velvetpage | Various items of health and well-being

I badly need a good pair of cross-trainers. This is a problem. A good pair of cross-trainers that will fit me properly will run me well over one hundred dollars, and I don't have it to spare at the moment. The alternative is to waste my $40 per month gym membership, because I can't keep working out without these shoes. It's painful - I've got shinsplints that made me stop my workout three machines from the end because I couldn't handle the aerobics on the rest stations, even when I toned them down.

I'm considering calling my doctor, making an appointment for next week sometime, and getting a prescription for orthotics. If I have a prescription, my benefits plan will cover some astronomical sum - five hundred dollars? - for a single pair. Depending on how much I can swing, I may be able to get the benefits plan to pay for the shoes as well as the inserts. Obviously, that would be the best-case scenario. It seems to me that the clinic wherein is located my doctor's office also houses an orthotics fitter.

It's really awful that I'm not even out of my twenties yet and I'm buying old-lady shoes with two hundred-dollar inserts in them. *sigh*

My diet has been steadily improving again as I finished the last of the Easter chocolate yesterday. Veggies reappeared several days ago, as did soup for lunch. I'm down two pounds from my weekend high - which is three pounds higher than my weight three weeks ago. *sigh* There are downsides to fondues and other holiday foods.

I'm hoping the breakout is pretty much over, too.

I'm going to take an ibuprofen and head to bed at a decent hour.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I also got orthoidic while in university. Most plans cover for both orthodic inserts (which I find make my low-cost payless cross trainers just as good as high-end shoes...) as well as a pair of orthodic shoes. The good news is that Birkinstock Co. makes custom orthodics, and I swear by mine... I've been having them repaired for years, and I'm excited about getting new ones this year now that I've got a plan again!! They are custom cut, and are great for walking in the summer- between the sandals and the inserts I'm covered. btw- I've got a high instep (high but fallen arches) so I find the thin plastic kind of inserts fit better in shoes- I already have huge feet so that along with the high instep would making finding shoes nigh impossible if I had those thick foamy inserts that others have. I think it's great that I can buy crappy but stylish payless shoes with no quality support, slide in my custom inserts and voila- the feel of a high-end shoe!

There's nothing old-lady about it... it's about taking care of your body and feeling/staying young, vibrant and energetic. Pain makes us old, not our shoes.

Afterthought- 500.00 isn't astronomical for orthodics- they'll run you at least that for a single pair. And I switched to zero impact arobic activity at the gym- either the cross-trainer (aka eliptical machine) or, at my old gym, aquafit, and both did wonders for adding strength to my stabalizing muscles while reducing wear and tear on my joints. I'm not a skinny-mini, and lots of jumping about is not what my bod is built for. Your doctor might also be able to refer you to a sports injury therapist who can recommend some shifts in your workout to reduce pain - I actually had over-developed quads, which were pulling my kneecaps out of alignment so they were not tracking properly. Who'da thunk? We would never have known that without the sports injury therapist, and now I can make sure that my workout is supporting and not hindering my healing.

I made a shift in my workout last night, as soon as I realized that the hydraulic stair-stepper was easier on my joints than just step aerobics on the recovery stations. Every time I was anywhere near that machine, I used it, and it did make a difference.

I was told last night that my Curves location will be getting in more of that kind of machine, because I'm not the only one having troubles with the unsupported step aerobics.

I'll see about the sports therapist, too.

I just realized - I'm planning on another baby in the next year, two at most. My feet could very easily change sizes again. Argh. Oh well - it'll be worth it even so.

I'm not sure even the wide-width payless shoes will fit me anymore. They haven't since Elizabeth. (Warning: one side effect of pregnancy is not just swollen feet, but feet that change shape permanently. If you're going to have kids, be prepared to replace your orthotics shortly after.)

I'm calling my doctor today about prescription inserts, and I'll ask for the plastic kind. Thanks for the tip. :)

Various items of health and well-being

the joy of bio-mechanic orthodics!!

Re: the joy of bio-mechanic orthodics!!

Re: the joy of bio-mechanic orthodics!!

Re: the joy of bio-mechanic orthodics!!