THR Gizmo home again

[DallasSarah]

Yeah congratulations that's great on the weight loss!!

I'm laughing between you and Haldox I'm a nutcase on chocolate the other day in the check-out line they had a big bucket of cream eggs I almost grabbed one, but naaaaaaaaa! I'm sitting between 19-20lbs loss this end. I'm finding the day time is easy it's around 9pm I get hungry or really crave comfy food like cereal etc, luckily don't have any of that here a home. I'm wickedly focused which makes me happy! I feel better walking with Miles too more energy.

Love your weight loss it's a great motivator to keep going, it feels better when the weight comes off doesn't it....I feel with or recoveries as long as we are going in the right direction forward then all is good!

Have a good week!

xxooxx

 

[dianemarie]

Great job on the weight loss! It should help with recovery, I know it helped me and you are inspiring me to get going again, especially with spring right around the corner.

 

[gizmo]

Hi all,
Dorothy- the bottom of that esculator is where I should have stayed. Getting that feeling of YIPES what have I done and exactly how am I going to get off-when you are half way up is no fun. In this case I cant say the actuality was worse than the fear either. I was just lucky my stumble didn't turn to a fall. Esculators can wait a while I'll find the lifts.(I do feel a bit claustrophobic in lifts and expect them to stop and leave me stuck- so I'm hoping this is just for now.)

Dianemarie-yes I do think the weight loss will be so beneficial to my hip. It will also be an emotional boost and energy zap. Great all around really. I think first week is supposed to be easier in some ways with fluid loss so this week will prove interesting. 2-3 Lbs and I'll be happy. Let me know how you get on.

Sarah- your weight loss is very impressive. It helps me to believe that it can be done- so thankyou. Sucess brings sucess- thats probably how come you managed to walk past all those cream eggs. My cream egg is bought already and is waiting for me. Waiting -and I am being good. weekends I am more flexible as my husband cooks and we are all together for meals and it is just harder to cut back then. My weekend ploy is mainly to cut out puddings and biscuits but not to worry too much concerning portion size. Now I will be back to being more focussed for a couple of days until weigh in. My husband thinks I am paying for something I could do myself. (ie get on the scales) but I am finding that it is different in my head to have that extra motivation. He is happy to admit it will be worth it if it works though.

Have a good week everyone
Gizmo

 

[Poppet]

Hi all.....

The chilli chocolate fiend from down under is back..

Now I am so confused with all the talk of weight loss - does this mean I have to give it up :(

Hi gizmo, you are doing fantastically - well done

Big hugs xxxx

 

[gizmo]

Hi Sandy,
How are you? I hear (by the bs grapevine) that you haven't been very well. I am hoping that the fact you are up and posting again means you are feeling better. Here is a long distanceand I hope you feel up tosoon. Don't worry about giving up on the chocolate yet- the time has to be right. It is such a thing to do at the best of times for chocoholics. I sucumbed to 2 squares yesterday myself. Without my looming weigh in though it would have been more. For me, now is the right time to tackle the weight, having said that I think the motivation of going to a group has underlined and strengthened my resolve. (or so I must keep telling myself).

I went to the beach with friends yesterday. It was just a short walk. I left my cane in the car. So albeit quite short I think I can call it my first official walk without a cane.:hapydancsmil: It was a lot of work though. I can feel my muscles really making a tremendous effort. At hydro on Monday I was working on my IT band in the water. I think it is very weak. It has been giving me problems for years. I think I need some hands on physio for it. I will try and organise that for next week. Having my friends to walk with was a real boost as it could help keep my mind off my gait a bit. When I walk on my own I find I am constantly focusing on my gait and my muscles, even when I try not to. This doesn't help it to return to a natural process. I love the beach and find it emotionally theraputic.
All the best to everyone
Gizmo

 

[tashia]

Gizmo, walking with friends is great and also get you out. Sandy you are sweet just the way you are. all this talk about the ocean makes me want to go there its been so long since I have been there. Sandy you don't need to read this but I have also dropped weight. I started losing when my knee needed to be fixed. I have put a little back on and I need to get it off again. Gizmo,take care and remember every day puts us closer to full recover. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[dianemarie]

Gizmo,

Good for you...and yes so therapeutic, wish I was near a beach and having friends to walk with is also excellent. Know what you mean about over thinking the gait and walking. It will come, just takes time, patience, more time and more patience...

 

[C Mac]

When I walk on my own I find I am constantly focusing on my gait and my muscles, even when I try not to. This doesn't help it to return to a natural process.

Hi Gizmo,

I do the same thing!!! I've had a couple of people, including the OS, tell me not to "overthink" it and they just have absolutely no understanding of what my experience is. When your postural alignment is completely changed and you have pain in some areas and weakness is others you are grossly aware that your gait is not at all smooth and flowing -- every joint in your body is sending a message to your brain about it too!!

I think that in time either our movement will improve or our bodies will adjust to this change -- Meanwhile, I think your walk on the beach sounds lovely & without your cane is just great!! I bet the sand is good for working your muscles too.

Take care,
Cardie

 

[gizmo]

Hi Cardie,
I have been told that I really should still be walking with my cane as It will be too easy to get into a habit of walking incorrectly. I can see the logic behind this and mostly will be good. However there are times when I think going without can actually help as its easier to forget for a moment (particuliarly if there is a distraction- like a friend to talk to) ; and in that moment when we forget (however fleetingly) I do feel the brains messaging system gets a boost and can move us towards a more natural gait. Its really hard to forget when I am walking with the cane and even most of the time when I am without cane. This is just a personal theory, it would be interesting to hear your take on it as you are having similiar difficulties. I overthink generally so it is a trait of mine and I would be unable to overcome it purely by being told to do so. Probably mostly I should follow advice and use the cane but I think sometimes I should try without and hope for a few brain bursts in the right direction. You are soooo right about TIME being a factor. Do you ever feel that your muscles are working in opposite ways to each other and the messages they are receiving are all muddled up. Sometimes I will be trying to do an exercise and I am aware of a whole load of internal messaging going on- but it's like the resultant factor is all the messages are cancelled out and nothing happens. Not sure if this actually makes any sense. It might not.
All the best
Gizmo

 

[C Mac]

Hi Gizmo,

I agree with you that it's important to experiment without the cane too -- otherwise how can you tell what is improving and getting stronger and what still needs to be worked on? As you get further out from the surgery it's more about strengthening various muscles and not so much about supporting yourself while healing like it was early on.

I heard that "habit of walking incorrectly" statement too right in the beginning and it stuck in my brain and made me afraid to come off the cane at my OS follow-up since I knew I wasn't walking normally yet. My walking improved since that appointment with the progression of time & continued healing of my body and some exercises, stretching & napping. I did also have periods of time when I went back on the cane to support myself when my body was tired or weak -- it's really not an exact science, much of it becomes based on how you are feeling & moving.

Yes, sometimes I can feel scrambled when stretching as well. We are asking our bodies to try new movements that we haven't done with much or any frequency before our surgery. I often find that if I do a stretching movement on my good side first then when I do it on my other side I know what to expect but may experience the stretch to a lesser degree. I also do my stretching in a quiet room -- no tv, no radio, no people talking to me or others. I have to keep my brain on the task in order to keep my body doing things in the proper form or sequence. If I can't figure out what to do next or what I am doing I lay still with my arms and legs stretched out on the mat until I come up with the next stretch I want to try -- take your time, take time to breath and just lay still. Sometimes I just lay on the mat with a towel rolled up under my spine to help stretch my back, close my eyes and rest for 10 or 15 minutes and get up and decide that's all for now... :wink1:

Are your "internal messages" body messages (joint or muscle sensations) or self-talk messages? Sometimes body messages can be helped if you can see yourself doing the stretch in a mirror or look at your body part when you are trying to move it, or put your hand on your leg when you are stretching it -- cues for how you are moving your body thru space.

I don't know if this is at all helpful or related to what you are experiencing, but remember that you are still adjusting to your new hip and the physical changes that it has created in your body. I encourage you to also listen to your intuition too....
Take care,
Cardie

 

[Poppet]

Hi gizmo

Just catching up with you (October Fiestie

I have read completely through your thread, but can relate to the mind and body messaging...

Sometimes at night if I have been sitting in the chair to long watching tv and I try to get up, my brain won't tell my legs/feet which one to move first...

It is quite funny because hubby gets up, holds my hands and says... left, right, left right... and then it kicks in.. quite a joke in our house now

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Gizmo...

Checking in to see how your slimmers group meetings are going and how are you doing with eating? I thought of you again yesterday in the store, I'm such a maniac with chocolate, ice cream and all the fun stuff, I almost thought to myself I could have a treat, it would have been perfect especially because it was a cold rainy day here making the day great for lazy TV, but naaaaaaaaaa I'm loving eating really well and now can tell such a difference. Once you get use to the smaller portion sizes and less carbs, sugars etc it does feel better.

Love your beach walks, wish I was closer to a beach!

On the cane conversation, I'm completely cane free now. My very first morning walk with Miles is probably the only time I feel a little stiff...I just walk it out and dont think about.

Hope you had a good weekend and getting ready for a nice week!

xxooxx

 

[gizmo]

Hi ,
Feeling sad a door opened accidently into my operated leg last week and it has been really painful this weekend. There is scar tissue there anyway but it does seem more swollen and really tender by my hip. I hope its going to be ok and not done anything that will put me back too far. I do feel in a bit of a panic about it. I will phone the GP tomorrow.Wish me luck.

Sandy -your hubby sounds very supportive. Just what the doctor ordered!!

Sarah-Well done on resisting temptation. I lost 3Lbs last weekbut did sucumb to a Chinese take-away last night. I will need to be good now until my weigh in to make up for it- but it was delicious.

 

[Jamie]

Gizmo....I'm sure you'll be okay. A lot of have these "bumps" and "bonks" during recovery and they usually just amount to a bit of extra soreness for a few days or weeks. Nothing that should really set you back noticeably.

 

[DallasSarah]

Ohhh Gizmo,

The door thing sounds horrible, sorry its hurting! Hopefully its a tender bruised thing and will heal quickly.

CONGRATS on the weight, I think its ok to eat yummy food once a week or here and there, just watch for next few days plus drinking lots of water always helps its like it flushes everything out )

Rest up and have a good Monday!!

xxooxx

 

[gizmo]

Hi,
Good description Sarah "tender bruised thing"- just about sums up the doctors response too. So thankyou to you and Jacey for the reassurances. So I guess I will have to get back onto painkillers and resting up for a few days. Gets me out of hoovering Unfortunately I think I need to give the pool a miss this week so that is sad.
Sarah- have you made it to the pool yet?
Bye for now
Gizmo

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Gizmo,

Glad it wasnt that major, NOT taking away from the pain you have experienced promise, just hopefully it will heals up quickly now!

No pool yet, Im procrastinating on that one. I'm doing PT and walking Miles daily so feel very good, strong etc!

Hope your week is going well

xxooxx

 

[gizmo]

Sarah- Miles is so cute- love the picture. You sound as if you are doing wonderfully well with your recovery. I have used swimming to help with pain and stiffness for years - until I was no longer able to even swim, so for me getting back to the water is great. I think we all have our own paths to recovery. Miles seems to be a significant part of yours which is lovely. My cat occasionally will walk with me but what I have noticed since my op is that he comes and snuggles on my bed at night as if sensing that his company might help. I have my own room as I am so restless and need to be able to read and get up at strange times- although less so now than previously. The cat doesn't seem to mind if the light is suddenly turned at least he doesn't say he does! Animals are amazing really:cat-kittyandsmiley:::doggieshmooze:
Hope its a good week
Gizmo

 

[tashia]

Gizmo, I just came by to say how you are you doing. Sorry about the door, I hope you are ok. I fell and I really panic so I know what you mean. I love seeing all the pictures of the dogs and cats. They are so cute and do lift my mood. Do take care and stay safe. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[tashia]

Gizmo, I just drop by to see how you are doing? By now I hope the hip is all well and ready to go. Please keep posting so we know all is well. Remember every day puts up one day closer to full recover. :doggieshmooze:Tashia