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Day 313: Exercise - the Best Medicine!

 "Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save and preserve it".
-Plato



 Today started out very weird.


I woke up with less pain than usual, but I didn't get up early enough to go through my normal routine. Because I had a 10:30 doctor's appointment. This gave me pause. Did I really want to waste my time explaining my pain, when I was not experiencing it this morning?

I became very indecisive. And my heart started thudding. I just wanted to stay home and go through my usual morning routine.  I felt paralyzed.

That in itself made me get moving. I do not want to get stuck! Change is good!

But I had an odd feeling.

When I had scheduled the appointment, I was told the previous doctor I had seen was no longer there. I had felt really comfortable with him. I just didn't know if I had the energy to break in someone new. Especially since I was feeling so much better.


Maybe it was the magnesium that eased my pain? Or maybe this is my own weird personality. I have the reverse of "white coat syndrome". I usually feel really good when I go to the doctor. But I did not want to meet a new doctor if I did not really have a valid complaint.  I think I was worried about what he would think of me. How silly is that?

Anyway, I ignored my inner weirdness and ate a quick breakfast and went to the doctor.

The medical assistant took my pulse and blood pressure. It was so high! I think it was 153 over 88.  I had been chattering while she took it, so I mentioned it looked really high. She smiled and told me some people get nervous coming to the doctor. I did not tell her that I enjoy doctor visits. I just closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. The second reading was much better, but not my usual low BP.  She had me step on the scale. It read 192! Grrrr!!

Then the doctor came in and introduced himself. I shook his hand. He was older, and did not have the friendly, compassionate demeanor of the previous doctor I liked.  But he was very professional. More authoritarian. Like a Dr. Trump. lol

He sat down, got out his clipboard and asked me what brought me in.

We had a discussion about my pain. He focused on my elbow, which as I mentioned did not hurt today.  I also mentioned my anxiety. He asked if I wanted to try meds. I told him probably not.  He seemed to not get me. Or just think I was batty.  Finally we got on solid ground when I told him about my resolve to improve my life. I told him I exercised everyday and was improving my eating habits. I told him I was frustrated because I had been weight training, but since my elbow had started aching, I had stopped because I was worried about injuring since I was a pianist.

When I mentioned weight training, he jumped up and told his assistant, "She is not my usual patient!" He raced out of the room. I looked at her, puzzled.

She smiled and said, "Well you put me to shame. I do not exercise at all! Too busy with work and my baby".

Just then, the doctor came back in and handed me two sheets of paper.  We discussed my workouts.  He said I should focus on cardio. I told him I walked everyday. He said to increase the intensity, not necessarily the distance of my walks.  And add upper body strength training. The first sheet showed the three weightlifting exercises he recommends: bench press, lat pull down and shoulder press.  I told him those were my favorites!

He asked how I trained. I told him back and biceps one day, chest and triceps another and legs on the third day. With walking and yoga everyday.  When I lift weights, I do like a circuit training. 1 set of 10 reps. Repeat. He said I only need to do one set of 10 reps, but to try slowly increasing the weights. We had a very nice conversation.

We did not discuss my eating or my possible fibromyalgia. He did say my anxious episodes sounded like panic attacks. He said I could try Paxil.  I told him I would prefer no meds.

He nodded and told me to keep up the good work. That I was doing "all the right things".

So, I am ok. I got good advice from this doctor. But I feel I am on the right path. I think I will continue to work on my mental, physical and spiritual health as I have been for the past 313 days.  No meds.  But I am going to increase my workouts. The second sheet of paper he gave me said:

Exercise Facts
Benefits
  1. Lose weight
  2. Prevent or lower diabetes
  3. Lower blood pressure
  4. Lower high cholesterol
  5. Reduce stress levels, depression and anxiety (it works better than most medicine)
  6. Makes bones stronger 
  7. Helps prevent heart attacks and stroke
How do I know if I am doing the right amount of exercise?
  1. If it hurts a lot it is too much.
  2. If it hurts a little it might be ok
  3. If you do not hurt worse the next day, then the level is fine.
  4. You may have to endure some pain to get better.



Luckily, my psalm of the day is absolutely lovely and is bringing me some inner peace.  I do not have any students today since the music center is closed for spring break. But I do have a chamber music rehearsal. We have another concert tomorrow.  I practiced a bit just now and I am feeling very calm.  I will do my bible study after rehearsal. For now, here is Psalm 8. I learned something new. A "gittith" was perhaps an ancient musical instrument. 

 Psalm 8
 For the leader; “upon the gittith.”* A psalm of David.
 O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
I will sing of your majesty above the heavens
with the mouths of babes and infants.
You have established a bulwark* against your foes,
to silence enemy and avenger.
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place—
What is man that you are mindful of him
and a son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
put all things at his feet:
All sheep and oxen,
even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!



Note: The word Gittish signifies belonging to Gath. It probably denotes either a musical instrument or a kind of music derived from Gath, where David sojourned for a time during the persecution of Saul, 1 Samuel 27:1-7. The word Gath also signifies in Hebrew a winepress. Hence not a few have supposed that it denotes either an instrument or a melody used in the vintage. It is prefixed to Psalm 8:1-9; 81:1- 16; 84:1-12, all of which requires an animated strain of music.
https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/ats/view.cgi?n=890

After my doctor appointment, I really wanted to find a cafe and sit and eat and read and contemplate. But I was kind of fired up. I went straight to the gym and worked out.  I did the exercises for my upper body that my doctor suggested. And 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Then I went home and made lunch.

I had a good rehearsal with my chamber group afterwards.  The music began doing some magic on my weird mood.

I am feeling better.

I really do need to stick with the exercise!

Happy Friday!

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