Saturday, February 15, 2014

MY NEW RESOLVE DISSOLVED?

My new resolve dissolved?  Not entirely, but I have made zero progress towards my weight loss goal.  I have been active six mornings each week with fitness walks, yoga and fitness classes.  I am left with so little energy that I can't even think about meal planning and cooking.  Prepared meals and restaurant meals are too high sodium and dinner out would mean driving after dark.  Salads are great but I'm too "lazy" to shop and chop fresh produce.  Consequently, I've been eating a lot of whole grain cereal, unsalted natural peanut butter (on bread or crackers, of course), yogurt, eggs (and toast), fruit and mini-tomatoes.  Not a bad thing, but apparently not enough and too high carb.  Gotta work on that.

I was doing two weekly Silver Sneakers exercise classes and have decided to drop one.  I found myself getting dizzy and nauseous trying to move while watching the instructor move.  The other is not quite so aerobic; not as fast paced, but just as effective if not more so.




My once-weekly yoga class is so-o-o wonderful.  I leave the studio feeling as relaxed as a limp noodle.  I have begun my own practice at home and, though I am not there yet, I hope to work up to a daily routine.







Before my first debilitating episode, I was getting weekly chiropractic adjustments to maintain the alignment of my spine and prevent lower back pain.  I felt great during that period; even getting temporary relief from my mild asthma.  My chiropractor told me that her manipulations open up everything.  My nuclear-physicist son said once about having his first and only chiropractic adjustment, "That's not science."  He obviously didn't enjoy having his neck cracked.  It really does take a lot of faith and trust in your chiropractor to allow him/her to do that.  My chiropractor retired. I saw another for a couple visits and did not have the same trust so never had an adjustment again.  I recently read an article purporting that such manipulations irritate the vestibular nerve and can be the cause of disorders such as mine.  Perhaps I stopped too late.

On the other hand, a professional masseuse manipulates muscles and finds knots and pressure points and, in a gentler and less aggressive way,  achieves even better results.

With a gift certificate from a dear friend, I had the 2nd therapeutic massage of my life a month ago and booked three more.  My massage therapist truly has magic hands that find that tight nerve up the back of my neck and lower my shoulders from their strained tense trying-to-hear-and-balance position.






When Publishers Clearing House knocks at my door, I plan to hire my own personal masseuse and chef.







Upon my neurotolgist's advice, I have begun the process to establish candidacy for a study regarding newly developed vestibular implants; similar to cochlear implants but designed by a University of Washington otolaryngologist to correct balance impairments.  If chosen, it will mean travel back and forth to Seattle.  Wish me luck!