storytha
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Post by storytha on Jan 29, 2015 10:36:40 GMT -6
My neck has been bothering me a lot lately. This Sunday I woke with another "crick in my neck". Thinking I'd just slept wrong and it would go away after a few hours. It's been getting progressively worse until last night I simply sat on the couch "wrong" and it spasmed and electrical shocks of pain brought me to tears (and cursing). Off to the Clinic. Muscle relaxants and concoction of ibuprofen/aspirin every two hours for 7 days and looking into if insurance will cover massage therapy. SIGH! Pills seem to help but not 100%. The suspected cause? Slumping. Sleeping on my side on a low pillow and slumping at the computer for 8 hours then slumping on the couch all night. So last night I forced myself to sleep on my back (took me an hour to get to sleep ) and have lowered the arms of my computer chair so I don't lean. Getting old sucks!
But this inflammation explains the scale not moving since Saturday.
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 29, 2015 19:16:18 GMT -6
Oh having great posture...such a bother! You'll be glad you retrained yourself though. I did do the dance class (tap) for about 50 minutes. Plenty o'cardio....
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 29, 2015 21:32:28 GMT -6
My neck has been bothering me a lot lately. This Sunday I woke with another "crick in my neck". Thinking I'd just slept wrong and it would go away after a few hours. It's been getting progressively worse until last night I simply sat on the couch "wrong" and it spasmed and electrical shocks of pain brought me to tears (and cursing). Off to the Clinic. Muscle relaxants and concoction of ibuprofen/aspirin every two hours for 7 days and looking into if insurance will cover massage therapy. SIGH! Pills seem to help but not 100%. The suspected cause? Slumping. Sleeping on my side on a low pillow and slumping at the computer for 8 hours then slumping on the couch all night. So last night I forced myself to sleep on my back (took me an hour to get to sleep ) and have lowered the arms of my computer chair so I don't lean. Getting old sucks!
But this inflammation explains the scale not moving since Saturday. You have my profound sympathies! When I was getting those terrible cramps at the point where neck meets shoulder, sometimes it would spasm really bad up into my neck and down into my back. And it reduced me to tears on more than one occasion! The muscle relaxants help, and heat helps. My doc told me to use ice, but that made it worse! Muscles tense up when you get cold, but heat makes them relax. Try a heating pad, if you have one. And I know I sound like a broken record, but: SALT. Make sure you're getting enough salt! Drink some pickle juice.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 29, 2015 21:38:35 GMT -6
Husband and daughter took me out for a lovely birthday dinner tonight and dessert afterward. I don't know and don't even care how many carbs I ate. Probably a week's worth! But it was worth it. We had such a lovely time. And I did my 5 x 5 weight workout today, so there is that. I'll just pretend that counter-balanced it.
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 30, 2015 7:41:18 GMT -6
Well happy birthday Greta! So glad you enjoyed your birthday. How are you doing on your posture? Did you try a corset?
I did not remember to bring my scale home yesterday so no weigh-in today. My legs are a teense sore from tap class yesterday. thankful that today is officially a stretching day.
Storytha--you figure out what you are going to feed people at your Super Bowl party? I think you are wise to serve what you can eat. People won't notice. Friends of mine are having a party Sunday evening. I hang with them all the time so, though my eating habits may still seem weird, it isn't a topic of conversation. I will either eat, or I won't. No biggie. I will more than likely eat before I go so that I can quell that voice that says "Well, you haven't eaten" .... which has nothing to do with hunger.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 8:18:46 GMT -6
Well happy birthday Greta! So glad you enjoyed your birthday. How are you doing on your posture? Did you try a corset? Thanks! I must confess that I lost the biggest motivator to try the corset when the salt cured my chronic muscle cramps! That's not to say that my posture doesn't need any work. I'm still trying, but man, changing those little subconscious habits that you do all day long is really hard! Maybe I should go for the corset after all. We have this really big foam roller, so sometimes I lay on it on my back (it's not real soft and cushy, so lying on it means your back is pretty straight) and then stretch out my arms at near-shoulder level until my hands touch the floor. I'm probably not describing this well, but what that means is that my spine is in alignment and my arms are stretched back beyond my chest. Does that make any sense? So it's a good chest opener and pec stretch, which I think is a great counter-balance to the hunching that I tend to do. Of course there's nothing for treating hunching like not hunching, but I do think that it helps.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 8:25:21 GMT -6
Gained two pounds overnight after my birthday dinner, and that's in addition to my already-higher-than-usual weight lately. So this is the most that I've weighed in about four years! I'm assuming (hoping!) that it's temporary, but even so, it sure isn't fun seeing that number on the scale. In happier news, I really like my Misfit Shine! It's cute. And I know that's not the most important thing about it, but it helps! It's so easy to sync. And it shows nifty little graphs of your activity throughout the day, and your sleep at night (shows when you slept restfully versus when you were tossing and turning).
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Post by reddarin on Jan 30, 2015 8:37:08 GMT -6
How I have been doing them is going down as far as strength allows and come back up. Eventually I will make it all the way. I'd rather do the kind of modified version I am doing and experience that feeling of success rather than being unable to complete two, if that many. You might try negative push ups Pam. Start in the full regular position, lower yourself down in a controlled manner as far as you can and then allow yourself to go all the way down. Then reset and repeat. Negatives are the part of any given exercise where the body strength is greatest. For a push up that is the down part. For a chin up it is also the down part. I did negative chins for several days and then I was able to do a full chin up. Here is a video that demonstrates the idea. He says to do a bent knee for the up part and that is sort of the natural way to return to the start position but it is neither here nor there - just return to the start position however you'd like.
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Post by reddarin on Jan 30, 2015 8:37:22 GMT -6
Have you guys seen any of the news about this study showing a dose-dependent link between long-term use of anti-cholinergic drugs and dementia in the elderly? It has me pretty freaked out since I have been really worried about my memory and overall cognitive function, and I've been on an anti-cholinergic (benadryl) for YEARS now! I gather that the study didn't look at benadryl (diphenhydramine) in particular, but it's in the same class of drugs. The study also didn't look at people my age. So it's possible that I'm worried about nothing. But I don't think so. They said this effect was true even at the doses that are being prescribed and sold OTC. And if it can affect the brains of 70+ year olds, I don't see why it wouldn't affect the brain of this 40+ year old. The regimen I've been using up until now (flonase and benadryl nightly year-round plus claritin seasonally when things are even worse) has been enough to keep my allergies suppressed to a livable level. I'm switching to claritin every morning and flonase every night with no benadryl, and I doubt that's going to be enough. I skipped the benadryl last night and this morning I'm sneezing like crazy and my ears are ringing (that happens when I get congested, drives me batty). I've tried herbs and neti pots and other "alternative" treatments and they have done absolutely NOTHING for me. I guess I'd better look into getting those allergy shots. Any other suggestions? No I haven't but I'm skeptical to say the least. Epidemiological studies that are taken and used to induce implicitly correlative conclusions really runs counter to the entire idea of epidemiology which is, at its heart, empirical observations that generate meaningful questions. Correlative links are interesting if you can make changes without objectively sacrificing quality of life but past that how much is the degraded quality of life (in your case a very miserable experience with allergies) negatively affecting your life both now *and* a few decades from now? What about all of the ancillary things affected by uncontrolled or not well controlled allergies like sleep, mood, stress, physical stress, etc. etc.?
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Post by reddarin on Jan 30, 2015 8:43:59 GMT -6
Gained two pounds overnight after my birthday dinner, and that's in addition to my already-higher-than-usual weight lately. So this is the most that I've weighed in about four years! I'm assuming (hoping!) that it's temporary, but even so, it sure isn't fun seeing that number on the scale. In happier news, I really like my Misfit Shine! It's cute. And I know that's not the most important thing about it, but it helps! It's so easy to sync. And it shows nifty little graphs of your activity throughout the day, and your sleep at night (shows when you slept restfully versus when you were tossing and turning). Happy birthday! "Gained two pounds overnight" All water unless your b-day dinner was approximately 7,000 calories
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 30, 2015 8:44:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the link Darin. Watched it and will incorporate some of that next time push-ups come around. I do have a chin bar in a door way here at home but it doesn't even break into my consciousness anymore. Another time. Ha!
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Post by reddarin on Jan 30, 2015 8:58:24 GMT -6
The last several days have been interesting diet-wise (diet in the sense of what you eat not an eating regimen); yesterday in particular. I noted that my carbs were over NK but under a hundred typically for a while now and that my calories were through the roof (averaging about ~3,700). So higher carbs doesn't satiate me the way high fat moderate protein does but! what I've noticed is that after a few years of LC I am not driven to eat 3 meals plus innumerable snacks a day. Yesterday I went till after 5pm before eating only having my HWC with coffee and CO dose in the morning then nothing till dinner. I didn't think too much about it during the day because that had become my new normal with NK but for the old Darin that was a flat impossibility. What surprised me about it is the fact that my carbs are high, for LC, but my appetite is not out of control.
My weight is still up but that is not a shocker with all the calories and (relatively high) carbs. One thing about doing daily WIs is the vagaries of the scale becomes a lot less personal after many, many assaults on a what it says versus what you'd like it so say iykwim.
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Post by reddarin on Jan 30, 2015 9:04:15 GMT -6
My neck has been bothering me a lot lately. This Sunday I woke with another "crick in my neck". Thinking I'd just slept wrong and it would go away after a few hours. It's been getting progressively worse until last night I simply sat on the couch "wrong" and it spasmed and electrical shocks of pain brought me to tears (and cursing). Off to the Clinic. Muscle relaxants and concoction of ibuprofen/aspirin every two hours for 7 days and looking into if insurance will cover massage therapy. SIGH! Pills seem to help but not 100%. The suspected cause? Slumping. Sleeping on my side on a low pillow and slumping at the computer for 8 hours then slumping on the couch all night. So last night I forced myself to sleep on my back (took me an hour to get to sleep ) and have lowered the arms of my computer chair so I don't lean. Getting old sucks!
But this inflammation explains the scale not moving since Saturday. Man! Few things are as awful as a crick in your neck. It is like a stubbed toe that lasts all day.
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 30, 2015 9:52:54 GMT -6
Looking ahead to tomorrow's toning, six push-ups in each set is included. I'll give the reverse ones a go then. [inserting an imaginary little push-up emoticon here. ]
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 11:56:23 GMT -6
No I haven't but I'm skeptical to say the least. Epidemiological studies that are taken and used to induce implicitly correlative conclusions really runs counter to the entire idea of epidemiology which is, at its heart, empirical observations that generate meaningful questions. Correlative links are interesting if you can make changes without objectively sacrificing quality of life but past that how much is the degraded quality of life (in your case a very miserable experience with allergies) negatively affecting your life both now *and* a few decades from now? What about all of the ancillary things affected by uncontrolled or not well controlled allergies like sleep, mood, stress, physical stress, etc. etc.? I'm usually the first to say that we shouldn't draw any conclusions from observational type studies (they are just observations!) but the fact that this one showed a dose-dependent relationship indicates a higher likelihood of a real causative relationship. Plus, these drugs are (by definition) ones that are known to block a particular neurotransmitter. So it wouldn't be surprising to find that they have effects on the brain, for better or for worse. But I do really appreciate your point about having to balance these risks with other quality of life issues. We each have to make a judgment call about which risks and costs are worth it to us personally, and I certainly don't want to sound like one of those annoying people who wants to make that decision for everybody else! For me personally, I think it's worth it to at least do the experiment of going off of the benadryl for awhile and seeing if my memory problems improve at all, and seeing if I can live with the allergies or find other treatment options.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 11:59:55 GMT -6
Happy birthday! "Gained two pounds overnight" All water unless your b-day dinner was approximately 7,000 calories Thanks! Yeah, it was a lot, but I don't think it was 7,000 cals! I was guessing the gain was mostly, if not entirely, water and maybe some glycogen as well. What's funny is how quickly it comes on compared to how slowly it goes away.
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storytha
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Post by storytha on Jan 30, 2015 17:50:08 GMT -6
You have my profound sympathies! When I was getting those terrible cramps at the point where neck meets shoulder, sometimes it would spasm really bad up into my neck and down into my back. And it reduced me to tears on more than one occasion! The muscle relaxants help, and heat helps. My doc told me to use ice, but that made it worse! Muscles tense up when you get cold, but heat makes them relax. Try a heating pad, if you have one. And I know I sound like a broken record, but: SALT. Make sure you're getting enough salt! Drink some pickle juice. That's it exactly. They told me to ice it too. I haven't yet. But I hadn't thought of Salt! I actually kept my last pickle jar juice in the fridge. I'll have to try this weekend. Should at least help with the other muscle aches where I'm over compensating. Thanks.
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storytha
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Post by storytha on Jan 30, 2015 17:50:40 GMT -6
Husband and daughter took me out for a lovely birthday dinner tonight and dessert afterward. I don't know and don't even care how many carbs I ate. Probably a week's worth! But it was worth it. We had such a lovely time. And I did my 5 x 5 weight workout today, so there is that. I'll just pretend that counter-balanced it.
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storytha
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Post by storytha on Jan 30, 2015 17:52:37 GMT -6
[inserting an imaginary little push-up emoticon here. ]
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 30, 2015 18:19:34 GMT -6
this Attachments:
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storytha
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Post by storytha on Jan 30, 2015 18:26:39 GMT -6
Went to Massage Therapy today. I've never been before. I don't like spa massages-they hurt. This didn't hurt at all! I was so surprised. One hour massage on my head, neck, and shoulders. Felt so relaxing. She "drained my lymph nodes" (I think that's what she said) But she warned me that I would be achy later. Boy howdy was she right. I am dull achy all over my upper back. Just weird.
rejoicealways8 Food for the Super Bowl party: so far I am planning Veggie dip with pepperoni chips (I like the dichotomy) and bbq little wienies. A cheese and Summer Sausage tray and bowls of mixed nuts around. There will be chips for the kids, but I'm not having any. Those will be all the way in the dinning room ("out of sight/out of mind"! Or really "out of reach/out of mouth" HA!) I am saving my carbs for Miller Lights (5 carbs each) I thought of an marinated anti-pasta shish kabob but I'm not feeling up for lots of prep. I also gave up the blue and green flavored martinis. (Too much shaking)
Sorry Marshawn, no Skittles at my house. I can't stay out of them.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 20:13:10 GMT -6
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 30, 2015 20:22:03 GMT -6
Went to Massage Therapy today. I've never been before. I don't like spa massages-they hurt. This didn't hurt at all! I was so surprised. One hour massage on my head, neck, and shoulders. Felt so relaxing. She "drained my lymph nodes" (I think that's what she said) But she warned me that I would be achy later. Boy howdy was she right. I am dull achy all over my upper back. Just weird.
rejoicealways8 Food for the Super Bowl party: so far I am planning Veggie dip with pepperoni chips (I like the dichotomy) and bbq little wienies. A cheese and Summer Sausage tray and bowls of mixed nuts around. There will be chips for the kids, but I'm not having any. Those will be all the way in the dinning room ("out of sight/out of mind"! Or really "out of reach/out of mouth" HA!) I am saving my carbs for Miller Lights (5 carbs each) I thought of an marinated anti-pasta shish kabob but I'm not feeling up for lots of prep. I also gave up the blue and green flavored martinis. (Too much shaking)
Sorry Marshawn, no Skittles at my house. I can't stay out of them. I'm so glad you got a great massage - they can be kind of hit or miss, in my limited experience. The Super Bowl menu sounds great!
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rejoicealways8
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Post by rejoicealways8 on Jan 31, 2015 6:18:36 GMT -6
WI after three days no change. Course it could have been all up and down the scale the two days in between.
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Post by clueless on Jan 31, 2015 8:23:43 GMT -6
Hey everybody! Happy Birthday Greta!!!!!
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 31, 2015 8:51:54 GMT -6
Hey everybody! Happy Birthday Greta!!!!! Hey, it's great to see you! I have been thinking about you and hoping that all was well. How have you been? Thanks for the birthday wishes.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 31, 2015 9:00:00 GMT -6
Well, my weight went up ANOTHER two pounds today over yesterday!!! If we had a "tantrum emoticon" that is the one I would be using here. I know I've got PMS hormones raging, and because I went off the benadryl I've got allergy and not-sleeping-well issues going on too. But could those things really make a person gain SEVEN pounds?!?
Editing to add: I'm usually not one of those women who gains any PMS weight. So this is definitely weird.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 31, 2015 10:59:07 GMT -6
I also wanted to ask if anyone would happen to know anything about what it means to have an elevated heart rate. Both my resting and my active heart rates are above what is considered optimal, but not high enough to be considered a problem by medical standards.
For example, you have to hit a resting heart rate of 90 or 100 before it's considered tachycardia. Mine is in the 80's. Optimal is in the 60's or 70's. Athletic is even lower than that. (my husband's is in the 50's, sometimes 40's.)
Running even as ridiculously slowly as I run (15 minute miles!) my heart rate will easily get up into the 160's or 170's. And I've always been this way, it's not something new. I remember times in PE class in school, or with friends at a gym getting a fitness evaluation, etc. that my heart rate is always the highest by far!
Is this anything to be concerned about, or is it simply normal variation within a range?
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Post by clueless on Jan 31, 2015 11:18:25 GMT -6
Greta I was reading about you giving up allergy meds. I heard about and read about those studies as well. I don't know if you remember but I used to complain about brain fog all the time. I thought it was thyroid problems, I also had severe fatigue and all sorts of struggles with allergies. Since getting off the allergy meds I have no problems with brain fog or energy. My memory and clarity are so much better. 8 months now with no allergy meds, well I think I took 2 pills when I had that horrible chest cold to see if it would help. Other than that none. Good luck. Oh, allergies can be rough on the scale too.
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gretalyn
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Post by gretalyn on Jan 31, 2015 11:58:56 GMT -6
Greta I was reading about you giving up allergy meds. I heard about and read about those studies as well. I don't know if you remember but I used to complain about brain fog all the time. I thought it was thyroid problems, I also had severe fatigue and all sorts of struggles with allergies. Since getting off the allergy meds I have no problems with brain fog or energy. My memory and clarity are so much better. 8 months now with no allergy meds, well I think I took 2 pills when I had that horrible chest cold to see if it would help. Other than that none. Good luck. Oh, allergies can be rough on the scale too. Thanks, Cheryl. That's very encouraging about your brain fog clearing up!
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