Comments of the Week will return next week. I've got issues to work through today. Sorry, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon.
For a few weeks now I have had an annoying sensation in the back of my left knee. While running on Saturday I realized that it has gone from annoying to pretty uncomfortable. I also noticed while attempting to run this morning that it is starting up behind my right knee also.
After five days of trying to "run through it" I decided I needed to get it checked out.
The diagnosis - tendinitis.
WebMD defines tendinitis as "an inflammation or irritation of the tendon, a thick cord that attaches bone to muscle."
There are many causes for tendinitis but I am sure the reason for mine is a combination of lack of stretching and overuse.
It's not a huge deal,right? It's nothing some ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and two weeks off running can't fix.
WHAT????????????
Yep, you read it right. No running, biking, or even aggressively walking, for two weeks.
I acted like it was no big deal while in the doctor's office but after I left I immediately when into "depressed mode" (no, not Depeche Mode). I cried on the way home. I sat on the couch and did nothing until Octavio called and said he was on his way home. I asked him to pick up something for dinner because I didn't feel like cooking. BLAH!
Thankfully, my husband had enough sense to get me a grilled chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A. If I had went out on my own to get dinner it would have been either-
- Pizza and bread sticks
- Chinese
- McDonald's
Most likely it would have been option number 3 and I haven't had McDonald's since January 28th.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, honey, for stopping on the way home and saving me from myself!
My mind is really having a hard time accepting this restriction. I would like to say that the pity party won't last but I don't know if it will or not. The only thing keeping my weight off is running. Nothing else has ever gotten my heart rate up high enough.What am I going to do without it for two weeks?????
Dr. S did suggest a few other activities to help keep me doing cardio. He said I should try a row machine or swimming. Swimming would be great, but since I don't really have access to a pool, I put an e-mail plea out to my friends here in Louisville last night asking if anyone had a row machine that I could borrow.
Court e-mailed me back pretty quickly to let me know they'd be happy to loan me their Total Gym 1000 for a few weeks. I can't wait for Octavio to go get it!
I also found this Tae Bo DVD with 30 intense 1-minute Workouts. I'll focus on the upper body workouts of course.
My gut might grow in the next few weeks but my arms will be HUGE, too! :)
The good thing is that tendinitis is curable. I don't have to deal with it forever. I have to listen to the doctor and behave. If I don't, I'll be out even longer.
I now have two weeks to implement some new things into my workout routine. I need to focus on stretching before I work out. I need to do a few jumping jacks, get my legs warmed up a little, then stretch my legs before I pound the pavement. I also need to find some things to do on my off days to get cardio in every day without running every day.
I'll be on the look out for a stationary bike while hustlin' this weekend.
Enough about that...
Now for my good news...
I got my lab results back and I am SO SO proud of myself.
My good cholesterol stayed the same. It is about 10 points lower than they'd like to see it but the doctor says I am doing all I can and he's happy with that.
My bad cholesterol was alright in 2006 but I still decreased it by 30 points!
My total cholesterol was in range in 2006 but close to being high. It decreased 70 points!
My biggest change was in my triglycerides -
2006 - 281
Doc wanted them below 150
2008 - 76 !!!!!!!
TWO SNAPS!
Bring it on!
Challenge:
An upper body challenge of course :)
Begin lying face down on a mat, arms at your sides, palms facing the ceiling.
Make sure your neck is in a neutral position.
Keeping body stationary and arms straight (but not locked) lift the palms up toward the ceiling as high as comfortably possible. Hold for 2-3 counts.
Lower to starting position to complete one rep. Make sure your arms stay in line with the shoulder.
7 comments:
It sounds like you're scared that this tenditis (sp?) is going to set you back with your weight loss/healthy lifestyle. Your mental state has already given in to it. It's okay to have a pity party every so often, that's normal. But just know that you've worked way too hard to revert back to McDonald's. This is a temporary set back. While you're recovering, you can totally find muscles in other areas that you didn't know existed with your friend's new machine. lol.
So glad to hear about the good news from your doctor re: your health! That is awesome! Hope you're able to get a small premium for life insurance.
I still read you! And I know you've got blog lurkers (every blog has them) that don't comment. You're thought of, you're prayed for, and you're loved by many.
Hey Michelle, Don't beat yourself up over not being able to run. You have a strong mind and will power to boot so you will do just fine. Think of it as simply a 2 week hiatus to research other forms of weight loss exercise. Also, I think I remember you mentioning something in a previous blog about your parents giving you an exercise ball. I know that that has a DVD work out that goes with it. Try using that, as I know from past experience if you do the exercises correctly you will get an entire body workout.
Hang in there, you will do just fine and remember we are all here to love & support you.
Ooh, girl, this is a perfect time to start some bellydancing videos!! Veena and Neena Hips, Buns and Thighs from the library is the B-omb!! I could show you a couple moves at church on Sunday if you'd like, its great for the abs and the low back. I do two moves everyday whenever I am bored aaaaaaaaaand I have totally incorporated that awesome hip blaster from the other day! I do it every other day and girl does it burn!
Swimming is also the Bomb cardio blaster, but I am in the same boat as you, no access to a pool. Bummer! But, the Tae Bo and the Ball are great workouts. Pilates is really good stuff too. I have some Windsor pilates DVD's that you could borrow if you'd like. I did have Hip Hop Abs but I sold them on CheapCycle.
Awesome Job on the cholesterol test! That is majorly radical and mucho impressive! Keep up the great work and don't let this set you back, remember to always put your big girl panties on and Deal. Wa-hoo!
See you soon!
Awww....Michelle, now that makes me want to drive right back down there and give you a big old hug! Just remember, this is just a minor bump in the road of health. In a few weeks when you can start back up again, your body will probably go back into kick start mode and you'll be in the 180's! :)
I'm praying for you and that its a quick and easy recovery. You've got tons of support from MI!
One way to get your heart rate up is when you work out with weights or resistance bands...take less of a break between repetitions. If you were doing a set of 12 curls, start the next set just seconds after completing the first. I have a book you can borrow that explains it very well. I'm just saying, you really can get your heart rate up with regular strength workouts instead of things designed only for cardio.
I know the running has gotten your heart rate up, but when you read any info about weight loss and changing your body, you'll find that you're already doing what it takes. Real weight loss and body change comes from lean muscles (burns more calories) being worked out (strength/resistance exercises). Your muscles are leaner because you're loosing weight the right way. You're doing resistance/strength training which continues to shape your body the way you want.
You can't let this get you down. You've accomplished so much and there is no way it is due only to running. Think about it. You really couldn't run that much when you were pregnant. You gained very little and dropped it immediately. Your weight loss is because you've made a wonderful lifestyle change. After you can run again, I can't wait to hear your wonderful testimonial telling us how it didn't impact your progress!
Love you and praying for you!!
Leigh - Thanks for bringing a little bluntness to your comment :) I needed to hear it!
Mechele - I am definitely going to learn how to use that ball these next few weeks.
Susan - I need to get to the library and reactivate my account so I can get that DVD.
Cheri - Thanks for the cyber hug. Wish we could have gotten together this week :)
LaV - Thanks for reminding me of how far I have come. I will be trying to do the resistance band and dumb bell exercises with less rest in the middle like you suggested. Maybe I needed a few weeks to just focus on muscle...
Thanks again friends!
I think you are doing amazing and maybe a couple weeks of something new will be good for you.
I've been doing crunches everyday (100-200 depending on how I feel) and I was getting down on myself because I haven't noticed a difference, but Andrew reminded me that they are getting a lot easier for me to do. So I guess that is something, I'll just have to keep it up to SEE more results.
I'm sorry to hear about your knees, I had tendinitis in my wrist so I had to stop going to yoga, I wore a brace for a couple weeks and it got better. It has been hurting me again lately though. So I know what you're going through somewhat.
Don't let it get you down, you've come so far you can't let this stop you!
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