I set a goal for myself to go to the gym and do at least 2 hours of working out. Then when I got up this morning, I didn't want to. I was comfy in my chair and wanted to stay there all day long. Thankfully, my husband told me I had to go. And so I did.
Today was also weigh in day for me. I climbed on the scale with trepidation because, although I've been working my butt off, I've seen a little gain every week for the last 3 weeks and it was starting to upset me. However, I made a couple of small changes and they paid off. I had a loss of 3.25 lbs. My weight is now 229.25. I have lost a total of 48.25 lbs since I began this journey so many years ago. Slow and steady...but we need to pick up the pace again!
I haven't been in the 220s for probably 20 years, so the feeling of hitting that number is pretty awesome. Now the goal is to hit the 2teens. Trying to take this journey 10 lbs at a time. That way I won't get overwhelmed thinking of how far I have to go.
My ankle was still hurting today, but not as bad. I really wish I knew what was going on, but I'm also afraid to know what's going on. Speaking of pain, I haven't really been able to do push ups on my knees since surgery. The pressure on whatever is healing below my kneecap was just too much. Today, I decided to give it a try. I couldn't do them exactly like I used to (with my knees bent, all pressure on kneecap), but I was able to straighten my legs and do them. I did 125 of them, as a matter of fact. Along with 125 lat pull downs @ 55 lbs, 125 squats, and 125 sit ups. I also did 20 minutes on the stationary bike, and 45 minutes on the treadmill (which included Week 1, Day 3 of C25K). And then hubby and I went for a 60 minute walk this evening.
Tomorrow I'm hoping to get my hands on some fresh kale. I've been wanting to try it for a while, but just never worked up the nerve. I'm very hesitant to try new foods sometimes, for fear I won't like it and I'll have wasted my money. A local produce farm is selling it in a farmer's market-type setting, and it's only $2 for a Ziploc gallon bag. I can spend $2 to try something! And so I'm going to. I can't wait to see what other veggies they have for sale. I'd rather support a local family and get garden-fresh produce than buy the picked/shipped from who-knows-where stuff at the grocery store or Walmart.
So perhaps I'll have a report coming soon on my experiment with kale. I'm really hoping I fall in love with it (like I did asparagus)!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Frustration
I had to scrap the C25K last week and restart it this week. I've been able to do 2 days so far, and I'm hoping to do day 3 tomorrow. Now that the knee is feeling decent, I'm having ankle problems. I've developed a sharp, stabbing pain in the inner aspect of my left ankle. It was so bad today that I could barely walk.
I know I probably need to go back to my ortho to find out what's going on, but I'm kind of scared to find out. I am worried that I've messed up something big and it will require several weeks/months of fixing. I will NOT have surgery again, though. I just cannot go through that again right now. I'm going to give it a little more time and see what happens. Hopefully it will just get all better magically. I can dream, can't I?
I know I probably need to go back to my ortho to find out what's going on, but I'm kind of scared to find out. I am worried that I've messed up something big and it will require several weeks/months of fixing. I will NOT have surgery again, though. I just cannot go through that again right now. I'm going to give it a little more time and see what happens. Hopefully it will just get all better magically. I can dream, can't I?
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Couch 2 5K has started!
To get started on my half marathon training, I downloaded a C25K app to my phone and started using it Tuesday. I was really scared to take those first running steps. I was afraid that the pain I'd had before surgery would still be there. Much to my delight and surprise, it was not! My knee felt awesome - very little pain at all! However, my ankles were a different story.
I don't know what caused it, but the inner aspects of both ankles had shooting pains with every step I took - running or walking. I still finished my training, though. Yesterday I could barely walk, though, and took a self-imposed rest day to recover. I'm still having some pain in the left ankle today, but it's getting better.
One thing I have done to help with this is to reach out for some expert running advice. If the contact I made isn't able to help, I've got some people at work that may be able to help. I'm wondering if my stride is messed up or something. I'd also like to get some tips and pointers from someone who does a lot of running. I know I can stand to learn more!
If I cannot find the source of pain and correct it on my own, then I will have no choice to head back to my ortho. Ugh! I dread the thought of doing that because I'm sure it will involve physical therapy. I would prefer to never do PT ever again in my life. It's very frustrating to make progress only to be knocked back a few more steps. But I'm not giving up.
I don't know what caused it, but the inner aspects of both ankles had shooting pains with every step I took - running or walking. I still finished my training, though. Yesterday I could barely walk, though, and took a self-imposed rest day to recover. I'm still having some pain in the left ankle today, but it's getting better.
One thing I have done to help with this is to reach out for some expert running advice. If the contact I made isn't able to help, I've got some people at work that may be able to help. I'm wondering if my stride is messed up or something. I'd also like to get some tips and pointers from someone who does a lot of running. I know I can stand to learn more!
If I cannot find the source of pain and correct it on my own, then I will have no choice to head back to my ortho. Ugh! I dread the thought of doing that because I'm sure it will involve physical therapy. I would prefer to never do PT ever again in my life. It's very frustrating to make progress only to be knocked back a few more steps. But I'm not giving up.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Catching up
Looks like my last post here was in January. LOTS of changes since then! First and foremost, I finished my first graduate class and earned an A. I have now been off from classes since mid-May and do not start again until August 19. So this summer has been dedicated to ME and my health.
On April 3, I had knee surgery to repair and remove a torn meniscus. It was pretty badly torn up, according to my doctor, and he came out of the OR and told my mom and my husband, "Boy! She needed that!" The recovery has been a long and frustrating process. I was on crutches for about 6 1/2 weeks. That was not pleasant, but it could have been worse. I was also in physical therapy for about 9 weeks, and there are still issues that I need to work on.
On May 18, I walked a 5K in Quincy, Illinois, called "Bridge the Gap." On my doctor's advice, I used 1 crutch because it is a very hilly, challenging course. I am glad I did, because it helped me a ton. I got to meet and speak with former Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee. That was worth every bit of sweat and pain that went into walking that 5K! She is a very, very nice, sweet woman. My son, Nick, walked it with me. I was glad to have him at my side.
So far in June, I've done 2 more 5Ks. I did one on June 8, in Springfield, IL. It was a Color Blaze 5K and I would strongly urge you to run away from this company as fast as you can. It was not a good experience. They were very unorganized. I stood in line for 2 1/2 hours before I got to start. The race started at 11a, but people were lining up at 9a. I finally got in line at 9:30a. I finally got to go across the start line at noon.
The second 5K I did was just last weekend, June 15. It was in Mt. Sterling, IL, and was called the Heart and Sole 5K. I would recommend that one for a nice, easy, highly organized race. Even those of us that were walking got a timing chip! That was the first race that I've ever had one!
In May, I finally broke down and joined Weight Watchers online. I've been struggling with eating and I thought it would help. It has, as I've lost 7 lbs so far. However, in the last 3 weeks, I've had a total of 2 lbs come creeping back and I can't figure out why. I've been working out and walking as much as I can, and my eating has been really good. I only use my weekly "bonus" points (as I call them) once a week on Saturday when I have a cheat meal. I'll figure it out, though. Patience is key. I'm doing what needs to be done. My body just needs to realize it.
Yesterday I was released by my doctor to do "whatever the heck I wanted." So that means I can start CrossFit workouts again. And I did! It had been 10 1/2 weeks since I had last done one. It felt good!
I also talked to him about a goal I made with someone. I was selected to work with the summer intern hired by Campus Rec at work. She has lost 125 lbs and wants to be Life Coach. So she and I have been having conversations about weight loss. She asked me to set a goal. Something obtainable, but something that would challenge me. I don't like setting weight loss goals because I fall on my face, then I get angry, and I self-sabotage. So rather than saying, "I'll lose X lbs by X date," I decided to set a goal of run/walking a half marathon by next spring. Remember that Bridge the Gap 5K I just spoke of a couple paragraphs ago? Yeah, there's a half marathon component to it. I'm going to do that one. I'm so excited!
First step is to start running again. After I've got the running, I'm going to try to find a 10K in the fall to do. Then continue training for the half until May. I can do this. I don't have a time goal at all at this point. My goal is to start and to finish. That's it.
And today is my oldest son's 20th birthday! How crazy is that that my firstborn is TWENTY???? I can still remember all the details of that day 20 years ago. We will be taking him to Springfield this weekend to celebrate. It should be a good time.
Until next time...
On April 3, I had knee surgery to repair and remove a torn meniscus. It was pretty badly torn up, according to my doctor, and he came out of the OR and told my mom and my husband, "Boy! She needed that!" The recovery has been a long and frustrating process. I was on crutches for about 6 1/2 weeks. That was not pleasant, but it could have been worse. I was also in physical therapy for about 9 weeks, and there are still issues that I need to work on.
On May 18, I walked a 5K in Quincy, Illinois, called "Bridge the Gap." On my doctor's advice, I used 1 crutch because it is a very hilly, challenging course. I am glad I did, because it helped me a ton. I got to meet and speak with former Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee. That was worth every bit of sweat and pain that went into walking that 5K! She is a very, very nice, sweet woman. My son, Nick, walked it with me. I was glad to have him at my side.
So far in June, I've done 2 more 5Ks. I did one on June 8, in Springfield, IL. It was a Color Blaze 5K and I would strongly urge you to run away from this company as fast as you can. It was not a good experience. They were very unorganized. I stood in line for 2 1/2 hours before I got to start. The race started at 11a, but people were lining up at 9a. I finally got in line at 9:30a. I finally got to go across the start line at noon.
The second 5K I did was just last weekend, June 15. It was in Mt. Sterling, IL, and was called the Heart and Sole 5K. I would recommend that one for a nice, easy, highly organized race. Even those of us that were walking got a timing chip! That was the first race that I've ever had one!
In May, I finally broke down and joined Weight Watchers online. I've been struggling with eating and I thought it would help. It has, as I've lost 7 lbs so far. However, in the last 3 weeks, I've had a total of 2 lbs come creeping back and I can't figure out why. I've been working out and walking as much as I can, and my eating has been really good. I only use my weekly "bonus" points (as I call them) once a week on Saturday when I have a cheat meal. I'll figure it out, though. Patience is key. I'm doing what needs to be done. My body just needs to realize it.
Yesterday I was released by my doctor to do "whatever the heck I wanted." So that means I can start CrossFit workouts again. And I did! It had been 10 1/2 weeks since I had last done one. It felt good!
I also talked to him about a goal I made with someone. I was selected to work with the summer intern hired by Campus Rec at work. She has lost 125 lbs and wants to be Life Coach. So she and I have been having conversations about weight loss. She asked me to set a goal. Something obtainable, but something that would challenge me. I don't like setting weight loss goals because I fall on my face, then I get angry, and I self-sabotage. So rather than saying, "I'll lose X lbs by X date," I decided to set a goal of run/walking a half marathon by next spring. Remember that Bridge the Gap 5K I just spoke of a couple paragraphs ago? Yeah, there's a half marathon component to it. I'm going to do that one. I'm so excited!
First step is to start running again. After I've got the running, I'm going to try to find a 10K in the fall to do. Then continue training for the half until May. I can do this. I don't have a time goal at all at this point. My goal is to start and to finish. That's it.
And today is my oldest son's 20th birthday! How crazy is that that my firstborn is TWENTY???? I can still remember all the details of that day 20 years ago. We will be taking him to Springfield this weekend to celebrate. It should be a good time.
Until next time...
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