I really think ALL the Stephanies should be healthy. Damn it.

Seconded. Health~ma to all the Stephanies.

Well, it looks like this PT is definitely over. The plan right now is to take advantage of the three weeks of free gym membership I get through PT, continue exercising as home, and reevaluate the situation with my PCP when I see her again in August.

So now the question is how do I motivate myself to exercise when I don't have an appointment or a schedule set for me? I'm notoriously bad at that sort of thing. Any advice welcome.

sj, per val's recommendation, I've been putting stars on a calendar for myself! It is surprisingly satisfying. Also, it's nice if you plan to spend time on a treadmill/elliptical/bike to go during a time when you can watch a tv show you like (maybe not one that needs a ton of attention)

Thanks meara. I'll keep those ideas in mind. I can't really do the bike or treadmill. My routine is more 5 minutes on this machine, 5 minutes on the next, etc as well as some free weights.

My routine is more 5 minutes on this machine, 5 minutes on the next, etc as well as some free weights.

Would a podcast/book on tape be too distracting during that? I can see how it could be, but on the other hand, it might be entertaining.

Oh, smonster, I feel ya, in the not-actually-groping way. I'm allergic to both latex and nonoxynol-9, and I can't take BCPs anymore because of that one blood clot that one time, not that I want to take the damn things ever again anyway, so... yeah. If I ever become not-NGA, there'll be an interesting discussion at some point. I don't even know what the alternatives are.

I'm allergic to the nonoxynol-9, too, and figuring that out has been a hugely good thing. Just go with non-treated condoms and some lube and you'll be fine.

Also, Zen, you can get the lambskin condoms. Although not if you're a vegan, I guess.

I don't even know what the alternatives are.

IUD FTW! I picked the IUD when I was 35 because of the increased rate of clots and heart stuff in older women (ouch...I'm "older"). The Mirena does release a low dose of levonorgestrel, but my OB/GYN said that because it releases it in the uterus, the levonorgestrel doesn't get into your system the way it does with oral BCPs. And then there's the totally non-hormonal copper IUD.

Although there also non-latex condoms. I don't know how they compare, in terms of sensation and whatnot.

Also, Zen, you can get the lambskin condoms. Although not if you're a vegan, I guess.

There are other synthetic nonlatex condoms too, which I would google if I weren't at work. But I've been buying them for years. I can't remember the exact name, but I'm pretty sure the brand is Durex.

I'm the opposite of vegan! Lambskin condoms would work, as will the non-latex plasticy ones they have now, but neither have been proven to prevent transmission of HIV, so that's its own little problem.

I'm pretty sure I don't have a problem with nonoxynol-9, but I cannot believe how much lube I need. (And I feel like that, for some reason, requires whitefont, when I regular-font every damn thing else about my sex life. I refuse to whitefont the lube!)