~~Aries~~’s BodyBlog

My neck issues have calmed down thankfully on their own. I still have some pain here and there and stiffness, but overall that part is feeling a lot better. However, I was told I have arthritis. How severe and exactly what kind I have I’m not sure. I have to do further testing. All I know is it sucks. I wake up really stiff and have pain in my joints all day long. It really makes it hard to move around and want to work out. However, I won’t let it get me down. I figure the less I move around the more limited motion I’ll eventually have. I can’t really go out and hit the weights hard, but I need to work on strengthening my weak areas, particularily my back, and take less strain off my bones and joints and add it to my muscles. I also need to really strengthen my core. I’m doing yoga to help with flexibility and might add in some pilates too. I’m going to make an appt to try and figure out how bad it is, what kind I have, and start medication to control it. I’ll update when I find more out. Until then, just another day.

My neck issues have calmed down thankfully on their own. I still have some pain here and there and stiffness, but overall that part is feeling a lot better. However, I was told I have arthritis. How severe and exactly what kind I have I’m not sure. I have to do further testing. All I know is it sucks. I wake up really stiff and have pain in my joints all day long. It really makes it hard to move around and want to work out. However, I won’t let it get me down. I figure the less I move around the more limited motion I’ll eventually have. I can’t really go out and hit the weights hard, but I need to work on strengthening my weak areas, particularily my back, and take less strain off my bones and joints and add it to my muscles. I also need to really strengthen my core. I’m doing yoga to help with flexibility and might add in some pilates too. I’m going to make an appt to try and figure out how bad it is, what kind I have, and start medication to control it. I’ll update when I find more out. Until then, just another day.

I’ve been having back issues for over 2 yrs and neck issues since last November at least. Today I finally found out the reason for my pain and weaknesses. It’s a relief to know what is going on even though it’s not the best of news. My training will be put on hold for awhile. I don’t want to take the chance of futher injuring myself. I’ll will just have to try and rely on diet and walking to try and keep my weight in check and maybe, just maybe continue losing body fat. Although at this point that is really my last concern. Just another hurdle to deal with and overcome.

This is what my results say.

[b]There is straightening of the normal cervical lordosis. There is no evidence of fracture or subluxation. There is normal signal in the visualized portions of the spinal cord and brain. The cerebellar tonsils are in the normal anatomic location.

There is congenital central canal stenosis, due to short pedicles. The average AP diameter of the central canals is 11mm. Spodylotic changes (described below) contribute to narrowing.

C2-C3: This level is well preserved.

C3-C4: This level is well preserved.

C4-C5: There is moderate central protrusion. It is slightly eccentric to the left. It indents the anterior aspect of the thecal sac and gives the spinal cord anterior concavity. The AP diameter of the central canal at this level is 8mm. The AP/transverse spinal cord compression ratio is approximately 0.4.

C5-C6: There is a small central protrusion.

C6-C7: There is a relatively small but broad-based central disc protrusion.

C7-T1: This level is well preserved. [/b]

I also have a herniated disc in the lumbar/thoracic region, but she didn’t give me that part of the results.

Not that I understand all of this too much, but basicly the area between my spine and spinal cord is more narrow than the average person. My protruding discs are putting pressure on the nerves which is causing my shoulder and arm pains/weaknesses. That’s the neck part that’s messed up. It’s the worst of all areas. The mid-back region is probably what’s causing my leg/knee pains. I’ve been noticing hip pain and irritation, so it seems like my condition might be worsening. Just got to take it easy and one step at a time.

I’m waiting on an appt to a neurosurgeon for a consultation. My doctor said they might try shots first to see if that helps, but I should be prepared to have surgery cause it’s pretty bad and she doubts anything but surgery will get rid of my pain.

Sometimes it feels like I will never reach my goals no matter how hard I try. I’ve never found it so difficult to lose extra weight ever. I’ve tried different training and diets with not a whole lot of success. I’m stuck. My body doesn’t seem to want to let go of the fat. It’s very frustrating, yet I keep trying. I will not give up. I do lose steam sometimes and slack, but never for long. If I slack too much it makes me feel worse and like a slug. It’s just so frustrating cause no matter how hard I try or don’t try my weight stays constant. Just makes me wonder what I am doing wrong. Could there be something I am missing? A certain piece of the puzzle that I can’t seem to find that would complete everything? I don’t know what it could be, but I won’t stop trying. I can’t stop. I will not accept defeat nor failure. I want to be comfortable in my own skin again. I want to feel beautiful. I won’t quit until I get those feelings back. This plateau has to end sometime right.

I am currently doing another sponsored log for Gaspari, this time on their Thyrotabs. At first I wanted to do it cause I was very interested in the product, but in the last week everything has changed. I’ve gained a new mentality and focus that I haven’t had for a really long time. More than ever I have realized that I can reach my goals. I have been working harder than ever and will continue on that path until my goals are reached. I have been pushing myself harder than ever and it feels fantastic. I’ve gotten more strict with my diet and starting to do more cardio. Right now you wouldn’t catch me dead in a bikini. By the end of July I am hoping to reverse that. I want to not only get into a bikini, but be proud of how I look in one. Not saying I will be perfect, but a hell of a lot better than I am now. I feel with my new attitude, new workouts, and new mentalily that will be a goal not only reached but conquered.

Even though it seems it is taking forever and a day to get back in shape I am doing good. Even though I am not where I want to be I do feel better about myself and that is important. I’ve decided to tell my scales to go to hell cause even though I am not seeing a drastic change in weight loss I am seeing physical changes and results. My thighs are a lot more defined than before. Thank you Elliptical machine   My only real complaint is my stupid stomach. I can see that fat is going to be the last to go sadly. I wish I could get a tummy tuck, not to lose the fat but cause my muscles are stretched from three pregnancise. It’s actually called Diastasis Recti. Even losing weight they’ll never be the same. Really sucks, but what can you do.

Overall though I am looking better than a few months before. As long as I continue doing what I am doing I know I’ll reach my goals. I do want to look better than now for summer, so I am working extra hard.

I’m starting to struggle some because of certain stresses I am dealing with. When I get stressed things tend to downward spiral and it’s hard to get back on track, but this time I refuse to let that happen. Tomorrow is a new day right. I’ve come too far to stop. A slight detour that’s all. What I hate the most though is my ability to maintain weight with no problem, but losing it is so hard. I can pratically eat whatever and still maintain, but I can eat clean and not lose hardly at all. It’ll be a blessing once I am at my goal weight, but getting there is hell. I don’t care how long it takes though, cause one day I will reach my goals. One day at a time.

So, I was lucky enough to get picked by Gaspari Nutrition to test out their new product Cytolean. I was thrilled to say the least. Two days later I got the product. Super fast shipping! I couldn’t wait to start my log and start the Cytolean, so I started today. I am really psyched to see my progress in these next four weeks. I’m really hoping this is the product that helps me slim down along with my keto diet, which I am still going strong at. I feel like I am in a really good place and as long as I continue what I am doing I will reach my goals. I can’t remember being this motivated before. It’s awesome to finally have some direction and to really be taking control of my life and physique. I plan on writing the best log I can, cause since it’s my first it’s either make it or break it and I don’t want to mess up. Like anything else I will not accept failure.

On another note I am down one more lb. Yeah!! I also noticed that I lost half an inch on my thighs. Ginormus plus.  

This is week three of my keto diet and I am still going strong. I have a pretty clean carb up for about 12 hours. I didn’t want to overdo it, so I cut it short. I didn’t really crave carbs as much as in the past, which was awesome. There are only a few things I really miss, but I can handle it and wait to have them on my carb-ups. There were a couple times in week two where I nearly lost it. I had mad cravings and almost succumbed, but I stayed strong. I really want to lose this weight and I refuse to let anything stand in my way, including myself. I haven’t seen a lot of weight loss, initially it was 6 lbs. Week 2 I didn’t see any decrease so I added in cardio and stepped up the intensity a little to see if that helps. I will know if it worked the end of this week when I weigh in. I really hope I lose at least 1 lb. It’s really hard to stay focused and on goal if you don’t see any progress. I’m finally out of that beginner stage where you have little to no energy. My workouts are getting more intense, but I still have a long way to go.

I’ve almost got two weeks in for my Keto diet and all is well. I still have only lost 5 lbs, but have upped the cardio in hopes of speeding weight loss. I had a kick ass work out today. I felt really energized and pushed myself harder than I have yet. I was dripping in sweat and muscles were shaking, so I should have burned some major cals. I had a close call yesterday though, cause I had mad cravings and almost succumbed. I stayed strong though and got past it. I don’t want to mess up now. For the most part Keto isn’t really that hard as long as you give yourself a variety of food to eat. If you eat the same thing everyday, you will fail unless you have a will of steel. I found some awesome keto dessert recipes on the keto forum that have helped keep me sane…lol. I’m a sucker for sweets. I intend to keep up the working out and get stronger and have better endurance as time goes on. If I work out like I did today, that should happen in no time. After so long, I have finally found the motivation and the support to reach my goals. There’s no turning back now.