Physical Update

I have reached my weight goal of 165# (down to, not up to). Now to try on the pants that were way too tight and see if they are worth hemming or should go to the thrift store. I used for Noom, a fairly pricey app that includes lots of reading about approaches to more than just food. Meals are recorded, encouragement given. Through the app’s social media platform, one could share thoughts with other Noomers if one were so inclined. I’m not. In a week, I have to decide where to pay for another two months. On the one hand, I got the results I wanted and think I’m good. On the other hand, perhaps I should continue recording what I eat and reading their helpful lessons, to be sure the philosophy has really taken hold. The renewal is automatic unless I cancel. Good planning on their part.

Five weeks later, and I still haven’t recovered from wrestling that heavy kayak out of the car and carrying it to the porch, having to turn it sideways to get through the door. My upper back, between my shoulder blades, and the backs of my upper thighs have hurt ever since. Extremely painful to even walk, much less get up out of a chair. Denny, our trainer, explained that lifting more weight than I should likely hurt my back, then walking with it did the damage to my thighs. Time should cure; massage might help. When I finally gave in and texted my doctor, he asked me if I’d actually given my body any rest. Well, no. I’ve been working in the yard, digging, weeding, carrying mulch, and hurting like the bejeezus. Has I been consistent with pain meds? Well, not really. Was I surprised my back and legs hurt?

I signed onto 10 days of no, absolutely no, work or lifting. Grant has done everything, including carrying dishes from the table and loading the dishwasher after he cooked dinner. I set a timer on my phone to take ibuprofen every 4 hours, even waking up at 2:00 AM for a dose. (I tried Aleve, an 8 hour schedule, but it didn’t seem to help. Better for chronic pain, which I hope not to have.) I did really well on the ibuprofen for a week, then got sloppy. Mistake #1. Yesterday, I spent an hour weeding in a vegetable garden. Mistake #2. I’m back on not lifting and taking my meds. Patience is a virtue I don’t have.

Amid my woes, Grant has had both cataracts changed out for Turig lenses that let him see far and correct his astigmatism. A $1,250 up-charge per lens, but worth every penny. He’s opted for wearing his reading glasses on a chain, so he doesn’t spend his days looking for them, like I do. What a miracle cataract surgery is. We are such lucky people.