Staying healthy seems to be dangerous. Many of my physical injuries have been the result of walking, cycling, and other forms of exercise.<\/p>\n
December 6, I managed to sprain my MCL (medial collateral ligament) while at the gym using a standard rowing machine. Yes, a rowing machine. For the unfamiliar, you slide forward and back, bending your knees, while pulling a chain attached to a wind-resistance wheel. I was 16 minutes into the routine when my left knee suddenly hurt.<\/p>\n
I whimpered and cried and was sick throughout the night, leading to a Saturday visit to the after-hours clinic. Following x-rays, I was prescribed painkillers, given a knee brace, and referred to a sports medicine expert. Monday, I learned that I had a minor \u201cGrade 1\u201d sprain, and the pain was caused by the combination of sprain and bone spurs.<\/p>\n
Over the years, I\u2019ve had hernias, breaks, cracks, and bruises from my workouts.<\/p>\n
The problem is, I have to exercise or I could have even more problems.<\/p>\n
When I was young, I needed physical therapy. I have scoliosis, a brachial-plexus injury, previously fractured bones, and other problems that require maintaining good muscle tone.<\/p>\n
Since the middle of October, I\u2019ve also tracked my blood glucose level. If I don\u2019t watch my diet and exercise, the glucose reading can exceed 200 mg\/dL \u2014 not good at all. When I exercise for 30 minutes or more, I can lower the glucose reading to 115 mg\/dL or better. This matters a lot to me, as I want to remain a diet-controlled diabetic.<\/p>\n
My personality traits include anxiety, obsession, and hypochondria. I worry constantly about my health, especially since becoming a parent. I want to watch our daughters graduate high school, attend college, and start their careers. I want to be around for them well into their adulthoods. They already know I\u2019m hyper-vigilant about my health.<\/p>\n
Is any of this related to autism? I doubt it, but statistics suggest autistics have shorter lifespans for a variety of reasons. I want to beat those statistics.<\/p>\n
I do believe how I approach exercise and fitness complements my autistic traits. I like having a FitBit and using MyFitnessPal to track calories and nutrition. I like having apps for my exercise routine, complete with a checklist for what I did at the gym.<\/p>\n
When my FitBit failed, and my Garmin before that, I felt out of sorts. Yes, iPhones track steps, but that isn\u2019t the same. Plus, I don\u2019t like carrying my phone constantly.<\/p>\n
When I ride my exercise bike, I ride to an even distance. I rise five, six, or seven miles per session. Not 4.5 or 6.25 miles. No, I have to ride as close to a round mile as possible. I also try to pace my time on the bike or on the gym treadmill to be a multiple of five minutes. Maybe that\u2019s the autistic me, but if I end up a 5.25 miles or 6.75 miles at 25 or 30 minutes, I will ride until I get as close as I can to that round mile and multiple of five minutes combination.<\/p>\n
I miss eating the food I love and I hate struggling with my weight more than I already did. A low-carb diet? I cannot seem to get my weight down to 170-173 pounds, where I want to be. Exercise is my own hope with the diabetic diet.<\/p>\n
With a knee brace and still hurting, I\u2019m carefully maintaining a gym routine. I met with a trainer twice and I\u2019m following the advice of doctors.<\/p>\n
Unlike many people I know, I do not like the gym. I don\u2019t enjoy machine-based exercises. But, I care about my family and that means I care about my health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Staying healthy seems to be dangerous. Many of my physical injuries have been the result of walking, cycling, and other forms of exercise. December 6, I managed to sprain my MCL (medial collateral ligament) while at the gym using a standard rowing machine. Yes, a rowing machine. For the unfamiliar,…<\/p>\n