Mark Rippetoe

A broken rib heals in about 3 weeks, no matter what you do. Fastest healing fracture in the human body. Either use a second belt above the regular waist position or use a knee wrap for some compression, and train through it.

Erok

Slow cooking is great. Maximum nutrition for minimum effort. It's hard to screw up, too. Lots of fun to make your own recipes as you go along – I highly encourage experimentation.

While there are many hi-tech options available in slow cookers, I prefer the dirt-simple ones with a warm-low-high-off switch. I just trust them more.

A few tips I've picked up:

• veggies (like carrots, potatoes, celery, RICE! oh, god, especially rice) should go in later, so as not to turn into mush. optional: wrap the veggies in a foil packet so they steam separately.
• chicken or anything with bones, connective tissues, etc. benefit from acidity in the broth. this dissolves the calcium (and possibly other minerals) from the carcass, making it available for digestion. wine, apple cider, vinegar, some beers, lemon juice...
• roasts (beef, pork etc.) benefit from being rubbed in salt the day before.
• sear the meat before you put it in the slow cooker. this does not '"ock in the juices." that's a myth. what it does is create browning (Maillard reactions), which makes more flavor. 
• save all your bones, onion skins, potato butts, etc. in the freezer, and use them to make broth. go to the nearest Asian market or other butcher and get a bunch of chicken feet, and put those in. a little acid for the mix, and let it simmer for a long time, until the feet fall apart. strain it, and keep it on hand for other recipes.

I wish you well on your journey.