A Little Set-back...Time to Re-Assess

Well last post I talked about my crazy busy fall season and darned if I didn't have a big snafu thrown in my plans. Somehow in these post couple weeks I sustained a right tibial stress fracture and am in a bootcast for 4-6 weeks and cannot drive, exercise, teach tai chi or my arthritis aquatics, golf or do much of anything. I am hitching rides to and from work whenever possible and must be very diligent and compliant with my recovery or this will haunt me the rest of my life. And these stress fractures hurt! This boot really cramps my style, but I gotta stick it out, and I really get irritable if I don't exercise! After my pity party the first couple days, I thought about lots of things, i.e. What kind of shape are my bones in? Why did my tibia fracture...I eat right and exercise all the time? I better start taking my Calcium and Vit D diligently? Am I really getting of the age where I need to slow down? Am I gonna need a lot of help and people to ride me to work for at least a month? WOW!
I have resumed my Calcium and vit D everyday even though I eat right and exercise regularly, realizing that at my age that's just not enough. I've rearranged my schedule, cancelling the events I cannot attend and postponing others until able. Getting rides to/from work remains a creative strategy, but working out. I'm lifting weights to keep my upper body strength up & core exercises while sitting and watching TV, and using the Aerodyne machine in the Good Health Center here at GSH to maintain some aerobic endurance. But I don't have any answer to the "age of slowing down" question yet...that one I'll face later...

Fall Frenzy!

Pretty soon the fall will be over and not one blog have I written...so I took a moment to post. Vacations are bygone now and my busy work season is frenetically here! One health event after another until the Thanksgiving weekend without break...YEP! I am up for it. Trying to eat right, exercise to sustain good energy for the season. I'm happy to be sleeping again! As alway, my hip reminds me when I have done too much.
Really enjoyed the Book club on Sept 14, and look ahead to the next meeting on November 9th @ 7pm at Greetings & Readings. We're reading, "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body" by Dr. Amen. Its quite fascinating...our brains are unbelievable, mysterious untapped organs that have tremendous power over our bodies. Would love to see you all there next meeting.
I'll be at Senior/Baby Boomer Expo this Wednesday & Thursday (Oct 6 & 7) and would love anyone to stop by the Good Samaritan Booth. Remember this year we are all in the cow palace!
Will check in later.

Refreshed from Vacation and another birthday

Just spent a delightful week in Holden Beach, N.C. with my daughters their boyfriends, my husband, his sister and her daughters family. I really dreaded the long drive with my back and hip but I chose to stretch out in the back seat with my legs up in the air periodically, and it was great. Due to my lack of sleeping lately, I didn't have to drive on the way down at all. My husband and dear sister-in-law, Marla took on that task for 8 long hours. The beaches of NC were lovely, remining me of Ocean City Md. about 40 years ago...very laid back, quiet and no high rises! Our house was perfect, one block from the ocean, a pool right in our back yard, and a huge house with 4 BR an, 3 bathrooms, jacuzzi, 3 decks and a huge living room and kitchen.
I really gave my hip and back a rest from my hard core DVD workouts....boy did it pay off. Each day I either rode my bike for 45-60 minutes (flat terrain everywhere) and/or did a aqua workout in the pool with my noodles and weights. No pain at all till I finished that brutal ride home as I am really trying to adjust to staying in shape in a gentler, low impact fashion.
Well yesterday Cal Ripken turned 50 and I turned 56, and began my 57th year---somehow as I eek closer to 60, old age seems like something real instead of some far-off notion. At dinner last night with my daughters (27 & 29 and obsessed with youth and all the marketing that goes with it) I told them to prepare themselves over the upcoming years as my body changes...because we are supposed to age! They were speechless! Aging is natural and inevitable, but not license to default to the rocking chair and wait to die! Last night while I couldn't sleep I thought of the things that I'm doing and want to do these next 50 fifty years. These things came to mind, in no particular order--just brainstorming:
I just acted a small role in my step-son's indie movie this past Sunday (aging biker chick was my role-YIKES!); get my research study published; get a second Master's or my PhD.; visit Asia, Australia and complete my visit to all 50 states (only 11 more to go); cruise the Mediterranean; join a research travel group; hone my technological skills; join a drama company and act; be a grandmother; retire in my current occupation but continue to promote vibrant aging through all my movement therapy classes; design and execute an aquatic tai chi class; continue my tai chi studies and do a triathalon or whatever the 5k run/walk, 10-mile bike ride and 1 mile swim is called. Whew--maybe this is why I can't sleep, too much to think about. Anyway--I off on another vacation to my beloved little condo in OC from Sept 2-10...will check in later

NYC Daytripping...WOW Experience

Had a long, but very fun daytrip this past Wednesday in NYC. I love New York, but never enjoy the "pushy people" and attitudes of the New Yorkers. Boy was I ever surprised by this trip. My husband and I went with another couple from our church who are from NY so they really knew the ropes... so we let them plan the whole day. Of all the things to do, we chose this time to see a Yankee game, nice dinner and squeeze in a broadway play...and of course my first time on the Megabus. The Megabus experience was really great...esp. the price...$37.00 round trip for my husband and I. Comfortable, clean BR, perfect temperature...not one negative thing at all. Even the people on the subway, smiled, offered up there seats and actually made eye contact!
My first trip to the new stadium is where the WOWS continued. People walking up asking"How may I help you",..."Hello Welcome to Yankee Stadium...at every level. Our seats ($75.0o ea) were totally shaded, under cover and very comfortable. Good thing for that price! Arriving early so my husband and I could see the museum and Hall of Fame...we rushed to get in what we could before gametime. As we approached the line for the Hall, one usher said , "sorry line is closed", but another female usher said "Are you from out of town....then go ahead". While I was looking at all of the signed baseballs, I was asked if I needed help finding a ball. An usher greeted us and pulled the seat out for us. A young man in the 7th inning just stopped by to ask if we needed anything and how our day was!!! At that point I had to check what city I was in and pinch myself. The only bad part was the girl who sold me my lelmonade (rude, curt and no eye contact), and witnessing Alex Rodriquez (whom I loathe) hit his 600th HR! Only the 7th player in MLB to do so...the good news is that the lemonade was fresh squeezed ($5.00) and I got to be part of MLB history. I am so impressed by the fans...they love their Yankees, and let them know every opportunity from singing songs to each player upon introduction to, applauding every strike, out or hit! And the stadium is sold out every game!
We had a lovely Mexican dinner at Tolouache's, tequila shots and dessert on the house, then a wonderful time at the Kerr Theatre for "A Little Night Music"...which we had to leave 10 minutes fbefore the ending to catch the Megabus Home. Even the bus facillitator allowed us to board way before any one else, because my friend was older and walked with a cane. The crown in line (from D.C.) bboed and hissed, and the facillitator said "I don't know what you all do in D. C. but here on the NY Megabus we let handicapped people and seniors board first. I was very proud of him!
So...I've turned the corner on dissing NYC people...they were lovely and I can't wait till next trip so I can see if they keep up the good work!

Sleepless in Baltimore...

Pardon the unoriginal title of this post but it so appropriate! I am, I guess, finally in the throws of menopause (it's about time don't you thing at 56), and the worst symptom is not sleeping. I take melatonin and it works sometimes, and sleeping pills very judiciously, but when you wake up at 2:30 in the morning and stay up for the remainder of that day, its the pits. This has been going on for about a month now and the cumulative effect is really getting to me. I don't even feel safe driving. I can't even form complete sentences and my memory is mush. Performing at peak level during the week is out of the question and forget exercise....that has really diminished, but I am trying to do a little something each day. So- anyone out there want to offer up any solutions so I can get some sleep!

Summer Workouts!

Ahhh! first day of summer, the summer solstice...longest day of the year...whew! its hot as blazes out there and wish the sun would go down. Its really hard to workout when its this hot but I'm not willing to get out of shape so it looks like I'll need to make some changes. My motto is to break a sweat each day with exercise...well, these dog hot days leave you dripping with sweat without even lifting a finger, but you still have to get moving, work the heart, and strength train to keep your metabolism working in your favor. Remember, at rest muscle, burns more calories than fat, so even while your sleeping that beautiful muscle you've been developing is burning your metabolism very efficiently. For a really cool, stress-less workout get moving in the pool, lake or whever you swim. Jogging, skipping, jump rope arms, 50 degree turnabouts, side shuffles, whatever can be done in the water with no stress on the knees, hips or weight bearing joints. Use a noodle to biclycle, cross country ski, back stroke and reverse bicycle to get a great workout. Do bicep curls and tricep kickbacks while standing on one foot. Yes--you can lift weights in the water and its alot easier on your joints but still quite effective. And if keeping your hair dry, and/or not being able to swim is an issue...no worries, you can do all the suggested moves in water up to your chest! Just be a little creative and try whatever moves you do on land in the water ...you'll be surprise how easlily they convert.
If the pool is not an option, or to keep things interesting with your workouts then small burst of aerobic intervals mixed with strenth training(weights, or squats, lunges, plies, etc) are just perfect for your body! Say 5 minutes of jumping rope, or jumping jacks, then 2-3 minutes of strenth training on your back and shoulders; then repeat 5-minute of some kind of aerobics with 2-3mins. of strengthening another part of your body--say lower body(lunges, squats), then move to arms, etc. Three or four circuits of this will get it done!
This way you won't get too worn out doing 30-45 minutes of straight cardio on these hot days, but still get a great workout doing intervals. I actually like interval better and so does my body! Anyway--keep plugging away at it--DRINK WATER LIKE A CAMEL...and I'd love to hear any more fitness tips from anyone out there. Stay fit this summer!

Back From Alaska and Getting Back to Myself!

My Alaskan cruise was pure heaven and highly recommend to any and everyone who enjoys grand, majestic landscapes, wildlife and lots of daylight hours (only in summer of course) should visit this gorgeous state. The helicopter ride onto a glacier was spectacular, and the highlight of the trip was spending time with an old nurse friend who moved to Ketchikan 8 yrs. ago (how lucky is she?) It was great to see you Deb! It was great to see the whales, bald eagles, orca babies, sea lions, bears and mooses.
I'm happy to report just a 2-lbs. weight gain,( which I already lost) mostly because I went to the gym at the hotel and ship mostly everyday. Kayaking was great fun and my legs did well steering and being cramped up in the kayak for 2 hours. My hip held up very well. I was humbled from this sport; rowing that kayak is not small feat and either is getting in and out of the vessel. I am looking forward to trying it again.
I am very aware, since the bursitis, of not overdoing anything. I just got released from Physical therapy today and gained about 8 degrees of stretch in my hamstrings. Boy--its really important to keep those hamstrings flexible to prevent back pain and just to be able to take a full stride.
Would love to hear how my hip replacement friends are doing and also from anyone who wants to share their Alaskan memories!