Decent news from the world of podiatry: my bone spur is NOT the issue. In fact, it has shrunken since I first went in to have it examined. The discomfort I'm feeling now is from strain on my plantar fascia ligament, which is tight and stretches when I take take steps, causing inflammation and the popping sensation in my heel. My doctor offered to give me a cortisol injection today that would take care of the unpleasant feeling instantaneously, and possibly permanently, but I decided to hold off. He's prescribed me orthotic inserts that will help correct my immediate problem, and they won't be ready for 3-4 weeks. My (self-reported) pain level is at about a 3, so I figure that if it gets worse between now and the time I go back to the podiatrist's office to pick up the orthotics, I'll get the shot then (or sooner, if there's a sudden spike). Otherwise, I'll give the orthotics (and, hopefully, a bit of weight loss!) a chance to make an impact and then go from there.
It is interesting how my body has responded to my weight re-gain. I had trained it to be accustomed to a certain amount of movement with less and less mass to carry, and now, it has rapidly re-accumulated a bunch of that mass which was partially caused by, and also which partially contributed to, a significant decrease in movement. The way that added weight has shown up on me has been interesting. Whereas I lost it from all over, it really feels like 90% of it went directly to my waist when it came back. Yes, my face and fingers have pudged out, but the rings I couldn't wear when I was previously at this weight are still fitting from when I had reached my lowest, but the pants I was wearing when I was last at this weight aren't. I know this isn't any kind of earth-shattering revelation, but the areas that are hardest to lose from, are easiest to gain to. We all have our trouble spots, eh? REMINDER TO FUTURE SELF: Don't mess around, girl. It's too hard to work the fat back off! Not worth it.
This is so much work. I'm looking forward to getting back to the place where it just felt routine and second-nature.
Wishing all of you strength and perseverance through the weekend!