December 2012

It's been a while since I posted on Melanie's Stories...I've been very happy over at The Prosers, but every now and then I want to talk about something that I can't find any way to relate to writing. (If you've been over there lately, you know sometimes my link to writing is tenuous at best anyway.)

One of of those things is getting healthy. I've felt the need to write about my journey to good health for quite a long time. I wish I thought I could do it in some private journal, but the truth of the matter is that I am much more likely to write regularly if I'm putting it out there for the world to see, even if there's a large part of me hoping that no one in the world will see it.

This fall, I hit a low point health wise.  My shoulder, which had been painful for years, started jerking out of its socket--usually at random times. I started saying no to things because I knew I couldn't do as much as I used to. Trying to get in shape usually ended up with me hurting myself. I slept a lot, and I was outgrowing my fat clothes. :( Saddest of all, I could feel my intelligence melting away, and it broke my heart.

For my birthday, my husband got me a family membership to the local swimming pool, and I started going once a week. I've always been a good swimmer, and I still wasn't half bad, even overweight, out of shape and with a bad shoulder. Perhaps that triggered something in me, but I decided to start taking care of myself. I finally went to an orthopedic specialist, who has helped my shoulder issues become manageable. I got diagnosed with low vitamin D, which may be the fad diagnosis for the year, but I think being treated for that has helped. I feel like I'm  coming out of a mental fog, and I'm so happy to find my intelligence wasn't permanently impaired.

One month ago, I decided I needed to exercise 6 days a week. And I have. Even Christmas morning, I did it while everyone else was getting ready for the day. I exercised on the Wii Fit. My decision to do that was based mostly on motivational issues. I couldn't even make myself walk anymore.

Best decision I ever made. I get some good exercise on that silly machine. The best thing of all though, is the yoga and strength training. It turns out my heart is in much better shape than my body which is a blessing. It can go and go, but my body can't--or at least it couldn't, until I spent a month doing yoga.

Christmas Eve, it was cold, and I wanted to be done shopping. As I left the parking lot and headed for the store, I told myself to hurry. It took a moment for me to realize what was happening. I hurried! The pain in my legs didn't come! My hips didn't say "Wait a minute! We don't take that long of a stride!" Faster and faster I went, and when I got to the store, I wandered around, marveling at this body of mine. It is amazing. It does improve, and it enjoys being strong. It is phenomenal.

I've made enough false starts in my life that I'm leery of saying "This is a new beginning." But I don't think I've got to many false starts left. I'm 41, with a family tree riddled with health problems. I don't have to do anything, But I really, really want to.

My plan is to check in once in a while to keep a record of my progress. This is for me. But if you find it, and it helps you in any way, then it is for you too.

What worked this month: Promising myself I would exercise on the Wii Fit 6 days a week and swim once a week. I did it! I didn't specify for how long, but did it for more than half an hour every day.

Plan for January 2013:
1. Exercise on the Wii Fit 6 days a week and swim once a week. Once a week I can substitute something else for the Wii Fit if I want to, but it's not necessary. Glory in it!

2. This month, I've noticed that my eating problems begin at lunch, because I don't know what to eat. In January, I'm going to eat a healthy lunch every day.