hooked on Dt. Mountain Dew. I just recently read that even the artificial sweetener in these diet drinks can raise your blood sugar and cause weight gain. I'm having to wean myself away from them and onto water. Lots of water.

So, I feel your pain! Keep at it.

Christina
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:47 pm

Christina Stiles wrote:
I was wondering! I think most people walk about 3-3.5 mph. That was always the standard travel time in the game books, anyway.

Also, take it from someone who is diabetic (type II), you certainly don't this crappy disease. I've started an exercise plan, too. I'm treadmilling it to episdoes of Farscape. That gets me 45 minutes in a day. I'll continue to work at it until I'm up to an hour or more.

As for sodas, I've been hooked on Dt. Mountain Dew. I just recently read that even the artificial sweetener in these diet drinks can raise your blood sugar and cause weight gain. I'm having to wean myself away from them and onto water. Lots of water.

So, I feel your pain! Keep at it.

Christina

Yeah, I couldn't do the weaning, I had to go cold turkey. After a couple of days of a head ache and feeling like crap (caffeine withdrawal, since I don't drink anything else with caffeine) and then another week or two of fighting the craving I am good.

I have also drastically reduced my snacking, now any time I am hungry/craving something I just eat real food, salad, sandwich, banana, something. Its been working, not sure how much weight I have lost, I hate doing the weight scale, but I do know my pants in particular are already loosening up a very noticeable amount and my shirts are already feeling loose instead of fitting snugly.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:49 pm

Congrats. Enjoy.
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tylermo · Post by **tylermo** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:39 pm

Richard Simmons' "Sweatin' to the Farscape!" I like it, all except the Richard Simmons part.

Christina Stiles · Post by **Christina Stiles** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:11 pm

tylermo wrote:
Richard Simmons' "Sweatin' to the Farscape!" I like it, all except the Richard Simmons part.

Not even sure I could stand a Richard Simmons puppet.
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tylermo · Post by **tylermo** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:18 pm

Puppet Simmons with his hands on Rigel's hands, counseling the dominar on weight loss. Perish the thought.

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:18 pm

Tree

GOOOOOOD STUF! Keep it up!

Quote:
I am finding Rum is working remarkably well to loosen up my legs.

Now your talking my kind of medicine
As for help recovering from those walks, all I can tell you are all the old army trick and I'm sure you already know most of those. If your feet are getting jacked up, soak them in hot water and epsom salt, pain take aleve, swelling ice etc etc. Also a good one for your muscles is the "runner's stick" of the pain stick as my wife calls it. It's great at working out knots after a good PT session.

Finally, drink lots of water, again it's all the old army stuff.

Keep it up man,
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:38 pm

Lurker wrote:
Tree

GOOOOOOD STUF! Keep it up!

Now your talking my kind of medicine
As for help recovering from those walks, all I can tell you are all the old army trick and I'm sure you already know most of those. If your feet are getting jacked up, soak them in hot water and epsom salt, pain take aleve, swelling ice etc etc. Also a good one for your muscles is the "runner's stick" of the pain stick as my wife calls it. It's great at working out knots after a good PT session.

Finally, drink lots of water, again it's all the old army stuff.

Keep it up man,

I definitely drink lots of water. I can't do the Alleve thing in combination with my prescriptions. I didn't need to do the soaking either. I just drank a couple of shots worth of rum over a couple of hours, and it did a great job of getting everything to loosen back up. I have hardly any ache or pain today between the Rum and the non steroidal anti inflammatory they currently have me on (which I am not supposed to drink alcohol with either). Plus I slept so well I only slept for 6 hours and feel great today.

I hope I can stay on this pain drug for a good long time, its darn nice to be so pain free. Its not a narcotic either, so my head is clear too!
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Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:15 pm

Quote:
its darn nice to be so pain free

Know what you mean there. I think my body has finally rebelled against the years of abuse ... My neck, right elbow both wrists, right knee and ankle are all aching at best and at times ... I have to sleep on a heating pad or with an ice pack (depending on which ache is the worst that night) at least 3 nights a week.

With that being said, I'm glad your able to get out and hoof it a bit, don't let the mis figured distances get you down either. There are airmen on my base that don't PT like you are and they are (or should be) in great shape! Also good to hear on cutting out the soda. That stuff is nasty for your health!
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Christina Stiles · Post by **Christina Stiles** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:25 pm

tylermo wrote:
Puppet Simmons with his hands on Rigel's hands, counseling the dominar on weight loss. Perish the thought.

Lol! What an image!
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Piperdog · Post by **Piperdog** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:41 am

Keep it up Tree! It will get easier, just be persistent. As to the soda, I have drank the diet stuff for years, which has helped me keep the calorie count down. Of course, the sweetners probably cause all sorts of other ailments in the end. Luckily, I drink a lot of water, cystal lite, and unsweetened sun tea, with sodas only every now and then. My biggest problem lately is that I have really gotten hooked on heavy, high carb beers. It is a struggle to keep it to a six pack of bottles a week, but so far so good.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:59 am

Piperdog wrote:
Keep it up Tree! It will get easier, just be persistent. As to the soda, I have drank the diet stuff for years, which has helped me keep the calorie count down. Of course, the sweetners probably cause all sorts of other ailments in the end. Luckily, I drink a lot of water, cystal lite, and unsweetened sun tea, with sodas only every now and then. My biggest problem lately is that I have really gotten hooked on heavy, high carb beers. It is a struggle to keep it to a six pack of bottles a week, but so far so good.

Yeah, I know. Before I became disabled I probably could have given you a run for your money in a sparring event. I used to be in very good shape, used to be compared to Dolph Lundren. Just with all my issues exercise beyond walking is pretty much a no no. Heck, I can't even swim anymore, and I LOVE swimming!

Until these new meds a few weeks ago, walking would have been torture, especially several miles without stopping.
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