Barely treding Water

This month is almost over and I don't feel like I have accomplished much. So I am still trying to change my eating to more healthy.

I have not done as much exercising as I had hoped.

So today at about 10:15 I walked up to the church and around then I walked back. So that was 1227 steps. That is about what I walk when I go shopping which is about 1/2 mile. By the time I get home, and this takes all of about 10 minutes, my lower back hurts, my upper thighs ache, and I can hardly stand upright.

After I was able to sit for about 30 minutes I was able to go in and start cooking lunch for my husband and myself. I cooked broccoli and chicken, and washed dishes. I can only stand for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

Then again at 1:00 I went for another walk. I went the same path, the same distance, for about the same time and came back home. At that point my total steps were 2759. When I realized I had walked that far I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

I can do this and I can do this every day. Well, that is my goal for this week.

Medical update.

Last week I went to a few medical appointments. So I feel like I am moving forward.

• I went to my primary care physician. I had some blood work done and had to do a sleep study.
• Blood work showed my kidneys need more water and I need Vitamin D. More blood work in a month.
• Sleep study was abnormal so I have an appointment for the sleep lab on Feb 7th.
• I had a Cat Scan on my back and made an appointment  for Jan. 31, 2012 with a neurosurgeon.
• Yesterday Jan 24, 2012 I had an appointment to have my pacemaker/defibrillator checked. All was OK. I do have to have the battery replaced some time within the next 6 to 8 months.

January 10, 2012

So now I will work on my health or continue to work on my health.

1. I stopped drinking Diet Coke.

2. Last week I started exercising. I exercised four times for 20 minutes. I worked mostly on my back muscles. and some on my arms and upper back. I have an old knockoff of the total gym.
3. I downloaded my MP3 player with some great music.

This next week I will be working on eating more vegetables. That is my big down fall. I tried this last month for a week before we went to Vegas and I did just fine. I knew I would not be able to stick to that in Vegas with my family. So I start this again this week.

Small steps! I want this to be a life stye change. I would prefer to be able to go on long walks. I can't because of back issues, I can only stand for about 10 minutes. Working my exercises for my back may help so that I can eventually start to walk.

2012 Health Solutions For Me

2012 Health Solutions For Me

 January 6, 2012

Happy New Year!!

This year is going to me my year of solutions!!

I am going to find solutions to my health problems:

Weight:

I now have a major weight problem. I really tried last year and did not get very far. This year I will continue until I accomplish my goal. Once I can get my weight in control I will be able to work on other health problems.

• Diet Coke has been a life long love! It was a truly sad day when I heard that Diet drinks that used artificial sweeteners contributed to wight gain. End of Nov. 2011 I stopped drinking Diet Coke.  So we will see how long that lasts. I must admit that water tastes a whole lot better and quenches my thirst.
• My plan is to eat foods without preservatives, and eat organically grown meats.
• I would try to eat organically grown fruits and veggies if they didn't cost as much. 
• Exercising is part of this solution to my weight. I can only walk for about 10 minutes without my back and legs hurting. There are other ways to exercise, though walking is my preference. I do have exercises to strengthen my back. I will start doing those each day, OKAY, at least 4 times a week. - One step at a time.

Of course my weight contributes to a lot of my health problem a few of the health issues not so much. 

Back Pain:

I have bulging discs in my last 3 vertebrates. Many people have this mine are not so bad as many other people. I have been getting worse especially this last year.

Heart issues:

I have a heart problem as that runs in my family. I had to started having high blood pressure when I was twenty.

In 2002 I had a heart episode, not a heart attack. I was lucky. A stent was places in my artiry. 

In 2006 another stent.

In 2007 the doctors convinced me I needed a pacemaker/difb. I had cardomyopathy. I guess I had it for a while I was just not listening.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH):

This one totally took me for a loop. I had never heard of Hydrocephalus except in infants. I had a lot to learn see NPH.

January 2009 I had surgery and a shunt was put into the back of my skull. So I still have some issues that need to be resolved.

I went back to the neurosurgeon twice but I want to go to my regular doctor to discuss some other things.

So I made a doctors appoint for next week.

One step at a time. One day at a time.
So I am through writing for today. I will update this next week.