Re: Glad to hear there are lots of others, but scary to hear how bad it is for some

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Posted by MARSHA on November 04, 2003 at 01:29:11:

In Reply to: Glad to hear there are lots of others, but scary to hear how bad it is for some posted by Myriam Dyck on September 9, 2001 :

: Glad to hear there are lots of others, but scary to hear how bad it is for some. For me, lots of crunching, sometimes locks up and hurts so have trouble eating, and tenseness. One of the main things that helps is chiropractor, I see a really good one and that loosens it up back to "normal" after a day or two. Other thing that helps to release the muscle tension is vitamins (general) and Calcium/Magnesium in larger doses when it's bad (in 2:1 ration of C/M, good one is Jamieson). For me, my jaw has to move frontwards 1/2" to make front teeth meet to bite through things, and back again to make back teeth meet to chew, so lots of strain on muscle - part of prevention is avoiding gum, corn on the cob, steak, etc anything that's hard on jaw muscles gives me a few bad days later. My chiro doesn't suggest any remedy for the crepitis (crackling in joint) though, just says it's there - anyone know of any good natural remedies for relieving crepitis? I'm just not into taking drugs to handle things, so look for natural means.

MARSHA'S 11-04-03 FOLLOW-UP:

A YEAR-OR-SO AGO, I SPOKE TO AN OSTEO ABOUT THE CRACKLING IN MY KNEES. HE PERFORMED SOME X-RAYS WHICH SHOWED SLIGHT ARTHRITIS, BUT HE DIAGNOSED THE CRACKLING AS CREPITIS. HE SAID THERE WAS NO REAL CURE, AND THE CONDITION OF MY JOINTS DID NOT WARRANT SURGERY. HOWEVER, HE DID RECOMMEND GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTS. (BE CAREFUL TAKING TOO MUCH CALCIUM AS THAT CAN DEFEAT YOUR JAW MOBILITY. CALCIUM IS GOOD FOR THE BONES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE JOINTS.)

THE OSTEO GAVE ME A LIST OF THE VARIOUS VITAMIN BRANDS THAT INCLUDED THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH SO THAT I COULD PURCHASE A BRAND THAT WOULD GIVE ME THE "MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK" (I.E, HIGHEST CONCENTRATION FOR THE PRICE). IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE "SPRING VALLEY" LINE OF SUPPLEMENT WAS AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST. THE "SPRING VALLEY" LINE IS A WATER-SOLUBLE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT LINE CARRIED BY WALMART. ACCORDING TO THE DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS ON THAT BRAND'S GLUCOSAMINE 500MG/CHONDROITIN 400MG BOTTLE, THREE TABLETS PER DAY WITH FOOD FOR 60 DAYS IS INDICATED; THEN AFTER 60 DAYS, TAKE 1 TO 3 TABLETS PER DAY. THERE IS THE STATEMENT ON THAT SUPPLEMENT'S BOTTLE THAT "GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN HELPS MAINTAIN HEALTHY MOBILE JOINTS AND CARTILAGE" WHICH HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE F.D.A. (YEAH, YEAH, YEAH).

ANYWAY, I LOOKED AT THE INGREDIENTS ON THE PRICIER BONE AND JOINT CONCOCTIONS, AND GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN APPEARED TO BE THE DOMINANT/ACTIVE INGREDIENTS.

I HAVE TAKEN THE AFORE-STATED SUPPLEMENT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, BUT IN TWO-TABLET DOSAGES, ONCE IN THE MORNING. (I WAS CHEAP ABOUT IT... THE SUPPLEMENT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE). I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY NOTICED SOME IMPROVEMENT. DURING THE PAST YEAR, HOWEVER, I HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT MORE ACTIVE WITH WALKING, STRETCHING, AND TONING USING WEIGHT RESISTENCE. THEREFORE, RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED A DIGRESSION IN THE PREVIOUSLY STATED SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT.

I DON'T LIKE THE CRACKLING AND THE DISCOMFORT AND THE FEELING THAT IF I AM NOT FOCUSED AND CAREFUL, I'M GOING TO TEAR MY KNEES UP JUST BY STANDING UP, ETC. SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A MORE SOLID COMMITMENT TO RESOLVING THE PROBLEM BY INCREASING THE DOSAGE OF THE AFORE-MENTIONED SUPPLEMENT TO FOUR TABLETS A DAY. THE INCREASE WON'T HURT AND CAN ONLY HELP.

I AM NORMALLY OUTSTANDINGLY HEALTHY, WHICH I HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED OVER THE YEARS. (HAD TO. THERE WEREN'T ANY GENTS AROUND TO DEPEND UPON.) I AM 5'2" AND MY WEIGHT HAS RARELY STRAYED OVER 125 LBS., SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT LIFTING SOFAS, APPLIANCES, ETC. UP AND DOWN STAIRS DURING MY FREQUENT MOVES (IN ADDITION TO HELPING OTHERS MOVE, AND LIFTING HEFTY BAGS OF CONCRETE AND SUNDRY HOME IMPROVEMENT ITEMS) MUST HAVE DONE TO MY KNEES.

I AM 47 YEARS OLD NOW, BUT THE CRACKLING IN MY KNEES WHEN I CROUCH DOWN OR STAND UP DIDN'T PRESENT ITSELF UNTIL ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A RUNNER, AND I THANK GOD FOR THE FACT THAT JOGGING WAS NEVER PART OF MY LIFESTYLE. I USED TO TAKE MY GOOD MUSCLE TONE FOR GRANTED, BUT NOW I HAVE TO WORK AT IT. I BRISK-WALK, STRETCH OUT MY LEGS AS FAR AS THEY WILL GO, AND OTHER ATTENDANT EXERCISE. THIS HAS NOT ONLY BEEN BENEFICIAL TO MY PHYSIQUE OVERALL, I DO NOTICE THAT I HAVE GAINED SOME FLEXIBILITY IN ALL OF MY JOINTS, INCLUDING MY KNEES. YOGA OR EVEN SOME OTHER LESS "FORMAL" STRETCHING IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE JOINTS. KEEPING LIMBER IS A POTENT ANTI-AGING WEAPON.

LIMBER YOUR BODY BY CAREFULLY CHALLENGING YOUR BODY TO MOVE AND STRETCH SLIGHTLY BEYOND PERCEIVED LIMITS. THIS WILL NOT ONLY AID IN DETOXING YOUR MUSCLES (PROVIDING YOU ARE ALSO DRINKING PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER DAILY) AND INCREASING YOUR CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY, INCLUDING YOUR FACE AND JAW, IT WILL MAXIMIZE DELIVERY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS TO YOUR PROBLEM JAW.

DRINKING ENOUGH WATER ON A DAILY BASIS IS REALLY NOT STRESSED ENOUGH, I THINK. FOR YEARS, I HEARD ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY LISTEN. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR NORMAL LIVER FUNCTION. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT IF THEY DO NOT DRINK A THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF WATER DAILY THAT THE LIVER NEEDS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY THAT THE KIDNEYS WILL HAVE TO STEP IN AND WORK HARDER TO HELP THE LIVER OUT. THE WHOLE SYSTEM GOES TO CRAP. NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER ALSO CAUSES THE BODY TO STACK ON FAT THAT IS NOT BEING FLUSHED OUT. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT AND WHO ARE PERHAPS WORKING THEIR BODIES TO EXTREMES I SAY, DRINK MORE WATER AND YOU'LL LOSE SOME POUNDS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL YOURSELF OVER. THE BODY IS A SYSTEM THAT NEEDS YOUR COOPERATION IN ORDER TO WORK PROPERLY.

DRINK AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF WATER PER DAY. AS STATED, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING OVERALL VITALITY AND FLUSHING OUT YOUR SYSTEM. REGARDING YOUR PROBLEM JAW, THINK OF EACH THING THAT YOU DO TO HELP YOUR BODY TO HEAL AND IMPROVE YOUR PROBLEM JAW AS BEING PARTS OF ONE WHOLE (HOLISTIC) ENDEAVOR. YOU INGEST NUTRIENTS THAT EITHER NEED TO BE MOVED TO IT OR PROCESSED FOR ITS BENEFIT, THEREFORE, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO INCREASE YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATION THROUGH PROPER EXERCISE AND INGEST AN OPTIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER TO ACCOMPLISH THE SYNTHESIS OF THOSE NUTRIENTS, AND FLUSH TOXINS OUT OF YOUR BODY'S SYSTEM.

INCREASE YOUR OVERALL BODY CIRCULATION AND FLEXIBILITY AS WELL. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TARGETING ONE AREA OF YOUR BODY AND IMPROVING IT WHILE ALLOWING THE REST OF THE BODY TO LIE FALLOW. STRETCHING, LIFTING YOUR ARMS AND INCREASING YOUR CIRCULATION, "LISTENING" TO YOUR BODY, BREATHING REGULARLY AND DEEPLY -- ENJOYING FLEXING YOUR BODY COMBINED WITH DEEP AND RELAXING BREATHING MAKES FOR A POWERFUL INVESTMENT NOT ONLY IN YOUR BODY AS A WHOLE, BUT ALSO IN YOUR MIND AND SPIRIT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO IT, AND EXERCISE DOESN'T HAVE TO INCLUDE LENGTHY GRUELING WORK-OUTS TO QUALIFY AS EXERCISE. ANY EXERCISE IS FAR BETTER THAN NO EXERCISE. BUT WHEN YOU DO EXERCISE, KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED TO HOW YOUR BODY FEELS AND DO TRY NOT TO STOP EASILY. TRY TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF A LITTLE MORE AND MORE. WITH INCREASED STAMINA, EXERCISE NOT ONLY BECOMES EASIER TO ACCOMPISH, IT BECOMES A PLEASURABLE PART OF YOUR LIFE. WALK, INCREASE YOUR CIRCULATION AND AIR OUT YOUR MIND. PROBLEM-SOLVING IS MAXIMIZED.

MOVE, INCREASE YOUR CIRCULATION AND FLEXIBILITY. EXERCISE ALSO DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SERIES OF PRESCRIBED MOVES AND REPETITIVENESS. IT IS THE QUALITY OF MOVEMENT, NOT THE QUANTITY, THAT GARNERS THE GREATEST RESULTS. THE MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISE IS WHATEVER YOU INVENT AND VARY TO KEEP YOU INTERESTED, FEELING GOOD, AND MOTIVATED TO INCLUDE IT AS A PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE. OVER TIME, YOUR INCREASED STAMINA, VITALITY AND EVEN ATTRACTIVENESS WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS.

EVEN INCORPORATE EXERCISING AND STRETCHING INTO DAILY MOVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE WAY TO THE KITCHEN, ETC., GRAB THE MOLDING AT THE TOP OF THE DOORWAY AND STRETCH, ARCH FORWARD, TWIST... MOVE AND DEEP BREATHE... FEEL GOOD. WHEN CLIMBING STAIRS, STAND ON ONE LEG AT THE BOTTOM AND STRETCH THE OTHER LEG TO REST ON A STAIR THAT IS ONE OR TWO STEPS UP... STRETCH THOSE LEGS OUT. I KINDA LIKE TO THINK, TOO, THAT SUCH EXERCISE (OR MIND CONJUNCT BODY MOVEMENT) NOT ONLY IMPROVES AND/OR MAINTAINS BODY FLEXIBILITY AND MUSCLE TONE, IT MAY JUST "CALL" INGESTED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR REPLACEMENT TISSUE CREATED THEREFROM TO THE BODY'S SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEED. SOMETIMES, TOO, A PAINFUL AREA OF THE BODY IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DAMAGE IS ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY, SO ALL THE MORE REASON TO IMPLEMENT A HOLISTIC PLAN FOR HEALING YOURSELF.

AS FOR ME AND MY KNEES, AS STATED, I'M GOING TO INCREASE THE GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN INTAKE (ALONG WITH A SUITABLE INCREASE IN CALCIUM -- TOO MUCH CALCIUM CREATES UNWANTED DEPOSITS AND SPURS). I'M GOING TO TACKLE THIS KNEE CRACKLING/STIFFENING PROBLEM WITH RENEWED VIGOR. PERHAPS I'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE RESULTS.

AT ANY RATE, TRY THE GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTS, THE MODERATE EXERCISE, THE STRETCHING (FEELING ALL THE MUSCLES PULL, ROTATING THE LEG, THE WAIST... LISTENING TO YOUR BODY, BREATHING, ENJOYING THE STRETCHES AND MOVING HOW YOU WANT, AS FAR AS YOU WANT, PERHAPS MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY). I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS HAVE HELPED ME.

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: : Glad to hear there are lots of others, but scary to hear how bad it is for some. For me, lots of crunching, sometimes locks up and hurts so have trouble eating, and tenseness. One of the main things that helps is chiropractor, I see a really good one and that loosens it up back to "normal" after a day or two. Other thing that helps to release the muscle tension is vitamins (general) and Calcium/Magnesium in larger doses when it's bad (in 2:1 ration of C/M, good one is Jamieson). For me, my jaw has to move frontwards 1/2" to make front teeth meet to bite through things, and back again to make back teeth meet to chew, so lots of strain on muscle - part of prevention is avoiding gum, corn on the cob, steak, etc anything that's hard on jaw muscles gives me a few bad days later. My chiro doesn't suggest any remedy for the crepitis (crackling in joint) though, just says it's there - anyone know of any good natural remedies for relieving crepitis? I'm just not into taking drugs to handle things, so look for natural means. : MARSHA'S 11-04-03 FOLLOW-UP: : A YEAR-OR-SO AGO, I SPOKE TO AN OSTEO ABOUT THE CRACKLING IN MY KNEES. HE PERFORMED SOME X-RAYS WHICH SHOWED SLIGHT ARTHRITIS, BUT HE DIAGNOSED THE CRACKLING AS CREPITIS. HE SAID THERE WAS NO REAL CURE, AND THE CONDITION OF MY JOINTS DID NOT WARRANT SURGERY. HOWEVER, HE DID RECOMMEND GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTS. (BE CAREFUL TAKING TOO MUCH CALCIUM AS THAT CAN DEFEAT YOUR JAW MOBILITY. CALCIUM IS GOOD FOR THE BONES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE JOINTS.) : THE OSTEO GAVE ME A LIST OF THE VARIOUS VITAMIN BRANDS THAT INCLUDED THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH SO THAT I COULD PURCHASE A BRAND THAT WOULD GIVE ME THE "MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK" (I.E, HIGHEST CONCENTRATION FOR THE PRICE). IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE "SPRING VALLEY" LINE OF SUPPLEMENT WAS AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST. THE "SPRING VALLEY" LINE IS A WATER-SOLUBLE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT LINE CARRIED BY WALMART. ACCORDING TO THE DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS ON THAT BRAND'S GLUCOSAMINE 500MG/CHONDROITIN 400MG BOTTLE, THREE TABLETS PER DAY WITH FOOD FOR 60 DAYS IS INDICATED; THEN AFTER 60 DAYS, TAKE 1 TO 3 TABLETS PER DAY. THERE IS THE STATEMENT ON THAT SUPPLEMENT'S BOTTLE THAT "GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN HELPS MAINTAIN HEALTHY MOBILE JOINTS AND CARTILAGE" WHICH HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE F.D.A. (YEAH, YEAH, YEAH). : ANYWAY, I LOOKED AT THE INGREDIENTS ON THE PRICIER BONE AND JOINT CONCOCTIONS, AND GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN APPEARED TO BE THE DOMINANT/ACTIVE INGREDIENTS. : I HAVE TAKEN THE AFORE-STATED SUPPLEMENT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, BUT IN TWO-TABLET DOSAGES, ONCE IN THE MORNING. (I WAS CHEAP ABOUT IT... THE SUPPLEMENT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE). I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY NOTICED SOME IMPROVEMENT. DURING THE PAST YEAR, HOWEVER, I HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT MORE ACTIVE WITH WALKING, STRETCHING, AND TONING USING WEIGHT RESISTENCE. THEREFORE, RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED A DIGRESSION IN THE PREVIOUSLY STATED SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. : I DON'T LIKE THE CRACKLING AND THE DISCOMFORT AND THE FEELING THAT IF I AM NOT FOCUSED AND CAREFUL, I'M GOING TO TEAR MY KNEES UP JUST BY STANDING UP, ETC. SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A MORE SOLID COMMITMENT TO RESOLVING THE PROBLEM BY INCREASING THE DOSAGE OF THE AFORE-MENTIONED SUPPLEMENT TO FOUR TABLETS A DAY. THE INCREASE WON'T HURT AND CAN ONLY HELP. : I AM NORMALLY OUTSTANDINGLY HEALTHY, WHICH I HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED OVER THE YEARS. (HAD TO. THERE WEREN'T ANY GENTS AROUND TO DEPEND UPON.) I AM 5'2" AND MY WEIGHT HAS RARELY STRAYED OVER 125 LBS., SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT LIFTING SOFAS, APPLIANCES, ETC. UP AND DOWN STAIRS DURING MY FREQUENT MOVES (IN ADDITION TO HELPING OTHERS MOVE, AND LIFTING HEFTY BAGS OF CONCRETE AND SUNDRY HOME IMPROVEMENT ITEMS) MUST HAVE DONE TO MY KNEES. : I AM 47 YEARS OLD NOW, BUT THE CRACKLING IN MY KNEES WHEN I CROUCH DOWN OR STAND UP DIDN'T PRESENT ITSELF UNTIL ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A RUNNER, AND I THANK GOD FOR THE FACT THAT JOGGING WAS NEVER PART OF MY LIFESTYLE. I USED TO TAKE MY GOOD MUSCLE TONE FOR GRANTED, BUT NOW I HAVE TO WORK AT IT. I BRISK-WALK, STRETCH OUT MY LEGS AS FAR AS THEY WILL GO, AND OTHER ATTENDANT EXERCISE. THIS HAS NOT ONLY BEEN BENEFICIAL TO MY PHYSIQUE OVERALL, I DO NOTICE THAT I HAVE GAINED SOME FLEXIBILITY IN ALL OF MY JOINTS, INCLUDING MY KNEES. YOGA OR EVEN SOME OTHER LESS "FORMAL" STRETCHING IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE JOINTS. KEEPING LIMBER IS A POTENT ANTI-AGING WEAPON. : LIMBER YOUR BODY BY CAREFULLY CHALLENGING YOUR BODY TO MOVE AND STRETCH SLIGHTLY BEYOND PERCEIVED LIMITS. THIS WILL NOT ONLY AID IN DETOXING YOUR MUSCLES (PROVIDING YOU ARE ALSO DRINKING PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER DAILY) AND INCREASING YOUR CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY, INCLUDING YOUR FACE AND JAW, IT WILL MAXIMIZE DELIVERY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS TO YOUR PROBLEM JAW. : DRINKING ENOUGH WATER ON A DAILY BASIS IS REALLY NOT STRESSED ENOUGH, I THINK. FOR YEARS, I HEARD ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY LISTEN. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR NORMAL LIVER FUNCTION. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT IF THEY DO NOT DRINK A THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF WATER DAILY THAT THE LIVER NEEDS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY THAT THE KIDNEYS WILL HAVE TO STEP IN AND WORK HARDER TO HELP THE LIVER OUT. THE WHOLE SYSTEM GOES TO CRAP. NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER ALSO CAUSES THE BODY TO STACK ON FAT THAT IS NOT BEING FLUSHED OUT. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT AND WHO ARE PERHAPS WORKING THEIR BODIES TO EXTREMES I SAY, DRINK MORE WATER AND YOU'LL LOSE SOME POUNDS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL YOURSELF OVER. THE BODY IS A SYSTEM THAT NEEDS YOUR COOPERATION IN ORDER TO WORK PROPERLY. : DRINK AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF WATER PER DAY. AS STATED, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING OVERALL VITALITY AND FLUSHING OUT YOUR SYSTEM. REGARDING YOUR PROBLEM JAW, THINK OF EACH THING THAT YOU DO TO HELP YOUR BODY TO HEAL AND IMPROVE YOUR PROBLEM JAW AS BEING PARTS OF ONE WHOLE (HOLISTIC) ENDEAVOR. YOU INGEST NUTRIENTS THAT EITHER NEED TO BE MOVED TO IT OR PROCESSED FOR ITS BENEFIT, THEREFORE, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO INCREASE YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATION THROUGH PROPER EXERCISE AND INGEST AN OPTIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER TO ACCOMPLISH THE SYNTHESIS OF THOSE NUTRIENTS, AND FLUSH TOXINS OUT OF YOUR BODY'S SYSTEM. : INCREASE YOUR OVERALL BODY CIRCULATION AND FLEXIBILITY AS WELL. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TARGETING ONE AREA OF YOUR BODY AND IMPROVING IT WHILE ALLOWING THE REST OF THE BODY TO LIE FALLOW. STRETCHING, LIFTING YOUR ARMS AND INCREASING YOUR CIRCULATION, "LISTENING" TO YOUR BODY, BREATHING REGULARLY AND DEEPLY -- ENJOYING FLEXING YOUR BODY COMBINED WITH DEEP AND RELAXING BREATHING MAKES FOR A POWERFUL INVESTMENT NOT ONLY IN YOUR BODY AS A WHOLE, BUT ALSO IN YOUR MIND AND SPIRIT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SLAVE TO IT, AND EXERCISE DOESN'T HAVE TO INCLUDE LENGTHY GRUELING WORK-OUTS TO QUALIFY AS EXERCISE. ANY EXERCISE IS FAR BETTER THAN NO EXERCISE. BUT WHEN YOU DO EXERCISE, KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED TO HOW YOUR BODY FEELS AND DO TRY NOT TO STOP EASILY. TRY TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF A LITTLE MORE AND MORE. WITH INCREASED STAMINA, EXERCISE NOT ONLY BECOMES EASIER TO ACCOMPISH, IT BECOMES A PLEASURABLE PART OF YOUR LIFE. WALK, INCREASE YOUR CIRCULATION AND AIR OUT YOUR MIND. PROBLEM-SOLVING IS MAXIMIZED. : MOVE, INCREASE YOUR CIRCULATION AND FLEXIBILITY. EXERCISE ALSO DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SERIES OF PRESCRIBED MOVES AND REPETITIVENESS. IT IS THE QUALITY OF MOVEMENT, NOT THE QUANTITY, THAT GARNERS THE GREATEST RESULTS. THE MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISE IS WHATEVER YOU INVENT AND VARY TO KEEP YOU INTERESTED, FEELING GOOD, AND MOTIVATED TO INCLUDE IT AS A PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE. OVER TIME, YOUR INCREASED STAMINA, VITALITY AND EVEN ATTRACTIVENESS WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS. : EVEN INCORPORATE EXERCISING AND STRETCHING INTO DAILY MOVEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE WAY TO THE KITCHEN, ETC., GRAB THE MOLDING AT THE TOP OF THE DOORWAY AND STRETCH, ARCH FORWARD, TWIST... MOVE AND DEEP BREATHE... FEEL GOOD. WHEN CLIMBING STAIRS, STAND ON ONE LEG AT THE BOTTOM AND STRETCH THE OTHER LEG TO REST ON A STAIR THAT IS ONE OR TWO STEPS UP... STRETCH THOSE LEGS OUT. I KINDA LIKE TO THINK, TOO, THAT SUCH EXERCISE (OR MIND CONJUNCT BODY MOVEMENT) NOT ONLY IMPROVES AND/OR MAINTAINS BODY FLEXIBILITY AND MUSCLE TONE, IT MAY JUST "CALL" INGESTED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR REPLACEMENT TISSUE CREATED THEREFROM TO THE BODY'S SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEED. SOMETIMES, TOO, A PAINFUL AREA OF THE BODY IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DAMAGE IS ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY, SO ALL THE MORE REASON TO IMPLEMENT A HOLISTIC PLAN FOR HEALING YOURSELF. : AS FOR ME AND MY KNEES, AS STATED, I'M GOING TO INCREASE THE GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN INTAKE (ALONG WITH A SUITABLE INCREASE IN CALCIUM -- TOO MUCH CALCIUM CREATES UNWANTED DEPOSITS AND SPURS). I'M GOING TO TACKLE THIS KNEE CRACKLING/STIFFENING PROBLEM WITH RENEWED VIGOR. PERHAPS I'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE RESULTS. : AT ANY RATE, TRY THE GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTS, THE MODERATE EXERCISE, THE STRETCHING (FEELING ALL THE MUSCLES PULL, ROTATING THE LEG, THE WAIST... LISTENING TO YOUR BODY, BREATHING, ENJOYING THE STRETCHES AND MOVING HOW YOU WANT, AS FAR AS YOU WANT, PERHAPS MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY). I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS HAVE HELPED ME.

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