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January 2007

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

New Years came and went yet again this year. We all make our resolution to work out more, eat better, take our medicine more regularly. This year I couldn’t help but resolve to “stay the course”. Certainly not a-la-Bush, but in my own world, that meant remain active, in good spirits, and always striving to get a little better.

I always thought that my condition was a two-way street. Sure there are certain things I can’t control – like how much my hand can hurt for a week, or my ankle or hip for that matter. But everything else is mine for the deciding. I am the one in control of my feelings, my spirits and my health. Sort of.

In the meantime I can close my eyes and quietly think good thoughts for the year ahead of us. A fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning. 2007 will be the year of magical things. For all of us.

Monday, January 15, 2007

If the arthritis world lived by our Homeland Security terror-threat-color-coding system, I’d have to elevate us to a “code plaid” for arthritis ache and pain level. Assuming for a minute we have a chance to make up our own codes (gone are red-orange-yellow), such as paisley, plaid and striped. I figured it’s more exciting than what’s out there now.

This weekend wasn’t such a good one for the body. I’m the first one to blame the weather – which is the case again – but it could also be due to my less-than-perfect medication schedule. At the time, a pill here, and a pill there, don’t seem like they’ll amount to many problems. But sure as my socks match the arthritis ache and pain level today…those pills stack up to make a difference. And you know about the difference only when it’s too late.

Which is why, come Sunday afternoon, I was at my wit’s end. It would have been easy enough to blame the weather – but I’m really more to blame than I admit. I need to focus more carefully on how much medicine I take, and when I take it. I can’t ignore my body and most importantly, the code plaid this week.

Hopefully things will calm down and I’ll be back at polka-dot. With a little luck.

Monday, January 29, 2007

I have been to the gym 7 times in the last 10 days. That’s right, an all-time record. Though my time spent there isn’t exactly to train for the Olympics. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I have decided that to overcome the barriers-to-exercise (to steal a business school reference) I need to start slowly and not overdo it. So if 25 minutes on a treadmill is all I accomplish, I feel good knowing it’s better than nothing. And the next day it’s 30 minutes. And so on. The idea is to stretch, sweat and stretch, in that order.

And in the spirit of not overdoing it, I’ve been experimenting with Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a really cool form of controlled movement which leaves me feeling great afterwards. The exertion level is just about right and there isn’t any jarring or impact on my joints, so my hips and knees don’t feel abused after 5 minutes. I’m looking into a Tai Chi class at least once a week and in the meantime I’ve been learning some of the basics from my friend, and Tai Chi instructor, Kenny.

For the record, going to the gym doesn’t mean needing someone to spot you lifting 200 pounds. I’m learning this the hard way. Or, technically, the easy way. And it feels great.