A New Challenge!

I'm going to make this short...more like an update type entry, not a full-out blog...mostly because I'm REALLY tired!

Tonight my super awesome amazing trainer Casey had me do some of our workout with the weighted vest on. It felt like it doubled the difficulty of what I was doing. It was so nice to finally feel like I have a challenge again that didn't affect my leg at all. As much as I wanted to cry while I was working out, I can't wait to do it again!

There's also a new challenge at the gym that is going on for the next 4 weeks. Most of it is leg-appropriate, except for the bench hops. I'm going to try to figure out something comparable that I can do that will allow me to work towards the challenge. I'm ready to be 100% again, but am not willing to set back all the progress I've made. We'll see what happens!

Some days are better than others

Today has been an especially frustrating day. Not only am I having car issues (again), but right when I found a way to get there, I can't go with friends to the Concert in the Park tonight because the closest we could park would include a total of about a mile-long walk. I'm trying REALLY hard to stick to what my PT said I can and can't do until this muscle heals, but its just frustrating that it is SO limiting. What's even worse is that I agree to do things with friends because I get excited about them, and then suddenly realize that I can't go because of these leg issues and have to bail at the last minute. Anyone that knows me knows how much it bothers me when people bail on me; I feel twice as bad when I do it to someone else.

Luckily, I have friends and family that understand the struggles I'm going through right now and know that I'm not bailing because I'd rather be doing something else. Trust me, I've had enough of sitting at home watching First 48 and counting calories.

I walked on the treadmill today so that I could charge my ipod (of COURSE it was dead when I got to the gym), but quit as soon as I felt a tightness in my leg (usually comes before the pain)...which added up to less than 6 minutes. I'm seeing the PT again on the 26th, so I'm hoping we'll add to what I can do at that point.

Thanks for all the support...this WILL eventually get better!

Update

I thought after my visit with the Physical Therapist today would be a good time to give an update. First, I think I'm really lucky to have a PT whose goal is the same as mine: to eventually get back to running! She told me today that she thinks I have also developed tendonitis in the anterior tibialis muscle (a muscle that runs down the inside of the leg, wraps around the back of the ankle bone, and holds up the arch of the foot). Because of this, the muscle isn't supporting to bone in order for it to heal correctly. The game plan is to rest this muscle enough to get rid of the inflammation, and then start strengthening the muscle so that I can begin doing short runs.

In the meantime, Kaia (my PT) said that I need to be wearing shoes with inserts at all times in order to protect and support the arch of my foot while the AT muscle isn't (goodbye, cute summer sandals.). She also said that I should refrain from doing any extended walking, or walking/standing on uneven surfaces (no hikes, walking on gravel/sand/grass) and no balance exercises that aren't on the floor (BOSU balls, balance platforms, etc.).

Kaia suggested I stick to the bike and the rower for cardio at the gym (no treadmill or elliptical, as they put weight on the leg), and work on upper body and core strengthening exercises. I also have limited strength, flexibility, and movement in my left hip, left side of my lower back, and IT band...so all of my at-home PT exercises are related to fixing that issue, just until the irritation in my AT muscle goes down.

It's time to set some new goals...I'll post them as soon as I've written them out. Thanks for everyone's support. I'll hopefully be back up and running (ha!) by January 2012.

What Saved Me

I think this to myself often, but today it was especially strong...

HOW DID I EVER SURVIVE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF MY LIFE WITHOUT WORKING OUT??

I have found in the last year and a half that working out has become my vice. At the beginning, I thought it was running. Now, I'm starting to realize that a successful workout gives me the same feeling that a successful run always did. I am attempting to follow a few friends on their challenge of 100 workouts for the summer. With that mindset, I worked out twice today. This morning, I did an upper body workout, and tonight I had my favorite...Club Circuit!

The last couple of months have been especially trying. I found myself quickly falling back into old coping habits (food, food, and more BAD food), and it took a few weeks for me to realize what I was doing. Once I realized it though...I found out that my new coping habits (healthy cooking, a great workout, time outside with good friends) are much more satisfying than the old ones. Working as hard as I possibly can during a one minute challenge at the gym gives me the confidence that I can be successful at whatever I put my mind to...even if I thought it was impossible from the start.

I know I talk about working out a LOT (for goodness' sakes...this blog is dedicated to it), but I simply want to share what I've learned! I am someone that REALLY struggles with change. But this change in lifestyle has saved me.

She's baaaaaackkk!

I got the go-ahead to ease back in to running from the physical therapist today. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. But that being said, I'm going to EASE back in. Getting re-injured is not an option.

For now, I can run on the treadmill, and then move to an all-weather track. She said that I can't run any inclines or hills for now. We'll see how this goes!

YAAAAYYYYY!!!!

Boot Free!

Well, I've been boot-free for a couple weeks now, and my leg is feeling pretty great. Had a minor setback because I went for a short one-mile run (I was desperate...that's another story.), but it's feeling pretty good now.

The best part is that I'm almost back to my workouts 100%. I've been a little more brave with what I try to do, and just stop if it hurts, but most things have been okay. I really want to get back to running, but after that one miler hurt the way it did, I know I'm not ready.

Soon enough!

Patience

My patience is dwindling. I should be done with the boot by now. We're 7 weeks in!

Emailed my orthopedist tonight...we'll see what he says.