Back from Injury

Last Sunday I blew up a blister on the back of my heal and I knew that would slow me down.  How much I didn't know but at least some.

Monday came and it was apparent that wearing my wingtip shoes to work, simply to tight on the raw skin of my heel, even with a bandage.  So I switched to more of a Dockers style of shoe.  It only hurt 50% of the time, whenever I took a step with my good foot it didn't hurt.  And of course several people are telling me I should go to the doctor, including my wife who has become my home health care practitioner, pouring hydrogen peroxide here and applying liquid bandage there.  Needless to say no walking.

Tuesday I wake up to a developing cankle, ok I have had this before and I know this isn't good and of course being male I convince myself that I am invincible and there is nothing wrong with it.  But that night my wife makes comments about the lovely colors its turning and she finally gets thru to me and I make a doctor appointment on Wednesday.

Now my doctor is a really good guy who has tried over the years to get me to change bad habits, but I don't make it easy on him.  When I quit smoking he suggested a cholesterol test, now I didn't fast like your supposed to and a few weeks later he is calling me with the results, cursing.  I am lower than him and he is a avid runner.  My blood sugar level is very low and I have an above average resting heart rate.  In fact he has declared me one of the healthiest big guys he has met.

So he sees me and first looks at the chart and comments about my weight and blood pressure looking much better, and then asks me if the reason I was there was to see him for an injury due to me trying to get healthy.  When I said yes the poor doc nearly fell out of the chair.

The good news was he didn't think it was infected , but could not rule it out.  So I get to go on antibiotics.  Better news is he gives me a few tips to help prevent the blistering in the future, and tells me I can start walking again once it scabs over well.

Friday morning I new it was scabbed over, so I was good to go.  Saturday my wife helps me put a piece of gauze to the injury and applies duct tape to it.  It hurts a little but nothing I can't take and nothing causing reblistering.  We head to Janesville to take a city streets walk there, with the exception of about 1 mile when we are on a paved portion of the Ice Age Trail, they even have a sign on the trail showing 776 miles to Interstate Park (the drive seems less than that).  This is a nice easy walk with just one hill and it felt great to be out walking again, and a 10K none the less.

Sunday we were back at it, this time for the Jingle Bell run/walk and the Milwaukee County Zoo.  This was only a 5K but it was with a group that my wife's employee sponsored, so I knew one or two others on the trail.  The best part of this walk was when we passed the Brown Bear exhibit two bears were playing.  Or at least I hope it was playing, if not they were having a fight.  But it was fun to stop a moment and watch.

It felt good to be back out walking, and after a week off I was worried about my weight but when we weighed in on Saturday and did measurements I was happy, nice losses in both areas.

This weekend over 20K steps for a total of 287712 steps since starting and 158 miles walked.  I have reached a point where I can see a change in myself, not mentally either, the body is starting to change in a positive way.  Exercise and better eating is starting to pay off.