Adjustments...

I'm glad to report that I am seeing some promising progress from my first chiropractic adjustment! My right hip does ache, but not as much as normal, and frankly feels more straight that it has in quite some time.  Tomorrow I go for a medical massage in hope of untangling myself even more.

I have gone walking twice this week - 20 minute walks, with my lift - my previously broken ankle is not happy about it, but for the most part, the pain is tolerable.  I also got in the pool and did some water-resistance walking last night, and will try again tomorrow night depending on how I am feeling post-massage.  Currently, I am trying to get in some form of low-impact movement every other day. I know I must rebuild my musculature in order to maintain the adjustments and treatment I am I undergoing to correct the torquing/twisting.

We're doing fairly well with the Paleo diet, currently allowing for the maximum of three "cheat meals" per week.  I can see, however, that soon we will not be needing/wanting those cheat meals.  I feel like having that option is key - so may diets fail because they're so all or nothing.  I also like that I am not trying to make anything into something it isn't - just sticking to clean, whole foods. Breakfast is a moderately sized meal, lunch is lite, currently a few pieces of fruit or a salad for me, and dinner is moderately sized.  I am focusing on not loading my plate for what seems like for two - and not using the excuse that I am sharing my food with my dogs.  Rather, I am making them their own plates.  It's working - I've dropped 6 lbs this week so far.

I've also managed to walk away from coffee again - I'm determined to not buy any for the house, and to limit myself to only the occasional treat from a good coffee house.  In the meantime, Jason brought me home something amazing!  Coconut Tea from Costco!  It's creamy and wonderful - reminiscent of a vegan cappuccino I'm fond of... I want to track down their unsweetened version and give it a try too!

Measures

So this is Mattye's husband, Jason. When we got married, she accused me of being a stick-figure... 13 years has done a number on that accusation, I'm afraid. As things stand, my heaviest was 245 at the beginning of the year. Right now I have it down to the mid 220's. Where did it come from? Bad diet, stress, no real exercise until the last 6 months, and some still painful injuries from an ill fated attempt to join the Army. Honestly I don't care about my weight or my waistline at this point in the game. Those measurements are so fluid and not reflective of health. My goal is to get my body fat percentage down to 12-15%. Unfortunately, at this point, that means cutting my current percentage in half (30%). My "moment" was when my blood work came back as moving towards diabetic. Diet alone wasn't cutting it for weight loss or blood sugar. So at this juncture, that means I start working out, and for serious, or I'm looking at lifetime medications. I think I'd far prefer lifetime fitness (pun intended). One of the best ways to burn fat is not to do scads of cardio but to up the body's basal (resting) metabolism. And the best way to do that safely is to increase muscle mass. Shucky darn. That means I have to pump *clap* me up! There is surprising a large library of good science on strength training and I plan to add comments and discussions as I go along with my routine. Well, I can't think of much else to say at the moment... more to come!

-JT

Realizations...

Hi there!  It's Mattye. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and Artist.  It's nice to meet you!  My husband and I are beginning a fitness journey together, and want to invite you along too!  For years my husband and I have been yo-yo-ing around on the health and fitness circle.  We've tried everything from raw veganism to now Paleo due to food intolerances, allergies, etc.  There's always a wake-up call, no matter who you are.  They present themselves in different ways, of course, but eventually we all come to the understanding that what we think we want isn't worth the cost.

In my case, the cost is pain.  Years of grains, beans, legumes, capsaicin and simple carbs have taken their tolls on my body and now I live in pain thanks to a leaky gut.  The food just ain't worth it.  If that wasn't enough, I am finding myself on the road to recovery from a torqued hip and twisted spine that have cost me alot of my current mobility.  Some good chiropractic care and massage plus a prosthetic lift and I should be right as rain.

Have you had your epiphany moment yet?   Mine came about a week ago after a health assessment - wherein I was told that I am carrying 126 lbs of fat and 143 lbs of ME.  These two numbers are significant, in that almost 30 years ago, I was in an unhappy marriage to an abuser and weighed 126 lbs at that time.  I presently weigh 269 lbs.  My goal weight has been 143 lbs each time I have tried to lose the weight I gained after I left that marriage.  The epiphany?  Well. I'm of the opinion that no one gets left behind - especially on the battlefield.  What I realized is that I have been carrying the broken, shattered me in the form of those 126 lbs of fat ever since I walked away!  What I know now is that it's okay to put that part of me down now - and it's been okay for a long time...I just didn't realize it.