Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Paleo out of curiosity. Gluten free out of necessity.

Funny how things happen sometimes.  You see a video, read a post or hear a conversation and something about it catches your interest.  You might think it is coincidence, but more often than not, if you really really think about it, you would realize that it's not.  It resonates with you for a reason, even if you are not completely aware of it at the time.

A few months ago a friend of a friend overheard me talking about the book Sex at Dawn.
Hi.  You may think I am a nut...but I'm not!
He stated that he was interested in the book and went on to explain how he had started this new way of eating called Paleo.  Hmmmm..being somewhat interested in diets and the way we choose to eat I was intrigued....especially in how it related to Sex at Dawn.  He went on the explain that basically the Paleo Diet is one in which you only eat what our paleolithic ancestors did.  This means no processed food, no dairy, no legumes and no grains.  You can eat meat, fruit, vegetables and nuts.  But not peanuts because they aren't really nuts, they are actually legumes...who knew?  The theory behind this diet being that we are not biologically meant to eat the way we do.

Shortly thereafter, another friend was praising the Paleo Diet, saying she has never felt better now that she has cut all the engineered stuff out of her diet.  My interest was peaked again so I started to research this Paleo Diet.  And..whoaa..turns out there is a whole Paleo lifestyle which includes an exercise "cult" called Cross Fit.  So this is pretty cool now....a back to the basics diet paired with a fitness regime that...you guessed it....focuses on moves from back in the day (the paleolithic day I'm talking about).  Squats, rings, rope climbing, pushing, pulling....all bundled into a WOD (Workout of the Day) that is posted on the website.  Wait...this is just to perfect!!  Check out this funny video about it... really. 

So I figured...let me try this diet out for a few days....and maybe I will even try to do some WODs.  I think I lasted two weeks trying to eat like our ancestors....and I did not give up my yogurt and I ate a handful of pretzels every night...and wine...I definitely did not give up the wine.  This is called the 80/20 rule.  Yes it is a real rule...honest it is...which says you can follow the diet 80% of the time and still say you are "Paleo".   The WODs on the other hand....well I didn't even try, because let's be honest...they're kind of scary.



Not for nothing though.....I probably lost a few pounds due to cutting out a lot of carbs during that time but I really didn't feel any better....I actually felt pretty drained and ucky.  I guess I just need my carbs and grains.

Yummmm....bagels!!
Fast forward a couple of weeks....I get a call from my son's doctor.  We had taken him to CHOP for short stature...he is but a weeee little boy....with a very big presence...but that is another post all together.

Turns out he has Celiac Disease.  For those who aren't in the know, Celiac is an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys the villi in the small intestine in order to protect itself from gluten which is perceived to be a foreign substance.  With little to no villi, the small intestines are unable to absorb the nutrients we need to survive.  Why does this happen?  Well....maybe because for some of us...our bodies just haven't evolved enough to handle engineered food.

Although the main symptom of Celiac Disease was once thought to be gastrointestinal, they now know that is shows up in all forms, one of which is short stature. Hopefully within a few months the one who is little will be a bit bigger....maybe I will finally be able to pass on his 2T clothes to his 2 year old cousin who is probably taller than he is.

Treatment?  Easy...remove gluten from the diet.  Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye which means no bread, no pasta, no cake, no cookies...well you get the picture....no bagels.  Luckily going gluten free seems to be a trend these days, and the options are endless.  This does make things easier for the little guy and for us.  But it does take some foresight and planning...no more quick drive thrus or stopping at random pizza places for a pie on the way home.  Not that we did either of those things often...but not having it as an option anymore kind of stinks.

Thankfully my little guy has a lot of HEART.  He didn't even blink when I informed him, on the way to Trader Joe's to buy up all of their gluten free food, that he would have to change the way he eats.  As a matter of fact, he told everyone in the store that he can only eat gluten free food now.  That was three weeks ago and he is still a trooper, even when all of the other kids are making their own pizza at Pizzaria Uno and when I told him he couldn't play with the raw dough.  "Okay Mommy" he says..."because it isn't gluten free?"

The only thing he is asked of me throughout this whole thing is that I go gluten free with him.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Just Being: Making Love, Not War....Would It Really Change Eve...

Just Being: Making Love, Not War....Would It Really Change Eve...: "I just finished reading Sex at Dawn written by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha It took me a while, only because I stopped a few times t..."

Making Love, Not War....Would It Really Change Everything?

I just finished reading Sex at Dawn written by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha  It took me a while, only because I stopped a few times to read other less heavy books, like Unbroken.  Okay...I guess Unbroken is pretty heavy but it was a much easier read...I mean if you can tolerate that kind of stuff.  Great book by the way.

So back to Sex at Dawn and my thoughts on this book which is about the evolution of sex and how it effects our society today.  Totally awesome book....again...if you can tolerate this kind of stuff.  It is chocked full of info that makes you stop and say hmmmmmm.  But, I warn you, it may rub some people the wrong way.  It will challenge pretty much everything you think you know about sex, marriage, infidelity and society.

Other than an overall sense of "Wow...this is cool stuff", a few things stood out for me.  Mind you, I have a horrible memory and tend not to remember any details...about anything (just ask my husband how many times he has to tell me which Salsa to get him at Baja Fresh... and I still get him the wrong one every time).  But every once in a while a few useless facts will stick.

Our closest ancestors
1.  Our DNA is closer to that of the Bonobo Monkeys than the DNA of an African Elephant is to that of an Asian Elephant.  This fascinates me.  Bonobo Monkeys, by nature, are polyamourous. 

2.  When a woman is taking birth control pills her innate ability to chose a genetically fit male is effected.  Apparently we are genetically engineered to choose men who have different MHC then us, thus optimizing the fitness of our children (this somehow increases the child's range of immunity).  While on the pill women tend not to choose such men, sometimes even choosing men who have the same MHC which could predispose their children to significant health risks.  The implications of this are mind boggling in so many ways! How has the birth control pill effected our evolution?  Do we really have free will, or is it all an illusion?

3. Some theorize that survival for the fittest actually occurs on a cellular level.  Basically, the sperm that makes it to the egg wins and each female is engineered to allow different sperm to win. The interesting piece is that it is presumed that the sperm is not all from the same male.

4.  In sexually polyamourous societies males have no way of knowing which children are theirs, thus they treat all children as if they were theirs.  Children are raised and accepted by everyone.  Imagine this for a moment in the context of a little league game where Dads are posturing on behalf of their boys. 

5.  In these societies there is little aggression, no famine, no poverty, fewer chronic health conditions and no infidelity.

Basically, the authors are theorizing that if we just gave into our biologically driven desire to have sex, with anyone, or at least more than one person at any given time we would be a much happier society.  But alas....we have evolved so far from this concept that it would take thousands of years to make it work. 

Can you imagine waking up one day and suggesting to your partner..."hey hon why don't you go out and have sex with whomever you want...just be home in time for dinner."

Here is a comprehensive review of the book.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Bullies are People Too

Just a thought on bullying.  It really f'ing sucks.

I know none of us want to think that our child is a bully.  Even if they are doing "bullyish" things...parents will often say, "Oh that's just a kid doing what kids do."  Really?  So when does "what kids do" cross the line into bullying?  What are your thoughts on that?

Often times young kids don't even know they are being bullied.  And even if they realize it, they may not have the verbal skills to express it in a way that an adult takes it seriously.  They will say things like, "Kids are being mean to me." or "Joey pushed me today."  As parents and educators we often go right to, "Well, what were you doing that caused this to happen?"  In turn, children feel blamed and stop telling.

On the other side of the coin, sometimes bullies don't realize that they are bullying.  Our educators do a lot of work teaching children about "being bullied" but how does a child know if they are actually doing the bullying?  I have heard children say, "Oh, I didn't know that is what I was doing."  School age children especially lack the ability to determine how their behavior is effecting others.  Is is important that we talk with them about this, use role playing and ask questions.

Some people feel that being bullied is a right of passage.  It builds character, makes you stronger.  This might be true in some cases, but more often than not, bullying causes serious mental and emotional harm.  Children are resilient, yes...but they are also impressionable and vulnerable.  Having to encounter a bully on a day to day basis chips away at their self-esteem and feelings of self worth.  Physiologically it causes an unhealthy increase in cortisol which is our stress hormone, making the child hyper vigilant, anxious, unable to concentrate and depressed.  All of these things have an effect on the developing brain and psyche.  Ultimately it can change brain function leading to long term consequences.

Bullying doesn't just occur with children.  As adults we encounter bullies in the work place and in our social circles.  These are the people who go out of their way to make others feel uncomfortable, unappreciated or unheard.  Often times they lack the social skills needed to have positive social relationships...and if you confront them, they would probably be genuinely surprised by other people's experience of them.

Ultimately, we have to understand that there will always be bullies...and there will always be victims.  It is inherent in our social structure and almost unavoidable.  The good news is that we don't have to tolerate it.  We have more options now than we ever have in terms of speaking up, finding our voice and being heard.  I say this from the point of view of the bully as well as the victim because when it comes right down to it, bullies are victims too and should be afforded the same opportunities to grow and learn.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Orchestrating Life

I read a great article today that compared choosing a fitness plan to conducting a symphony.  The author likens the transformation of creating a fitness repertoire that encapsulates the whole body to that of orchestrating a symphony that encapsulates the whole spirit.

I especially like the first part where the author describes choosing a fitness plan that leads you to what you want to accomplish based on who you are.  Now, the article is a bit skewed based on the fact that it was written for the Team Beachbody newsletter, however as a concept I think the idea ties real nicely into this whole concept of Being and Authentic Self.  In order to figure out where you want to go...you have to know where you are.

So I would challenge folks to take a step back even further.  A lot of people who jump full force into  exercising end up losing momentum and ultimately stop.  Time marches on and they wonder, "What ever happened to that exercise thing I was doing?"  People give up, the desire fades, they get to busy, life gets in the way....in other words, Epic Fail.

I believe that in order to be successful in something, including transforming one's lifestyle to include a fitness regimen, one has to start with soul searching and ultimately orchestrate this life change based on their Authentic Self.

Where to start?  Here are my thoughts:

1.  What are your goals?   In other words...why are you doing this?  To lose weight?  To lower blood pressure?  To gain muscle?  To get ripped?  To feel good?  Really take the time to think about this, because the answer will drive everything from this point forward.  Once you have decided on what your goals are (which could change at any time by the way) WRITE THEM DOWN!  Studies show that those who write their goals down are significantly more likely to achieve said goals than those who do not write them down.

2.  What type of person are you?  What is your inherent personality?  Why is this important?  Because it will determine what type of exercise you will choose to do and more importantly STICK WITH.  For example: If you are a "Thinker" that likes to keep to yourself, do things at your own pace, and eschew group activities  signing up for a boot camp or joining a community intramural sport is probably not the best choice for you.  On the other hand, if you are a "Doer" joining an Ultimate Frisbee league is probably right up your alley!

3.  What is your current lifestyle?  Do you work 12 hours a day?  Do you have a family?  Are you engaged in hobbies?  Do you attend a lot of social activities?  How is exercise going to fit into the way you live your life?  If you go to bed at 1am on most nights, don't plan on waking up at 5am to exercise.  You will never sustain it.  If you pick up the kids after school and have to run them around to their own activities on most days, don't plan on exercising in the afternoon.  It will never work.   Choose something that fits your lifestyle and you will be more likely to sustain it over time.

4. Research.  What is available?  Do you live near a fitness center?  Do you have room in your home to do at home exercise?  Are their boot camps in your community?  What are your options?  Fitness is nothing more than physical activity....anything active done purposefully can be exercise including cleaning the house and shopping.

5. Plan.  Put all of the above together and come up with a 30 day plan.  Don't commit to more than that until you know that your plan is working for you.  If you find that you have not stuck to it within the designated 30 days or you don't get the results you want, it is time to re-evaluate steps 1-4.

WHEW!  And you haven't even picked out your gear yet.  This fitness stuff is hard work.  Making a life change is not easy and it takes planning and patience.  I guarantee though, once you figure it out and find what works it will just happen, like an orchestra performing the perfect symphony.  Everything just falls together in the right places.

Monday, July 11, 2011

To Blog or Not To Blog

It's been a while...mostly because I got tired of complaining about all of my ailments...but also because the need to blog just suddenly left.  At first it kept me focused....but I do wonder now if it kept me focused on the wrong things.  By blogging about my pain, did I merely bring attention to it, making it bigger and badder than it really was?

Since my last post, I have lost the boot (that was a little bit over 3 weeks ago) and my chest ailment has been rediagnosed as some type of gastro issue for which I am taking "the purple pill".  I am back to doing my Insanity and P90x workouts and running intervals.  I even went dancing in heels Sat night to celebrate my 40th birthday!!

So now I have a decision to make about this blog....do I keep it up or let it die?  I mean, life goes on whether you blog about it or not..right?

I happened to have an interesting conversation with some people at work today.  We were working on a project and some how the discussion led to the concept of "being".  Why is it so hard for us to just "Be"?

And so is born the next subject on which to focus a blog.

Since I am no longer "Bringing It with a Broken Foot", really because my foot is not broken anymore...I am now just "Being".  And perhaps, while bringing attention to "being" I will be able to focus my energy around the ability to just "be".

Monday, June 6, 2011

Our Delicate Selves

Again, another delay in blog posts.  It has been a difficult week (or two) to say the least.

Last I left off, I was going to see a Sports Medicine Doc, which I did.  Of course, while I was there my chest didn't hurt at all.  Nope...no pain...whatsoever.  I felt it earlier in the day...oh and later when I got back to work...but while I was at the doctor...nope, nada, nothing.  And....nothing he did recreated it.

It was kind of like a comedy skit..."Does it hurt when I do this?"  "No."  "How about this?"  "Nope"  "What about here."  "No...nothing".  Figures.

Regardless,  great experience, great doctor, asked lots of relevant questions and pushed and probed all over my chest and back.  I mentioned the motrin and the foot...he didn't think I was crazy and actually told me to stop taking the motrin and use tylenol for the pain.  When I explained to him that I would rather be in the boot for an extra week than deal with the pain in my chest, he explained to me that the bone has a window of time in which it can heal.  If it doesn't heal now...it is not a matter of being in the boot for another week or two...or three or four.   You get the picture..


He checked for blood clots and did an EKG to make sure my heart was okay...and it is.  Finally, he wrote me a script for chest X-Rays.

So it's Memorial Day Weekend and of course, I get to Roxborough Memorial Hospital (Yes...that is where I had to go) and they were cloooosed.  Funny thing is...they didn't even know it.  The Emergency Room Nurse was freaking out because she had to register "Outpatient Patients" and the radiology department wasn't even open!  Typical.

So I go back on Tuesday morning for the X-Ray, call on Wednesday to follow up...and hey...guess what???

Everything looks GOOD.

Try to wrap your brain around this...I am in terrible, terrible pain.  At any given time when this thing flares up, I am thinking that I am going to die...and nobody can tell me what is wrong.  Seriously, in my head I was picking out a new nanny/wife for my husband and kids.

Meanwhile...here is the kicker.  Everyone stops me on the street to ask me how my foot is doing because I am still hobbling around in the the big black boot (which by the way, for anyone wondering, it doesn't hurt a lick) and all I want to do is scream about my chest.

Lesson here:  you never know what people are dealing with internally.

Loooong story short...next theory:  Gastrointestinal.  In other words...we think you have reflux and/or severe heartburn.  Really?

So now I am on Prevacid OTC and I go back to the sports medicine doc on Thursday.  I have actually felt pretty good the last few days.  Today was pretty much symptom free!!  Wahoo!!




For those of you interested in the fitness aspect of this deboccle of a blog...the doctor did say I could continue using the bike but to lay off upper body stuff until he figured out what was going on with my chest.  So I have been alternating spinning and intervals using the exercise ball for core work.  I have also been doing leg lifts for quads and hamstrings on the weight bench. 

I will be really annoyed if it was reflux this whole time and I could have been working my upper body.

My guess...a combination of things.....costochondritis, reflux, heartburn, muscles, nerves and a broken foot.  All a reminder of how delicate our bodies really are and how much physical pain can effect our every day lives.

Friday, May 27, 2011

One Day at a Time

So here we are.

I went to the foot doctor on Monday, expecting some good news, but alas, none was to come.  He asked how my foot felt, I said "fine".  He said it wasn't swollen.  I said, "Yeah...that could be because I am taking 2400 mg of motrin a day for Costochondritis.  He nodded his head, asked how I got Costo and empathized with my pain.  Then he took an X-ray.

When he came back he looked a bit baffled.  "Still not healed.  These suckers take a long time...how about we put screws in your foot?"
They look like drywall screws...are you kidding?

WHAT?!?!

Okay....so a month ago you said 4-6 weeks in the boot no problem....now you want to put screws in?  No effin way!

So I looked at him and simply said, "You are not putting any screws in my foot."  I healed from a Jones Fracture in 12 weeks, I will heal from this too.

And so, he sent me on my way with another appointment in 4 weeks.

In the meantime I started to think about all of the motrin I have been taking (and trying to wean from).  Hmmmmm....I had a hunch so I googled "Motrin effects bone healing".  Isn't google great?

What do you know??  Motrin (or any NSAID) slows bone healing.  In fact, they give it to people when they DON'T want a bone to grow back.

FABULOUS!

I have been trying to wean myself off of the motrin for two weeks now.  Sunday and Monday were pretty much costochondritis symptom free.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

Anyone who has experienced the pain associated with costochondritis will understand my expression of joy.

And it's back
So I went down to 1800mg of motrin on Tuesday and Wednesday.  By 1:00 on Wednesday afternoon, it was back.  Full force!  Like a sucker punch, bam...there it was.

So back up to 2400mg I go.  Slow bone healing I have to accept.

I made an appointment with a Sports Medicine Doctor for this afternoon.  I am feeling very confused around this whole thing.  I'm not sure what I should be doing, could be doing or absolutely should not be doing in order to make this chest pain go away.

I exercised Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Mostly on the bike but I also did light resistance with arms and shoulders and some core stuff.  Could that have triggered a relapse in symptoms??  Should I lay off all resistance, or will resistance actually help the healing?  Is the motrin really effecting the healing time of my foot?  Is there an alternative anti-inflammatory?  How long can I expect this to last?

Oy, so many questions.  Hopefully today I will get some answers!  Stay tuned. :)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Unbearable Pain and Cycling..Where Did The Week Go?

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week.  I suppose I haven't had much to say, but I have also been a bit distracted.  I am writing now for any folks who are reading this relating to either a broken foot or costochondritis.  

Similar to the boot I am wearing.
Bike on a trainer.
This past week was really tough.  The pain associated with costochondritis has been unbearable at times, making it difficult to function or get anything done.  Last weekend I did finally get on my bike (using the trainer).  Big black boot and all.  If you have a broken foot and are allowed to put any weight on it, I highly recommend a stationary bike for cardio.  I rode for 25 minutes on Sat and 30 minutes on Sunday and then I iced my chest.  Interestingly enough, my chest did not hurt at all during the workout or directly after.  Icing it either made it worse or didn't do anything though, because both days were pretty torturous.

On Monday and Tuesday there were actually moments when I wasn't thinking about my chest.   I decided to start weaning off the motrin and took my dose down to 600mg 3x/day instead of 800.  By Friday I felt just as bad as I did the previous weekend.  Back up to 800mg....ugh!  As of yesterday I also added a Zantac and if it is really hurting...I take tylenol too.  So far today has been a GREAT day.  I feel halfway human.  Just not sure what the other half is yet..

Halfway human...although imagine it with only one foot.
In the meantime, I have been walking just the tiniest bit on my foot without the boot in the morning and at night.  Mostly to get back and forth to the bathroom, because using the crutches hurts my chest to much.  The GOOD news is that I don't feel any pain in my foot!

So, either my chest hurts so badly that it is completely masking any pain in my foot, or maybe it is the 800mg of motrin I am taking 3x/day....or it could be that the break is pretty close to being healed!!

I have continued on the bike every other day for the last week.  I am still steering clear of any strength training, however I am considering working my arms tomorrow.  By the way, a great resource for cardio workouts is a website called motiontraxx.com

You can download workout music for free.  The cool thing is that you get tracks that set your pace.  Some even do intervals for you.   Currently there is a series of cycling mixes.  AWESOMENESS!

Tomorrow I go to the foot doctor.  There is a possibility that I will be able to get rid of the boot.  Which would be great for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it is FUNKY from sweating my ass off on the bike. 

Stay posted for updates...and thanks for reading!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Survivor, Game Theory and Life

Here it is...my post on Survivor the annoyingly addictive reality TV game show, game theory and how it relates to life...kind of.  

This most recent season of Survivor was probably one of the most fun to watch.  Why?  Because it really couldn't have been better if it was scripted.  Boston Rob, a seasoned player knew exactly what he needed to do and he did it, playing "as close to a perfect game as anyone has played on Survivor".

How?  Game Theory coupled with a little bit of charm, hard work and self admittedly, a little bit of luck.

So here is the thing.  If anyone watched the season, you would know that Rob completely dominated his tribe and they pretty much did whatever he wanted them to do.  It looked pretty easy from our vantage point, but a lot of work went into having that much control over that many people.

According to Game Theory...simplified of course....if you concede just enough to give someone what they want/need, they will in turn give you what you want/need resulting in shared benefits for everyone.  The catch however, is that you have to be willing to give up something.  The Prisoners Dilemma is the most popular example of this.

On Survivor, Rob was able to make each person feel as though he had their best interests in mind.  He promised each one that he would take them to the end and they believed him.  Therefor none of them even considered voting him off until it was to late.  This took a huge amount of insight, a lot of manipulation and a certain amount of mathematical prowess that allowed him to predict the behavior of others.

How does this play out in real life though?  In many instances, people don't cooperate even though the outcome would be best all around if they did.  Why?  Because quite often people have their own interests in mind.  We see this play out in economics and social policy all the time.

We can expect that people are going to do what they believe is best for themselves.  However, if everyone does what is best for themselves, nobody wins.  If people cooperate with each other each individual may not get what they consider to be the "best case scenario" but will ultimately be better off than if they acted upon their selfishness.

Kind of hard to wrap your brain around if you are not use to thinking this way, but fascinating nonetheless.

In Survivor, there can only be one winner, so in the end pretty much everyone but Rob got screwed anyway.  Unless you count all the "life lessons" and getting "closer to God" crap they all spouted at the end.

Real life is much more complicated and "winning" means different things to different people.  It is fascinating though.  Pay attention to what people want, give it to them, and in return...if the theory is correct....you will get what you need.  So simple, yet so incredibly complicated.

Friday, May 13, 2011

No Pain, No Pain

It's been five days since I last exercised...FIVE!  I haven't gone that long since I gave birth to my youngest....and even then I could at least take a walk.   If I wasn't so freakin uncomfortable I would probably be climbing the walls by now.
This is really what it feels like!

What is it they say about the best laid plans and good intentions???  Oh yes, "Sometimes life gets in the way of life."

My original intention with this blog was to write about life with a broken foot, how to continue to exercise and get through each day with a positive attitude (with a few social work related commentaries thrown in)...yet where do I end up???

See pic right.

Struggling to get through each day, feeling like an elephant is sitting on my chest, not being able to exercise, and still hobbling around in a big black boot recovering from a broken foot.
  
I will say, yesterday was a better day.  The pain wasn't quite as intense and when it peaked it didn't last for as long as it had in days past.  I was able to eat pizza and wings for dinner without dying after wards.  I even had a glass of wine.  I went to sleep hoping for an even better day today.

I awoke an hour later with such intense pain in my chest that all I could do was lay there and breathe.  What made it worse was that I couldn't even get downstairs to take my ibuprofen because I would need to use the crutches...which was absolutely NOT happening in that moment.

What a weird random occurrence.  I mean I would rank this pain right up there with labor pains.  At least with labor though, there is a prize at the end.  What's the point here?
Woman in Excruciating Pain labor and/or
inflammation of the chest wall (hard to tell which)

Even worse, when I finally "breathed" myself to sleep (meditation is a fabulous thing), I was plagued by dreams of chasing a doctor who had just performed surgery on my chest around an exam room, all the while bleeding from wounds on my chest that he had carelessly forgotten to stitch back up.

Dear Subconscious:  Thank you for making it clear that I am experiencing intense pain, as if my waking brain could not figure it out on it's own.  Love and Kisses, J.

 Alas, here I sit...frustrated and uncomfortable.

Yet I remind myself that it is only a moment in time.

This too shall pass and one day soon I will feel "normal" again.

I hate it when life gets in the way.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Moral Animal

I'm sitting in the exam room of my doctor's office with whom I reluctantly made an appointment because I told myself, if my chest still hurt by Monday I would go.  Given that I had my head on my desk and was practicing Lamaze breathing techniques by lunchtime, I thought I better hold true to my commitment.


The Nurse Practitioner walks in and the first thing she asks is, "What are you reading?"  Not exactly what I came there for, and since talking when you feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest takes more effort than one would think, I simply show her the cover of my book.  "The Moral Animal.  Why We Are The Way We Are"  

"For school?"  She asks.  "Nope."  I say..."For fun."

She gives me this sideways glance, as if to say, "What kind of  loser reads something like that for fun?"

Yes, I am weird in that way.  Granted, it has taken me 3 months to get through it, but this stuff is off the hook!!

Have you ever wondered....I mean REALLY wondered why we do the things we do?  I mean, there has to be a reason...right?  This is the stuff that keeps me up at night....again weirdness...I know.

Like, why do people "love" their siblings even if they don't "like" them?  Why are we inclined to help others?  What attracts us to a certain "type" of person?  Why is polygamy actually a better gig for women than it is for men?  What does game theory have to do with being successful in life? (This will be another post related to Survivor at some point I'm sure....cuz it's really cool stuff).

So much of this is hardwired into our brain...into our being...that it seems spiritual...or is it? 

From a Darwinian perspective, with a little bit of Freud thrown in, this book really forces one to rethink motives, responsibility and purpose.

Of course it's just a theory.

As far as my chest is concerned, the NP confirmed inflamed chest wall, probably as a result of over use of my chest muscles....duh!

Not quite sure how that would play into my "fitness" according to Darwin...other than perhaps my body is telling me to slow down.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Inflamed Chest Wall....Really??

I would think it was comical if it didn't hurt so freakin much! 

For the last three days my chest has been hurting.  Not the "Wow that was a great workout I'm gonna feel it in the morning" kind of hurting, but the "Something is seriously wrong with my chest, am I having a heart attack?" kind of hurting.

This can't be comfortable
WTF???

I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac or anything so I figure, whatever it is, it will pass.  But people keep asking me, "Are you ok?"  "What's wrong with your ribs?"  Apparently I keep touching my chest and wincing in pain.

No idea.  All I know is that I wake up in the morning and feel okay, but by 11:00am I feel like an elephant is sitting on my breastbone. 

Maybe it's reflux...I take an antacid...no dice.

My co-worker...who tends to be my go to person for bodily aches and pains mentions "inflamed chest wall".  So I GOOGLE:  "Inflamed Chest Wall"

Costochondritis is a condition that causes chest pain due to inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall. Also called Tietze's Syndrome, costochondritis occurs when there is inflammation at the junction of the rib bone and breastbone (sternum). At this junction, there is cartilage joining these bones. This cartilage can become irritated and inflamed. Depending on the extent of the inflammation, costochondritis can be quite painful.

This condition is thought to be bost commonly due to repetitive microtrauma, or overuse. This means that activities are causing repeated damage to the cartilage of the chest wall leading to inflammation.

"Do your best and forget the rest"
Hello??  Perhaps I am overdoing it with the upper body workouts.

Repeated rows and push ups while also using crutches...hmmm.  Should have thought that through better.

I wonder what Tony Horton would have to say about this?

Of course I'm self diagnosing, but it does make the most sense.  Motrin seems to help and I have promised to lay off the push ups and rows for a little while.  I am wondering if trauma to any part of your body effects the rest of you.  Is my body less resilient in general because it is working to heal my foot??  

Luckily my girl hooked me up with her bike trainer so I can get my burn on.

Not so sure how it will work with the big black boot, but it's worth a try!


















  







Thursday, May 5, 2011

Education and Poverty - Having Nothing to do With My Foot

Privatizing education in low-income areas so that the "whole" child can be addressed.  This totally makes sense to me.

I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal about a High School in Philadelphia that is going to be one of the "turnaround" schools in the city, meaning it will be owned by a private Charter School company with the hopes of effecting change, supporting children and their families and improving outcomes, something the School District of Philadelphia couldn't do on it's own.

The Charter School company is a non-profit that has obtained funding through a federal grant called Promise Neighborhoods which ties together housing, health care and additional supports in the community.  It looks like Promise Neighborhoods funds projects modeled after Harlems Children's Zone which began as a "one-block pilot program" in Harlem and has since expanded to 60 blocks.

THIS IS FREAKIN AWESOME!

"Our strategy is bold. We have created a unique, and uniquely successful paradigm: provide a pipeline of services that support children from birth through college graduation, and create a critical mass of engaged adults who understand what it takes to ensure a child succeeds"
HELLO!  Someone in Philly finally gets it.  I'm not dissing the School District of Philadelphia.  Some of my favorite people work there.  But the fact is, there is not enough money, resources or knowledge in the PA Department of Education to accomplish the daunting task of educating children who have so many additional needs.  Everything is funded through these silos.  Wake up people!!  Children do not operate in a silo!!

Having provided behavioral health services to children in the Philadelphia schools I know that when a child enters that school building, they don't leave the rest of their life at the door.  And no, therapy is not going to "fix" them.  A wise person (although I can't remember who) once said, "Toasters can be fixed, children can't".
Can Fix

Can't Fix





                              

The best way to impact a child, is to impact their environment.  How can we expect a child who is hungry and hyper vigilant to focus in school?  Stealing food and constantly moving around the classroom are survival skills in their world....a world that doesn't stop at the door step of their school.  How does "No Child Left Behind" account for that?

Harlem Children's Zone has figured out a way to address the multiple needs of children and their families who face generational poverty.  No solution is perfect, but at least this one is working.

Now, if we could just get funding streams on board...maybe we will make some progress.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Being Floppy

Picture that stuffed animal that isn't quite stuffed enough.  You know, the one you keep trying to sit up and it just flops over onto itself.  Yeah...that would be me.  My core has always been mushy, not matter how much Pilates and/or crunches I do.  Only made worse by a vertical c section (another blog all together) and a resulting diastasis recti.

Good thing my kid is cute.

Speaking of kids:  TIP - If your child is having trouble sitting still during circle time ask the teacher to sit him/her against a wall or in a chair.  It's unbelievable how long our kids are expected to sit unsupported.  Often teachers go right to a behavioral issue when in fact the child has poor trunk strength and can't sit up for long periods of time without support (see bunny above).

I was always active as a child, although I did not play many organized sports I remember staying outside late on warm summer nights playing Kickballl, King of the Hill and Hail Mary.  I also loved gymnastics, until I dislocated my elbow...twice.  Hey....do you see a pattern here?

What does any of the above have to do with anything?

Well my sister, who is an Occupational Therapist called the other day and asked, "Have you thought of getting inserts for your shoes?"  I know I overpronate...and yes...I have thought about inserts but it is one of those things I just never got around to doing.

Over Extended Knee

 My knees also hyperextend which means other joints probably do the same.   I probably have ligamentous laxity (loose ligaments) and lower than typical muscle tone.  Keep in mind, muscle tone is not the same as muscle strength.  Muscle tone has more to do with the amount of tension in a muscle than how strong a muscle actually is (thus making one appear "floppy").

Who cares, right?

Apparently, according to my OT sister who can explain it much better than I can, this might have something to do with why I broke my feet.  I think it goes something like this, when my foot rolled the muscle in my leg responded by pulling on the bone.  My tendons and ligaments aren't strong enough to counteract the muscle, so "crack" there it is.

"But I thought it was just dumb luck", I said.  "Lot's of people step on shin guards and acorns," she responded, "not everyone breaks their foot."

Cool Orthopedic Shoes
Bio mechanically speaking, I'm probably just not built to endure high impact activities.  This doesn't mean I shouldn't do them, just that I should take precautions.  For example...I probably should not be doing plyometrics barefoot.

Needless to say, I won't be jumping on the barefoot running fad any time soon.
Hey....maybe I can get a pair of cool looing orthopedic shoes like these (see pic right)! 

In the meantime, I'll do the best with what I have and watch out for acorns, shin guards and other assorted things that may occupy the floor beneath my step.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Staying Motivated

Today is the day.  Not a cloud in the sky, nice cool breeze and  as I sit and write this I should be rounding City Hall in the Broad St. Run.  Sucks!!  There I said it.

Two years ago I was registered to run and I came down with a wicked chest cold 5 days prior.  I tried and tried to find supporting information that said, "Yes...go...run with a chest cold that is keeping you up at night and has you coughing up crap similar to the projectile vomit featured in the Exorcist"  But, alas, I could not.

I remember waking up early that morning, getting ready for the run, thinking it would be a "game time" decision.  It didn't help that it was raining and cold that day.  I decided not to run.  In some ways that decision was harder than dealing with this.  At least I don't have a choice this time   Although, don't think that I didn't consider trying to crutch my way through it!!

So, you might think I am one of those committed great athlete types.  One that runs every race, faces every physical challenge, competes in multiple competitions.  The fact is, nothing could be further from the truth.

For the most part, Broad St in the only consistent race I do.  Although I may challenge myself here and there, I don't particularly like competitive games and have never joined any type of league.

So, you might wonder..what keeps me motivated?  I think it is more about feeling good, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  The best advice I could ever give anyone about exercise is:   Don't do anything you don't enjoy.  It defeats the purpose.

Trail running is a great example of exercising for the soul.  I am lucky enough to live within 3 miles of Philadelphia's section of Fairmount Park known as Valley Green.  Valley Green not only has a bridal path that is great for running, but also multiple trails that wind up into the hills and back down into the valley as you cruise along parallel to the lower path.

Sometimes, when I am cruising up one of those hills, I feel like my legs are going to give out underneath me and my heart is going to beat right out of my chest...and then I get to the top.  I pick up my pace as I feel the sun on my face and look out over the valley below...I feel like I am flying. 

That is what keeps me motivated.  It is a feeling of being connected to your body in a way that only mindful physical activity can achieve.  It isn't about winning or losing or being better than someone else.  It is about connecting to yourself.

Since I won't be running any trails in the near future though...I am trying to find other things to maintain this connection. 

Yesterday I used the exercise ball.  If you have an injured foot or leg you can find some great exercises to do on the ball, especially for core and upper body work.  Today I plan to do P90x chest, shoulders and triceps with my husband.  Another upper body workout that I should be able to do with some modifications. 

In the end, the best motivation is knowing that whatever I do is going to make me feel good.  This is what kept me from running Broad St two years ago when I had the chest cold and this is what keeps me exercising on a regular basis.  Even with a broken foot.

By the way, don't you think that it is ironic that I run those trails, navigating rocks, snakes, trees and deer yet I break my foot stepping off a curb (18 months ago) and again stepping off a step??  Weird.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Why I don't like Cooperative Games

No one likes to lose, fail or experience disappointment.  These experiences however, are inevitable in life, necessary for growth and development, the seed from which future successes are born.  The key though, is for the person who is experiencing such to do so in a way that moves them forward.

When I was little I had a poster in my room.  It was Snoopy and Woodstock playing tennis and the caption said "It doesn't matter if you win or lose.  It's how you play the game."  Of course I think Woodstock was beating Snoopy over the head with a tennis racket...but that isn't the point. 

The point is that the experience in and of itself is what matters.  Although winning feels better than losing and success is certainly more desirable than failure the ability to engage in the process, try your best and accept the outcome, regardless of preference, want or need is what dictates the ability to be authentic and present in life. 

What does this have to do with my feelings around cooperative games?  While I understand that "cooperative games" are meant to teach cooperation, team building, problem solving etc, they don't necessarily teach children how to lose (or win for that matter) and let's face it, in our society someone always loses.

Today was Smile Mile at my 8 year old's school.  Last year, he ran a respectable 10 minute mile with me by his side.  The goal this year:  beat last year's time.  Unfortunately I couldn't run with him (for obvious reasons) and he did not beat his time, and according to him, even worse..."I didn't smile".  Honestly, I think he went around the track 1 extra time, but I'm not going to push the issue.  For those of you who don't know my son, he doesn't take losing lightly...in fact he hates it.  He doesn't become irate and lash out, he turns it inwards and wallows in disappointment.

All I could do was give him a hug and tell him that everybody has bad days...even if we train really hard for something.  I told him we would take him to the track and time him again and we would work really hard so he could beat the 10 minute time next year.  I also told him that it is okay to be disappointed and to allow himself to feel it (mindfulness), but he also needs to know that life will go on and he will be okay.

By the time he got home tonight, he was pretty much over it.  And I am proud of him for handling it so well.

You see, it doesn't really matter IF you win or lose, what matters is HOW you win or lose.  I believe cooperative games in the absence of competitive games early on fails to teach children this important skill.  The earlier a child learns that not everyone gets a chair in musical chairs, or that someone HAS to be the goose, the more equipped they will be to handle life's bigger disappointments in the coming years...like a broken foot the week before you are suppose to run the Broad St 10 miler or the look on your child's face when they realize they haven't reached their goal.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Minding Your Mind and Your Body

I realized after publishing my last post that I failed to mention how Mindfulness can be a very important ally when dealing with any setback in life, including a broken foot.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapists believe that feelings are simply a manifestation of thoughts which eventually lead to behavior.  In effect, if you change the way you think, you will change the way you feel, thus changing the way you behave.  One of the goals of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help people change the way they think ultimately leading to a change in feeling and behavior.  Mindfulness, which actually stems from Buddhist tradition is a quality that allows you to do this by fully paying attention to yourself without judgment or expectation.

Bam!  I said it, "Pay Attention To Yourself!"  Try it.....trust me.  It works.  So when I acknowledged to my son the other day that I was, in deed, cranky...I started the process of paying attention to myself.  I thought about it all day...and then I came home and blogged about it.  Yes, I am cranky.  I can't walk.  I have to hop.  I can't wear the cute black summer shoes my mom gave me.  Shaving my legs is like a freaking balancing act, and dammit, I can't do the Broad Street Run!!  Yes, I am cranky!!!

And guess what?  Yesterday I woke up.  And I wasn't so cranky anymore.  And, I could walk with one crutch (just a few steps...but it's progress) and I will be able to wear those shoes before the summer is over, I sat on the shower floor to shave.....and there will always be another Broad Street Run. 

In addition, my exercise circuit worked out well yesterday.  38 minutes of total exercise, broke a sweat, elevated the heart rate and actually worked a few new muscles.  I also "crutched" (my coinage for "walked with crutches") for over a mile yesterday (not all at once and not by choice).   Did you know walking with crutches burns almost 3 times the amount of calories as just plain old walking?  Yeah, I know you want to go out and get yourself a pair of crutches now!  It's going to be the hottest exercise fad since P90X!

I chose not to exercise today.  This is where "minding your body" is just as important as "minding your mind".  I knew yesterday was a long day and I was feeling it as I went to bed.  As much as I want to stay active, my body needed time to rest.  Sure enough, my arms and back have been pretty sore all day.  I'm glad I didn't over do it.

Tomorrow though, is a new day.  My plan:  P90X Arms and Shoulders.  "The glamor muscles".  This is a great workout for anyone with a disabled foot or leg because you can do most of it either on your knees or sitting in a chair.  I just need to figure out how to get my weights into the room with the computer......oh that's what husbands are for!!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Crankies Set In

"The Crankies", otherwise known as a very low tolerance for everyone and everything around me, has set in.  I knew it was coming...after the novelty of a "tragic" event wears off and life around you gets back to normal you realize the extent to which your own life is effected.

So I am reminded how much more effort everything takes when you can't bear weight on one foot.  The simple acts of getting a glass of water, picking something up off the floor, wiping your kid's butt, all have to be anticipated and planned.  Try it...I dare you.  Get up from the chair in which you are sitting, hop over to where you can get the nearest glass of water and hop back to your seat.  You can try it with crutches too..sometimes that is even harder.  Then, imagine doing that for EVERYTHING.  It's exhausting.

Thus the screaming at my 8 year old this morning when I gave him the one job of carrying my coffee to the car and he spilled it all over the front porch.  Okay...just a few drops, but I reacted as if it was the whole thing.  "You're so cranky."  he said.  "Yes, yes I am." 

Only to be made worse when my 3 year old announced right before bath tonight, "I pee'd all over the wall!!!".  I am grateful for my husband who cleaned it all up.

That being said, the "Mother of All Workouts" was a success this morning!!  Yay for bands that hook onto the door (perfect if you can't use your foot because you can either sit or kneel).  I was able to do all of the push ups on my knees and even did somewhat modified dive bombers.  I did attempt that pull up, but still no dice.

Tomorrow my plan is to try a circuit.  10 exercises 30 seconds each with 15 second transitions 3x.  My goal is to get my heart rate up as much as possible.  I'm not so sure how this will work.  Below are some thoughts on exercises to try, but first a note in case anyone is wondering why I am posting about daily exercises:  The last time I broke my foot I couldn't find anything pertaining to exercising with a bum foot other than doing rows (who wants to do rows for 30 minutes 5x/week???), or doing pilates, most of which I can no longer do because of some jacked up stomach muscles.  So this is for anyone searching for exercise suggestions when you can't use your foot:

Squat Runs - (if your hurt foot can tolerate some weight).  Bear down on your good foot and squat as best you can.  Make sure you have good balance and then move your arms back and forth as if running as fast as you can.
Banana Rolls or Superman Banana
Side Tri Rise
Hydrants
Rows
Side Hip Raises
Tricep Dips
Back Kicks (on knees) - while on hands on knees swing your knee up to your nose and the extend your foot to the sky.  Repeat on other side.
Jack Knife
Jab/Uppercut

Repeat 3x

Did I mention that I love YouTube?  So much good stuff out there!!!

Okay...I will let you know if this is worth it.  I am totally making it up as I go along.

One last note, for anyone who knows my kids...judge them not by the clothes they are wearing this week (or maybe even next).  They are dressing themselves and we are running out of clean things to wear!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Gratitude

Gratitude.  Something we tend to forget about when focused on what goes wrong in life, yet somehow there is always that one well-meaning person jabbering in your ear......"Be thankful it's not both feet....then you would really be in trouble..."  Really??

In all seriousness though, people strongly believe and studies do show that gratitude holds some kind of magic power...those who display it attract more and more to be grateful for.

So here it goes:

I am grateful that it is my left foot that is broken instead of my right so I can drive.

I am grateful for my upper body fitness this time around, as my arms, back and shoulders seem to be handling the strain of using the crutches much better than they did pre P90X.

I am grateful for my husband who cleaned the house yesterday, even though it is already destroyed again today.  Read:  Toys and assorted things left on the floor for someone to step on and break a foot!  UGH!

I am grateful for all of my friends and co-workers who shook their heads when they saw me, offered their condolences and extended a hand in this time of need.

And now for the prognosis.  It's actually not that bad.  Not a Jones Fracture like last time....yet another thing to be grateful for.   It is an Avulsion Fracture, more common and easier to heal.

Treatment:  The Big Black Boot for at least a month (if I had thought about it I would have brought the one I had to the doctor appointment.  Do you think insurance will pay for two in less than two years?)  Non weight bearing for only 5-7 days and then I can walk on it as tolerated.  I could be in a sneaker by June....running again by July.  I probably won't even need PT.   I'll take it!!

So how to stay in shape in the meantime??  Tomorrow is P90X Chest and Back, with a few adjustments.

Push ups on my knees (which I usually am by the third set anyway)

I use bands over the door instead of a pull up bar because even after 14 months of doing this I still can't do a freakin pull up.   Hey....maybe that can be a broken foot goal?  Can I do one full pull up by the time this boot comes off for good?

I won't be able to do heavy pants for sure, so instead I will work on that pull up.

I will have to do lawn mowers on my knees.

Dive bombers will be interesting.  I will let you know how that works out!

Trying to stay positive and take it day by day...not to mention, I get to ride those cool scooters at Target that beep when you back up!  Look out, here I come...beep, beep, beep....

Sunday, April 24, 2011

17 Things I Learned About Having a Broken Foot Revisited

17 things I learned about having a broken foot.  Authored by Moi, on December 15, 2009.  I never thought I would need to revisit this for the sake of going through it again:

    1. Walking three blocks on crutches is harder than you think.

2. 2. The bruising on your palms, chafing on your sides and ache in your back will hurt more than the broken bone.

3. 3. Take advantage of not being able to drive..... wine, whine and wine.

4. 4. Sliding down the stairs on your ass is overrated no matter what your kids think.

5. 5. Do not rock your 30lb child to sleep in a chair that is across the room from the crib.

6. 6. A broken foot does not excuse you from washing dishes, doing laundry or making school lunches.

7. 7. There is no shame in crawling up stairs...or just crawling in general for that matter.

8. 8. When carrying a full wine glass while using crutches hold it by the rim, otherwise you will have an empty wine glass.

9. 9. Do not attempt to get the mail, vacuum or carry a full cup of coffee while using crutches.

1010.  Hoping in socks is easier than hoping in shoes or bare feet because you can do a hop slide sort of thing and move a lot quicker.

1111.  Having a stool in the shower to sit on is not such a bad thing.

1212.  Your 7 year old will amaze you with his willingness to help without whining even though you know he wants to.

1313.  Your 2 year old will take full advantage of the fact that you can't catch him (see #10)

1414.  Your husband will step up and bathe the kids, drive you around, cook the meals and try not to complain.

1515.  When you wonder how you will get through another day, your neighbor will greet you with a smile in the morning, zipper your kid's coat, kiss your other kid's cheek, drive you to work and tell you that she actually enjoys doing it. (I will miss our morning rides)

1616.  Strangers will go out of their way to help you, especially children.

1717. Your family, friends and co-workers will amaze you with their support and willingness to help out in any way they can.

TTHANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED US THROUGH THIS. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!!!

Okay…so I tried to focus on the positive things.  What I really remember is that I thought the healing process would never end, yet five months later (exactly one year ago), I ran my best time in the Broad Street 10 Miler.  A run, that I will be missing next week…Oh the irony.

In October 2009 I stepped off a random curb, landed on an acorn and broke the fifth metatarsal on my right foot.  A Jones Fracture, the most difficult break to heal due to the lack of blood flow to that particular area of the foot.  The doc said I may never run again, I read horror stories describing years of healing…non-weight bearing for months and months.   Luckily I was non-weight bearing for only 9 weeks, in the boot for another 3 and walking after a total of 12.  PT for 2 months and I was off and running…literally. 

Yesterday I came barreling down the stairs after putting my now 3 ¾  year old in time out for the umpteenth time in 2 hours, stepped on a shin guard left at the bottom of the stairs and did the exact same thing to the left foot.

So here I sit, trying to find the silver lining, the positive learning experience, the lesson the universe is trying to send me….haven’t quite figured it out yet.  Thoughts are welcomed…what good can come of this experience??  I suppose that which doesn’t destroy me makes me stronger, or some shit like that.

The two biggest hurdles I remember from last time are:
1.     How to clean my house
2.     How to get my exercise on

Last time, after several arguments and not being able to stand the nastiness of my house any longer, we hired a lovely couple to clean every two weeks.   I loved coming home to a sparkling house, you know the one, it smells clean, feels clean and you didn’t have to scrub anything?  Once I was able to get around again though, we let them go.  A luxury we couldn’t really maintain…this time I may forego the arguments and get right on the cleaning service.  If anyone knows of someone who is willing to do some serious scrubbing at a reasonable rate for a limited period of time please hit me up!

So, on to the exercise dilemma.  How to stay fit with a broken foot…hmmm.  Last time I did some limited upper body moves a few times a week.  This time around I am in a different place.  Having done P90X and Insanity for the last 18 months I have learned a lot more about exercise and fitness.  I know new moves and can probably come up with some pretty good routines, which I will share as part of this blog (thus the Bring It! reference – Tony Horton fans say “Hey”!)

For now though…since the ER doc didn’t give me any good meds, I will practice bicep curls using a full glass of wine and try to focus my metabolism for the next 24 hours on healing my foot.   That, and not killing my kids who have decided that today is a good day to start a band…drums and all.