Back Problems


I wanted to touch on this, I have had back issues since 2003, and since then I have had to watch what I do and how I do things. Sometimes of course I forget and bam injured, out of commission for a few days, so it was about 5 years ago. Now-a-days I noticed it takes me 5-7 days to get better or over the back pain I caused myself…so since the last episode I have come to make certain that I do things carefully; avoiding anything that might cause the injure to re-occur.
Now, with that I have had to cut certain things in life or for a lack of a better word; reduce some things that I enjoy. Such as fitness, gym, some sports, like basketball. Now, I have to test what ever I might begin to do to make certain that it doesn’t cause any pain. Sometimes I have to ease into things and well it looks like I am a big baby, but let me tell you…back pain is something I would not wish upon anybody.

The thing is that it becomes more difficult to enjoy things in life because of the back issues, ok wait I know there are worst things in life and others are going through worse things that mine ever so often back going out, but I am talking about me and my experience and well, right now it is a huge issue for me and sometimes it gets in the way of well, a lot of things. Now, I have over the past year or so, come to terms with it and have been more cautious. It has help and I am back doing some of those things I had to cut back on or watch how I did it or simple do it at half speed…it’s not as fun.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that, we all experience a lot of things, information, drama, experiences each day of our lives, sometimes they come at us like a freight train other times it sneaks up on us, but each day we handle those things and make it through the day…so as individuals we can take on quite a bit, sometimes we think we can’t but we manage through them; yah we all like to complain about everything and anything, but we keep on, well most of us try and do, sometimes we miss a day, or a few hours. What I am saying, back issues, or any other issues remember you are not alone or the only one experiencing it, but most importantly look around and remember “Yes You Can”.

Thanks for reading, till next time Latino Man signing off.

Back Issues -

Exercise programs

It was a cold day outside, there was overcast and it seems like rain was coming. I thought it was a good idea to give my son a bath, since it did not seems that we were going to go anywhere for the day. So I was kneeling down by the tub and preparing the water for my son to take a bath, I remember his giggles; he was 14 months old and was looking forward to playing in the water with his new toys.

As I was kneeling and preparing the water he kept coming into the bathroom, you know how kids are, anxious to get things done, but he kept reaching for the paper waste basket or opening the toilet seat…so I had to keep on chasing him out while the water was running.

In one of those instances I was testing the water and it almost seems right, but out of the corner of my eye I happen to see my son reaching into the tub and about to fall in. I was still knelling and my reaction was sort of weird, but the movement that I made would change my life for ever. As I was knelling and saw him going head first into the tub, I twisted my body to catch him, together with the awkward twist, his weight and my position my back went out.

It was the most painful sensation I have ever had, I had my son in my arms and was twisted to one side, I it seems like hours, but I finally got the strength to yell for my wife. She ran into the bathroom and saw my expression, she knew something was wrong. Her first response was if our son was ok, when she noticed he was fine she looked at me and how I was positions on the floor…I could not move. Every attempt I made to move was the most excruciating pain I would never wish upon anyone. I remained in that knelling twisted position for sometime, and after an hour had gone by my wife wanted to call an ambulance, I told her to give me sometime. You know how guys are…anyhow, about three hours had gone by and I was finally able to get up with help. I headed to the bed, which seem like an eternity, it took an additional 15 minutes to even climb into bed.

This occurred on a Friday evening, by Sunday night going to the bathroom would bring tears of pain. That Monday morning my wife had to take me to the Hospital, arriving there was painful for ever bump we hit was painful. A nurse had to come out to get me in a wheelchair, since the pain while walking was intense. After several hours in the hospital, with X-rays, a few doctors checking me out, they finally diagnose me with one of my Disks had slipped out. The doctors did not know how I was so still since I should be in excruciating pain, I told I was. They were talking to see if surgery was going to be needed, but after several additional hours I was sent down to Therapy, where I went through several exercises’, and electro shock therapy. The therapist also gave me some messages, painful at first, but it eased after a few minutes.

I was released to go home the next day and was prescribe o go to therapy. After 6 months of therapy, my insurance was done and any further therapy sessions would have to come out of my pocket…they were $195 per 45 minute session…which I could not afford at the time. The therapist understood and gave me some exercises’ to do at home, which I continued and after about a year I was almost back to normal. The thing is that now, I have to be very careful on how I pick things up, how I carry things and my limit of weight I can handle is not was it use to be. The slightest weight above my threshold or the slightest incorrect move can cause my back to go out…usually for several days, but most of the time I can still function, just very slowly.

I learned since then to watch myself and do things carefully, the thing is I am writing this because as you can read I started the Insanity Program and on my 6^th day as I was going through the routine, which I already knew, I made one bad move and my back tighten on me. I am still continuing the program, the thing is that I am doing the exercise routines slowly, ½ speed and a few exercises I do really slowly no major impact. I still sweat like crazy, but I realized that stretching and warming up [slowly] will allow you to continue. I don’t suggest that anyone continue the program if they hurt their back, I am only sharing my story, plus I know my limits…that my body can handle. I wanted to share because I have had hundreds of excuses when trying to loose weight and something always happens. I know…I know…hurting my back is a true excuse, but I wanted to not let something happen again…so I just do it slowly and carefully listening to my body as I do each move…slowly…I made it through my first day of having back issues and doing the program.

Once again do not take this post as a go ahead and work through your back pain, please don’t, I just wanted to share my experience. Thanks for reading and please come back often for more articles, thoughts, posts. Stay safe, be adventures and listen. Latino Man Signing off.

8 Sneaky ways to burn calories without sweating

by The Editors of Prevention, on Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:24am PDT

Activity is not just about "exercise," it's about moving your body more all day long. This type of light activity is essential, whether you're a card-carrying couch potato or a marathon runner. Growing evidence finds that too much sitting harms your heart health. Worse, that damage is not easily undone by jumping on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes in the morning if you spend the other 23 ½ hours sleeping and sitting.  A recent study of 1,579 people found that people whose jobs require more than 6 hours of chair time a day are 68% more likely to wind up overweight than those who sit less.
The solution: Stand more. By using these tips you'll be in motion more all day long. That alone could be enough to help you shed stubborn pounds for good.
1.  Limit yourself to one TV show: Watching TV is a great way to unwind. But when it comes to the tube, there's such a thing as too much downtime. The average American tunes in for 3 hours a day, which is really bad news for your waistline, especially when you consider that watching TV burns only slightly more calories than sleeping. Harvard researchers have found that every 2 hours spent watching television increases the likelihood of obesity by 23% and raises your risk of developing diabetes by 14%. Trade 1 hour of TV time for one long walk, and you can slash your obesity risk by 24% and lower your risk of diabetes by 34%.
2.  Step it up: There's a reason an exercise machine called the Stair-Master exists: Taking the stairs is really, really good exercise! In one study, exercise scientists calculated that by taking just two more flights of stairs (up and down) each day, you could burn off 6 pounds in a year. Find excuses to make multiple trips between floors at work (using a restroom on another floor is one way) and at home.
3.  Walk the halls at work: When you're stuck for ideas at work, get up and walk the halls. Stand and stretch during phone calls. Twice a day, get up and walk to talk to a colleague instead of e-mailing. Stanford University researchers calculated that if you were to walk across your office building and back to talk to a coworker instead of spending the same 2 minutes e-mailing, you could spare yourself 11 pounds over 10 years--effectively avoiding the "midlife spread."

4.  Stand at your desk: Here's a very simple move that every office worker can do: Stand up. Sitting at your desk for an hour burns 63 calories. Standing burns 127, twice as many. If you have a cordless phone, you might even be able to pace a bit, just to get the blood flowing even more. Many workplaces are now offering drafting-style tables and high chairs for office workers, which gives you the option of working on your feet most of the day and sitting down to take breaks (instead of the other way around--standing when you need a break). Ask your human resources manager about them. You'll be surprised how much more energy you have when you spend your day on your feet rather than in your seat.

5.  Get on the ball: Sit on a large stability or Swiss ball while checking e-mail in the evening. It's an easy way to engage all of your muscles for 15 to 20 minutes. You might even be inspired to do a few stretches and crunches after you log off.

6.  Fire the maid and gardener: All those services that you hire to make your life easier can also end up making you heavier. Small daily tasks, like weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and cleaning house, can add up to an aerobic workout. In a 2-year study of 230 overweight and inactive men and women, researchers at the Cooper Institute, an aerobics-research organization in Dallas, found that those who spent 30 minutes a day raking the lawn, taking the stairs, and walking from far spaces in parking lots achieved the same improvements in fitness, blood pressure, and body fat as those who went to the gym for vigorous exercise 20 to 60 minutes at a time, 5 days a week.

7.  Prep yourself slim: Cooking is a great wayo burn calories. Slicing, dicing, and braising burns twice as many , in fact, as calling your Chinese takeout place. Because you're in charge of the ingredients, cook with metabolism-boosting ingredients like those from the Active Calorie Diet. Limit takeout and delivery to two meals a week, tops.

8. Consider a stepper: Office workers are ideal candidates for a portable mini stepper like the Stamina InStride Electronic Mini Stepper--essentially, just two small Stair-climber  -like pedals without the giant machine attached. Research from the Mayo Clinic found that workers who used these clever step devices while making phone calls or answering e-mail burned an extra 290 calories an hour--enough to burn off more than 40 pounds over the course of a year if they used the machines just 2 hours a day. The strategy is a little unconventional but worth considering. The stepper is relatively inexpensive and small enough to slide under your desk when you're not using it. Stepping is also something you can do while watching TV at night.

My Perspective:
I think if you at least take the time to get away from your desk it will do you a great deal of good. I know you want to keep the job and you are probably good at it, but you being sick and out for days or even months won't do you any good, so take a minute or two away from your desk and relax...it will do you great good and the company.

Thanks for reading, till next time Latino Man Signing Off...remember we will make it through these tough times.