Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Biked to gym, 30 minutes on elliptical, did stretches and core exercises. Yesterday and most of today my body has been feeling pretty good, especially my back. It seems like the 3 hours of yardwork on Saturday actually helped things.

I had scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor this evening. Some people call them "quacks", but at least they don't stick drugs in me every chance they get. Personally, I appreciate their methodology. I spent a couple hours over there doing an array of tests and interviews, followed by a short adjustment. I've seen chiropractors before, so I realize it takes time. I walked in there feeling pretty good and left probably feeling a little worse. What I like about this guy, though, is that he's very wholistic. He specializes in sports injuries, and seemed a lot more robust in his treatment options (and energy level) than the previous chiropractor I had seen. He treated not just my back and neck, but also my foot and knees. I've expessed interest in getting my foot taped, something that my PT or podiatrist have never offered, but the chiropractor will do it next visit. I also like how chiropractors are into natural healing. I think I may get off of ibuprofin (been taking it way too long -- scary) and try an oral enzyme he's recommended. Also, he's brought to mind making some life changes, such as attempting to drink more water and changing my diet to include for whole and natural foods. I know Sasha will vouch for this. While I don't think I'll go vegan and eat buckwheat everyday, I can surely benefit to cut out red meat and Twizzlers, and try to eat more organic fruits and vegetables.

Anyway, by the end the evening I was actually starting to hurt a little bit, particularly my SI joint. I decided to go to bed sans ibuprofin and see how I feel in the morning.

No running. No nothing. My whole body hurts like never before. I took me about an hour just to muster the nerve to get out of bed, and once I was up I felt like an 80-year-old man. It's everything too: my foot, my knee, my lower back, and also a groin strain I've been nursing recently has really flared up this morning. Is this what happens when I don't take ibuprofin? I've read that ibuprofin can actually inhibit healing...maybe it's true, I don't feel very healed right now. The chiropractic visit definitely had negative short-term effects...I'm banking on long-term though. I'm scheduled to see the chiropractor again tomorrow, and will lay low, stretch, and hope that things loosen up over the course of the day.

No running. To recap the last two days: pain and soreness. Although I was feeling much better Wednesday morning, my evening visit to the chiropractor changed that in a hurry. All Thursday I was sore to the point of distraction; I even ended up leaving work early because of it. It doesn't help that I'm try to ween off Ibuprofin, and have started taking an oral enzyme called Wobenzym N (doesn't seem to have the immediate effects of ibuprofin). I eventually caved and took a small dose of Ibuprofin Thurs night, which helped immediately and aided me in getting good night sleep. Today I'm feeling quite a bit better (as I hoped), although still have a ways to go. Needless to say, I haven't been inspired to do any cardio work over the last few days, and I've been constrained mostly to stretching. My range of motion is poor, and just putting on my shoes and socks is an ordeal.

The chiropractor taped my foot (and showed me how to on my own) during my visit on Wednesday. I was amazed on how well it works, and will continue with the taping.

No running. Went to gym in morning and did 20 minutes easy on elliptical.

Although my back and neck are slowing recovering, they still have a ways to go before I can run on it, or live life comfortably, for that matter. Right now running is not so much a priority as living a pain-free existence. I see the chiropractor again Wednesday; hopefully he will be gentle.

However, the good news: 1) my knee seems very close to 100%, if not there already; 2) my foot is responding well to taping, so the battle against PF is going well; 3) I weighed in at a touch over 135 this morning, which means I'm getting very close to my weight goal...without much cardio activity to speak of. This signifies to me that my body responds better to pure dieting than to pure exercise w/o proper dieting. Ideally, someday I may have both.