A few weeks ago I began walking five times a week for thirty minutes each time. Walking is something I do around my house all day every day so you wouldn't think it'd be that bad, right? But there was one point about two weeks ago when I had made it about 1/2 a block from my house and was literally in tears because I was already winded, my foot was hurting, and my hips/lower back were tightening up (yes fitness gurus, I did stretch first).
I cried because I was embarrassed and I cried out of frustration. But I kept walking. My foot was sore, my hip was sore, I had to stop a few times and twist my torso in strange ways to prevent my back from cramping. I looked like the crazy fat lady walking down the busiest street in our neighborhood all sweaty and teary, but I make myself keep going. When I got home I felt a slight sense of accomplishment for pushing through the pain.
Then the next day my body reminded me that I am a complete idiot. I could not walk without stabbing pain in my hip. My foot was so sore that even when it was elevated, I could feel my heart beat as it throbbed. I haven't been able to walk effectively since.
I have plantar fasciitis (inflammation of a ligament in the bottom of your foot). My hip is sore partially from the overcompensation in my walk due to the plantar fasciitis and partially because my pelvis is misaligned from carrying a 13 pound baby boy in my womb for nine months (yes, my Micah was born at 13 pounds even). The misaligned pelvis causes back and neck pain and the cycle goes round and round.
Know what can fix all of this? Losing weight. Know how you lose weight? By exercising and eating right. And therein lies the problem.
So I am done with trying this and that to fix things. I am enough of a barrier to myself when it comes to weight loss, I don't need more excuses. Today I made an appointment with my primary care doctor to follow up with some general health concerns. I made an appointment with a chiropractor to get me back in line. I made an appointment with a podiatrist to get a cortisone shot for my foot and a prescription for some old lady shoe inserts. In the next few weeks I plan on sitting down with a good friend who is also a dietitian to get some professional advice and tips.
I do understand that at times, soreness is just a given. But if you have legitimate medical issues, take care of them before you do more damage. Being a healthy person means more than just losing weight. I am trying to learn to look at the big picture.
Hopefully these things will get done and make things just a little bit better. I really don't want the neighborhood kids to run inside when they seem me coming up their street.