I
used to keep in shape, able to eat anything I wanted. If I wasn't
walking, I was riding my bike. In college, I worked in the scene
shop. Nothing like set work to keep you healthy and strong! I also
took a lot of dance classes.
After
graduation and marriage, I worked out in aerobics and water aerobics.
I was fit! Even after four children, I was slender and in good shape.
Then a serious of health problems put me down and I haven't been the
same since.
Thanksgiving
of 2000, I broke my neck. I call it that for dramatic effect. What I
actually did was rupture the C5-C6 disc in my neck. Excruciatingly
painful, it curtailed my physical activities considerably. I had a
fusion and replacement in the spring of 2001, but it left
considerable nerve damage in its wake.
Afterward,
it was difficult to walk or ride my bike. In fact, it was downright
painful to do anything but normal daily activities. Once the neck
brace came off, I had some therapy, but never regained full mobility
of my neck. I have almost constant discomfort, if not pain, in my
left shoulder. There are areas of hyper-sensitivity alternating with
tingling, numb spots all down my left arm and leg. There isn't
anything that can be done for this. I'm not incapacitated, but it
does make exercising challenging.
After
that, I started to gain weight and I couldn't keep ahead of it. In
2009, I weighed around 198 pounds. On my 5'5” frame, that's a fair
amount of weight. I was thinking of how best to pursue weight loss
when I found out I had breast cancer. Diagnosed in December of 2009,
I started chemo in February of 2010. My year is a blur for the from
January through August, between chemo and radiation treatments.
The
steroids they gave me during the treatments started a spiral decline
that I couldn't dig out of with a back hoe. I also developed more
severe allergies, I think likely keyed to the chemo, and was
diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis two years ago. For that, I was
prescribed more steroids in the form of an inhaler. The inhaler is
$200 a pop, so I've had to wean myself off it. It wasn't as effective
after two years, anyway, so I haven't noticed a huge difference
either way.
It's
hard for me to walk, due to a dodgy hip and knee, and it's not very
interesting walking around our neighborhood. My bike was stolen, just
as I was getting out to ride it every day, so there went that.
Needless to say, I don't get much exercise. I need to and I need to
get this weight off. Health issues aside, I don't like how I look.
Having a negative body image isn't healthy emotionally, and I need a
boost.
My
self-esteem takes a nose dive whenever I try to work out. I was doing
well with the P90X Stretch, then the disc got lost and I no longer
had it as a workout resource. Shortly after that, my son and his
girlfriend moved in with us. I don't like working out in front of
others, particularly those who are fit. It's distressing and
depressing, so I sit in my office and don't do anything. I can borrow
my son's copy of the X Stretch, but I'm in such sorry shape now, I
can't do it. I'm breathless and wheezing less than 10 minutes
in—that's just the warmup!
So,
I set myself a goal. Every hour, I do at least three minutes of
exercise. This doesn't sound like much, but it's a manageable goal
for me. Today is day one, Monday, February 16, 2015. I hope that by
writing about it, I will be able to make myself do it. I will update
every week. I took my weight and measurements today. Since I'm rather
embarrassed by the numbers, I'll keep them to myself and give weekly
updates on changes (if any).
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/16/15
Duration Song
& Artist Time
3:53 F**k
You – CeeLo Green. 12:43
7:38 Whiskey
Bar – Zak Deputy 1:29
3:31 Haven't
Done Nothin – Stevie Wonder 2:36
4:03 Money
for Nothin' – Dire Straits 3:40
4:39 Fire
Like This – Hardknox 4:48
Dinner
prep and eating 6:00 – 7:00 (approximately)
3:16 Into
the Jungle – Jamie N Commons 7:03
3:13 Rumble
and Sway – Jamie N Commons 8:18
30:13
Total
You'll
notice that my times are a bit wonky, not exactly an hour apart. Part
of this is due to the fact that I set the timer after I exercised.
Part of it is due to the fact that I sometimes forgot to reset the
timer. This is a work in progress, after all.
I
decided that after dinner, I was going to relax and not push myself.
The last couple songs, it was difficult to breathe. However, if I've
added up correctly, I got just over 30 minutes of exercise today. Not
bad, considering I rarely get any.
Tuesday,
February 17, 2015
Today's
workouts were a little more scattered, but I still got in over 30
minutes. My daily goal is 30 minutes for the first couple of weeks,
then I'll try for more. I'm not worrying so much about diet at this
time, rather activity levels. So far, so good, but it's only the
second day.
I
had to fight the impulse to skip a couple of sessions, but I made
myself get up and do them. I chose shorter songs so I wouldn't feel
as overwhelmed.
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/17/15:
Duration Song
& Artist Time
3:39 Bottom
of the River – Delta Rae 11:25
7:30 Whiskey
Bar – Zach Deputy 12:24
7:12 Luz,
Amor y Vida – Carlos Santana 1:36
4:01 I
Don't Care – Patrick Stump 3:51
4:00 Tenderoni
– Chromeo 8:47
3:26 Barbed
Wire and Roses – Pinmonkey 9:57
38:11
Total
Wednesday,
February 18, 2015
Today
is my writing group day. I volunteer at the local Council on Aging.
It takes up a large portion of my day. With one thing and another, I
didn't get much exercise in, but I did make myself do some so the say
wouldn't be a total loss.
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/18/15
Duration Song
& Artist Time
4:20 Pretzel
Logic – Warren Haynes 11:25 PM
5:25 Regulator
– Clutch 11:31 PM
9:45
Total
Thursday,
February 19, 2015
Today
was better. I was home for the day and was able to keep up a fairly
regular schedule. I took a break to fix lunch and supper (and watch a
movie with my kids) I'm a little stiff from the last few days, but
it's not painful. I'm simply using muscles that haven't been
exercised this much for years. I take it easy, not dancing as hard if
I feel something twinge.
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/19/15
Duration Song
& Artist Time
4:55 Number
9 – Moon Hooch 11:02
5:10 Concrete
– Revivalists 12:09
4:47 Electric
Worry – Clutch 1:16
Lunch
and a break 1:35
3:59 Only
One – Melissa Etheridge 2:38
3:56 Let
Me Go – Melissa Etheridge 3:41
4:48 Luz,
Amor y Vida – Carlos Santana 5:15
Dinner
and a Movie 6:18
3:31 Haven't
Done Nothing – Stevie Wonder 8:46
4:35 Hi
De Ho – K7 10:04
34:43
Total
Friday,
February 20, 2015
Today
wasn't a very good exercise day. I did all right until midafternoon
when I developed a migraine. It took hours for it to settle down and
it never completely went away. I didn't get as much exercising in
because dancing around made my head hurt worse.
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/20/15
Duration Song
& Artist Time
3:40 So
Far from Your Weapon – Dead Weather 12:44
3:13 Rumble
and Sway – Jamie N Commons 2:20
2:23 Jack
the Ripper – Link Wray 3:32
Migraine
kicked in
4:38 New
Low – Middle Class Rut 10:31
13:54
Total
Saturday,
February 21, 2015
Another
bad day. I didn't get any exercise in at all. Went to bed with a
headache, woke up with it and kept it most of the day. Even the idea
of dancing made it hurt more. Okay, that's probably psychosomatic,
but that's the truth of it.
Tomorrow
is another day and I won't give up. I do notice that I feel a bit
better since embarking on this—other than the migraine. Migraines
suck.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Didn't do as badly today, though I didn't reach my 30 minute goal. I got distracted and I was still feeling the after effects of the migraine. I also realized that I need to add stretching to my routine, which I will do starting on Monday, February 23, 2015
Below
are the songs I danced to 2/22/15
Duration Song
& Artist Time
3:00 Venus
– Shocking Blue 12:08
3:30 Mercy
– Duffy 1:20
3:44 Hem
of Your Garment – Cake 2:26
4:28 Tenderoni
– Chromeo 5:29
4:00
Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band 7:48
5:08 Funk
for Your Ass – Frank Wesley 9:01
2:46 Long
Way to Go – C2C 10:08
26:06
After
the first week, no change in the measurements, which is as I
anticipated. However, almost a pound difference in weight. Keeping in
mind time of day, fullness of stomach & bladder, I'm not calling
it definitive yet, but it's a pound and I'm owning it!
©
2015 Dellani Oakes
No comments:
Post a Comment