When I was over 300 lbs., I began having stress fractures in my feet. Three major times that put me in a boot and/or shoe for months at a time. I had broken my ankle in 1995 after falling over a balance scale in a doctor’s office I was working in. That required three surgeries to repair and I got a debilitating nerve disorder I still deal with in that leg. Then in 2008, I was exercising on the Wii Fit Board and fell off of it and broke my foot and that needed three surgeries and a pin in, moved, and removal.
Is the Universe telling me something?
So with all that damage, anytime I tried to walk for exercise, within a couple of days, I was back in a boot or shoe because of the stress fractures.
200 Lbs. Down Means No More Stress Fractures?
Guess again.
Here I am bragging to everyone in blog posts, comments on YouTube interviews, in The Atlantic magazine, and to everyone I meet, about how I went from not being able to go the bathroom five feet away from my room without a walker to gradually walking my way up to three miles a day. (That was quite the run-on sentence, sorry.) And I do love walking again! Working my way up to walking at Disney World, especially EPCOT. A lap around World Showcase in EPCOT is 1.2 miles. I couldn’t wait to do laps and count those steps. It’s been far too long since I’ve been there.
At the beginning of May, 2024, I pulled a hamstring on my left leg and had to baby it, then rehab it for a couple of weeks. I wasn’t able to walk for movement (exercise) during that time and missed it terribly. I found a curious irony in not being able to walk because of an athletic injury instead of gobs of fat.
I was finally able to start walking again and within a week, my right foot started hurting, a familiar pain that worried me. I kept walking. Finally, I had so much pain, I went to the ER thinking I had completely broken my foot. The diagnosis was Morton’s Neuroma and I got a referral to a Podiatrist for two weeks later. They did not do an X-ray in the ER and by then, I thought, “What do I know? I’ve never had athletic injuries before. Morton’s Neuroma it is!”
Before the Podiatrist would see me, he wanted an X-ray. I got the results as I sat waiting for him in his office.
Deficiencies That Brought This On
I couldn’t escape the stress fractures, even with my 220 lb. weight loss. I’m crying as I write this because my foot is wrapped (by the doctor) and I had to get a walking shoe.
Clearly, in this picture I am a bit happier. The shoe helps stablize things and my foot hurts lots less. Thank goodness.
Apparently I am now even more susceptible to stress fractures, which didn’t dawn on me, not only because of my long history of breaks and stress fractures, but also because I have osteopenia. That came courtesy of Type 2 Diabetes and the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass I had in 2001. Malabsorption of food from the RNY also brings with it malabsorption of Vitamin D and Calcium, two things crucial to our bones and their sustanance.
My Iron and B12 were also forever compromised by the RNY.
I am chronically anemic, so much so I go for iron infusions every three to four months for a series of six infusions, three in a week with a week rest, then another three. Taking iron orally isn’t an option; it simply does not absorb with my anatomy.
I give myself a B12 shot once a month and that is keeping my B12 up in the normal range. That is up from once a week a couple of years ago. If you thought the subcutaneous GLP-1 shot was scary, try the intramuscular B12 shot. Blessedly, I was a midwife for a long time and am used to IM injections, but they still aren’t fun. However, they help, so I do it.
When someone finally tested my Vitamin D (a psychiatrist!), it was a 3. Extremely deficient is under 30. 50-70 is normal. I was put on 50,000 iu four times a week for two years. The most the doctors say to take is 600 iu a day. When doctors saw how much I was taking, their eyes would raise and ask, “Um, why are you taking so much Vitamin D. You can overdose from that.” “Yes, I know. I, however, can get healthier from it.” My D finally climbed out of the basement, but still needed residual care, so remained on 50,000 iu four times a week. As I began losing weight,my D started to climb, so was moved down to three, then two, and now one time a week, but still 50,000 iu. It remains in the normal range! I am so happy and feel so much better for it.
I was diagnosed with osteopenia at least ten years ago and happily, it has remained stable during the two GLP-1 years, having a Bone Density Dexa Scan every 6 months. I’ve been prescribed a kick-ass calcium medication, Fosamax (alendronate). Oddly, I am nervous about starting it because of the side effects. I haven’t cared in the least if I get virtually the same common side effects (constipation, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain) as from GLP-1s, but for this? There are, of course, more serious side effects that are even more frightening, so I am delaying starting. They also have the most complicated instructions I’ve ever had for taking a pill. I can follow directions, though, so it’ll get down into my belly eventually. Weighing what do I want: risk of serious side effects vs. strong bones. Sound familiar? Risk and benefits. It always comes down to that.
If I Can’t Walk for Movement, What Now?
Biking!
I’m sure most folks said swimming, but I had malignant melanoma so no sun for me. I was either walking at dawn or covering up from head to toe with SPH clothes and 50+ sunscreen on any showing skin. One fun thing about being out in the sun and needing to stay covered is I get to wear hats on my tightly shaved head! I am liking hats a lot.
The Podiatrist said I could bike and that sounded like a great option. I can do it at dawn or after sunset and can get around my neighborhood, which was what I was loving most about walking.
I won’t be able to get one for a few weeks, but have it already picked out, with a basket and everything. Of course, I have to have a bell on it… à la Queen’s “Bicycle Race.” (These are the bells only. The video is rated R.)
I have no desire to ride indoors, so no stationary bike for me. I’ve lived indoors too damn long to be relegated back inside again.
I’m not forgetting resistance training, too, but that isn’t “movement” as much as walking or biking is. I still don’t call any of it “exercise.” That word is one of the nastiest words in the human language to me. So many negative connotations and reminders of “diet and exercise.” Blech.
But I do love the bands and the hand weights. And, with the collagen, I am able to see the changes every few months. Wheee! I like muscles on me. A new thing, for sure.
Obstacles Will Not Win!
I can figure out whatever comes my way. Heck, I’ve had cancer, serious diabetes, and many broken bones, yet I refuse to quit.
What I keep saying: Health at ANY Cost!
I can do it!