Good Luck to L.E. tomorrow--Here's to your new hip!

Well I survived T-Day, but still have the 3 lbs. I had last week, but no more. It was a great holiday and I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm keeping on the game plan being active and careful with my portions and drinking lots of water. Most importantly I'm reaching out to L.E. and sending you good hip surgery vibes, for your hip replacement tomorrow, Dec 1st. You will be so happy you did this! I'll be up to see you in a couple days when you will be feeling more human!

Speaking of hip arthritis, I'm about to walk in the 5K Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Walk/Run this Sunday at DuBurns in Canton. I've been the GSH Team Captain for several years now, but really look forward to walking PAIN FREE this year. Last year I was only able to cheer the rest of the team on from the sidelines because of my hip pain. This is the Arthritis foundation biggest annual fundraiser who's cause is to help find a cure for arthritis! Wow-wouldn't that be great! Thanks to everyone on the team this year and for all who donated!

Preparing for Battle!

Well its that time of year to really give yourself a good talking to and plan a manageable strategy not to gain weight this holiday season. I'm a little bummed at myself...having lost about 12 lbs. these past few months with Weight Watchers, I've managed to gain back about 3 lbs. by succumbing to my social calendar and eating too much at dinner parties, weekends away and Ravens games! Worst part is that T-Day is 3 days away. The 3lbs. has got to go! Here's my game plan: Exercise for 45 minutes everyday this week, even if in done 2/20 minute session, or a little here and a little there--AM, PM or whatever! Get drunk with water--its filling and great for your skin, and your bowels and bladder--keeps everything working-drink as much H2O as you can! So whenever you're hungry drink a big glass of water, first, wait 15 minutes if still hungry eat, but choose wisely--like an apple/orange, yogurt or string cheese! Brush your teeth and/or chew gum while cooking, especially on T-Day! I sample everything, but this year I'm not going to do it. After the big meal--take a walk, just a nice stroll, not anything brisk. Remember extra weight is horrible for your arthritis--causing the pain in your lowerback, hips or knees to worsen. We usually can't control that we have arthritis but can certainly can do our part to manage it; the extra weight and inactivity really do make it worse. Take charge and be responsible for your own wellness! Happy Thanksgiving and wish me luck with the weight war!

Fun with the Book Club

Long time no blog, still very busy....the Book Club started off with a twist! Only 4 people out of 32 read the book! So I kiddingly gave them a class score of D-! Since we couldn't discuss the book as a whole, we all engaged in a wonderful discussion about positive aging and there was some great sharing. People talked about what they want to do in this final third of their life and we had some real exciting responses; i.e- kayaking, learning Italian, volunteering. Some very tender feelings were exchanged about the joys of grandparenting and how surprisingly their grand kids are keeping them young and providing a new purpose in their lives. Overall, everyone there was very excited about aging, and in a very positive fashion....this group, I can tell already is not a bunch of "rotters", but a group of folks who really want to be alive and present during this milestone and continue to learn and enjoy life. So we will meet again on January 12 and hopefully everyone will read"Younger Next Year" by Crowley/Lodge; at least the first 4-5 chapters. The book has really inspired me and those who've read it to really get up and get moving...which I am ever so delighted to do with my new hip!

Where has the year gone!

Fall...my absolute busiest time of year...and this year I've got the stamina, and good will to get what I need to get done now that my hip no longer hurts. Work is crazy...can't wait to start my new book club, "Better Help by the Book", November 3, 7pm @ Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley Town Center. I've been doing lots of TV/Radio promotions to help get the word out about the club and its been great fun. I'm also real excited about my new Arthritis-on-the-Go seminars that I've been doing at communities libraries. In fact, this past Tuesday was really special mostly because I became reaquainted with an old boyfriend's brother and his wife, who is really hurting because of debilitating hip pain...being quite a young woman herself I really empathized with everything she is going through because of her hip arthritis. I was really touched as she explained that she's been following my blog which led her to the seminar that evening. We were able to get her in to see our expert orthopedic doctor and things will really fall into action. Don't worry, my friend, you will be feeling better soon and I am just a phone call away! Well, I'm off to my arthritis support group and then to teach tai chi class! Till next....

WOW! Six months since the Surgery

Lots of stuff to talk about since last post. I'll start with vacation Sept 4-Sept 10. What a rainy week down the beach! You can only play so many board games with your husband. Once we had our fill we decided to come home early--it seems our weather karma has been rotten. I really missed not bike riding down the beach...it's such a great place to ride and it's such a great diversion from my exercise DVD's. However, I managed to stay fit anyway. I'm also proud that I kept up with my Weight Watchers meeting while on vacation and only gained .4lbs, for a total loss of 6.6 lbs. on September 12. September 10th also marked my half-year period since my surgery. Hard to believe but I most often don't even know I had my hip replaced. Good Samaritan Hospital really did a great job with my surgery and recuperation!

Had tai chi training in Pennsylvania the weekend of Sept 12 & 13. Of course it rained again so I didnt mind so much being stuck in a classromm for 16 hours. I really enjoyed the training and really look forward to teaching an ongoing class at Good Sam to help people with arthritis feel better thru tai chi. It helped me, and still does with my recovery and staying strong and well-balanced both physically and mentally. I also began a new regular 10-week tai chi session at Good Sam and am amazed at the popularity of this class. Thirty-one students are in this session and they are very enthusiastic. I look forward to every Thursday evening now for 10 weeks.

We traveled last weekend, Sept 18-20 up to Albany, NY to a wedding and really had a great time. I did most of the driving up because I found that when I drive I'm less restless and less irritated than when my husband takes the wheel. Albany was lovely, as was the wedding. The best part was the dancing which I have missed for over three years because of hip pain. I danced, and danced and danced...for over 3 hours. All that dancing kept me from eating and drinking too much so I had almost a two lb. loss at Weight Watchers for a total loss of 8.6 lbs. My new hip really has helped me get my life back again, and its working just fine. My godniece is getting married tomorrow...the first wedding in the family, so I'll be busting some more moves I'm sure! The next 4 days will be a tremendous weight management challenge--rehearsal dinner, wedding, Raven's Game and Monday a golf tournament with dinner afterwards. Whew! I hope I have a good report next post!

Back to the Beach...but better!

It's been a long summer and our condo has been occupied by renters all season. This past Saturday morning the last of the renters checked out so we're headed down to enjoy the weekend at the beach, at last! Remember, I spent the last couple weeks recovering from my hip replacement down OC with all of the spring dreariness and performed much of my therapy at Northside Park. I have to say that I returned to Northside Park this weekend and it was most enjoyable. It was great walking 2 laps around the park (without a cane), then bicycling 5 times around the periphery, ending with a little mini boot camp of push-up, pikes and leg raises at my favorite bench where I did much of my seated PT. I smiled inside at the wonderful progress I've made since April when I could barely walk around once even with my cane. I've really been testing out this new hip, lunging, squatting, walking, bicycling---whatever low impact moves I can come up with. It was hard walking on the beach...too hilly due to the storms and eroded beach, so I'll try again next week. I am really giving this new hip a run for its money, sometimes to the point of slight pain but then I stop. I never do any high impact running, jumping, or leaping on land, just slightly in my aquatic classes. I tell myself that I elected for a new hip because of the pain, and to enjoy life again and to return to my active self. Well, you can bet that' s what I'm doing...and am returning to the beach this weekend for some more!

Turning 55!

I'll be 55 this Monday, an official senior citizen in most venues except the US government. Since I've had my hip replaced almost 6 months ago I now feel in my 30's again. I'm back to my energetic self; stamina is great, sleeping very well, continuing my full daily workouts and my presurgical weight training exercises to keep my leg strength up; swimming twice a week and training in tai chi to prepare for my new class session at Good Sam on Sept. 17th...and of course, playing my beloved golf at least once a week. Many folks have called me to talk about their arthritis. Besides being an arthritis nurse I now have the dimension of empathy when talking with them which helps me understand what they are really going through. I am often asked, "How did you know it was time for hip replacement surgery?". Here is my answer: If pain consumes most of your day, especially getting in and out of a car; you feel very unsteady on your feet and fear falling so you walk with a cane; your quality of life is dwindling...FAST, as evidenced by giving up the things you love; in my case, bowling, golfing, traveling, dancing and working out; your sleep is interrupted, either falling to sleep or waking up in the middle of the night due to pain; you become de-conditioned due to inactivity and feeling very, very old; if you can relate to at least two of these criteria then it is definitely time to consider joint replacement surgery.

I'm very excited to start my new book club called, "Better Health by the Book" on November 3 at 7pm at Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley. I really enjoy helping others and look forward to meeting lots of new people who like me, want to learn everything they can about being healthy and aging vibrantly. I took the first step with my surgery and am so glad I did!