The one major downside to being semi-retired is that I gained weight due to being less active. I didn’t realize how many calories are burned just getting ready for work, walking over to the cable car, taking the cable car, doing things in and around the office, then taking the cable car back home.
I’ve always gone through gym phases off and on, mostly on. In previous years, I only burned maybe 200-300 calories whenever I went to the gym, but that was augmented by a series of exercises at home. That and working was enough to keep my weight under control, no matter what I ate. Whenever a vacation was coming up which required me to be in a bikini, I’d work out a little harder.
Sometime at the end of January, I injured my right shoulder, however. I believe it started when I was painting the bathroom. Being only 5′ tall requires me to over-extend my arms on a daily basis for nearly everything – reaching things in cabinets, reaching things in the grocery store, holding on to those “rungs” on the bus, trying to put my carry-on into the overhead bins, etc., etc. I was obviously over-extending my arms to paint, even with extension handles on the paint brushes. At some point in February, I realized that I could barely raise my right arm and couldn’t put it behind my back at all. What made it worse was not being able to sleep on my right side, as that’s how I normally begin every sleep session. I didn’t do anything about it for a month, thinking it would heal itself. I skipped the gym several nights and quit using the rowing machine, for fear that it would further injure my shoulder. Believe it or not, it did NOT get better. I then panicked. I scheduled a massage, started using an herbal heating pad, followed by an ice pack, followed by slathering my right arm/shoulder in Bokashi oil and Vicks. Also, because my right arm was becoming (to me) noticeably flabbier from non-use, I eased into using the rowing machine again. Well, kids, I should have been using the rowing machine the entire time! Once I started using it again, albeit at a much lower resistance than the maximum that I usually use, my arm/shoulder seemed to be easier to move around. My shoulder is definitely less painful and I can raise my arm a little higher, but still can’t put it behind my back. The masseuse had recommended trying CBD oil, as it had helped him when he had a shoulder injury. I promptly ordered CBD oil and applied it topically for several nights in a row. It didn’t seem to have an effect on my shoulder at all. I thought about taking it orally, as is also suggested, but that’s supposed to relieve pain. The pain isn’t so bad any more; it’s the lack of mobility (as far as not being able to put it behind my back). If this continues forever, I might even consider acupuncture, though needles scare the heck out of me.
In the meantime, my next major trip is less than two weeks away. I’ve been working out like a DOG! I’ve been at the gym for 90 to 100 minutes, burning 600-700+ calories AND doing a few exercises at home. Of course, I’m only doing cardio at the gym, including the rowing machine, because I can’t use any of those machines where I have to lift weights using the right arm and shoulder. That’s still too stressful on it. As stated before, my arm and shoulder are better. My legs, on the other hand, want to give up. They’ve had it, though I keep forcing them on! It’s paying off with the weight loss, but I can barely walk the two blocks from the gym to my apartment after my work out. What’s worse is knowing that, even with the weight loss, I won’t be able to fully work out for the 17 days that I’m gone on vacation. Not only do none of the hotels have a gym, but it’s going to be very humid. I’ll do the exercises I do at home, sans my hula hoop. I WILL take my jump rope on vacation, though. Hopefully, the people below me won’t think there’s an elephant upstairs and complain!