The benefits of aging

I have been on Medicare for more than a year now. My supplemental plan includes lots of benefits Medicare doesn't, many of which are preventive. My gym membership is free, which is pretty cool, and I found out late last year that I'd signed up for a rewards program that I promptly forgot about.

By the end of the year, I had enough reward points – even though I'd done very little to earn them – to "buy" a pedometer. The only reason I got it was to earn more points. I've had a FitBit that tracks my steps for a couple years now.

At the rate I'm earning points this year, I can "buy" a new FitBit – I have the clip-on kind and I've been wanting a bracelet – by the end of February.

I'm on it, doggone it! It's very motivating to me work for a little goal like this. Not so little, really. The retail price of the FitBit I want is $150. I wouldn't spend that much money on a device that duplicates something I already have that works. But I would definitely spend points on it.

Of course, there are disadvantages of aging, as well. Body parts wear out (and you don't have to be really old for that to happen, I realize that). I'm going to the dentist again today for the first step in replacing four teeth, one of which I think I could pull with absolutely no problem. Before the extractions happen, I have to have major scaling and planing (deep cleaning) on the remaining teeth which will eventually support the new partial denture.

Today is day 3 of the Whole 30. Yesterday's meals were on plan. Intentional activities also went well. Because of the dentist appointment this afternoon, I have to be super organized this morning in order to:

• Get dinner in the slow cooker
• Do a load of laundry
• Clean the floors
• Walk on the treadmill

I guess if I'm going to be on-it-doggone-it for today, I'd better get busy.

Don't forget to be kind. Today and always.

Feeling the burn

Spring has sprung here in southern West Virginia, and as my mobility increases following my hip surgery, all I wanna do is have some fun be outside.

My energy level and stamina are still an issue, and will be for a while – or so I've been told – so I'm giving myself permission to do as much as I'm comfortable doing and then collapse at the end of the day.

Yesterday, for example, temperatures were in the upper 70s. A slight breeze was blowing. My husband and I walked together for about a half-mile, and I suggested we keep going. We ended up walking 2.5 miles outdoors – the farthest I've gone on foot in more than seven weeks.

I was definitely feeling the burn when I got back home. None of the household chores I'd planned to do got done. We had the simplest of dinners – green beans, ham, onions and potatoes, which some paleo purists would disqualify, but it was better than chicken pot pie, which we still have in the freezer. I rested. A lot.

With the additional steps I took throughout the day (and a couple laps up and down the driveway), I hit the FitBit 10,000-step goal after dinner. First time since last fall.

My final surgeon's appointment was this past Tuesday. Because of a couple lingering issues, he ordered some physical therapy sessions, which will begin Monday. I'm looking forward to working on strengthening and stretching and resuming all normal activities – including putting socks and shoes on without assistance!

Today … I'm a little stiff and sore. I'm not sure if I'll take a day off or if I'll use the treadmill, which I've been cleared to do. Or if I'll hit the road again, before the rain settles in.

Tomorrow, tomorrow!

The wait is nearly over. My first appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow at 1:30 in the afternoon. I can't ever remember being so excited about a visit to the doctor.

Everything I've heard from everyone I've talked to, as well as my own experience with this surgeon (he set my mother-in-law's broken arm several years ago) is good good good. The only caveat I've heard is that you will spend a long time in the waiting room. My 1:30 appointment is likely to be 2:30 or later.

Whatevs. We'll deal with it.

So what I've learned about myself is that a busy day is followed by a not-busy day. I'm still wearing my FitBit One, but it hasn't been tracking accurately lately. What's sad is I don't really much care. You can see, though, by this chart, that rest days follow active days, and that's just the way it is.

The 10,000-step-per-day goal has not been met in many months. Oh, well!

My husband and I gave ourselves a treadmill for Christmas, however, and I'm going to attempt very slow walking on it after we get it set up. Our old one began emitting a burning electrical odor when we used it, and in the interest of safety and not burning down our garage, we took it to a recycling center that accepts just about everything. Including burned-out treadmills.

That machine lasted a very long time, though, so we bought the same brand – a Pro-Form – which worked well for us. We are not runners (sad face), and the less-than-stellar reviews point out that this piece of equipment is not suitable for running. So yay! I think.

I continue to add meals to the freezer. I probably have a month's worth stockpiled at this point. I rarely cook just one meal now – it's just as easy to cook twice as much and put the extra away for the future.

If only I could clean the house once and have it stay clean until I'm back to normal. Ah, well. First-world problem. I'm getting a new hip joint … that's a pretty amazing thing that still doesn't happen in much of the world. Best to be grateful.

Day Five DONE

As my friend and fellow blogger Gingerzingi noted this morning, Easter is candy-centric, despite its religious meaning. Because nothing says He Is Risen like a chocolate cross, right? I knew Easter would be part of my Whole 30 challenge, and while I was tempted by the candy displays every time I went to the market, I resisted.

Gingerzingi went the extra mile, coloring hard-cooked eggs. I merely deviled mine. My children are grown and creating their own Easter traditions with their youngsters. So I was the Easter Grinch, and didn't do anything except send cards. WITH MONEY!

(Sometimes – most of the time, actually – I reallyreally hate being the long-distance Grandma. And Easter, being more of a hands-on holiday, is one of those times. Sending a gift of colored eggs? I don't think so.)

At any rate … another Whole 30 day done, and done pretty darned perfectly. I volunteered to cook dinner here and take it to my mother-in-law's to devour. My husband is very active in his church so while he attended morning services, I put a pork tenderloin in the oven and took a morning walk.

Which turned into A MORNING JOG! Of those three miles on the road, half of them were at a picked-up pace. Felt really good to be doing more than plodding along.

Got home, threw a couple sweet potatoes into the oven, showered and dressed for dinner and finished up the meal. Here's what we ate:

• Roast Pork Tenderloin
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Steamed Fresh Asparagus
• Hollandaise Sauce
• Deviled Eggs
• Green and Ripe Olives
• Sliced Fresh Strawberries

We didn't need much more, and there were only three of us, so I didn't go all-out, as I might have if the guest list were longer. Been there, done that, and I always end up throwing food away after a couple of days.

Notice anything about the menu?

It's perfectly paleo! Perfectly Whole 30, as well. And I'm no longer a Hollandaise sauce virgin. My, my, my, was it ever yummy.

My husband and I took another walk later in the afternoon – I did two more miles, while he did four. I'm now at 25 miles for the month, and beginning to get obsessed with the idea of averaging five miles a day for April. That was never my plan, but that's how it's working out so far.

My obsession is being fueled by a FitBit friend – you know who you are – who is just as committed (or commitable?) as I am. We check the leaderboard frequently and text each other to SIT DOWN! and STOP WALKING! when one or the other surges ahead.

Right now, that would be me.

However, the 10-day forecast promises a lot o'rain. A weather slowdown might be just the slap-in-the-face I need to get back to more reasonable walking expectations.

Thanks, again, for reading. I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad I'm here.