Get healthy

The water aerobics classes include some weight training, which seems to be playing a bit of havoc with my joints. Or at least that’s what I thought was the problem. I had a therapeutic massage Friday, and found out that I need to drink more water to loosen up the connective tissues in my shoulders. The massage really seemed to help, and I’ve been mindfully drinking much more water. That can’t hurt on the weight-loss goal, either!

I have the opportunity to be coached free for 3 sessions, on a topic of my choice. I chose this one! My goal for this week (with an estimated 75% probability of 100% success) was to attend all 3 water aerobics classes at the JCC, on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Well, I missed Monday’s class because I was putting up new drapes (yea!) and didn’t pay attention to the time. :-(

On the other hand, I did spend time in the pool yesterday … not a rigorous workout, but better than sitting at home in front of the television with microwaved marshmallows and Dove candy! :-)

Reading old entries for this goal makes me feel good in a way: my elbow is almost 100% better now! Turns out the wrist wasn’t as bad as the chiropractor made it feel … it was him, not me! And we’ve joined a health club, so being more physically active is getting easier and easier. I love swimming and “water walking” in the chlorine-free pool. It doesn’t feel like work, which is the key to making it a regular part of my life. That, and not over-doing it. If I hurt myself, I know it will put an end to it all, so I’m being very careful. And loving it!

Okay … I’ve been going for several weeks now to physical therapy for tendinitis in my elbow, AND severely limiting my time on the computer at home (which is probably one of the major contributors … along with discovering and overly-zealous use of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleaning pads), so my elbow is feeling better. I’m mousing with my left hand, too, which helps my right elbow, but has played havoc with my left shoulder and neck! So yesterday, I went to the chiropractor, trying to get back into balance. Man, that hurt, especially in the WRIST. I didn’t even KNOW that was a problem spot! But I’m proud of myself for taking action.

The weather is getting nice … time to start walking FOR PLEASURE!

Thus far, I’ve logged 4115 steps today. It’s not 10,000 … by far … but it’s better than some days that have been about 1250! Again, I’ve found that parking at the farthest lot at work, running a few errands, going up and down stairs to do laundry … it all adds up.

For four days now, I’ve been using a pedometer to count the approximate number of steps I take in a day. They’ve ranged from over 2200 to almost 4500. The goal for a healthy level of activity is 10,000 per day.

I found that just adding very small things … parking at the farthest lot on campus, getting up and walking around outside the building where I work when it was a sunny day … is an easy way to double what I would normally do in a day.

A couple more little things like that per day, and I’ll reach that goal!