A Bump in the Road

Well, I have hit a small snag, or a bump in the road, on my goal for continuing exercise. Beginning last Friday, to at least next Monday, I am unable to complete any exercise. After much pressure from Jackie, I finally got a small bump that I had on my chest examined by a doctor. It was determined that I had a subcutaneous cyst, that it fairly deep as these things go I guess, and I should have it removed; and they happened to have an appointment to do so the next day. So on Friday I go to the doctor's office and in a forty-five minute procedure, they make an incision in the center of my chest, remove the cyst (about an inch deep, kind of egg shaped), and put in some stitches. Then I'm told I can have no strenuous activity for at least ten days, particularly no stretching of the chest, and that I must always keep it dry. Combined, these restrictions essentially eliminates any real exercise. I can do some light walking as long as I am careful.

I already feel the difference in my routine, and as difficult and painful as my forty-five minutes on the treadmill is each morning, I somewhat miss it, just to have the continuing feeling that I am working hard and making progress. It was a tad bit more frustrating to halt the exercise after seeing some very nice numbers on the scale; but I guess those are the breaks. (Quick digression - I also can't mow the yard, and that is driving me crazy...its going to be jungle like by the time I can get to it next week, hopefully).

Due to this, I thought, in order to try and keep my goals at the forefront of my mind, and not having the daily reminder I so value in the treadmill, I would try to focus more on my eating habits. I have made substantial progress from where I was four months ago; I am much more conscientious both of what I am eating and how much I am eating. And I have no doubt that it has helped my progress; but I also have no doubt that I have been far from consistent, and to truly achieve the lifestyle I want, there is still much, much progress to make to my diet. So, I hope to use the next ten days as an opportunity to truly be scrutinizing over my diet, make good choices each day, and for each meal, in the hopes that I continue to remind myself each day of the goals I wish to reach, and with the ideal of combining the even more improved eating habits with daily, strenuous exercise again sometime next week.

Until then, its a lot of obsessing over smaller meals, and growing grass.