Introduction

[wyldbutterflies]

Hello everyone! My name is Romy. I am exercising for my health. After living in a sick building (black mold) and developing chronic bronchitis and asthma, I packed on the pounds. Now, at 37 years old, I have realized that as I get older, this weight could be a health risk for me as diabetes runs in both sides of my family. Truth be told, the diabetes frightens me more than heart disease.

I am trying to exercise everyday...trying. Currently, I am dealing with a shoulder injury so my main focus has been leg and ab work. weights and bands are out of the question at the moment until I heal. Any suggestions on care and treatment (and possible exercise) for a strained shoulder would be great! It's getting better, but I am impatient.

I am overweight, but have been steadily losing pounds for about a year. I have lost about 50 and I have at least 100 more to go. But, now and again, I do have setbacks (like my shoulder). I also have time constraints as I am finally pursuing two bachelors degrees after having a long relationship with low self-esteem. I am also studying abroad in Japan this fall for three months and I have no idea how that will be impacting my exercise plans - but chance are I will be biking a lot. I prefer to exercise in the morning, but that isn't always an option and I lose steam in the afternoon. I am still on a search for how to fit my 90 minutes into a neat little hole of time.

I have dissociative identity disorder so if I slip and throw a few wrong pronouns around ("we" in particular) please forgive me. But this also makes exercise a challenge. Then there is my significant other who, while supportive, sometimes gets in the way of exercise. It is just hard to exercise around her.

Recently, I have given up refined sugar and refined wheat flour which has made an incredible difference in my life. I have finally shed all that water that I retained and couldn't seem to get rid of. So, my diet has done a complete 180 degrees from where it was and I couldn't be happier.

For exercise, I engage in walking, occasional swimming when the weather holds (which lately, it has not), hula dancing, strength exercises, and balance ball for my core. (I also play around on the Wii Fit...but I don't know if that counts as exercise.)

Comments

[just_ann_now]

Hello!

Good on ditching the refined sugar and refined wheat flour! We also have cut back on carbs also and it's made a huge, huge difference for us. Weight down, energy level up. Good good good.

[wyldbutterflies]

Hello!

It was a challenge. The withdrawal wasn't pleasant, but it really only took about a week, thank heavens. Energy levels are way up and we feel so much better for doing it. Now if we can just get the shoulder healed up, we will be right back on track. :)

[carolyn_claire]

Me, too--I feel so much better without refined/simple carbs (and the 5 lbs of retained water that go along with them.)

[carolyn_claire]

I'm working around a rotator cuff injury (and working to prevent it in the other shoulder) so I'll be interested to hear shoulder strategies, too. Good on you for both the carb reduction and the weight loss! I'm type II diabetic, and, though I wouldn't wish it on anyone, prevention and management are so much easier and better, now, than they used to be. That you've eliminated those carbs will help you a lot, there.

My youngest has been to Japan twice, working and visiting, and her fiance is there now, working (teaching English.) I envy you all! One day I'd love to go, too--travel isn't much of an option for me, just now, but it's a very motivating fitness goal.

[green]

HI! :D

Wow, you're doing a lot, and you seem to definitely be on the right track with everything.

[wyldbutterflies]

The shoulder injury is just awful, but fortunately mine is just a strain. Tried ice and heat but it seemed to make the pain worse. it was to the point where I couldn't cross my arm over my body. Thankfully it is healing, but I have been on naproxen every night.

Japan has always been a dream of mine. East Asia is my concentration of study and I am so thankful for the opportunity to go. Hopefully it will help me in a career.

But as excited as I am, I am also a little anxious about the flight. I am worried that I won't fit the seats - even though I should be able to just fine. I am also worried that my luggage will be one inch too big and they will charge me extra - I wish I knew if they counted the wheels.

Maybe someday you will travel to exotic destinations - or as exotic as you would like them to be. It is a good motivator. I wish you the best of luck!

[wyldbutterflies]

Hello!

Thank you. I tend to be very self-motivating and busy-minded. My partner once grumped at me that I make things look easy when she was having a rough day. I had to tell her: "It doesn't feel easy."

I guess I am just one of those "get stuff done" people. :D

[carolyn_claire]

I never got mine scanned, so I don't know how bad the original injury was, but sometimes my shoulder and arm would burn like fire, and then ice felt heavenly. Ibuprofen was best for the pain (and reduces inflammation) and helped me to get better faster. Now it's frozen and I've lost range of motion, so I'll probably get to a therapist, eventually, and try to deal with that--best not to let that happen in the first place, but I didn't know not using it could lead to not being able to use it. There's a lot of info online about dealing with that kind of injury that I wish I'd looked at right away. Live and learn.

Maybe a travel agent could give you advice about the flight stuff that would help ease your worries? I worry about that kind of thing, too, and was always kind of a mess before I went anywhere, back when I could. The destination will be worth it, though! You'll have a wonderful time.