Staying the Course: Finding Progress in an Imperfect Week

Winning a body transformation competition was only the beginning. Now, at 65, I'm taking on a new challenge: losing body fat while preserving muscle, strength, and independence. Follow my real-life journey through nutrition, training, setbacks, and the science of healthy aging.

Ibuprofen helped me keep walking during an active week, but the relief came with a reminder: an effective medication can still create a different problem.

And Many Lessons Learned Travel, longer walks, and uneven trails reminded me that severe hip arthritis affects more than one joint - and that even beneficial activity must be dosed appropriately. It has been one week since my consultation with the orthopedic surgeon who will replace my left hip. Following that appointment, everything seemed to be going reasonably well. My pain was manageable, I remained active, and I felt encouraged by the surgical plan and the recovery expec

My surgical consultation made hip replacement feel real. I brought a one-page summary, confronted the risks that worried me, reviewed the planned implant and recovery pathway, and left with a clearer plan for surgery.

A Quieter Hip - for a Reason This week, I performed my prehabilitation exercises twice. I also deliberately minimized walking and other activities that I know aggravate my hip. With that change in loading, my pain stayed around 1-2 out of 10. For the most part, the hip did not limit the rest of my workouts. That is encouraging, but it needs context. A low-pain week does not mean the severe arthritis has disappeared. It means that, at least for now, controlling the activities

Despite severe arthritis in my left hip, I have maintained considerable strength, balance, and mobility. These functional-test results establish the baseline I will use to measure my progress before and after hip replacement.

I’m documenting my hip replacement journey from prehabilitation through surgery, recovery, rehabilitation, and the return to function — sharing the process from a patient’s perspective in the hope that it may help others facing the same decision.