Update

Hi Everyone,

First, let me apologize for not sparking recently. I have just undergone a total hip replacement. I have several interesting materials now on my right side. I have a titanium rod in my femur with a ceramic ball on top and the ball fits into a polyurethane cup. Within days after the surgery the constant searing pain that I had been living with for so many years disappeared. Yes, I had the aching of the surgery but that is easily explained and so much easier to cope with because it only gets better as you heal. In Canada, where I live they don't take this surgery lightly and you will not get it unless you are totally bone on bone in your hip with no cartilage. Such was the case with me.

The fantastic part of the surgery is that in the hip replacement world, at 63 years of age, I was considered young! Young at last! Not only that I still have some extra pounds on me and so was startled that they considered me thin. Thin at last! Not really, it is all relative.

This blog is directed to the over 50 crowd and you young'uns can read along too because I am not ageist. Besides, you would not believe how many young people wreak havoc on their knees with extreme sports or in sports such as soccer, volleyball and ultimate. A couple of kids at the gym have had their ACLs surgically worked on. I know because they chat with me at the gym. In fact, they are trying to get materials that have more longevity in the hip replacement world due to the fact that younger people are getting hip replacements.

I am directing this to the over 50 crowd because when I was younger my goal was to have that beach ready body. When you are over 50 working out becomes about more than looking good. I started working out to improve my balance, to improve my flexibility, to improve my core. Why? When you are older and have a fall you need core strength to get up. Also, you build muscle to prevent fracture risk. Not glamorous I know, but really important.

This blog is a bit of a boast because no matter the pain, the limping and alas sometimes a little whimpering, I climbed that long staircase to the gym and worked out. I really think that is why just 2 weeks out of surgery I can already weight bear and I will be switching from a walker to a cane.

I also want to emphasize that although I stopped sparking the spark that you all have given me never really left my psyche. I know I have these virtual friends that virtually understand the struggles of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in a world with massive temptations. I think about my spark friends often.

For so long my limping and hip have been the centre of conversation with people. They want to empathize and well it was the elephant in the room after all. I can hardly wait to just talk about the weather now when I meet up with people. Sometimes, boring can be good!

I can't go to the gym for a few months due to my hip precautions and I can't believe that I am actually missing it! My goal right now is to really have great nutrition and lose weight to relieve pressure on the new hip. Also, my doctor will checking on my pre-diabetes in September and I really want to ace that test.

So, my spark friends, life presents challenges and with friends like you I feel like I have my own small but mighty army behind me. Thanks!