OnePhatMan
So how goes it?
I’m still here, still plodding along. I didn’t get on the scale lat week because I’m pretty sure I’ve gained a little weight.
Have I given up?
Has the phat man thrown in the towel?
Is he on his way (weigh) back to 371 pounds?
Of course not.
Once again, I’ve gotten an injury, and as always, my method of medicating pain begins in the bakery, meanders through the McDonald’s drive-through, and ends up in the cookie aisle of the grocery store. I don’t really sweat it (other than bitching to my wife about it) because I know that as soon as I’m mended I’ll fall right back into my old routines, especially hiking.
I’m seriously jonesing for a hike.
So what happened?
About a week-and-a-half ago, I went into the extra bedroom to put away a folding table. As I crossed by one of the big bookcases my father built for me several years back, I snagged my pinky toe (and possibly the one next to it) on the corner. Two thoughts—oh, shit, followed a second later by hey, it must not have been too bad because there’s no pain—passed quickly through my head.
Then, blinding pain, so bad I needed four Advils just to get to sleep that night.
It’s weird, really. I’ve stubbed that same toe on that same bookcase plenty of times, and plenty harder. This time, I guess I hit it at the perfect angle to do the most damage. Here’s what my toe looked like three days later:
I don’t know that I broke the toe because I never went to the doctor and had it xrayed, but I’m pretty dang sure I did. It hurt far too much, and far too long, to be a simple stub. Like I said, I’ve stubbed it plenty of times in the past; I know what those are like. This was different.
Today, almost two weeks later, it’s still purple and still aches. Don’t get me wrong—it’s WAY better, but it’s not healed. I can’t wear a shoe for any length of time yet without limping from the pain, and I couldn’t lift weights all of last week until Friday. I’ve been on the elliptical every day except for the single workout I missed after the accident, which has my left knee aching like hell all over again.
Getting old is a bitch.
In any case, I decreed most of last week as an “eat junk and whine about my toe” week. I worked out religiously (except, like I said, for the one workout right after I did it) the whole time, and I cut off the junk food after last Friday.
A week is plenty long enough for anyone to grovel in self-pity, I think, and worth the little bit that may or may not show up on the scales. I’m not going to sweat it if I picked up a few pounds; I realize turning to food is my natural response to being in pain (witness the gain from the shoulder incident last year) and I know that it’s going to come right off as soon as I’m back to my normal level of activity.
Now, all I need to do is stop hurting myself.
Have I mentioned that I’m jonesing for a hike? If you’re not the sort who spends a lot of time outdoors, you might not understand just how much it sucks to be locked in your house, sitting around reading and watching TV with a su doku puzzle book in your hand all the time because you can’t walk too well.
But enough about me, how about you?
Are you closer to where you want to be today than you were the last time we talked? Why or why not? What have you done today to bring yourself even the tiniest bit closer to the goals you’ve made?
Feel free to use the comments and share your experiences with the people who come along behind you — they’re a good way (and very underutilized, if I may say so) to meet and talk with people who’re in the same boat as you (especially when a certain phat guy isn’t updating all that often). Use them to commiserate with me in my pain, or to tell me to man up and quit being such a Nancy. 
If you want to get notified when I write an update, this link will do the trick.
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I’m sorry to hear about your injury, and wanted to offer unasked for advice. Have you tried wearing shoes all the time? It might help your knee and it’s good for when you decide to ram your poor toes into stationary objects.
So glad you finally updated Fred - I’ve really missed you! I did the exact same thing to my toe last year and it hurt like HELL. Got absolutely no sympathy tho. Try not to damage yourself anymore!
I read about your toe mishap on your other site, and meant to comment but forgot. I can totally commiserate on that one with you. Several years ago while we were out on our boat, I was waslking around the outside of the cabin and I hit my little toe and broke it. The Dr. said there isn’t anything you can do for it, except tape it to the next one and wait until it eventually heals. It was so painful and seemed like it took forever to heal.
Since the last time you posted here, I actually have started to work towards where I want to be. On Jan 23, my husband and I both started body for life together. He only has a small amount to lose, and wants to gain muscle. I have a long road ahead of me, but I’m very happy with what I have accomplished so far. Since we started, except for 3 days (2 for being sick, one for muscles still sore) we have been exercising 6 days/week. We have been eating healthy, with one free day a week. I feel so much better about myself, and also physically too.
I bought and read your book, and want to be like you when I grow up
I try to use a lot of the mental tools you talked about and find them really helpful. Sometimes I’m surprised when I look in the mirror and don’t see that ‘me’ that I’m envisioning in my head.
I’m curious, you haven’t said anything about it in awhile, do you still geocache? We’ve been doing that for years and totally love it.
Tina: I’m curious, you haven’t said anything about it in awhile, do you still geocache?
Nope. I pretty quickly found in the beginning that I love the hike to get to a geocache, but don’t really care for the hunt once I’m there. So I stopped caching, and kept hiking.
Yes, hiking is a blast! And here in WA we have some pretty spectacular hikes. It’s an amazing feeling pushing your body to keep going, and the accomplishment you feel once you’re done is unrivaled. Even the sometime aches afterwards are a great reminder of what you’ve done.
Now that our son is 12 we’re really looking forward to doing some hike in camping this year.
OUCH! That foot looks painful. I haven’t broken any toes yet, love to go barefoot too. Back when I lived in the frozen north, at least once per winter, I would open a door right over the top of my cold toes. Boy did THAT hurt, but the worst part was standing there, in pain with a door atop of a frozen foot, knowing I had to push the door back off.
“Are you closer to where you want to be today than you were the last time we talked? Why or why not? What have you done today to bring yourself even the tiniest bit closer to the goals you’ve made?”
To date I have lsot 10 pounds of the 77 I want to shed. Probably would have been more, but had one week of bad eating and no exercise. I find listening to The Quick Start Program has helped me tremendously with changing my thought patterns. Exercise is a must so it’s weights/walking/treadmill/kangoojumps and Fluidity. Seems I get bored fast if I don’t mix things up.
Hey Fred,
Just wondering if you have had your blood sugar tested recently? The slow healing of your toe might indicate diabetes?
Debbie Downer, here, sorry. Just a mom who worries about people.
I am back facing the scale at Weight Watchers–at 5′3″ this 385 lbs is murder!! and I am so ready for a turn-around. Glad I am on your email list. I appreciate the encouragement. Hang in there.
ouch Fred I am sure that toe would definately mean self medicating MacDonald in large doses. Mend soon.
Gaye Gray: Just wondering if you have had your blood sugar tested recently?
Nope, and not planning to either. Trust me, I’m not diabetic. I know what diabetic is like, and I ain’t that.
It’s about 90% better than it was, and I barely notice it when I’m barefooted. It’s putting a shoe on that causes the most pain now, roughly equivalent to a really bad blister (plus a deep-in-the-middle-of-the-foot ache that I think is probably the bone). I can walk in a shoe a bit, and the pain waxes and wanes, but I prefer not to and there’s no way I could do it for any sort of walking distance.
But it’s about 90% done, I think. And hell, it’s been just under two weeks. Bone healing takes a little time.
definitely. DEFINITELY. defInitely.
-the Rainman
My boring treadmill workouts are a thing of the past. Cardio Coach is the answer to boredom-busting workouts. Sean O’Malley is the creator of these awesome audio workouts. This is what I’ve needed - since the death of my significant other in November, workouts have not held much interest. I guess I needed something new to get me going again. I have Cardio Coach Volume 2 and will be downloading Volume 3 this week. You can find the workouts at http://www.cardiocoach.com.
Hope your toe heals up nicely, Fred. Are you wearing your slippers at work?
Becky: Are you wearing your slippers at work?
Nah, just my little footie socks. They’re perfect, except I’m a little squicked every time I have to go in the bathroom.
Becky, do you mind if I ask what level of fitness you are? I have a treadmill and hate it. It is so boring and all I do is count the minutes till I can get off (assuming I even get on it). I have tried music and tv but it just doesn’t interest me. I am at a fairly low level of fitness. I have a sedentary job and only walk a mile a couple times a week. Just wondering if the Cardiocoach would be worth buying for myself. Got to get myself in gear. I have about 60 pounds to lose THIS YEAR! Thanks for any input.
My fitness level is intermediate to advanced. However, Cardio Coach is based on perceived extersion (how hard you personally feel you are working) so it is for any fitness level.
In the workouts, Sean O’Malley pushes and encourages you to increase your speed and resistance levels. The music is fantastic and motivating. Volume 2 is 35 minutes of exhilarating excercise.
I was hesitant to buy “another workout”. But at $20, it was well worth it since it got my ass on the treadmill and some days I can’t wait to get on it. (You can also use the workouts for running/walking outside, stair stepping, nordic track etc.) If you have an MP3 player, you can download the workouts for $15.
I see I’ve used Fred’s comment section to write a book. (Sorry, Fred!) You can email me at beckngrls { at } aol [dot] com if you wish.
Edited by Fred to make email address more unreadable by spambots, because we all get enough spam.
Yeah I thought about that Fred after I posted the message, but I didn’t know how to edit the post.
Thanks Becky, I just might give that a try!
My husband used to take martial arts - he’s broken the same little toe about 6 times. We now call his toe “Snappy”. It’s all bent and funny looking.
Hope you can get back to your hikes soon..!
Fred, how’s the toe doing?
I started getting serious about losing weight at the beginning of March. What I was seeing in the mirror was not good. I’ve been fooling myself for a long time about my weight and that I was actually trying to lose weight but just that nothing was working. I eat too much, eat too much crappy food and don’t exercise enough. The first 2 weeks went very well and I lost about 6 lbs. Then on the 12th I had a terrible stomach virus that caused me to lose 5lbs in 2 days (you don’t want to here the gory details) which of course came right back when I was able to eat and drink again. For some reason this virus derailed me and I had a week where I completely lost focus of what I was doing. I’ve given myself a big smack upside the head and I’m back on track. Good luck to both of us Fred!
Hi Fred,
Was just reading your website, and enjoyed your comments. Good luck to you, and to all who try so hard to improve our health. Will think of you at the gym tonight ! It is all worth it. Last year I lost 90 lbs, and want to lose another 120, and will do it too. I look so much better, and when men chat up this old lady of 55 (!) I find myself amazed to realise I am quite pretty ! Never used to happen that way ! Keep the faith. Love from Janet
Hi Fred:
Guess how I found your website? I typed stubbed toe, then stubbed 5th toe. I can sympathize with you because on yesterday 3/22/06, I got up from my computer, turned around and for the umteenth time, stubbed the same toe. First the left, a few months later, the right(immediate ice pack). Years ago, I broke the bone down the side of my driving foot and drove with a cast. I had to see a physician then. When I stub my 5th toe on either foot, I don’t go to the doc because all he does it tape it to the next toe. I can do that! I believe it has to do with my eyeglasses, my equilibrium, or just plain clumsy. I’m working on my weight also. It’s getting better, went to weight loss ctr. advertised on TV, all they wanted was $845. Yeah, Right! I’m losing by drinking water, and eating healthier. The water, if you drink enough each day, will do it alone. Many people say they can’t drink water like that, but if you get a water filter pitcher, a large glass of ice, and a straw, and keep filling up, you won’t realize how much you’re drinking. It works for me. Nice talking with you. I found by accident my twin toe online (right foot also). Take care of your toe, keep it together as much as possible with the next toe, and for pain, I take Advil also.
Many Blessings to you and yours from:
The Evangelist, Gwendolyn Clarke, The Kingdom of Heaven Presents, Lake County, Illinois, Comcast channel 17 Wednesdays 5pm
I broke my toe during a martial arts workout years ago - the doctor couldn’t do anything but tape it, HOWEVER, there’s a cool thing he gave me, that totally took the pressure off my toes when I walked so I could walk normal. I called it an ugly shoe, but it’s just a Berkie-like shoe, open-toed, with a bump on the bottom under the ball of your foot - not under your foot, but the part of the shoe that meets the ground. Every time you take a step forward, this bump hits the ground first and takes all the weight off your toes, so you don’t feel anything at all. It was a lifesaver, and it made my life normal again. No pain in the knees or the hips from limping and no pain at all in my foot. Don’t know if that’ll help, but it made my life normal again and my toe healed in no time.
Good luck!
Hallo, leider kann ich kein englisch. Aber ich bewundere Ihre Kraft, die Sie quer durch Amerika treibt. Ich kann nur den Hut vor Ihnen ziehen und Ihnen alles alles Gute für den Rest der Strecke wünschen. Gott behüte Sie.
Ein Bewunderer aus Germany, Karlsruhe
Hi Fred. Years ago when I first joined Weight Watchers (1998 I believe), I came across your postings and you inspired me. I have had a lot happen since then including a miscarriage in my 4th month this February. I immediately rejoined weight watchers to get my head on straight–something else to focus on. I lost 18 pounds in 5 weeks. My 6th week — last week, I went up 1.8 (over confidence and portions growing again–plus no exercise program started yet.) I have 7th week weigh in tonight and thought I would see if your site was active. Wow. What a surprise! Sorry to hear about your toe though. Hope you post soon with some encouragement to get my 199 pound 5 foot 4 inch frame moving so I can loose those 59 pounds I hope to shed–that is–until we get pregnant again and then I will watch to not “eat for two” until I deliver. Any advice on that–from what you have read or perhaps anyone else out there on your cite? Anyway, all the best and hope you update your site soon. Glad to see you hanging in there!
Hope that toe heals fast!!
Why do we always look to JunkFood for comfort??
Fred, I found your site from Jackie Danicki.
I’ve broken toes maybe 5 or 6 times. I walk around in socks, and have too much furniture, I guess. (My friend says I have tender toes. My worry is not enough calcium?) But that’s how you know it’s broken-when it turns black like that. Mine never hurt, but shoes don’t fit, and I can walk around in 2 or 3 days if I cut out an old sneaker.
Here’s the secret for when it happens again (and it WILL!): immediately sit down or lie down and elevate your foot for 20 min, if you even think it’s broken. And ice it. It’s the swelling that leads to pain/noshoes/bad weight gain.
Also, last time I found a broken toe blog-I think the blog was dead, but his one thread had 100s of continuing comments on how they did it, how long it takes to get better, should they go to a dr., etc. I recommend googling for that blog! And no, there’s nothing to do about it-and I think it takes even longer than 6 weeks for the swelling to go down totally.
And I always gain weight, so protect those toes!
OWWIEE!! I had that experience last year. The worst pain I’ve ever experienced (and I’ve birthed 4 children). Also there is no sympathy from anyone- mostly just giggles and eyerolls. Sigh. But fellow toe breakers will feel your pain.
It’s May 4 - Have you lost any more weight?