Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

    my weakness is gooooood bread!  and hot and made by a pal?  Oh goodness that sounds great

    sounds like a fun vacation to me

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

    Even if you said it was laced with arsenic I would still eat it.

    Hugz

    You are hysterical ! I cannot tell you how many of your posts have made me laugh out loud.

    I can smell that bread from here too, and I have not smelled fresh baked since my mother was alive and used to make it. When we were children she would spread P.B.  on it while it  was so warm that it melted right in.  hmmmm...hmmmm!

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Well, as we all probably know, eating lots of white bread is probably not the best health decision!  But it's so gooooood!  Everything in moderation, as they say, and I just love learning the skills to make wonderful bread on demand. Today, lots of practice shaping and slashing hearth loaves, and starting to build a culture to produce sourdough rye in a few days, for just a few of today's fun breadmaking activities.

    I brought my powerblocks with me so did my regular Monday weight lifting early this morning, and I'm a little behind on the steps, but I did get in 3 miles so far, most of that in the morning when I was really hoofing it to get some cardio in.  

    My LE get-up today was my compression sleeve and gauntlet, covered by a cotton glove and a cut-off sock, into which I cut a thumb hole. I floured the heck out of the cotton stuff and the baking went off without a hitch.  There's so much dough pounding that I would never dream of doing this without the sleeve!

    Carol

  • nibbana
    nibbana Member Posts: 349
    edited March 2013

    Well, LE is kicking my butt today . Took sleeve off and my hand blew up.

    Tomorrow is supposed to be arm and shoulder day, think I will drop everything down to five pounds.

    MLD before bed, lots of it.

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Nibbana, I've been guilty of overdoing sometimes, and then I pay for it in the next day or so.  We've all done that, and it's a killer because we just want to have a normal life. Maybe zero pounds is what you really should do tomorrow...and I know that's asking a lot because I seriously hate to miss my weight training. Anyway, be conservative and let us know how the arm responds.  

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

    No exercise here today as a test to see if that is why I am noticing swelling.  nope. still swollen.

    Looked thru my WW journal ( DOH!)

    I have been  enjoying a  100 cal microwave popcorn almost every night !  I do not add salt, but I think the sodium level has been deceiving as it is 200+ for 1 popped  cup.  HOWEVER, it looks as though  the 100 cal serv is actually 5 cups !  (YIKES)

    Has anyone else here noticed/ do you avoid popcorn ?

    Just not adding the salt, I never even stopped to think.

    I sooo hope this is the issue. 

    Of course, I read all the stats AFTER I had my bag tonight  ( grrrrr)

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited March 2013

    Purple, Yup that popcorn is salty. popcorn is my fav treat. I threw out all my pre fab microwave popcorn because it was so junkie. I pop my own and mix half unsalted butter with olive oil and then I fool myself by shaking a sprinkle of salt on top. Alternately you can turn it up a notch and just shake Louisiana hot sauce on it. It will fry your tongue off and then you won't miss the buttermix plus you certainly won't need the salt.

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

     It will fry your tongue off and then you won't miss the buttermix plus you certainly won't need the salt.

    OK, now I have my DH calling out from the other room to see if I am okay. You have me choking on morning coffe, hugz!

    I am done with popcorn of any kind. I have decided I will simply call it poopcorn and it will be an aversion  Wink

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

    OK, you have me laughing my socks off!  I know some of the WW ideas of snacks are really high in salt.  Hard to buy anything premade that is not hi in salt.  Making your own from scratch is best.  Do like the hot sauce idea!  I generally have an assortment of hot sauces and hot peppers in the house at all times!

    gave up popcorn when I got a kernel stuck in a tooth years ago!  Remember to floose after eating!

  • nibbana
    nibbana Member Posts: 349
    edited March 2013

    Did shoulders and arms but with two pound dumbells. Nice compromise.

    Dreamt of fresh baked bread and popcorn. Mmmmm.

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Lots of arm exercise today, and here's the result, called a Couronne Bordelaise. Lots of hand kneading!  (I also worked 5.6 miles into my day, mostly early morning speed walking. Good thing, because the bread and pastries I'm learning to make are very, very tasty!)

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

    hahahhahah...you ladies are all too funny.

    Carol, you are  a tease !  We WANT that bread!!!!!

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    On a more serious note, take a look at new resources posted on stepup-speakout.org:

    http://stepup-speakout.org/Trainer%20doc%20for%20SUSO-030113.pdf

    http://stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20for%20SUSO-030113.pdf

    These links take you to downloadable, printable PDF documents. The first is for personal trainers, yoga instructors, fitness class teachers, Pilates instructors, etc., and is designed to help all of them understand LE and what they need to know to provide safe exercise instruction and coaching for those of us with, and at risk of LE. We should all be printing this out and handing it to our exercise coaches or simply people who run our gyms.  The second link is a handout for anyone with or at risk of LE who needs some quick guidelines on safe exercise. Ideally, trainers/teachers who read the first document will give this shorter one out to their clients and participants in their classes.

    These documents are based on research + common sense where research was not available. I did the writing with lots of help from our community here. Special thanks to  badger, NatsFan, joyh1109, nitocris, binney, and onebadboob. Also, Dr. Andrea Cheville weighed in with some very helpful insights. 

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

    Carol

    This is nothing less than  fantastic   -   I started reading it this morning!  Many thanks to all of the contributers for all their hard work.

    This is just precisely the kind of info LIVESTRONG could benefit from.  Leave it to some LE ladies to be so willing to publicly share this rather than throw in the towel.  I  can only wonder how many women will be helped by this kind of information in the years to  come.  KUDOS!

    Nice sleeves , btw  Wink

  • nibbana
    nibbana Member Posts: 349
    edited March 2013

    Yes, outstanding job Carol!

    Very helpful.

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited March 2013

    Carol, Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort. You are a gem to the LE communityKiss. Lets celebrate with that good baking you posted above!Smile

    Did my walkies and lebed opening and breathing today. Of course I am in dang LE gear daily. I wish they could invent a invisible second skin compression garment that you apply like silicone and then peel it off at the end of the day! 

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

    saw a new physical therapist tonight.  I have balance issues that are worrisome and the doc suggested PT, actually I said no to the first suggestion which involved surgery.  Seems to me PT is the first line of care

    she seemed nice and did ID some issues I have that my trainer guy did not address so going to give it a try for a couple of weeks.  My insurance is the pits so we worked a limited plan to deal with it and keep costs down for me

    will see how it goes next week, told her of the LE and the need for caution there, do not think she knew anything of LE but will see

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Proud, it's the pits that you--or anyone else-have to worry about covering the insurance gap.  It's great that the new PT is willing to figure out a way to control the cost.  If she really does not know anything about LE, I'm a little worried, because in the best of circumstances, she would work with the whole you.  If you find she really is clueless, let us know and we'll pile you up with resources to give the lady.

    I've been successful at doing my walking and cardio these past few days, and this week I got two weight-lifting workouts in, too.  And baked a lot of bread!  That's over now, and there will be two days of long drives as we make our way home with a stop to visit a wonderful city in Canada.  So I'm not likely to get the steps or miles or heart-pounding in for a few days, but it's vacation time so I'm not gonna worry about it!

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304
    edited March 2013

    Got a two mile walk in the sunshine with DD today, then another short walk with the dog and 4 year old grandson!

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited March 2013

    LInda. Awesome girl.  Everyone, LETS KICK LE BUTT!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

    Carol, thanks for your concern and offer.  For now what we will be working on is my balance.  I am like a ...drunken sailor without the fun of the drinking!

    Not sure what we will be doing really as last night was an accessment and I have alerted her to the LE and will see what she suggests next time.  The facility is a really good rehab center at a major hospital in NJ and my trainer had thought that I should give it a try when he heard about the referral.  His idea is I can learn what they suggest and maybe then do it at the gym with him. The PT person last night says she will suggest things not  like what a trainer does.  We will see.  I did not tell her that my gym trainer is also an adjuct professor at two different colleges and working on his PhD in athletic trainer so not your basic.

    It is another set of eyes and thoughts so...

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Proudtospin, I think your plan of attack is excellent. I have worked with various PTs on back issues over the decades, but it wasn't until a personal trainer in the gym really listened to my concerns and put together a strength training plan that addressed them, that I finally resolved the problem, instead of just its symptoms.  Not at all related to balance or LE, so quite different from your challenges, but my experience goes to show that a team approach that leverages expertise from several directions can sometimes be just what we need.  If you ever feel that your trainer is taking you somewhere that the PT would not approve of, of course you can bring that up to both of them and decide how to proceed.  I think your approach is very, very smart!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Proudtospin, I know...In addition to all the other med appointments, I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would say the words 'my plastic surgeon.'  It's all too much, really!

    Today I walked 5.5 miles, almost all in beautiful Toronto, under some wonderful (and warm!) late afternoon sunshine. A huge weather upgrade from the snowstorm we left behind in Vermont this morning.  And, I am so lucky that DH likes to speed walk with me!

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

    invisible second skin compression garment that you apply like silicone and then peel it off at the end of the day!

    Ha!
    How silly does that sound and yet, I betcha some motivated and super intelligent persons could do something like that.

    ( but who would be motivated  to ?Yell)  In the meantime- hang in !

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

     My insurance is the pits so we worked a limited plan to deal with it and keep costs down for me


    Proud

    I had 2 seperate occassions where I did a lot of therapy at home.

    First, when I went to pulmo rehab for my lungs/ copd.  I simply ' copied' all they did.  I bought an exercise bike, some  small hand wts ( long before the BC or LE  btw ) etc ... and  continued my own rehab at home, which was successful.

    Second time was when I broke a shoulder and tore most of the R cuff off the bone.  They all said nothing would work but surgery. After 6 mos of PT I could not move my hand past my nose.  Today it is 100%  ( but has LE in it Surprised).  I got the full range of motion back by doing pilates and yoga daily ( took app 1 yr ) long after the P.T was over.  It would be pretty easy to tear again since it was never surgically repaired, but just goes to show you , you can continue a PT program at home and, if dedicated and compliant- come out on top.

    Good Luck to you- hang tough!

  • nibbana
    nibbana Member Posts: 349
    edited March 2013

    Through all my injurie and surgeries, I've become a pretty decent amateau phycial therapist. I've learned exercises through the Marilyn Moffat book back in the 90s. Nowdays there's all kind of apps for exercise, plus anatomy apps. Just learn bones, joint, muscles, their actions, origins and insertions, and one can do a servicable job on themselves.

    I remember I tore one of my gastrocs and the PT I was assigned to was a little uppity for my tastes, so I simply rode a stationary bike very slowly to get range of motion back. Then I did some progressive leg presses. In a matter of time I was good as new.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited March 2013

    well the first visit to the pT for balance went well, she really only just analized me.  I am way weaker on the left side and she said my hips were tight!  I knew I weaker on the left (same side as LE) but did not know about my hips being tight

    plan for now is to do a couple of sessions with her and think then continue at my gym(aka fitness and wellness center) with my trainer

    but have been talking to some pals and I may end up with some surgery, not happy but with loads of comments from long time pals, think that may be it.  Will see the neurologist on Wed to discuss the options

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited March 2013

     not happy but with loads of comments from long time pals, think that may be it.

    This seems odd, but since this is the case, I will just add one -

    Hope you have  a fruitful appt with the neuro doc and remember, the final decision if YOURS.

    Good Luck !

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited March 2013

    Ok... just busy growing a bit of fat here on the west coast. Gonna get my shoes out today and pound the pavement. HOW ABOUT YOU?

    Proud2spin. Feeling for your tight hips. I have been working on this since last may. Found out it is coming from L4/L5 lower back injury.  

    It is a constant struggle to loosen up my hips but it has been the most benefical.  I am doing myofascial release now and have been working with a little ball called the Miracle ball. It has changed me for the better but I will never be healed. I can't skip a day of my hip exercises or I get burning in my butt and hips. Please work on loosening your hips. Your IT band is probably tight to.