Hi, everyone! It's Saturday!! The weather has cooled down, and I plan to work in the garden today. I also have a flower bed at our church that I care for. It looks horrible, so I'm going to give it some attention.
Some sad news--the man next door to me died Thursday night. He's been sick for a long time--a heavy smoker and alcoholic--I think throat cancer finally did him in. I saw the ambulance come and take him. He looked all waxy and skeleton-ish. Ugh! I don't know if he was dead then or died at the hospital. He was only in his late 50's. It's been a really rough go for his wife. I guess I was touched pretty deeply because my father died very early (at 55) due to complications of drinking and smoking. It's hard to watch someone die of alcoholism. It's very slow and ugly. Now I've seen it twice. Sorry about the sadness--I just can't get it out of my mind. Another related thing--I'm going to go to the wake to pay my respects, but I don't know what to say. Do I say I'm sorry? I wasn't when my father died--there was a loss but also relief. I bet she feels the same way. She said something of the sort to me over the back fence last year. Anyway--it's just been on my mind. Hope I didn't depress anyone.
Cyan--to answer your question about my leg--I believe I have shin splints in my right leg. Since I did it, while I haven't gone to the doctor, I have read in a home medical book and a lot on-line about it, and the symptoms and what causes the injury seem to fit perfectly for me. How it occurred was like this: I decided to do my daily walk after work instead of before on a couple of days because of time problems. Well, the second day was a day where my legs/ankles were very sore and tired because I had been on my feet all day. I almost didn't go because I was so tired. Anyway, I pushed myself through the whole 1 1/2 mile walk. The next morning there was sharp pain in my shin, along with muscle soreness. I really didn't pay attention to it; I thought it was just stiffness. Well, I went shopping with my daughter, and the more I walked in my unsupportive sandals, the worse the pain became. The next day I could only walk a little, so I stayed off it. The following week, I used an elastic bandage around my leg, stayed off it whenever possible, and it helped tremendously. There was still some pain, but much less. Last weekend I worked 3 hours in the garden with no ill effects. Then I walked at a slow pace that one day--1/2 mile--no problem. This past Wednesday I worked bingo--basically 8 hours on my feet, lots of walking--and it got sore again. I started wrapping it again, and that helps. I've also started using ice on it in the evenings--right where it's tender. And I am also gently stretching my leg and ankle muscles as it is comfortable to do so. All three of these remedies are recommended in the reading I did, and they all help. It's getting slowly better (now mostly soreness and stiffness), but I know it will take time.
I learned that shin splints are an inflammation/pulling of the muscles and tendons in the area where they attach to either leg bone at the bottom of the shin. It can be caused by trauma to the leg from repeated impact from running or walking or from straining those muscles because of walking with tight calf muscles in the back of the leg. The latter is me to a T. My calf muscles are always tight. Even a leg massage from hubby only relieves it a little. On that last day when I walked, my legs were so tight and sore BEFORE I walked! And I don't stretch before walking--big mistake, I see. Because I'm seeing gradual and steady improvement, I don't think I need to go to the doctor at this time, but I'm not ruling it out if I don't see enough improvement soon enough. From what I read, shin splints can take up to a month to heal, if you are just totally conscientious about limiting walking. Well, I do the best I can, but how do you not walk? And in my job, there can be a lot of walking. I think that consistently wrapping it is the best thing I can do in that situation. It gives the muscles support. Anyway, I will keep everyone posted on my progress.
Miki, be careful of that back!! Sorry you have joined me in the "injured ward". I agree with everybody else--backs are very tricky, and injury can cause a lot of problems. Be careful not to restrain it.
Sorry, ladies, that I am unable to join in the reality show conversation. I watched The Bachelor once and Joe Millionaire, and then I gave them up. I think I'm getting old. Also, I get really grossed out by shows like Fear Factor. I like to watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS. That's my speed. My 12-year-old was watching Cupid the other night, but hubby made her turn it off. I didn't see, but he thought she would learn to be even more nasty/b----y than her moody, adolescent self can be at times by watching the girls on that show. It must really be something to see.
I think I am going to go on to Phase 2 of Atkins on Sunday, which will be two weeks on the program for me. I am getting bored of the limited choices of Induction. Phase 2 is called Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL). You get to slowly--a week at a time--add a greater variety of low-carb foods, as long as you are still losing weight. The idea is to get to a situation where I am losing about 1 pound per week. I really need some fruit--strawberries will be my first pick, and then melon. I bought some Atkins breakfast bars at a health food store--can't eat eggs because of intolerance/can't eat bread/cereal on this part of the plan. The bar plus some fruit will be a good breakfast for me. I've been having some very weird breakfasts over the last two weeks.
I'll let everyone know Monday about my official weigh-in tomorrow. I'm sorry to say that I can't completely stay away from the scale, but I'm trying not to get nuts about it.
Well, I've written on and on today. By now you have all probably fallen asleep. Well, wake up!! I'm finally done. Have a great weekend. Looking forward to all your posts.
SO go ahead....let me have it! Somebody needs to. Hopefully yours will help me the way mine did you..lol
...I hope this gets you back into your exercise queen mode...your crown is waiting for you 
Oh, I'm just kidding with you.
I could definitely eat this way the rest of my life. Today I've had a problem drinking my water because for some reason the water from our tap tastes and smells like dirt. Not sure what's up.
Girl, you know we miss you when you arent here! Right now you're the contagious inspiration with your great success! I love the excitement you have right now with your new eating plan. Hoping it'll rub off on me..lol