REFLECTIONS

About this time last year (2012), I had a few goals for myself:

1) Lose 50 lbs
2) Look absolutely sexy in my Rock N Roll Goddess outfit
3) Sustain a sub-14:00/mi pace
4) Finish a marathon
5) Learn to swim

With a new year upon us, I'm taking a few moments to reflect on these goals:

1) Lose 50 lbs - I didn't, but I have managed to keep off 15 lbs since the beginning of 2013 when I joined Weight Watchers.  

2) Look absolutely sexy in my Rock N Roll Goddess outfit - Well, since I didn't achieve #1, I haven't attempted to try on this 'little' outfit.


3) Sustain a sub-14:00/mi pace - Serious knee problems during the year (coupled with the lack of weight loss) has not allowed to me attain this goal. 

4) Finish a marathon - I started training to run a half marathon in September (and even considered completing a 'trifecta' - 3 halfs in 3 months), but I had to cut my training short and do therapy due to my knee problems.  So finishing a marathon was not likely this year.

5) Learn to swim - Lessons at the Y aren't cheap (about $100 for members), but still I could have. Given the problems with my knees, this would have been a great workout alternative.

Conventional wisdom tells us to succeed at achieving goals a person may make those goals specific and achievable.  With the exceptions of #3 and #4, these goals would be achievable for me.  So how did I fail?  Another tip of conventional wisdom is to develop a plan to take on your goal. I had plans to achieve the remaining 3 (I joined Weight Watchers to lose weight and I joined the Y so I could get swim lessons at a reduced rate).  But I was not consistent in executing my plan(s).  Admitting to your defeats doesn't make you a failure - it makes you stronger and prepared for greater rewards!

The Phoenix is (slowly) Rising ...

The past few weeks, I've been rehabbing my knee.  This will be my last week in rehab, so I felt I should try to get back into the workout groove.  Today I was off from work, so I took to the gym earlier than usual (for me - about 3:00 pm).  I wanted to get into the pool first, but a fellow gym-goer (male) was in there.  Well, I decided to wait unit he finished and exited the pool - not that I was afraid as I was embarrassed to be seen in a swimsuit (LOL)..  Anyway, I did my cardio trio - exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical - for a total of 45 minutes:
Exercise/stationary bike - 15:00 - alpine pass (level 3) - 5.18 mi, 49 cal
Treadmill - 15:00 - sports 5K (4.00 mph) - 1.00 mi., 121 cal
Elliptical - 15:00 - autopilot - 0.88 mi, 95 cal
After getting up a modest sweat, I finally jumped into the pool for 30 minutes.  This was really a great way to end my workout - the water was warm, so it really helped to relax my muscles.When I finished, my knees were sore - but I expected that.
It's going to be a long road back to the track - but slow and steady wins the race.

Slow Climb Up the Mountain

I know I've been MIA for some time. Well, after my last race (5K in August) - actually some time before but I was trying to ignore it - I was having knee pain, the nagging numb kind that didn't go away after a few days.  So I went to the orthopedic doctor - my knees weren't in good shape.  He didn't completely rule out running, but he wasn't very encouraging either.  He strongly recommended I consider other forms of cross-training - still not a go sign.  Having degenerative knee disease (a fancy name for arthritis) and being heavy is certainly not the ideal combination for running.  But I'm not giving up totally on 'running' - I'll just have to 'speed up' my walking - my 'rog' (run/ jog) will probably turn into a 'wog' (walk/jog).  But first I need to do everything I can to get my knees healthy.  So, it's physical therapy and concentration on strength training and other forms of cardio - biking, water aerobics, etc.)   Maybe I'll finally learn to swim (LOL).  I've been in therapy for the past few weeks and that has certainly helped.  I hope my doctor will prescribe a few more weeks.  This week I go back into the gym - hopefully 2-3 days.

I feel like I'm at the base of Mt. Everett and looking up toward the peak.  I can't see it because it's far above and obscured from view by the clouds.   But I know it's there because I've seen pictures of it and read stories about others reaching it.  I know I can climb it too - maybe not as fast as those before me, but I will reach the peak in my own time.  I have to keep climbing - one hand over the other, one foot in front of the other.

March - My Month of Minor Medical Misfortunes (LOL)

Ahh, beware the Ides of March!  The utterance of such a poetic line has never been truer - at least for me.  With not even the first half of the month has yet vanished lest I have made numerous visits to various medical practitioners for a sundry list of ailments.  It's whimsical to me because after all I'm telling my tale with you in the vertical position - LMBO!!!  (And considering the alternative, I can deal with the discomforts and minor inconveniences.)

* Of course, you all are familiar with my knee trouble - getting rehab plus now fluid replacement shots to hopefully slow arthritis' progress.  And hopefully maintain some level/ability to continue 'runnning.
* A confirmed diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome - my right hand has been symptomatic for some time.  I've been working on better computing habits (ergo stuff with desk, positioning, posture, time, etc.) to help ease the pain - which has helped.  It's severe and the doctor is advising that I not put it off more than 6 months.  But the tests also indicate that I have it in my left hand, although I haven't had any symptoms.
* A couple of weeks ago, I was working in my flower bed and apparently came in contact with either poison oak, poison ivy, or poison somac.  I'm not certain which because all I remember is just lots of dead weeds taking over my flower bed and making it look horrible.  I noticed whelping, redness and had been scratching; I was using just about everything you could get OTC and nothing was helping.  So I went to the urgent care center a week ago, and got a steroid shot and pills.  Unfortunately, I think all that scratching made matters worse, which really didn't help much.  So I went to a dermo and got a prescription lotion and cream - almost $45.00!  I'm starting to see and feel some relief, but it's been slow too.

Needless to say, today was the first day after an extended hiatus that I made it to the gym for a workout - one hour of cardio exercise (25:00 recumbent bike, 25:00 modest walking on TM, and 15:00 on  elliptical).

Hopefully, the rest of the month is downhill - :)!

Rehabbing

Saw my doc last week about my knee: diagnosis - arthritis; prognosis - good.  Will rehab for the next few weeks so no running for awhile.  In addition to outpatient therapy and home exercises, doc recommended pool walking and 'treading water' (running in the deep end).

I did that yesterday for about 30 minutes and knee felt great.

Today did elliptical + body strength straining and core exercises @ gym today ... knee felt really strong.

35:00 on elliptical (2.55 mi) - cross training routine (max resistance 8) - didn't hold on to handles; more effort to keep balance and moving - legs certainly got an extra workout!

Upper body strength training and core exercises (exercise - wt - reps - sets):
Biceps - 20 - 10 -3
Triceps - 20 - 15 - 3
Lateral row - 25 - 15 - 3
Vertical brench - 25 - 15- 3
Shoulder press - 25 -15 - 3
Deltoids - 20 - 5- 3
Chest pecs - 20 - 15- 3
Rear deltoids - 20 -10 - 3
Crunches (w/stability ball) - 10 reps @ sets
Side crunches (w/stability ball) - 10 reps @ sets