75 short days to wellness

[Cherryana]

Hello,
I keep starting and re-starting and the last time I did really well was when I had a thread on here. And so I am going to do it again!!

I am … going to post everyday
…going to plan and prepare my meals
… eat whole foods only with the exception of protein powder
….drink two litres of water per day
…..Work out three times a week
……move more every day
…..take a daily picture when I wake up
……I am going to prioritise getting it done imperfectly eg work out in jeans/pj’s if it means it gets it done.

Anyone is welcome to join me!!

I have hip arthritis and so all my work outs are low impact.
I am chronic pain but there is a lot of evidence that weight training now can prolong how long until I will need a replacement.

My day 75 will be Saturday 10 December

Hi
I’ve got arthritis in my hips and pelvis too, and I’d be interested in what workouts you do. I’d love to do yoga but every time it triggers a flare up

I really like your plan. I started eating only whole foods and felt amazing. I just really struggle to organise myself and bad habits crept in. I think I need to join you in meal planning and actually stick to the plan.

On the hip arthritis front, I opted for a total replacement at 39 (3 years ago now). Got to say it's changed my life (currently aiming for to run a 10k at the end of October) but know it isn't for everyone. I still have extremely tight hip flexors though so trying to work on that. I sometimes think my muscles hurt far more than the joint ever did!

Hello @KrankySchwester - My workouts are weight training and pilates is the class I go to. I really recommend pilates - the class I go to is really gentle and slow and really minimises my pain. I will post some of my workouts. Today I am just going to do 30 hip thrusters and 30 press-ups and some abs.

And Hello @KrankySchwester - I would never know that you would be able to run after a hip replacement. 10K is amazing!! I am completely petrified by the whole thing. My consultant said I’ve got one more steroid injection left and then it’s replacement. Thank you for your post - it’s really encouraging!

Day One -
Went quite well.
I did my little exercises
Drank 2 litres
I batch cooked chicken breasts, sweet potatoes for lunch. I made pancakes for breakfast but baked the mix in the oven as if I can make food prep less work I will.

B- Porridge with spoon of yogurt
L - Beef brisket with 1/2 jacket
Snack 1rice cakes and humous
Snack 2 Weight watchers chocolate (errr)
D - Meal replacement protein shake - this was going to be another snack but after I had cooked the chicken and sweet potato I didn’t fancy it.

Tomorrow it will be a proper workout including my hip physio!!

Hi @Cherryana thank you for the info! Would you mind if I joined your daily updates with my own?

b. An actimel drink
l. A ryvita with butter & cheddar
t. Bang bang chicken with peppers, green beans & pasta

exercise - walked the dog
suspect I didn’t drink enough; I have a dreadful Dr Pepper addiction

@KatnissNeverdone @Cherryana Hi both, can I ask a question re: your hips? I have just been diagnosed with hip arthritis at the age of nearly 50. The specialist I saw today said, as replacements don't last forever, it would be best to delay this as long as possible. He also said, after I asked whether, if I decided not to do anything drastic ever and to simply put up with the pain, this would somehow negatively affect the rest of my body: "no-one ever died of arthritis". So I could, in theory, live until 100 years old with my own knackered hip, albeit in some kind of pain. I found that reassuring in a way, I am just not sure whether I can face the thought of never being able to do high impact exercise again, especially running, which I used to really enjoy.... and do I WANT to be in constant low-level pain, if there is another, albeit drastic, way? I guess for now I will wait for the result of today's x-ray. The specialist said the MRI scan is good for checking the soft tissue, but x-ray will give a better idea as to how badly the bones are really affected. Then I will get some physio, I will start taking cod liver oil, and then we take it from there... @KatnissNeverdone Katniss, if you had a replacement at 39, are you expecting to have it "redone" in about 10 years' time? and then again in 10-15 years after that etc?

Sorry, this is a bit of a ramble. I am kind of thinking out loud, this diagnosis has thrown me a bit. Until now I always considered myself quite indestructible, not so much anymore now....

Hello @KrankySchwester so so happy for you to put your daily updates - bang bang chicken sounds good!!

@KatnissNeverdone - you sound in a similar position to me. My consultant kept saying doing nothing about it was an option for me. But the low level constant pain is draining. I also loved high impact exercise and dancing …so far this is a big adjustment and I find it very crushing really.

My consultant was very optimistic about my replacement and thought it was the best thing to do despite my age. I dont think anyone should have to live with debilitating pain and I'd honestly get a second opinion. He's not overly impressed that I've gone back to running but all my x-rays are perfectly fine and show no wear so he's accepted that I've got to think of my mental health overall. If I start having pain then I'll probably reconsider but I'm liking how active I can be.

I have a ceramic joint which is supposed to last longer and have fewer complications than metal on metal, however there's new procedures all the time which give a replacement longevity. It's anticipated that I'll need another couple over my life time but I'm ok with that.

Hello @Cherryana I think the second bit of your message may have been for me. It's the thought of never being able to get properly sweaty from exercise again that is getting me down. I love cardio, I feel so good afterwards. I know there is cycling, but I don't enjoy cycling much. And I know you get sweaty from weight training and low-impact exercises too but I will just really really miss going for a run every now and then. There is nothing like good run that went well to cheer you up... oh well, maybe when I'm 70 and finally do have a new hip....Anyhooo, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, sorry!

@RaisingMissDaisy its interesting for me as well x

Day two
Woke up after a bad nights sleep…but had a lovely day at work.

I drank 1.5 litre and a two cups of herbal tea so maybe I made 2litres.
B - pancake, yogurt, blueberries and nuts
L - chicken, sweet potato, avocado
S- protein shake
D - chicken, quinoa, cabbage (unfortunately/fortunately DH made it - so more chicken!!)
S - Greek yogurt, apple, nuts

Good on the food and water. I could only manage my press ups and hip raises - just too tired after work. My ‘little exercises’ are better than nothing!!

Day two did not go to plan

exercise: walked the dog
ate: way way too much including chocolate. But we were celebrating and so it’s sort of allowed.

I have to say, I’m rather jealous that you all got sent to consultants for your arthritis. I was given pain killers & told to lose weight. No x-rays either. So far I’ve lost 2 stone and it hasn’t made the slightest difference

Hello all, sorry may I ask @KatnissNeverdone one more arthritis question please: after your surgery, how long were you out of action for? a few days in hospital I assume and then, when you were back home, were you totally reliant on others to help you at first? Or could you have managed by yourself? I am asking because I live with my 11 year old daughter only. Would I be ok for the first week at home after the operation as long as she helps me a bit before and after school??

I was in hospital for 2 nights but they made me get out of bed the morning after the op and made sure I could get about with crutches before I was discharged. The first 4-5 days were grim. I was in a lot of pain and couldn't sleep well as I couldn't get comfortable, however I am allergic to opiates so painkillers weren't doing much. I did cope alone though with a downstairs loo and a little trolley thing for carrying food/drinks from the kitchen. I think I was walking without crutches (albeit gingerly) after about 10 days but only in the house, outdoors it was about 4 weeks as I was a bit more unstable on uneven surfaces.

@KatnissNeverdone Thank you!!

@KrankySchwester Happy celebrating!!

Also, there is nothing to be jealous of my end. I had an injury after getting on a horse.

I thought was groin strain at first. Found out what is was after a while - labral tear, met a surgeon who said it was an easy fix.

Had an op.
Been in excruciating pain since. Found out the op to fix the hip had brought on arthritis and now I need a replacement to be out of pain.

All of this has cost me £11k in the past year and I would have been better off financially and health wise not trying to fix the impingement.

I am a bit annoyed as I went to a hip specialist and really he should have sent me for a steroid injection first (I didn’t know this then) but he advised me to go straight for labral tear surgery …I wish I had met my current consultant first.

If anyone can take anything away from my sad story is do not just take one consultants point of view but get a second opinion.

@KatnissNeverdone and @RaisingMissDaisy thanks so much for your experiences and thoughts xx

Day three - when you start counting the days they seem to go so fast!!

B - pancake with yogurt
L - chicken with avocado
S - protein shake
D- 2 slices of veg with some wedges- not quite whole foods but it was small
Water - 1.5 litres

Just my little routine as I went to book club. I can recommend Lessons In Chemistry - we all like it!!

@Cherryana I’m so sorry, that is awful.

day three

exercise - walked the dog
b actimel yogurt
l a ryvita & cheese
t chicken & bacon casserole

no chocolate today

Hello, Day four

I had such a lovely day at work today. However, due to a terrible nights sleep, I pressed snooze too many times and ran out of time to make food.

B- protein shake
L- protein shake
D - sushi and Billtong (random I know)

Water: 1 litre - must do better!!
No formal exercise

I feel very tired 🤞I sleep tonight.

Day five!! Once you start it goes so fast!!

B - oatbran pancake
S - protein shake
D - chicken and chips

Water- 1 litre

So my food, water intake have got worse as I got busier with work and also I didn’t fit proper exercise in. I really need to think about how to change this pattern.

Day 6

Fail of a day. Went away for the weekend.

Totally worth it!!

Day 7

So here I am again…had a okay 5 days and a blow out weekend. Which was very nice at the time but not getting me closer to my goals…. I have batch cooked a lot of chicken and sweet potato. Also I have enquired about this weight training class - so if I go to that - that will be good.

Don’t really know whether to class tomorrow as Day 1 again?!!

Day 8

Feeling very accomplished because I batch cooked lentil Dal, loads of chicken, sweet potatoes and chicken. Made my breakfasts. So no reason not to eat well!!

Also I paid for a 21 fitness challenge and when the guy sends the link I will book myself in.

I can turn this around - where there is life there is hope!!

Did you go to your class as day 1?

sorry I’ve been awol. Eating has mostly been fine. Walking the dog generally every day and I started back on weights yesterday. Just one exercise and only 1.5kg but it’s a start.

Well done @KrankySchwester for keeping your eating well and weights.

I had to book the class through the app that proved hurdle number one - and I am booked on Saturday. So I am going to count Saturday as day one and do 21 days first...hopefully by making it a smaller goal I will actually do it.

I got some GREAT news today about my job and the first thing I did was celebrate by going to costa and then I decided to go for it with a cheddar cheese croque monsieur - which I absolutely love the thought of, although when its over - it is never worth the calories.

Congratulations on your job news! Did you enjoy your treats?
and well done for conquering the gym app.

I had the tiniest of blips today and had a roll with emmental cheese for lunch. Dog walk done & weights. Extra exercise today - trying to hit pesky flies with an electric flyaway thing that looks like a small tennis racket.