It's been bit more than a week since I started PiYo and I thought I would give a little update. First of all, I'm really enjoying the program overall. I like the combo of pilates and yoga a lot. I've always enjoyed pilates (probably partly because it's something I can do with my strong swimmer's core), but have sometimes found straight yoga classes to be a little dull. So sorry to my friends who are yoga devotees, but it's just not my thing. The combination of the two and the constant movement is really appealing to me. I feel challenged and I sweat, but PiYo doesn't have all of that plyometric stuff that other workouts do and that completely shred my shins.
I have had to adjust some things. Instead of push-ups, I hold plank. Push-ups are too unstable for my shoulder, but I've done plank in PT so I know it's approved. I can't do anything that has me balancing a lot of weight on just my right arm, but fortunately there aren't too many exercises like that.
I've noticed I'm a bit stronger and while down dog hurt a week ago, I now seem to have the muscle support around my rotator cuff to do it along with the DVD most of the time
Finally, and as I've just crowed about on Facebook, in less than 2 weeks I have lost an inch on my waist, half an inch on my hips, 3/4 inch on each thigh and 3/4 inch on my chest! Batteries are dead on my scale so I couldn't weigh, but I think measurements are so much more telling. Yesterday I noticed that I just felt a little different. A little less wiggly maybe? Turns out it wasn't my imagination.
So here's the down side. My shoulder continues to be a struggle. It's so frustrating. On Tuesday night I did two of the PiYo workouts for a total of 42 minutes. I had minimal pain while I was doing it, iced my shoulder afterward, and felt pretty great. Then yesterday morning I woke up and discovered that all of the muscles around my right shoulder blade and in my neck had knotted up. I took my prescription anti-inflammatory Tuesday morning, but I think I need to take it shortly before the workout so it's at maximum strength while I'm working out and right after.
Anyway, this morning, I'm just coming out of a migraine brought on by all of the muscles in the right side of my neck seizing up. I've determined that the majority of the migraines I've had over the last couple of years have probably been shoulder-related. This has probably been a problem for a lot longer than I realized. Thanks a lot, shoulder.
It's really disheartening because PiYo is low impact and I have been modifying, and yet my shoulder is still a problem. Working out has shoulder-related repercussions that can last for a couple of days. It may be awhile before I can swim again. I probably won't be able to kayak this summer. All my favorite things are slipping through my fingers.
I have to admit, I'm a bit down about that. But I'm encouraged by the inches lost and the fact that I can do PiYo, so long as I'm careful. No more doubling up on workouts. I think what I'm going to do is shoot for doing PiYo every other day, and walking on the days when I don't do PiYo (and maybe on the days that I do too). At least I can still walk.
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