I now know why I have bursitis in my left knee.

The PT wanted me to show her how I spin and how I run. Yesterday, we started with spin. She had me bring my spin shoes and get on a regular exercise bike and start riding. Immediately she said, “I see the problem.” But then she backtracked. She became concerned that she was looking for the problem that she suspected I had, and was biased. So she had me keep pedaling as she called another PT over.

“Do you notice anything unusual about the way Dori is riding?” my PT asked the other.

“Her left leg is bending inwards,” the other PT said.

“Exactly!” my own PT exclaimed.

And there is the problem. When I spin, my right leg moves in a straightforward way. My left leg, on the other hand, curves inwards each time I push the pedal down. This also happens when I run. And when I use the elliptical. I will be running for PT on Tuesday, but we both know what it will show. Even the boy had noticed that my alignment is all off when I run. I have bursitis because my knee is bent in an unnatural way for repeated movements.

And to be honest, I had noticed that my leg wasn’t pedaling forward in spin once. I saw it was curving inwards and assumed something was wrong with my shoe or the way my shoe was clipped in. I never considered that something was wrong with me!

What do I do? First, I need to strengthen my tushie. Particularly the left side, which is much weaker than the right for some reason. That weakness contributes to my alignment problems. The exercises are the same I am used to from Core Fusion, Physique 57, Nalini Method, The Body. We are also working on strengthening my quads, hamstrings, glutes on the leg press machine — with more emphasis on my left side.

PT said that when I start spinning again, I should be aware of my leg and actively push it outwards where it belongs. Of course, spin won’t be fun if I am constantly thinking about where my leg is and wonderfing if my alignment is all right. But the good news is that after actively thinking about my alignment in spin, running, elliptical, etc for enough time — my brain will get the message and it will become automatic for me to align properly.

Also, I had mentioned that the way I sit is contributing to the problem. Unfortunately, that is by far the most comfortable position for me when I sit! I find myself doing it ALL the time. Every time I catch it, I unravel. But I never feel as comfortable after. I am trying to train my body not to twist into that left leg crossed over right, left ankle behind right position anymore!

Jen left a comment asking what I do for exercise since my knee is all messed up. Well, I can’t run, bike (oops), elliptical. Stairmaster is not an optnion either. I have 13 Core Fusion classes in my hand that I haven’t even used yet because I have been so busy! But I plan to start with them soon. Basically, I have been trying to walk more. And also just not exercising. I thought I would blow up into some puffed up version of myself but luckily this hasn’t happened (yet).

Some time during the next few weeks, I need to take a spin class and see how it goes. The PT wants be to get on this soon, so I will try to make some time for one!

Now if only we can figure out the cause of my shoulder injury…

In other news, it is the weekend! Today I have to endure a horrible medical test that I am dreading. Then I am freeeeee. Tomorrow I am  going to a wedding and getting my hair done at Blow. It is a blow dry bar! I usually don’t get my hair done because I get it Japanese straightened with Liscio products, but I am due for my next straightening — and not going until June 14!

For those of you who don’t know, my real hair is a Jewfro. There are so many different textures and a major inconsistency to the curls, and it was FRIZZY. It was impossible to manage and it never looked good and Japanese straightening changed my life. Here is a photo of a poster I was on for Bio Ionic straightening (the first time I got it done that is what I used. Liscio works MUCH better though, so that is what I recommend for everyone.):

Last night when I was trying to fall asleep, I thought of a great blog entry idea and a great title. Of course, all I am left with now is a vague indication of what it might have been about. The entry idea is gone. The great title is  gone. Don’t you hate when that happens!

 And now I will leave you with something adorable. Here is Santana as a baby pup:

SeamlessWeb Update
Last week I reviewed my favorite food ordering site, SeamlessWeb. This site makes the process of ordering food, well, seamless!

They deliver to the following cities:

• New York City
• NY Metro Area (Rye Brook, NY & Purchase, NY & Greenwich, CT & Stamford, CT)
• Jersey City
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• Washington DC (DC & Northern VA)
• Houston
• Chicago
• San Francisco (Downtown – Embarcadero area & Menlo Park & Palo Alto)
• Los Angeles (Downtown & Century City)
• London

Live in one of these cities? Never tried SeamlessWeb? The generous people at SeamlessWeb are offering my readers a discount! You can get 20% off your first order! Go to the site, place your order and be sure to enter this discount code at checkout: m42fjsdof91b. This offer expires on June 26, 2009!

Firefly Lane Book Review
When I was nearing the end of Firefly Lane yesterday, I started to cry. On the subway. Later in the evening, I was walking on the treadmill. I was reading the last 30 pages or so. Again, I started crying. On the treadmill. With the boy and his trainer working out right near me.

I didn’t want them to notice and stop their session to see if I was okay! Luckily, they didn’t see my tears. I finished the book and as I tried to fall asleep I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That is my clearest indicator on whether a book is a favorite — if it sticks with me. If it leaves me thinking about the characters, the scenes well after I finish. If it makes me think about the path the book took, the paths it didn’t take. If it makes me go back and reread scenes throughout to read them in a new light now that I know the ending. This book did all of those things.

I devoured Firefly Lane. I picked it up as soon as I finished I Know This Much Is True and read every moment I possibly could. Of course, things  got in the way, such as eating and going outside. But I did the best I could. I even opted for longer, local subway rides that would allow me more time to read.

Firefly Lane follows the stories of two women, Kate and Tully, through their friendship that spans over 30 years. They became friends at a time in their lives where they both desperately needed one. Their personalities are drastically different but they go through everything together — the good, the bad, the everything. As the decades change, the clothes , hairstyles and music change as well. The descriptions of the clothing and hairstyles throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s were funny. Especially the 80s.  Music plays a big part as well. The friends have their songs together, and you can even view their playlist of songs mentioned in the book here. You can even download it on iTunes… which I’m kinda considering doing! Each section of the book is marked by both the decade and a song.

There is an overarching theme of jealousy, and I actually felt the jealousy at the pit of my own stomach during certain scenes. There is a lot more I want to say, but I don’t want to give anything away. I also have some serious venting to do about one of the main characters! Parts of this book made me very angry – just as I felt jealousy, I also felt heated at one of the character’s actions. Kristin Hannah has the ability to make you feel the characters’ emotions as if you were there. I particularly identified with one of the two main characters — as it is clear throughout the book that the author identified with her as well.

If you have read Firefly Lane and want to discuss it with me, please leave a comment or contact me!

I usually scour Amazon reviews both before and while reading a book, but this time I didn’t. I didn’t want anything given away! I knew going into this book that it would be a tearjerker, since my mom read it before me. I didn’t want to know a thing more. I am so glad I didn’t. Now that I looked at the reviews, I know I made the right choice. If you decide to order this book on Amazon, try not to scroll down to the reviews. Read it for yourself, take from it what you need. I am so happy that is what I did.

The end of the book kept me enthralled while walking 56 minutes on the treadmill. I didn’t feel bored once. And now I find myself on the author’s website and blog reading as much information as I can about the book! I need all the background information I can get, that is how into this I am. In case you didn’t gauge it yourself, I recommend Firefly Lane.  

Currently reading: Revolutionary Road. I didn’t see the movie although I am sure I will want to once I finish the book. I always do!

Physical Therapy
If my knee gets better, I want to try a spin class here. The bikes MOVE from side to side! This helps you work harder because you have to engage your core and work your arms. Have you ever heard of such a thing?! Now I know where my instructor got the idea for the turns we did in class a few months ago — she works there!

As for my knee, PT is going well. Since I stopped spinning and running, my knee hasn’t been hurting nearly as much. I am trying to get my glutes stronger which will help my alignment and take the pressure off my knees. The PT actually gave me an exercise band (pictured here) to tie around my thighs to do the exact same butt exercises I did at the Nalini Method — the ones I loved with the round band around our thighs!

On Thursday I am bringing my spin shoes in to PT so she can get a sense of how my legs are aligned on the bike. Based on what she has seen, she is fairly certain my legs bent inwards when I am on the bike, which caused a lot of my knee pain. Next Tuesday, I am bringing in my running shoes so she can see my alignment when I  run — which I know for a fact is kooky since the boy has told me so!

PT also would like me, sometime over the next few weeks, to take a spin class so we can see if I still feel pain and get a sense of my progress. I am very happy with this physical therapist. I don’t dread going there like I did at my other places and I actually feel like she knows what she is talking about and knows what I need to do to get better.

My shoulder is another story… I have a  feeling that once my knee PT is complete, I will have to begin with my shoulder again. We will see…

Want to win a 3 day Blueprint Cleanse from FitnessNYC? I do.

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Other than some tummy issues, I had a great weekend. I’ll recap mine:

Friday I woke up Friday morning completely unable to move. My stomach felt like there were weights in it. I literally couldn’t get out of the bed, it felt so heavy. It was partially my fault. The night before, I went to a restaurant I love called Citrus. Citrus has an incredible menu of Latin and Asian foods. I’ve been there a few times and always enjoy what I get. On Thursday, I was there with the boy, one of my best friends since first grade Emily and her boyfriend. The four of us shared a trio of dips (guac!) and the boy and I shared this entree, which I have had before and it is every bit as good as it sounds: Ultimate Roll Combinationone yellowtail with mango & avocado, one spicy tuna with banana and one salmon with cucumber & tempura flakes wrapped in soy infused seaweed, served with a trio of latin inspired dipping sauces.

Normally for me, just splitting that entree with the boy would have been enough food. But I hadn’t eaten in forever and I was starving and I ate some of the appetizer. Some appetizer + half an entree = t0o much food for my poor stomach. I knew I overdid it when we left. I collapsed in bed when I got home and expected to wake up feeling better. That unfortunately wasn’t the case, as I woke up feeling like lead was in my belly.

The experience of literally not being able to get out of bed is scary and extremely uncomfortable and I hope no one ever had to go through it. 

I worked from home and by the evening started to feel better. I couldn’t eat all day though. By dinner, I was able to eat again and the boy and I tried to go eat at the Boat Basin. It was PACKED. The wait would have been about 40 minutes and it was loud and crazy, so we left and walked into the city a little. We ended up sitting outside at a Japanese restaurant where I had a much smaller amount of food than the night before!

Although the day was kinda blah, I did get to finish I Know This Much Is True and I LOVED it. I already ordered Wally Lamb’s newest book, The First Hour I Believed. It won’t arrive for a few weeks since I ordered the paperback version which isn’t out yet, but I am eager to read it when it does. Mallory loved it and I trust her opinion — and I believe Wally Lamb can do no wrong.

Saturday arrived and the boy and I had lots of errands to run. We even wrote a list! But first we wanted to eksusis. He went to the gym while I got on my rollerblades! I haven’t used them since last summer when Missy and I had a rollerblading horror experience. We learned the hard way that we don’t know how to slow down. The boy lives right on the Hudson river where there is a flat path that is perfect for skating. I skated for 56 minutes, but every time there was even a slight dip I would turn around. I remember clearly rollerblading with my friends when we were younger all over our development’s parking lots and sidewalks, where there were hills and dips everywhere. How did I do it? How did I have no fear! The entire time I was skating on Saturday, I felt terrified! I went so slowly, much slower than the joggers. That’s because I know I can’t slow down or stop and I am scared of losing control. I did get to practice and felt more confident towards the end. According to my HRM, I burned 400 calories in the 56 minutes. I’m fairly certain my max HR occurred during times I approached a dip and freaked out.

I wore my helmet, knee pads and wrist guards but I went way too slow for falling to even be an option! Rollerblading wasn’t hard on my knees at all, so I think it is an acceptable knee injury activity for me.

We got our errands done and went to eat at City Grill. Afterwards we did more errands and got my favorite summertime dessert – Yolato! For those of you not familiar, this is yogurt gelato. It is low fat and low cal — and DELICIOUS. It is seriously the creamiest yogurt you can imagine, and the flavors are amazing. Missy and I discovered it last summer and literally went crazy. They even have a Ferrero Rocher flavor! They also have flavors like Tiramisu, Birthday Cake, Nutella, Cookies & Coffee and a bunch of sugar free options. It varies from day to day, so it is worth it to go back.

This is what the yogurt case looks like:

Amazing, right! It really is so creamy and amazing. I have been talking to the boy about it and begged him to try it. He was a bit resistant because he isn’t a fro yo junkie like I am. I begged him to at least taste one flavor but he wouldn’t commit! But when we got there he liked the flavor options. He tasted some Birthday Cake and loved it, so he got a scoop of Birthday Cake and Toasted Almond (he loves almond flavored treats), and I  got a scoop of Sugar Free Hazelnut and Coffee N Cookies. Of course, I had a taste of Ferrero Rocher first! I am already excited to go back and try more flavors! The boy has his eye on Strawberry Cheesecake and White Chocolate for next time, but I will see what they have and decide on the spot!

Sunday was a big day for us since we planned to go to a barbecue at the boy’s mom’s house. I made my Raspberry Sherbet Pie the night before so it was all ready to bring! As you know, I had to run around like crazy to get the raspberry sherbet for this pie! I bought 3 containers so I can make this pie twice more over the summer.

As promised, I will now give you the recipe and take you through my pie making process! This is the easiest pie you will ever make and it is the perfect summer treat. It is always a big hit — everyone loves it, and this day was no exception!

Raspberry Sherbet Pie

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Pie Crust,  Cool Whip Lite, Raspberry Sherbet, Semisweet Chocolate Chips and Strawberries

Steps:

Put the raspberry sherbet in a big mixing bowl

 Start mixing in Lite Cool Whip

 Add semisweet chocolate chips

Keep mixing! Throw in more chocolate chips and cool whip as you mix.

Mix until there are no dark sherbert spots and the entire pie looks creamy. You can ballpark it on how much Cool Whip to use. I used about 3/4 the container. Here is how much Cool Whip was left after I finished:

Your pie is set! This is what it will look like before you add the toppings.

 Put this in the freezer.

When you are ready to serve, remove the pie from the freezer and sprinkle more chocolate chips on top and surround the perimeter with fresh strawberries. You can sprinkle the chocolate chips on top before freezing if you wish. You must serve this pie immediately after removing from the freezer or it will melt.

The boy’s birthday is in a few weeks so we celebrated it here!

Below is the completed pie, ready to serve, with chocolate chips and strawberries on top, plus the birthday candles.

 This is the boy and I with the pie. That is not a crack in his head; it is a curly hair.

This is the inside of the pie. It got extra melty because of the birthday candles!

 After everyone finished eating, this is what was left of the pie:

Everyone hated it.

Like always, the pie was a huge hit. This pie never fails, kids! It is just THAT good. A summer party favorite! If you decide to make this pie, let me know and take pictures and report back to me on what people think!

Just so you know, after making the pie we had this much batter left. Enough for a second pie if you wanted to make two at once!

See how easy and delicious that was?! The perfect summer treat!

Monday turned out to be the most beautiful day of the weekend! I woke up feeling ill again from overdoing it the day before (I never learn…) but after a few hours managed to feel better. The boy and I walked over to Central Park where we rented bikes, which I had been wanting to do for a long time! I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was young — and again, fearless. I was shaky at first but it really is true what they say. You never forget how to ride a bike.

We rode around the loop and it was hard! I didn’t realize was a tough workout bike riding was. The uphill portions were challenging and my heart rate went up high. Downhills were just as challenging for me since, again, I was terrified — especially when the downhills were combined with sharp turns! I rode the brake during this time, every now and then trying to go a little faster but often getting too scared of losing control. How did I have no fear as a child! It was a great course for bike riding and I loved it. I especially loved how hard I had to work. My heart rate monitor said I burned 300 calories in 45 minutes, with a max HR of 185. We had planned to go around a second time but we were short on time for the rest of the day so we stopped after just one.

Probably not the best activity for my knees, so I was a bit relieved we didn’t go around the loop a second time.

We ended up getting more eksusis as we had to walk all over the city to run more errands. By the time we got home we were pooped! It was also time for dinner, and we went downstairs to eat at the Pier 1 Cafe. It was impossible to get a table since there were so many people, but after some waiting around I managed to snag one right on the water. We had to wait forever for our food because apparently the kitchen never received our order! Eventually we got it and all was good.

The hot dogs and especially the burgers looked SO good there but I didn’t get them since I had those the day before at the barbecue. I wished I did, though. If you ever go there, do yourself a favor and order a burger (they have veggie too) – trust me!  They also had delicious white sangria. Sangria is my favorite drink of all time and I wish every bar and restaurant served it!

We got home early and I was able to read a lot more of my current book, Firefly Lane. I am almost finished with it and can’t put it down. I am sure I will finish it tonight.

Then I get to decide which of my many books to read next!

After my experiences with food this weekend, I learned that I really need to cut down the amount. A healthy amount of food for someone else is not likely a healthy amount for me. What used to be a healthy amount of food for me is now way too much. I don’t ever want to feel weights in my stomach again. I don’t want to have to call out of work because I can’t get out of bed. I  decided that starting today, I am making a change.

I decided to replace my breakfasts (usually Chobani with an Erin Baker’s brownie)with a large green juice instead. Lunches will be light, mostly my old breakfast of Chobani and brownie.  I think I need less food in me weighing me down and making me feel sick. This is what I ate today — and it is an experiment and I am determined to stick with it for awhile to see if I feel better.

I want to do everything possible to avoid needing surgery.

When the boy and I started dating, we were on the phone and he mentioned that he had to go. His Chinese food had arrived. A few days later, I went over to his apartment so we could order dinner. He pulled out a takeout menu — his only takeout menu. It was from the same Chinese restaurant, where he had been getting almost the same dish over and over.

“What about Seamless Web?” I asked him. He had no idea what I was talking about.

I had him open his computer to a website I was quite familiar with – SeamlessWeb.com. “This site lets you order from any restaurant nearby. You don’t have to talk to anyone! You just select what you want and they bring it here!” I boasted.

The boy was resistant. He didn’t like the idea. He was used to calling in his order to the one place he knew and getting the same meal night after night. He was wary of this whole “internet” thing I spoke of.

“Okay… but how do I know the place we choose will even deliver here?” he asked.

“That’s the beauty!” I replied. “Seamless Web ONLY shows you the restaurants that deliver to your area!”

“How can I be sure the order will be right?” he wanted to know. “How can you ever be?” I shot back.

He still was not convinced. The internet is for news. That is its purpose and that is the only purpose it has. But I pushed it. Promised him he would love it. It’s easy. You don’t have to actually talk to a single person. I’d been ordering from Seamless Web practically since its inception. I remember when it was new and I received a card on the street from someone promoting it. I thought the idea was fantastic and I was hooked!

So I brought up a restaurant we wanted to order from and I showed him how to make his selections. He was not pleased with the fact that he had to enter his credit card number, but both myself and the Seamless Web privacy agreement assured him his numbers would be safe there. You have the option of saving your number on the site, which I love because it makes the ordering process even quicker.

We placed our order. Our food arrived.

The boy could not believe it. “We just check off what we want and then they show up to the door!” he exclaimed. He couldn’t believe how easy it was. And how much variety.

It took a few more times of ordering for the boy to become a full Seamless Web convert. Now he brags to anyone who will listen about how great this site is. He also claims that he discovered it and told ME about it. Uhhh…

Here’s how it works: you select the restaurant and place your order, and a fax gets sent to the restaurant with your info. If the restaurant has a question they have your phone number on the fax and will call you. Otherwise, they show up with your food — already paid for! And now Seamless Web is offering a pick up option in NYC. Exciting!

The site also allows you to rate and review your order, review your past orders and even save some as a favorite to make for quick and easy future ordering! Aside from the login page, the website itself is user friendly and easy to navigate. I’ve never been a fan of the homepage as the log in link for returning customers is tiny and you are often enticed to try to log in from the Corporate Accounts section just because the user name and password fields are prominent on that side. They really should do something equally as prominent for us returning customers!

SeamlessWeb was pretty cutting edge when they started a few years ago. Just as their idea was cutting edge, so was their business model. In addition to being on Facebook, Twitter, etc long before other companies were doing this, they also have a fantastic food blog! Check out their blog here: http://blog.seamlessweb.com/. The pictures look amazing and there are some great reviews and restaurant options! Their marketing strategy of giving the restaurants Seamless Web branded plastic bags was brilliant as well. Walk down the street in NYC and I guarantee you will see at least one of these bags.

Seamless Web started out just in New York City, but now they serve 14 cities — including London.  I recommend clicking through the site and if they are in your city, try them out.

As for the boy, he is a true convert. He often muses that he doesn’t know how he ever ate dinner without it. What did he do before he knew about SeamlessWeb? Luckily, the boy met me. Now he will never pick up a phone and speak to a live human being again!

Back story - Read yesterday’s post here: The Great Sherbet Search

After work yesterday, instead of walking 5 miles to the boy’s as I had originally planned, I had to instead go on a citywide search for raspberry sherbet. Keep in mind I had already checked two supermarkets by this point. I took the subway to my own stop, since I know where lots of grocery stores are in my area — and I found it at one of them last year. Unfortunately, I could not remember which one. Last year, the very first place I tried is the one across the street from my apartment – Food Emporium BridgeMarket — and they didn’t have it. I wasn’t surprised. After major renovations a couple of years ago, this Food Emporium is fancy. They don’t have a great selection and if you ever need something normal, chances are they won’t have it. If you ever need something fancy, chances are they will. And they aren’t organized in aisles. They are too fancy for the common people’s aisles. Instead, they are organized in little stations.

Anyway, I knew I would not be going there first. One of the stores, a Gristedes, that I went to last year was no longer there. I started off at D’Agostino a few blocks from my apartment. They had rainbow. They had orange. I left.

My choices became as follows:

(A) Walk further downtown about 9 blocks away from my apartment to a Food Emporium (FE) that has a large selection

(B)Walk closer to where I got off the subway (a couple of avenues away) to a FE that has an OK selection

(C)Walk uptown 10 blocks (but more in the direction of my apartment) to a cramped, kinda dirty but fully-packed Gristedes (where I believe I found the sherbet last year, although I can’t be sure and stop off at my FE BridgeMarket on the way even though there’s no chance they’ll have it but it’s on the way to Gristedes

I chose option A. I was wearing flip flops (I know, I know) and by the time I got to the FE I was in a great deal of blister pain. Also, I stopped for some peanut butter Tasti D. I arrived at the FE and it took me forever to even find the ice cream case. Finally I found it and they had rainbow. They had orange. I left.

On the way back I stopped on a stoop to change into my sneakers. Ah, relief. Onward. I decided to head towards Gristedes because my memory of finding it there last year was becoming clearer. But as I passed FE BridgeMarket on the way, I stopped in. They always offer samples there, so I thought it wouldn’t be a completely wasted visit. I sampled a little sandwich, hazelnut milk chocolate (MMMMM), a brownie and swiss cheese. I arrived at the ice cream freezer feeling quite satisfied but without expectation. My eyes scanned the ice creams, moving slowly from the right to the left. There go the sorbets. Hello, sorbets. The freezer started looking very empty. Shelf upon shelf was bare. But then something caught my eye. Sherbet. Three of them on a shelf alone with nothing else. They were a dark pinkish color. Could it be? The last time I saw that color it was a tease — the pink side of a rainbow sherbet. I got closer. Looked in. Raspberry!

I FOUND RASPBERRY SHERBET AT THE SUPERMARKET RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY APARTMENT! If only I had gone there first! And of all the sherbet they could have had in the store, these were the only three there. All three were raspberry. The rest of the shelf was empty of sherbet. I bought them all. While the recipe only calls for one container, the next time I want to make the pie (4th of July, Labor Day, etc) I will be prepared without having to run around like a madwoman again.

This means that I will make the pie this weekend and post the recipe and pictures next week!

Matt is Mush Party
I believe I might have mentioned before that my little brother Matt Matt is mush. Well, here is a picture of the inside screen of my phone. I call it the Matt is Mush Party. You can’t tell from here, but these figures actually move in a little dance. They know Matt is mush. Look how much fun they are having! The Matt is Mush Party is always going on! Woo!

Reflexology
Last year I was getting a pedicure at a local nail salon. During the foot rub section, the woman who was giving me the pedicure suddenly began pressing hard on one spot on the bottom of my foot. It hurt in that spot. She looked like she was deep in thought as she pressed the spot again. And again. Then she tried telling me something but she was Korean and was having a hard time getting her thoughts out in English. She was gesturing to her stomach and back to my foot but I wasn’t sure what she meant. She got up and came back shortly after with a textbook open in her arms. She brought it to me to show me a diagram and description. She pointed emphatically at one word and back to me. The word was bowel.

She had felt something in the section of my foot that corresponds to the bowels! She asked me if the spot she was touching hurt when she pressed it and I told her it did. She said that means that I have problems there.

Normally I would say that this probably isn’t real, but of all things she could have claimed — the headache spot, for instance — she happened to choose the exact place where I suffer. I have to think there is something to this. She gave me a 10 minute foot rub in that spot and told me I will start to feel better, but to come back once a week for foot rubs in that same spot. I never did go back (lazy, busy, etc.) but I always kept it in the back of my mind. I told my doctor at the time and he scoffed.

I bring it up now because in a few weeks, the boy and I will be going away for a weekend to a spa resort. I always opt for the hot stone massage when I get spa treatments, but I decided instead to opt for something I always wanted to try — reflexology.

Read some facts about reflexology here.  This site says:

Reflexology is a science which deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body. Stimulating these reflexes properly can help many health problems in a natural way, a type of preventative maintenance. Reflexology is a serious advance in the health field and should not be confused with massage.

Doctors agree that over 75% of our health problems can be linked to nervous stress and tension. Reflexology improves nerve and blood supply, and helps nature to normalize.

And from the spa we will be at, their site says:

This traditional technique targets pressure points on the feet that relate to specific areas of the body. With each point revitalized, tension melts away and a heightened sense of well-being is felt throughout the body.

Of course, I could have gone at any time to the Asian nail/massage place across the street from my apartment where they are probably even better at it and understand it better. But, after all this time I haven’t. And here is my opportunity. Additionally, my feet always hurt and always feel a strong need to have them rubbed, so I might as well! The treatment I am doing lasts 50 minutes and includes hands too.

I really like how specific this chart is regarding my own problems. Even if/when it doesn’t help (especially just once session) — getting my feet massaged to make my tummy feel better is not something I am opposed to!  Maybe I will “have” to do it more often to know for sure…  At this point, honestly, I am willing to try anything if it means something other than surgery will make me feel better.

Have you tried reflexology or any other alternative treatments? What was your experience like?