Osteo Update Time

For those of you that are new to my blog....I was diagnose with osteoporosis (sort of) in January. You can read about my experience here and here.

Just a little update on how things are going. When the new Holistic MD told me what he wanted me to eat and not eat, I was more than a little concerned. My diet was not nearly as bad as a lot of people, but not nearly as good as it should have been. He was asking a LOT for me to eat mostly whole foods as in fruits and vegetables, no wheat and no dairy. I need my Starbucks Chai Latte and pizza!

Then I needed to start walking 30 minutes a day. I was already walking a bit, but NOT 30 minutes every single day of the week! I don't have time for that.

Next I started seeing a Physical Therapist one day a week. She wanted me to do about 20-30 minutes of Pilates for osteoporosis at least 5 days a week. Where was that time going to come from?

Needless to say, it was a bit overwhelming. HOWEVER.....those of you that know me, know that I never say never. I dug in and guess what....the diet isn't really a big deal, the walking has become pretty enjoyable and the exercise is challenging and I love a challenge!!

I guess what I am trying to say is that things are going really, really well. I have no idea what it's all doing for my bone health, but I would think they would be staying the same or getting stronger rather than weaker and that is the goal.

The way I managed to sort it all out and not freak out was to look at it in smaller parts rather than as the big whole major life change that it was. It took me a while to figure out the diet and then to adjust to it.

I do my PT in the morning because that way it's done and there are no excuses when I get home from work. The walking....I am wearing a pedometer every minute of every day for a program we are doing at work. I have to walk 7000 steps every day. Most people walk about 3500 during the course of an average day and guess what......a 30 minute walk equals almost exactly 3500 steps! I get my 7000 easily every day. Some days I have 8000 and I've even hit 9000 a couple of times!

I was never trying to lose weight, but I have. My pants are all getting baggy and people are commenting on how skinny I am. I don't really want to be skinny...it's better for people with bone loss to have some meat and muscle on their bones.....but I will say that I feel awesome!

So, my words of wisdom....if someone like me can have words of wisdom is this....when you have to make a major lifestyle change....break it down into small sections and do it in baby steps. Success can be yours!

Making a Weighted "Vest"

I decided to take today off. Our office is closed tomorrow, but the weather is going to be beyond awesome today, so I thought I would get some yard work done. We'll see how it goes. I also have my appointment with the Holistic MD today at 5:00. They told me to call before I leave to see if he is on time. His sister already told Irv that I should expect to wait.

I am so anxious to hear what he has to say, and then I have some questions of my own. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well, I didn't make a weighted vest, but I did make a weighted top to wear when I walk. I really wanted one and they wanted $75 online for one and I wasn't paying that plus shipping. I had some old stretchy work out tops that I don't wear much anymore, so I picked the one that seemed the sturdiest....that was this black one.

Then I took one that I never wear and I cut the bottom half of it off.

Next, I folded that piece in half to make it stronger and I pinned it to the bottom of the black top.

I had to play with it a bit since both of the fabrics were stretchy and they weren't exactly the same size. I didn't want to make a major project out of it so I just made it work.

I sewed them together across the bottom and than sewed seams to form the little pockets. There are four across the front and four across the back. They are stretchy enough that if I want to add more weight, I can slide a second little one in each pocket. Each little weight is 1/2 pound, so I will be starting with four pounds of weight.

Here is the finished product! Not too bad for FREE!!

The only thing I notice when wearing it is that because the black top was really old, the straps are a bit stretched out. The weights do pull the top down a bit, but not to where it is uncomfortable or the weights are hanging too low. If it gets worse over time. I might have to reinforce the straps a bit with some other fabric or just replace them with something else.

It actually feels good to walk with the extra weight. I'm really lovin' it so far!

Do It Yourself

Okay...so I want a weighted vest for when I walk. I have read that it is good if you have osteoporosis in your spine. I went online and looked at the one that everyone in the forums I follow were suggesting and the thing is $75 plus $11 shipping. Uh.....no thanks. Here is what it looks like. I want the one that looks like a work out top....not the one that looks like a winter vest. It's almost summer. I want to be able to wear it under a t-shirt or even just by itself if I'm on the treadmill.

I happen to have a bunch of those little flat weights like she is dropping into the little pocket. Do you think if I bought a top like this one.....

and sewed strong pockets along the front and back for the weights.....I could make my own??? I think I could. This is an expensive top, but if I look, I'm sure I can find one for under $30 that would work.

I even have a few old pullover type work out tops that might work and then it would cost me nothing. Hmmmmm......What do you think?

It's Showtime.....Almost

I am really busy getting ready for the show, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures with you. These are some of the fabric wall and desk clocks I made for the show. I'm curious to see if they sell at the craft show. Might not be the right venue for them, but we'll see. You can see the skull and rose ones. Sorry for the awful pictures, but as you can see, I was shooting right by a sunny window!

This is one of my favorite spring fabrics so far. All of the little bumble bees and the daisies. It's just so darn cute!

I LOVE this green fabric. This clock would be a keeper if I had somewhere to put it....plus I already kept one. :)


Here are the cell phone cases I made. I just love these little guys, especially since I found out that they also fit a digital camera just right too. I'm hoping they catch some eyes at the show!

On a different note...the weather has really been quite nice this past week. I am taking advantage of every nice day and walking outside. I took this picture over the weekend. It was such a pretty day. I think it looks almost like a painting...the sky and clouds are so awesome!


I am trying to write blogs, read blogs, comment on blogs and respond to blog comments....however if you don't see me much the rest of the week...I'm here...I'm just finishing up my show preparations. Have a fantastic rest of the week.

Get out there and take a walk too. No sitting around people. Walk, walk, walk. Geez, I wouldn't make a very good drill sergeant would I?

NO GO

I was walking along just minding my own business....walking....walking.....love my treadmill so much....walking.....

I reached for my little hand weights that I use when I walk, and oops....I pulled out the safety key. I've done that before. No big deal. I popped the key back in and punched in my speed, hit GO and uh oh....NO GO!

Hmmmm....must have done something wrong so I tried again....NO GO! Uh oh.

Yep, my brand new treadmill that I have only had for one month died on Monday morning! I got a hold of the company and they are sending out a tech to fix it, but I must say I am really, really not happy....but I am trying to take it in stride.

The biggest concern for me, besides the fact that a brand new treadmill should not be breaking down, is that I had not missed a single day of walking since I bought it. I was on such a roll...and this is the exact kind of thing that messes me up. If I miss one day, it becomes two days and then suddenly it's a week and then before you know it, I'm not walking any more.

Well in an effort to keep that from happening, I told Irv to kick my butt right out the door when I get home from work...even if it's raining. I am happy to report that on Tuesday he did just that. I was kind of debating if I really wanted to go outside and walk. It was drizzling and I didn't feel like walking outside. Irv said, "You are walking!" Since I always listen to Irv and do everything he tells me to do....I went out and walked. I also walked Wednesday and yesterday and in all honesty, it's been awesome. People are outside enjoying the warmer weather and the birds are chirping like crazy!

So, for the next week or so, I am going to have to walk outside, rain or shine....but I will do it!

Darn treadmill!!

Dum Da Dum Dum........

I am SOOOO nervous!!!!

I am headed off to the grocery store first thing this morning and then..............guess what came yesterday?

My new laptop!!!!! It is so pretty...if a computer can be pretty.

So, when I get back from the store, I will be disconnecting this old borrowed Dell and attempting to get the new laptop up and running. Irv "thinks" he understands what needs to be done and there is a disc that will help us set up the wireless and a disc that will help us set up the printer.

Wish us non-techie people luck. We will need it!

On Monday I should also have the new external hard drive back from the tech guy that is getting all of my stuff off my dead Dell. I will be so happy to have all of my pictures and things back. It's been awful not having pictures to use and no scanner to scan any.

Make it a fantastic day for yourselves, and I expect each and every one of you to get outside (if it's nice enough) and take a little walk today, or get on that treadmill for a little while. Cherin of Lanyard Lady said she parked as far from work as she could yesterday and "enjoyed" a nice walk to work. That's all it takes my friends. You can do it!

Update.....

Soooooo, are all of you getting up off your butts and doing a little walking every day? Are you eating healthier? Are you taking care of yourself the way you know you should be? I know you are probably tired of me harping at you all of the time, but it is so much better to prevent a problem than to treat a problem. Right? Right!

Since getting my treadmill, I have not missed a day of walking. Without it, I would have missed many days due to the weather here, and just being too tired when I get home. Poor excuse, but I'm being honest. With the treadmill, I am in the basement every single day walking at least 30 minutes. During the week, I'm down there at 5:30 a.m. I would like to increase that as time goes on, but for now it's 30 minutes. I am holding little 1.5 pound dumbbells for part of the walk to do something good for my arms and shoulders too.

My diet is coming along nicely. I'm learning to stay away from animal proteins, including dairy and to get my protein from plants and other sources. That way the pH in my blood stays more balanced and it won't steal calcium from my bones to correct any imbalance. It's really been easier than I thought it would be.

I have found that I can eat a lot of the foods that I enjoy that might throw that balance off by also eating fruits and vegetables with them to keep everything the way it should be.

I bought a powdered calcium with magnesium that is suppose to be better absorbed and I'll start that today. There was another supplement that a co-worker said her mom has been using, but I can't find it in any of our stores so I might have to order it online if I decide to try it. I'm still researching it. Do any of you take OsteoValin? That's what it's called. It's basically strontium.

I have eliminated most of the salty snacks I was eating on a daily basis...and I do miss them. I had some crackers over the weekend and they tasted just grand! It's okay to do that occasionally, just not on a daily basis.

I am losing weight, even though that was not my intention. I don't own a scale, but my clothing is telling me that I am.

Besides all of those nice things that I am doing for myself each and everyday, I'm also trying to do something I really enjoy every day. I'm just taking a little time for me...to watch some of the Olympics, to read a bit, to plan, to dream......

What nice things are you doing for yourself?

Chee Hoo!

It's FRIDAY! It's my no work out day. It's my no walk day. It's my eat whatever I want day. It's jeans day at work. It's Starbucks day. It's Dunkin' Donuts day. It's even PAYDAY!!! I actually couldn't wait to get up this morning!! Chee Hoo!

I cannot believe I have been working out and walking and eating healthy for three weeks. That has to be a record for me. Yes, there are some mornings when the last thing I want to do at 5:30 a.m. is yoga or pilates...but I'm doing it.

There are plenty of days when I get home from work and the last thing I want to do is change my clothes, bundle up and head out into the frigid air to walk....but I'm doing it!

Many evenings I have no interest in preparing a healthy balanced dinner for myself....but I'm doing it.

I am not to the point where these things are a positive habit for me yet. In fact, I still find it all a big pain in the butt....but I'm doing it.

My neck and upper back issue has caused me to rethink my workout. If I didn't, I might have quit. Instead I took out the arm and shoulder dumb bell workout until my neck and upper back are more tolerant of the yoga and pilates. Once they are, I will add the arm work back in. I did add some leg work on the days I do pilates too.

I am really looking forward to spring when I can be working out with the doors and windows open, and I can pile on the sunscreen, throw on my hat and walk until I want to come in rather than having to come in because my eyes are tearing, my nose is running and my face and everything running down it is frozen solid!

If you made some changes....healthy eating, working out or other changes for the New Year...how are you doing? Need a Chee Hoo or some encouragement? I'm here for you. :)

Oh Happy Day!

Well as crazy as the weekend was, Monday made up for it. What a great and productive day filled will all kinds of good stuff!

I started out doing my yoga and it felt good. It's getting easier each time I do it. Then I took the dogs for a mile walk. We all enjoyed that even though it was cold and damp. We had some of that freezing frost stuff this week and some of the bushes and trees are still a bit white. They look so pretty.

Back home for breakfast and some clean up and a phone call to Comcast. When we disconnect our cable TV on Saturday to get Dish Network, we will be left with just Comcast Internet. That means our special little rate goes up to the ridiculous regular rate. I didn't want my special little rate to go up so I pleaded my case to three different people and my rate will stay the same for six months and then it will go up. I figured by then maybe something else will be available out here where I live, if not, I pay the higher rate. Oh well.

Then it was etsy time. I put on my Adam Lambert CD and got to work. I listed this pillow in FourDogDay.....

and this new Itsy Bitsy Tote Bag too. Kind of a fun one.

I am still using up fabric that I have on hand for these, and that is so awesome....especially after working on my taxes this weekend and seeing how much I spent on material this year! OUCH! I have two other Itsy Bitsies done and they are my absolute favorites so far. I'll show them to you as soon as I get them photographed.

I even managed to iron all of my clothes for the week today so I don't have to worry about that every night. I hate it when I don't iron and have to do it on a nightly basis. Such a pain! Do you iron?

What do you keep busy with in the middle of January? It's back to work for me today, but I love the four day work weeks!

Make it an awesome day and be sure to do something nice for yourself today!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

I started walking every day after work this week, in accordance with my "plan" and Mother Nature has NOT been very cooperative. The first three days of the week were frigid. I mean cold enough where any exposed skin hurts like hell when you are out there...and I was out there all three days. Then Thursday it was a tad warmer, but it was snowing.

Some of our icicles

I don't own any good boots so I put on my hiking boots and headed out. It was pretty slippery....but I walked.

The start of my walk

I took my camera with so I could take a few pictures for you, but as you can see, it was still snowing and since I have no clue how to really use a camera....we have big white blobs all over the pictures....but it's okay, you'll get the idea.

Our neighbor's evergreen....so pretty covered in snow

One of the neighbors was shoveling when I walked by and asked me if I have had enough snow yet. "Not yet", I said. "If I have to have winter, then I'll take the snow." That wasn't the answer he was looking for. He wanted someone to commiserate with him.

Little lights peeking out of the snow

Big beautiful evergreens

I'm glad Irv puts my car in the garage every night for me.
I wouldn't want to get up to this in the morning.
Our Christmas tree waiting at the curb for the recycling truck
My empty squirrel feeders
My lilac bushIt was a nice walk and now I can cross that off my list for today.