LJ's Long and Winding Road to Healthy Eating

[A-Rod]

yikes - not a fun ordeal! i know undiagnosed, uncorrected health problems are no fun, but hopefully you're on your way home by now to good medical care.

[ljmusicmom]

Sadly, no ... here through tomorrow, then a long (well, for me, anyway - 3.75 to 4 hours) drive back to Michigan. I'm thinking positively ... I can deal with this, it's a big inconvenince, but if I give my body the time and rest it needs, I'll be okay again soon. Good lesson in patience, which I have a noticable lack of. I keep looking longingly at my step and mats out in the garage ... guess I ought to just pack them up. Sigh.

DS#1 did get to go to Cedar Point with his cousins, so at least he's having a great time! Hope he gets to ride the newest coaster. I think we'll venture forth to the local mall after dinner - they have a train and a playplace there, so the munchkins could get some playtime in and I can ... well, watch, maybe walk a short bit. Guess it's really hot and dry out - low 90's. Definitely worse places to be than an air-conditioned condo west of Cleveland! And though I have gotten a lot of mileage ragging on DH about his fair city (yeah, I'm from Detroit, but our river didn't catch on fire ... TWICE), it truly is a great place now. We don't get downtown much, but it's really quite nice around where we stay. And yes, Anne, the stretch between here and Toledo is deathly ... luckily we're on the turnpike, which has lovely new rest stops every so often with a variety of eating places. 'Course now I don't eat at most of them (dang Cinnabons), but it's nice to know you can take a break when you need to.

Spent most of the afternoon laying on the floor with a bag o' heated beans (or rice or something - you heat it in the micro?) under my butt and calf. Not much difference, but at least not worse, so I'm thankful. I'm still going to try some Aspercreme, and will take the sleep stuff again tonight - going to need all the rest and fortitude I can get to make it home tomorrow! Feel like a little old lady, hobbling around, but look pretty silly. Haven't eaten much, but what I have has been healthy and I'm not at all hungry. Just rolling with it.

So incredibly bored!!! Need a new, fun book to keep my brain occupied. So mad I left my "in-progress" one sitting on the table at home. Magazines are so not fulfilling the need. Maybe that'll be my mall goal - score a new book.

Oh, wait! There's a Border's Outlet nearby! (rubs hands together gleefully). Cheap new books - yippee!!! Suddenly feel energized.

Off for adventures, slow and limpy though they may be. Later!

[anneg1116]

So, how's that achy ass of yours today? Hope it's better and that you managed some sleep last night as well. My fingers are crossed that you have a somewhat bearable ride home.

[Love2paint4you]

How are you feeling today, Laura?

I know heat feels good, but you really should be using some ice too. Did you try the Biofreeze?

Frankly, I think you need to forget exercise today and spend that hour getting a really good, deep tissue massage on those tight muscles.

[Scarlett46]

Did someone say Butt Massage? Where do I sign up? LOL

Hope you're feeling better! Definitely nice to use those frequent stops on the turnpike to stretch.

[LegalBeagle]

Definitely ice, or alternate ice and heat.

NO working out! You don't want to make it worse/do permanent damage.

Hope you feel better soon!

And lastly, thanks so much for what you posted in my journal. Hugs.

[A-Rod]

feel better! you need some sweet, sweet pain meds and muscle relaxers. and a martini!

hope you scored a good book or two, at least. hang in there - almost over.

[ljmusicmom]

Whew! Home once more!

Thanks, all, for your advice and concern ... I did, indeed, switch between ice and heat, and no, I didn't even think about working out! Believe me, my calf is in such a state of perma-cramp, walking short distances is painful enough - can't even imagine what doing lunges or some such craziness would feel like! All I meant was that I MISS working out, and I want to heal fast so I can get back to it. And no, no massages - DH is truly awful with any kind of that, and would actually rather pay someone else (say, with a gift card to the local spa) than attempt it himself. Ah, well - he has other gifts.

Thankfully (and I am truly, truly, thankful - big shout-out for all the prayers and good vibes ) the true sciatica part seems to have passed - no more extreme shooting pain down the leg, can feel most of my foot and toes, can sit, lie down or stand without whimpering, etc. I was able to do the ride home with mostly minor pain, and really, it's just my calf that is keeping me from moving normally. As my huge tube of Biofreeze was at home, I picked up some Aspercreme and have used it a bit - not nearly as good, but seemed to help somewhat. Just taking it easy, doing the stretches the chiro recommended. Oh, and no Motrin since 12:30pm! Considering for the past few days I could feel it starting to wear off after three hours and was literally counting the minutes 'til I could take more, I see it as nothing less than miraculous.

Sort of had a zigzag day today ... not really a good idea, as I have no way to work any of it off, so I'll need to get back on the beach with a vengeance tomorrow and be careful so I don't put on the pounds while I'm less-than-physically-able. Dang it. Did get and read a new book - Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst, who also wrote The Dogs of Babel. A nice, quick read, which I finished in the car on the ride home. Looking forward to hitting the library - I still haven't signed up for the reading competition thingy, and I usually rock that thing! Maybe tomorrow, before I pick up the doggy from the kennel.

Hope you're all off to a great start to the weekend - thanks again for all the well-wishes!

[anneg1116]

Glad you have made it home and are on the mend a bit.

[ljmusicmom]

Kinda crummy, though ...

Our 12th anniversary is Sunday, and I was hoping to arrange a little "date night" tomorrow, unbeknownst to DH. Don't know if I'll be able to take part in any fun "exercise," however ... and then I'll be gone Sunday 'til Monday afternoon. Maybe a belated celebration?

Need something new and fun to wear ...

[wileybosco]

Sunday will be better. No place like home to recuperate. Happy Anniversary-Are ya comfortable in the tub? candles, locked door, sleeping kids...hubby

[ljmusicmom]

Hubby's bigger than I (about 6' to my 5'5"), and our tub in our 1938 house is quite small ... bed is better! I can lie down fairly comfortably, just not ... umm ... much else at present. Hoping that'll be NOT the situation by then!

Wish we had one of those sunken garden tubs in a roomy bathroom ... could be lots of fun!

[annecolorgreen]

Wish we had one of those sunken garden tubs in a roomy bathroom ... could be lots of fun!

Oooh, that does sound heavenly! Happy anniversary a bit early! I'm sure, whatever you do, you'll have a lovely time! Good thing you are feeling a little better...

~~anne

[ladybugnessa]

oh ok i'm caught up.

i'm sorry your hurting... but see you expouse my biggest hugest fear.

if i exercise and my weight loss/stabilizastion is dependent on LOTS of exercise and I get injuried or have to have surgery and I CAN'T exercise (which is what happened the last time i got to 160) I'll balloon back up....

HUGE FEAR....


really. big.

i hope your feeling better today.

[dgurba]

Good morning Laura!

I just got caught up with everything...

I am so sorry you have been feeling bad...are you sure its sciatica?...it sounds like you may have pulled or strained a muscle big time...some type of muscle injury...anyhoo...i hope it gets better soon...my back put me down for 5 weeks (2 herniated discs and arthritis) and i was miserable. i think the most miserable thing is the boredom because you cant really do much. ******sending "feel good" vibes your way*******

happy anniversary to you and dh! i hope you get to "celebrate" appropriately .

have a great weekend my friend!

hugz