HiJumpr111's Blog - Operation Sports

Is the Wii Fit a good fit for me?

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Sunday, March 29, 2009

Back Pain.....It's Really A Pain In The @ss

Posted on March 29, 2009 at 09:00 PM.

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From what I hear, it's only naturally for a man to experience more aches and pains as he grows older. Just one of the many areas we men (and I'm sure women, too) feel that pain is in the back.

Eighteen months ago, my back started hurting. No let me rephrase that -- it started to emit pain in such a fashion that I can only liken it to a freshly-forged broad sword that has not only been jabbed into my lower spine but then swisted repeatedly for good measure.

I just thought it was part of getting older.

Typically, I am not a "doctor-appointment-making kind of guy." I have decent (though not the best) health insurance, but I really don't take advantage of it. (My kids sure as heck do!) But this pain was different. I had to go and at least be enlightened as to what's going on.

So I go.

A few minutes with the doctor explaining the nature of the pain results in a prescribed regimine of stretching exercises designed to strengthen the lower back. Sounded simple enough. So I tried them....for about eight minutes. Wasn't worth it. Why on earth, I thought to myself. would I want to take discomfort that I was already experiencing that only measured an 8 on the "Richter Scale of Pain" and have it jack it up to a 15 after exercising and thus having to sweat in the process? So again, I thought it was all about me getting older.

Well a year goes by. Yes that's right - a year. I told you I'm not much of a "doctor-appointment-making kind of guy." This time, doc orders the MRI. So I figure, at least we'll get to the bottom of this.

I think an entire blog entry (or even thread in the forums) could be set aside for MRI experiences. I was an MRI virgin up to this point. It was really a positive experience for me, however. Being the claustrophobic I am, I wasn't bothered too much by it. (I could still look up and see the ceiling -- that was the key for me). The worse part was requesting "Classic Rock" music through the headphones and only being able to recognize 2 of the 8 songs I was able to experience through the process. (Note to Clarian West Hospital - the works of Inglebert Humperdink do not fall under the genre of Classic Rock.)

After being told to wait 48 hours for my PCP to call me about the MRI results, I proceeded to wait 120 hours before I called him. (I saw it coming...no big deal.....doctor's are busy people, right?)

After two days of phone tag, the doc's nurse dropped the bombshell -- "a ruptured disc with narrowing."

I didn't know whether to ask her how long I had to live or whether or not I should postpone any plans to skydive (which I never had planned to anyway).

Alas, now I await word from the Back Pain Specialist. (Is this really a specialty?) I worry that just the mere title alone suggests the philosophy, "Sir you have back pain...let's see how we can live with it."

So, I'd love to hear from any of you other back pain sufferers. In my case, I assume I'll have options....from a discectomy, to a laminotomy, to cortizone treatments. Or more likely than not.....more back stretching exercises. Can't wait.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Is the Wii Fit a good "fit" for me?

Posted on November 18, 2008 at 10:18 PM.

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I finally did it. After months and months of asking clerks at virtually every electronics store and electronics department of every Meier, Target, K-Mart Wal-Mart in my city, I finally bit the bullet and ordered my Wii Fit from amazon.com.
A hundred thirty dollars later, it arrives at my doorstep. (Capitalism is a great thng....especially when you are on the receiving end!)

After hooking it up, importing my Mii, I set out to do the all-so-sacred ritual of performing the "Body Test." Although I tried to justify that I was wearing 23 pounds of clothing, I soon had to face facts....I am a little overweight. [As an aside I must say, like may of you, I was the skinniest kid in school from Grades K through 12. I wished and wished that I could gain some weight....that I simply assumed would turn into muscle...that I then assumed would turn me into a "chick magnet."]

Anyway, soon after this bad news hit, I was confronted with even more bad news....or at least what I think is bad news. I, a 41-year-old, now have a Wii Fit Age of 48. Did I just somehow discover that 7 years have been taken off my life?

I have now spent 2 evenings with my new flat, white, personal trainer in my pursuit to lose 20 pounds in 6 months. (I feel that was a good goal for an overweight procrastinator.)

While I realize it's too early to make any sound judgements on whether I feel a difference -- I must admit, it IS kinda fun. I've read about both good and bad experiences in the Forums here at OS as well as interactions with people at work. From time to time I'll use my Arena space here to post my progress (or lack thereof). Yes, it could be interesting...but then again some people think ice fishing is interesting.

In closing, I have come to a quick initial conslusion regardig my new found toy -- the exercises that are available to me currently seem too schort to really do any good....but then, what does a 48-year-old in Wii Fit Land know?

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Entering the World of 120 GB

Posted on November 11, 2008 at 07:21 PM.

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Today I received my brand new 120 GB HDD for my XBOX 360 in anticipation of the new XBOX Experience. I was completely blown away at how easy it was to transfer all the files from my 20 GB HDD.

I can now take the 20GB drive and attach it to the other XBOX 360 console in our household. (It got old very quickly having to transfer it back and forth whenever I or most likely, my 5-year-old needed a change in venue to play his Viva Pinata or his various Lego Games.)

Just to point out my stupidity, immediately after attaching the old drive to the other console, my son asked a very good question for a child his age. "Daddy," he asked, "Does this mean that we can play each other on line in Viva Pinata?"
A smile came over me as I was quick to say, "Well, yes. Yes it does!" The smile faded away quickly as I realized that it would required two copies of the game.

I then got to thinking...is this a good thing? Is it true that my son would now prefer to play against me in a game while we are on completely opposite sides of the house?

Monday, November 10, 2008

OS - It's a way of life.

Posted on November 10, 2008 at 08:25 PM.

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Never would I have thought all those years ago when I first stumbled onto this site that it would forever become such a prominent fixture in my day-to-day living.

Although I may never become a member of the "10000 Post Club"-- which I find very impressive by the way -- I still find myself gravitating toward "my haven" whenever I need a slider tweak, a good CAP, some helpful insight as to whether I should make a game purchase.

Although I have yet to ever meet an OS member (that I know of), I consider many of you, a friend -- on some level.

In fact, I have made a pact with myself. If ever I was to win the Powerball -- and I mean the big one -- there will be a BIG party for my OS brethren in Vegas -- on me!