Re: Plantar Fascitis from Hell - was Changing Behaviors

[Guest guest]

Regarding your Achilles heel....oops. Small joke here <GRIN>. Below are some

suggestions, and let me preface this by saying you should ALWAYS seriously

consider taking it in to a good professional of the doctor type if you have a

lingering problem, ignoring it or trying to train through it may put you on the

shelf longer than you realize, an evulsion (blow off) of the Achilles tendon off

the bone is a surgical problem and would shelf you for oh, perhaps a year?

First of all, don't ignore the symptoms. Could be a few things in there, not

just the plantar fascia acting up. Compression of heel bone, stress fracture or

something may also be at the " foot " of the problem.

If you can afford to do so, consider having this looked at by a good sports doc

who is versed in the foot issues. If not and you are trying to do some self

care - ice, a good massage therapist (again one who deals with athletes would be

best here) and a few stretches you can locate on line - plus one other thing I

can suggest. One exercise I have had people use for this is to take a tennis

ball and freeze it. (Yes, it's bad for the tennis ball but good for you...).

You will then on a reasonably hard floor put the ball under your foot and roll

it back and forth - from toes to heel. This can help a bit on the rehab IF your

plantar fascitis has not hit the critical point.

There are varying intensities of this problem and I would suggest if you are

having lingering problems, perhaps a good MRI would be in order - bone spurs,

compression of the heel bone onto a major nerve, and several other things could

be at the base of this. If none of the home self care has any good effect or

relief, you really will have to take this in, just get a good doctor and do the

work.

Plantar Fascitis can be a " FRAM " Thing...like the mechanic says....you can pay

him now, or pay him later.....!

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado, USA

-------------- Original message --------------

I've been following this too with interest. I've been able to become a

regular exerciser since I quit smoking in 1990, probably because of the good

example of my parents (my mother is still living, and at age 77 walks every

day).

However, it seems to do little good in my battle against being overweight.

About 10 years ago I lost 50 pounds, down to what my doctor considered a

normal weight for me. The overwhelming feeling I remember was being

headachy, hungry and irritable all the time, even during the

(disappointingly) short time I was just maintaining.

So no doubt there is some association in my mind between discomfort and

restricting calories, and perhaps this is true with others, who also

associate exercise with restricting calories. I exercise anyway, because by

now I am addicted to it and I feel worse when I don't do it (and it has at

least kept about 10 pounds off consistently). But I sure would like for all

that work to show, not to mention getting rid of this case of plantar

fasciitis from hell.

Lynn Worth

Sparta, N.C. USA

> I've been following the chain related to the topic of change. Although my

> involvement in

> the fitness/wellness arena has come later in life, I can tell you from a

> fundamental

> perspective that the issues surrounding the ability to change can be addressed

> in a very

> logical fashion...of course, that doesn't mean it is easy to accomplish. If

> you look at human

> behavior from a purely logical view...we are one of the few species that acts

> based upon

> knowledge and understanding (primarily), as opposed to instinct. Given that we

> as humans

> have this unique ability, the first step is true understanding. For me, like

> many others, the

> desire to change can be predicated upon some dramatic experience (in my case,

> I was on

> deaths doorstep). When confronted with the ugly realizations associated with

> my health

> issues a few years back, I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to

> gain by

> attempting to restore " balance " with regards to my health and wellness.

>

> For others, who may not have experienced such an event, there still is the

> inherent ability

> to make the choice...

>

> That part is easy. When speaking to groups or individuals about my story, I

> frequently ask

> if they brushed their teeth today? Often met with an odd look, the answer is

> " yes " . I then

> ask them why they did? The responses vary, but in general indicate they did

> because

> that's what they do everyday, they are supposed to. Creating change with

> regards to

> exercise, nutrition, etc..is no different. Make the choice and then you

> continue because

> " you are supposed to " . Again, that doesn't always make it easy, but it is the

> first step.

> And, if you can get someone to stop for a moment, reflect, be logical (i.e

> don't fall prey to

> our societal views and corporate marketing), then an individual can begin to

> make choices

> and transitions.

>

> In the case of personal trainers...it is support, involvement, continual

> communication,

> enforcement and modification that will compliment the " shift " one makes. As

> far as

> measurement, that has to be individualized. For some, it will come

> easier...and others will

> struggle. But, the measurement needs to be specific to the individual and

> their current

> goals. Once an accomplishment is made, it is far easier to make antoher

> " change " .

>

> Change is a constant. Reminding, and in many cases teaching people that the

> power to

> change/choose is their own is key. It's built into our DNA.

>

> Best,

>

> Josh Neimark

>

>

>

>>

>> :

>>

>> Thanks for the clarification. Now you've got me intrigued wondering

>> how specifically you'll measure actual behavioral change - and for how

>> long to determine if the awakening has really stuck and change

>> occurred. In my reckoning, some valuative change, conscious or not,

>> seems to have to occur - literally, a change of heart (I call it

>> transvaluative experience). To that end, I would imagine a before and

>> after questionaire might provide indication of the depth of

>> attitudinal shift, or not!

>>

>> best

>>

>> Ken O'Neill

>> Austin, Texas