Hi everyone!

I am just returning to the Zone Forums after a hiatus of about 3 years. I had been posting about my success with the diet and losing 70 lbs as well as showing better blood numbers, getting off of Bp meds (thanks to Sue's guidance on Fish Oil), etc. One of my past posts with my numbers can be found here:
http://www.zonediet.com/forums/aft/34354

So, I've been away from the Forums, but not from the Zone (mostly).

I have followed the diet pretty well for the last two years. I have not exercised as much as I should, and the resultant higher blood sugar made me hungrier, and so I ate too many blocks. The results to my weight were a modest gain of 15 lbs over 2 years. I have been struggling with piriformis pain, but have (finally) gotten to the point where twice daily stretching and once daily treadmilling and stationary biking is keeping is largely at bay. I have even been able to start road biking and have had some good success there.

In short, I am feeling great and following the Zone to stay there. So, where am I now?

Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 224 lbs
BP: ??
Glu: ??
Chol: ??
HDL: ??
LDL: ??
Trig: ??
T/H: ??

I have now lost 116 lbs. since I started Zoning back in 2009. I am now only 39 lbs from my target! The only daily meds I take are ibuprofin for my piriformis pain. I have a physical scheduled for this summer, so I will post my updated blood numbers once I have them. I am curious to see how it all pans out after the weight loss, a little gain and more loss again - especially with all of the daily exercise I am doing.

As ever, if you have questions about what I do in particular, I am happy to share my tips and tricks, just ask.

See you on the forums!

- Matt

Welcome back, Matt.
.
At 55 years old, and after 30 hours of travel with 23 hours of flying back from Singapore,
I had some pain and found out that, I, too, am one of the lucky 10%-15% with Piriformis Syndrome.
Once the Piriformis muscle is sore, it aggravates the Sciatic nerve, and it takes a while for the muscle to heal.
.
Though I limited Ibuprfin, I use Icy-Hot on the muscle once or twice a day as well as a stretch 2 or 3 times or more per day.
I am now in my 4th week, and its getting better.
My pain appeared, initially, when I walk or stand for a while.
Initially after only 1/10th mile walking if not immediately, and after standing for more than 30 seconds.
.
But, fortunately, for me, I can bicycle, kayak, and sit with no pain.
But it stopped me from long walks and hikes, for a while.
.
That said, my mum-in-law at age 80, who is over from England for a 2-1/2 week visit from England,
I (we) took her on a Boston harbor cruise, yesterday.
After dropping her and my wife off at the dock, I had to park about 15 blocks away.
(Probably a one mile or more walk, I should have had my pedometer with me!)
.
Then I had to hoof it back to the dock, with some running, to make the cruise in time.
I was fine, didn't notice it at all.
And in retrieving the car for the drive home after the cruise, it was not until after about 10-12 blocks,
that I had to stop and sit for 1 minute, before I could continue walking.
So, it is getting better, it just takes a while, once aggravated.
.
For those that don't know, Piriformis Syndrome affects, as I recently found out,
about 10%-15% of the population, and usually only on one side.
The Piriformis muscle is literally the main butt muscle.
And in Piriformis Sundrome, the Sciatic nerve runs through the muscle,
between the tendons, instead of behind it.
For, me, it is on my right side.
.
Yes, my wife and I have had some good jokes and laughs about her being a pain in my butt, literally!
So, good luck with it! Fortunately, I had not known because i never experienced a problem with it in all of 55 years!
Getting older in age (not outlook or mentality) , probably didn't help ...

Welcome back!

Keep us posted on your progress and absolutely would love to hear tips and tricks!

Matt, P.S.> BioFreeze, a relatively new product works differently than Icy-Hot and similar products (Deep Heat, Aspercreme, etc.) and is effective in its own right. Its the only thing that seems to help my wife's sore shoulder.

Hi Matt!

[quote]
Posted By John on 25 Jun 2012 02:09 PM
Welcome back, Matt.
.
At 55 years old, and after 30 hours of travel with 23 hours of flying back from Singapore,
I had some pain and found out that, I, too, am one of the lucky 10%-15% with Piriformis Syndrome.
Once the Piriformis muscle is sore, it aggravates the Sciatic nerve, and it takes a while for the muscle to heal.
.
Though I limited Ibuprfin, I use Icy-Hot on the muscle once or twice a day as well as a stretch 2 or 3 times or more per day.
I am now in my 4th week, and its getting better.
My pain appeared, initially, when I walk or stand for a while.
Initially after only 1/10th mile walking if not immediately, and after standing for more than 30 seconds.
[/quote]

Lucky us, being in that 10-15%.
I have been stretching twice a day for months. I have been having Piriformis pain for about a year now on and off (mostly on). My sister has been battling it for 4 years. What we can't figure out is, why does the muscle keep tightening up, and how can we relieve that.


[quote]
.
But, fortunately, for me, I can bicycle, kayak, and sit with no pain.
But it stopped me from long walks and hikes, for a while.
[/quote]

I had similar symptoms. I was initially unable to stand for longer than 10-15 seconds without being in pain. That's no longer true; I can stand for a longer time now, but I will regret it the next day. Walking hurts a little initially, but seems to get better once I warm up and certainly, once I stretch after the walk I am better. In fact, that is when I have the least pain. Anything over 25-30 minutes of walking will definitely set me back. I am able to sit, but sitting for too long causes me pain once I stand up. I can cycle comfortable for hours (in fact I did 32 miles on Saturday!).

[quote]
.
For those that don't know, Piriformis Syndrome affects, as I recently found out,
about 10%-15% of the population, and usually only on one side.
The Piriformis muscle is literally the main butt muscle.
And in Piriformis Sundrome, the Sciatic nerve runs through the muscle,
between the tendons, instead of behind it.
For, me, it is on my right side.

[/quote]

*EXACTLY* as I understand it. Good synopsis.


[quote]
.
Yes, my wife and I have had some good jokes and laughs about her being a pain in my butt, literally!
So, good luck with it! Fortunately, I had not known because i never experienced a problem with it in all of 55 years!
Getting older in age (not outlook or mentality) , probably didn't help ...

[/quote]

Thanks John!

[quote]
Posted By cranberrycat on 25 Jun 2012 04:42 PM
Welcome back!

Keep us posted on your progress and absolutely would love to hear tips and tricks!
[/quote]


Will do. :)

[quote]
Posted By John on 25 Jun 2012 06:37 PM
Matt, P.S.> BioFreeze, a relatively new product works differently than Icy-Hot and similar products (Deep Heat, Aspercreme, etc.) and is effective in its own right. Its the only thing that seems to help my wife's sore shoulder.
[/quote]

John:
I have not had success will topical balms, sadly. For me, stretching (and I now know 3 different ways to get at a stubborn piriformis muscle), daily walking and daily cycling on my stationary bike (just ten minutes) keeps it at bay. That and the ibuprofin. I look forward to NOT taking daily ibuprofin.

- Matt

Saw my Chiropractor, today, had an X-Ray.
She was a little baffled at first, because it (Piriformis Syndrome) only showed up for the first time ever, a couple of weeks,
after 30 hours of travel, about 23+ hours of flying back from Singapore.
(Going out to Singapore, the flights were nearly empty, and I had a whole row to stretch out on and lie down on the longest stretch.)
Not so on the return flight, FULL - with a pregnant lady with a child in her lap on the longest stretch return flight!
.
The X-Ray showed a little torsion going on, just by my tail-bone - which she thinks might also be part (only part) of the problem.
By-the-way, if your'e not seeing a chiropractor, might I suggest it. There are good ones out there.
She is very much into and understands silent inflammation, Fish Oil, etc.
.
In fact, fortunate enough for me, she had a good friend in Singapore, with similar philosophy,
and arranged for me to be able to see him twice the week I was there for business!
My wife and I met her kayaking, last year ... Because of her adjustments, and she told me I might, but I had doubts, but she was right!
I had had seasonal allergies (hayfever) 4 weeks in Spring and 2 weeks in fall ever since I can remember, at about age 8 or so.
And she told me that with the adjustments, I might have very little problems.
I was doubtful.
BUT this year was another very bad year for pollen, and with the very mild winter, came earlier and longer than usual.
I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPTOMS THIS YEAR!
For the FIRST TIME EVER, NO antihistamines every 3-4 hours (even the 12 hour stuff lasted only a few hours!)
.....

P.S. I had been on Zone for over 8 years, now, and on Zone in combination to moving to New England, both alleviated allergy only a very little.

John

You state you have zoned for 8 years... Are you still eating Zone ? Reading many of your post you are really more Paleo; aren"t you ? I am also curious if you take Dr Sears Fish Oil ?

Mostly Zone, no grain except Dr Sears approved Steel Cut Oats at 25% or less.
and NO additional sugar.
Usually drop a carb at 4 block meals (but balance 1 block snacks) and add a little added Fat to both meals and snacks.
Except for Coconut Oil, all in agreement with Zone and Dr. Sears.

John:

Thanks for the info. I do see a chiropractor. However, the last two visits seemed to make the piriformis problem worse, not better. After my last visit, I was in pain (and limping again) for a week. I am pretty confident that i will not let the chiro wirk in that area again.

wow, good to hear that after the long hiatus, you're doing great and progressing.
keep on doing your good habit and keep us posted!
Wishing you all the best and to succeed on your goal!!