Being more active

 Thursday and Friday last week I took 3 or 4 doses of paracetamol each day....by the end of Friday the pain was bearable.  However, on Saturday I didn't take any during the day - not deliberately, I just more or less forgot.  Come the late afternoon I was in agony again, so took 2 tabs at dinner time, and again in the early hours of Sunday morning when my back and hips felt like they were on fire.  Yesterday I took a total of 8 tabs by the time I went to bed, and will do the same today and for the next week or so, to see how that helps.

Both husband and I are suffering with pain (his neck arthritis is really playing up) and are both down in the doldrums, so we've had a chat and decided - well, I decided and husband did agree - to try something a bit different.  We're both in danger of becoming more and more immobile and depressed, so we've got to do something - having a healthier diet with far less carbs in the way of bread, pasta, rice and potatoes and red meat (in husband's case) and more veg, fruit and fish will help a lot for a start.  Incidentally, to Heather who asked if I eat white pasta or bread.....no, have eaten mostly wholegrains for several years.  We need to be more active too, especially husband, he's really got back to doing next to nothing again.  But it also applies to me, I need to up my physical activity levels.  I've suggested to husband that he try doing jobs for just 30 mins at a time - I'll let him know when the time is up.  I suggested he do a bit of strimming in the back garden (in between showers!) yesterday, which he did, although after faffing about getting the strimmer out of his messy shed, changing the (flat) battery and putting on new line, he only managed about 7 mins of actual strimming before the 30 mins was up.  But it was a start!  A bit later on, he got the lawnmower out and started mowing, but had to stop when a heavy shower started.

I sorted out 2 loads of washing and did a few jobs in the kitchen.  Did another freezer inventory and wrote a list of veg-heavy meals to pick and choose from for the coming week.  Wrote a list for a small shop today or tomorrow as well.

I've suggested also that both of us do simple neck or shoulder exercises when we're sitting down, they'll be beneficial for husband with his neck pain.  I'm also starting up using my little foot cycle machine thing again, even though it hurts my hips and knees at present, I just grit my teeth and get on with it, it'll hurt less in due course.  I do have to remind husband to do his exercises (which, incidentally, were suggested to him by his GP when he went last week).

Being more physically active will help both of us, mentally as well as physically.