Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dieting, Exercise and Headaches

Like most Americans, I made a resolution to lose weight this year.
I have always counted myself in pretty good health, and have never really had a need to go to the doctor, unless it was for my pinched nerve in my neck or an occasional sinus infection. So, when I started having problems with headaches late last year, I just popped a couple of Excedrin Migraine pills and kept on with my day. For the most part, the headaches would go away for a while.
That is, until January 1, 2010. Since then, I have not had a day that has not been marred by the presence of a headache. As a result, my determination to go to the gym every day kind of got shot. First was the simple fact that I did not want to go on days were I felt like total crud, then I went to my general practitioner and he prescribed something that "should reduce the headaches." Well, not only did the medication not reduce them, they left me in a state of perpetual fog, wanting to do nothing but sleep until the last possible minute.
Then people started offering suggestions: "It's your eyes." So I went to 2 ophthalmologists, both of whom advised that the headaches were not caused by eye strain. "It's got to be something to do with your brain." So I went a got an MRI and consulted a neurologist; only to find out the only thing that is in my head (other than a small amount of brain) was a small cyst in one of my sinuses, and both the neurologist and one of the ophthalmologists who actually specializes in headaches assured me that the cyst would not cause the headaches. "Go to a chiropractor." I have been five times since receiving this suggestion, and the headaches remain.
I took myself off all of my medication about 2 weeks ago, mainly because they were not doing what they were supposed to, and secondly the general practioner that I started the year with prescribed me another medication that I have not gotten filled mainly because of how leary I am of returning to the fog, and since I have stopped taking the medication, I have been to the gym 5 times, each time burning at least 800 calories on stationary cycle.
As of today, I am down 6.4 pounds for the year, and despite having a dull throb in my head, am determined to workout at least two or three times a week (depending on how many times a week I have chiropractor's appointments).
That is where you, my readers, come in. I need a accountability system. I have one on a website that I recommend heartily for anyone trying to get into better shape: Myfitnesspal.com. One of my friends recommended the site to me last year during my what has become up till now annual attempts to lose weight. But I am tired of losing a few pounds, beginning to feel better, and stopping watching what I am eating or working out or both, only to have what I have lost come back, and usually bring along a few friends! So, the more accountability, the better I say.
The weight is coming off and staying off, this year! It is my determination that 2010 is the year that the weight comes off and with the exception of a pound or two, the weight is going to stay off, or if anything will come back in the form of muscle. So, in this the Various Meanderings of a Madman, on March 8, 2010, I am putting my flag in the sand and taking back my body. It will no longer belong to fat, or bad eating habits.


My only question now is: Who's coming with me?





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Until we meet again, remember, two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left.