[Sparkle]

Yay for all of us for continually trying!!!

It has been at least a month since I posted in here (this feels like confession)

I've had a rough month health-wise; I have chronic cervical spine and lower back pain and when my back gets tweaked it throws up any number of problems that have a crazy domino effect, my alignment gets wonky, nerves get pinched, my gait/stride gets messed up and my body starts compensating in other ways. Its all connected.

I developed trochanteric bursitis in my right hip, which is apparently a common injury/syndrome for new runners and is indicative of not warming up properly (but it sounds like a proper-old-lady disease ). It bloody well hurts when its inflamed. So I've been completely out of my exercise routine and it has been really frustrating. Prior to this - I had run 8 (out of 9) weeks of the C25k programme and was up to running 28minutres at a go. Now I feel as though I'm set back to zero.

Just this week I've been able to get back on to the treadmill to walk at 3.5mph for 30-40minutes. Slowly slowly, start again.

I bought new running shoes that were chosen for my over-pronate gait. And I have a set of stretches to help the inflammation in my hip and a set of warm up stretches that I hope will prevent this from becoming a reoccurring problem.

I've started seeing a chiropractor to try to sort out the alignment and pinched nerve issues. Chiropractic care has always frightened me but I decided to try a doctor who uses the "pro-adjuster" and laser treatments rather than manual manipulation. I've had 4 sessions so far, I'm not sure if its helping or not. I'll report back on that, if anyone is interested, after this course is complete.

I also started seeing a nutritionist because I don't want to put on weight while I slowly get my aerobic routine back on track and because I've realised how little I actually know about food and nutrition.

(I discovered that my health insurance covers both the chiro and the nutritionist care - so I'm taking full advantage of the benefits)

I lost 20lbs between mid-July and mid-October and so far I've managed to maintain my weight in the interim. I'd really like to continue losing weight though so....

As per my nutritionist's advice, I've stopped using Weight Watchers though I am still tracking online (with a free website).

My current nutrition goals are:
*To count calories for everything I consume (which is a bit of a pain)
*To eat at 2-3hour intervals with specific caloric guidelines
9am (200cal), 11am(200cal), 1pm(400cal), 4pm(200cal), 7pm(400cal), 9pm(200cal) - 1600 daily calorie budget while my aerobic activity is low which will be increased as my exercise ramps back up
*To have one high protein item at each meal/snack.

It is really challenging and I'm struggling to get in the routine.
It requires I be really organised and plan meals carefully, I've had varying success this past week because of the holiday and travel.
But I keep trying.

And that's where *I* am at.

Keep keeping on!