Life is NOT a Battle

People are taking up the fitness craze in droves.  But, as it turns out, the mentality of working out to exhaustion every day is super UNhealthy.  To live with the military attitude that life is a battle is not good for your body or your mental well being.  It's all about balance.

So next time you get off your chair, be kind to yourself.  A gentle walk will take you further into a healthy old age than an overkill workout will.

Read here about the militarization of exercise!  Yikes!!!  Bad trend, I say.

Dealing with a Tight Psoas

I have heavy calcification in one of my heels.  It's there because I have always had foot issues, not the least of which is a Haglund's Deformity.  Stiff feet, years of soccer, and that little bit of extra bone means that my achilles is now pretty thickened, stiff and sore much of the time.  So I went to a physiatrist to get it sorted out.  I'm way too young to stop moving!  She prescribed custom orthotics to limit the movement in the foot and the amount of friction from the Haglund's Deformity on the achilles tendon.

The orthotics feel GREAT on my feet, but they've created a new issue.  As my body adjusts to the support on my feet, my psoas muscle is tight, tight, tight.  So I thought this article was quite timely.

Releasing Tension in the Psoas

Look After Your Fascia

My sister introduced me to MELT balls.  They come in various sizes and densities and are used as a self-treatment for chronic pain in feet and hands.  And I think they are making a difference for me!

MELT also produces a body roller to roll out your muscles.  It is softer than many foam rollers on the market - and it, too, makes a difference for me.

Anything that keeps me flexible and pain free is great in my books.  You can learn more about MELT and order their products here.

Look After Your Feet

I have chronic pain in my heel.  It's been with me for 20 years.  Usually it subsides for a while and I get on with exercise.  But this year it isn't going away.  I'm okay with not playing soccer or basketball any more.  Rowing is going well.  But my foot is getting in the way of hiking and even walking!

There are 26 bones in a foot.  And heel pain is common.  This article in Medical News Today is pretty informative.

Rest.  Ice.  Ibuprofen.  I guess that's what I'll keep doing....  Sigh.

Dealing with Injury

There was a day when something like a sore lower back wouldn't stop me.  Maybe it should have!  On Monday I worked out with a much younger rower (I'm 52, she's 15) and was so excited to keep up with her!  We ran, we climbed stairs, we rowed on the rowing machine, we skipped, we did step ups and side step ups.  It felt great.  Building strength and cardio for the upcoming race season.

Then I went to work where I sit for long periods.

At about 9:30 my right side lower back started stiffening up.  By noon, I had to start the process of standing 5 minutes before I was expected to walk anywhere.  I was a mess.

Even 5 years ago, I would have just ignored it and gone to my afternoon workout.  But, wanting to enjoy a healthy second half of my life, I cancelled.  And I cancelled my Tuesday morning workout.  I am glad I did.  What could have been a long, nagging pain-in-the-back is subsiding nicely.

I went for a brisk walk today.  I think I may have finally learned how to look after myself.  And it only took half my life!