tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233031272024-03-13T14:45:28.649-04:00Shake What Ya Mama Gave YouZero isn't a size, it's a warning sign.
- Carson KressleyKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.comBlogger866125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-9063371862087970832015-08-25T15:15:00.002-04:002015-08-25T15:15:58.955-04:00Worked Out AgainWorked out 2 days in a row. I know, I'm impressed with me too. Today I'm feeling yesterday's workout in my inner thighs, which means I'm just kind of dropping the last few inches into my chair.<br />
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Yesterday's food plan got torpedoed by Jason who bought home some ice cream to celebrate something, but I know his heart was in the right place so I couldn't be mad. But up until then, I was stellar. Today I'm on target for my food (and there will be no ice cream tonight).Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-86102388148846467352015-08-24T12:25:00.001-04:002015-08-24T12:25:45.573-04:00Worked OutI got up early this morning and worked out for the first time in a very long time. My shoulder was a little sore afterward and I am so weak. So weak. I used to be strong and now I am weak.<br />
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But I can get strong again!<br />
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I've decided that a having a slightly sore shoulder is just part of my reality now and I need to work around it rather than let it keep stopping me from doing the things I need to do to feel healthy.<br />
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I had a smoothie for breakfast and am focused on low-carbing it. Today is Day One!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-87439523444013479052015-06-08T13:41:00.001-04:002015-06-08T13:41:15.142-04:00Blah blah blahHere we are again, with no progress except for me continuing to feel bad about how my body looks. So I'm working on it, and today I am SORE.<br />
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First, though. I had a physical a few weeks ago. I really like my doctor because we have actual conversations about what's going on with me. A couple of days after my appointment, she left a message for me about a medical weight loss program at a local hospital. She has another patient who was seemingly doing all the right things and wasn't losing weight, but has had success with this program. I thought that sounded promising.<br />
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I did some research into the program and discovered that if you want to lose more than 35 pounds, the program starts with 10 weeks of 2 liquid meals per day plus a calorically-balanced dinner. If they had said "a sensible dinner", I would have guessed the doctor in charge used to work for Slim Fast.<br />
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You know, I'm all for taking some mildly extreme actions, such as cutting out certain categories of foods for a limited time, but 10 weeks of 2 liquid meals doesn't sound like a recipe for long-term success to me. Besides, I've done the liquid diet thing. I was 15, I had jaw surgery, and my mouth was wired shut for 4 1/2 weeks. It was --- not pleasant. Also, it was about 3 years before I could even think about drinking any sort of chocolate-flavored drink without gagging since I mainly subsisted on chocolate Ensure and chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast because all of the other flavors tasted terrible*.<br />
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So in the name of being healthy and not an insane person on a liquid diet, I'm starting (again) to work on my activity level and my food. Saturday Jason and I went to the gym to pump some iron. Then we did some house and garden maintenance, of which mine consisted of taking 8 bags of mulch, dumping them into a wheelbarrow, and spreading them around our garden beds (which look so pretty!). <br />
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Maybe doing that on the same day as starting strength training again wasn't the best idea, since Jason and I have been hobbling around the house for the last 2 days. But we feel accomplished!<br />
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*The chocolate wasn't great either, but it was tolerable.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-30441851700558084242015-02-18T16:24:00.000-05:002015-02-18T16:24:30.015-05:00Another Day OneI was so optimistic about those resolutions, but then we traveled and Jason started making sourdough bread regularly, and really I'm just full of excuses. Also, there are many feet of snow on the ground. All that inspires me to do is huddle inside with hot chocolate and knitting.<br />
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The big excuse is, I have lost my drive when it comes to all of this healthy living. It's been gone for awhile and I keep trying unsuccessfully to get it back. When I went to see a weight loss specialist a little more than a year ago he told me that based on my history of weight loss and gain since I was, oh, 13, and the high rate of morbid obesity in my family, he thought maybe we could get me to lose 30 pounds, but probably not more than that. This is a guy who makes money telling people if they follow his program and buy his stuff, they will loss ALL the weight. I told him right off the bat I want to lose 50-60 pounds (which I did before), and he told me 30 was realistic.<br />
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Which makes me think, why even bother trying so hard? Let's just eat all the yummy unhealthy foods and sit on our bums if the end result of severely monitoring everything that goes into my mouth and working out almost every day is that I'm still fat.<br />
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I know, not a very constructive attitude. But that's where I am.<br />
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On the plus side, I went for acupuncture for the first time a little more than a week ago. I think it helped my shoulder a bit, and I know for a fact that it helped some other aches and pains I've been having so I'm willing to keep trying with the shoulder. Jason warned me a couple of weeks ago not to put all of my eggs in the acupuncture basket and I pointed out to him that this is really my last resort. After this, my option is to talk to an orthopedic surgeon and figure out if he or she can do anything for me via surgery. I really don't want surgery.<br />
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Today is the first day of Lent, so I've decided to start again with the healthy goals. I replaced my broken Fitbit so I can monitor my steps again, and I'm cutting out sugar, grains and Diet Coke. So far I have an A+ for the day, so, go me.<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-19453445455669581862014-12-31T11:39:00.003-05:002014-12-31T11:39:38.101-05:00ResolutionsIt's that time to assess where I am and plan for the new year. This year my resolutions center around (1) knitting (which you probably don't care about. The gist is, stop buying yarn until a chunk of my stash has been knitted.), and (2) health and fitness.<br />
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My healthy ways have been completely disregarded as I continued to feel more and more depressed about my shoulder hurting. I'm a little scared that I'll never swim again. I still need to try acupuncture, and if that doesn't work, then I guess I'll consult with a surgeon and see if he or she has any thoughts.<br />
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However, I don't want to weigh 300 pounds eventually, so it's time to do something, anything, to be healthier. So here's the plan for January, starting January 2 (Jason is making bread to go with tomorrow's black-eyed peas, so I'm going to have that as a last hurrah):<br />
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1) 30 days without the crap. No caffeine, no sugar, no grains. Last night Jason and I were talking about this and he said, Well, but you could have some occasional sourdough bread that I make... Nope. I need to do 30 real compliant days and get this stuff out of my system. I've done it before, it's just been really hard for me to find the motivation to stick to it recently. But I know I can do it.<br />
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2) Walk 10,000 steps 5 out of 7 days per week. We took a trip in October and spent the first few days walking a bunch. It was amazing how in just that short amount of time, I felt like my clothes were fitting a tad looser, and my attitude improved immensely. Walking is about all I can do right now, so walking it is! My fitbit just broke (sad!), but until I get a new one I know if I can walk the path near my house, that's about 8000 steps, and getting 2000 more during the day is a given. If it snows, then I'll go to the gym and do the treadmill or elliptical. <br />
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These aren't mind-blowing resolutions, but then it's only January. 2015 will be the year I get all of this under control again.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-50523089655707402992014-09-04T09:31:00.000-04:002014-09-04T09:31:16.247-04:00Cautiously OptimisticLast night when Jason and I were driving home from pub trivia (1st!), I commented to him that right at that moment, my shoulder wasn't hurting. That's kind of a big thing since most of the time there's at least a slight ache there. This morning I woke up and it didn't hurt.<br />
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Now I'm sitting at my desk and my lousy ergonomic set up is causing it to ache again, but I'm paying attention and doing what I can to adjust my arm to the most painless position. It's better.<br />
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I had planned to get up and start PiYo again this morning, since I figured out that my shoulder hurts whether I'm active or not, so I might as well be active. Only since my shoulder didn't hurt, I thought, maybe it's getting better. Maybe I shouldn't put it through a stressful workout with a bunch of down dog and such and see if it keeps getting better...<br />
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I don't know if that was the right choice, but it was my instinct in the moment. I'm going for a walk later today, so I'll get some activity, but I'm going to cool it with the PiYo for now and maybe I can <em>heal</em>. That's a novel thought. Since my shoulder started hurting almost a year ago I don't think there has been a time when I took a few weeks off from everything like I've done lately. Maybe that's what I needed.<br />
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I'll give it a week. If it's still feeling better, I will cautiously try to do some exercise that uses my shoulder and see how it goes.<br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-40077677206952978432014-08-25T10:40:00.000-04:002014-08-25T10:40:16.414-04:00ResultsAnd the MRI result is - there's no injury. Wah wah.<br />
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I went to my PA on Friday and he told me that the MRI definitely shows inflammation, and some bursitis and tendonitis, but no tears anywhere. Which to me just sounds like I have to learn to live with it. He did say that there might be a surgical option where if there's some impingement they can go in arthroscopically and shave off some bone, and clean out the bursa, and that's helped some people. He said surgeons usually like to see you've tried everything else, including more than one cortisone shot.<br />
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So I got another cortisone shot and promptly almost passed out. I had a stomach ache Friday so I hadn't eaten lunch. Whoops. It's actually been a few years since a needle has made me pass out, and that was when I got blood drawn. The soreness from the shot is finally wearing off today and I can still feel that one painful pinpoint right in the front of my shoulder, which tells me the cortisone hasn't touched it.<br />
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I'm just not sure what else I can do. I did PT for 4 months and have been on a prescription anti-inflammatory for 5 months. I've had 2 cortisone shots and now the MRI just shows vague "inflammation." I guess the next step is to meet with a surgeon in a couple of months (after we take a trip in October) and see if that would be useful for me to consider.<br />
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In the meantime, I am so bummed out by my lack of activity. I was so excited for PiYo, and I've had a couple of friends and teammates who worked the program for the 60 days and have seen incredible results. Meanwhile I purposely did <em>nothing</em> last week just to see what happened and my shoulder is still sore. I suppose that shows that I can work out some and as long as I ice my shoulder after, it doesn't really make it worse, so that's something.<br />
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I need to walk more, since I can do that. I was going to wake up early this morning and do just that, but then I had a really restless night and couldn't pull myself out of bed at 6 AM. Tomorrow! Or maybe today after work, actually.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-67129762268153244402014-08-19T13:19:00.002-04:002014-08-19T13:19:25.415-04:00MRIHad my MRI this morning. Afterward I was wondering if experienced MRI techs know enough to read and interpret what's on the screen? My tech was an older lady who seemed to know her way around the MRI machine, adjusting me and switching out coils to get the best image possible, and checking on me periodically to make sure I wasn't freaking out during the 40 minutes I had to lay super still while magnets grinded and ka-chunked in a huge plate about 3 inches from my forehead. Thank goodness for open MRIs. I can see how people get claustrophobic in the tubes.<br />
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Anyway, she casually chatted with me when I first got there about what happened to my shoulder. Then after the MRI, she probed a little bit, asking about the trauma and the stress my shoulder has experienced to get me to this point. It made me wonder if she saw an injury on the image.<br />
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I'll find out Friday when I see my doctor, but of course I'm impatient. I think at this point I <em>want</em> there to be a discernible injury. Something to assure me I'm not just crying wolf and that there's actually a problem. But a <em>fixable</em> problem. That's key. I don't want swimming, kayaking, rowing, yoga, etc. to be things I just don't do anymore, because, you know, bum shoulder.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-25169176554554376652014-08-07T10:09:00.001-04:002014-08-07T10:09:05.201-04:00AtrophyI saw my orthopedic PA this morning and we agreed that I should get an MRI. He asked if it shows some fraying or tearing if I would be open to having surgery and I said, definitely. It's not that I <em>want</em> surgery of course, but I do want to feel better and get back to my normal activity level. I'm so pleased when I hear my PiYo teammates talk about their successes, but I'm also a little jealous that I'm not right there with them. <br />
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So we're working on scheduling an MRI because insurance, pre-approvals, blah, blah, blah. <br />
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I'm not going to lie - I'm struggling. I have been really down and snippy with Jason and all I want to do is hole up and escape in knitting and cheesy TV shows (currently making my way through <em>Buffy</em> for the first time).<br />
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And the PA made a casual comment this morning about how he can visually see atrophy in one of my right shoulder muscles as compared to the left because I'm obviously babying it. Super.<br />
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At this point, I hope the MRI shows something because if it doesn't, I'm out of ideas.<br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-82572321330149549272014-08-01T13:47:00.001-04:002014-08-01T13:47:18.268-04:00Limiting FactorsMy spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Yesterday I did a PiYo workout called "Sweat", which, yes, that's what you do. I felt fabulous doing it, as usual. My balance and wrist strength are both improving a lot after only a few weeks of doing these exercises. I still modify some things so as not to strain my shoulder too much (no burpees, no push ups, only plank), but I'm able to do a lot of it. Then Jason and I fixed a super healthy dinner (in which we both invented a dish and I determined that we are both brilliant cooks).<br />
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Every so often I get these glimpses into how I <em>would</em> be doing it if I could. I love that feeling when the pieces of my healthy living puzzle fall neatly into place. I feel happy and inspired to continue. I planned to get up early this morning and do PiYo Lower Body.<br />
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Only, I woke up to a sore and stiff right shoulder and I knew if I did another workout I would probably get a headache and I'm tired of plowing through my work days with a headache. Instead I spent a little while laying on the heating pad before I got up for the day. Since getting to work I keep pausing to do some stretching exercises to hopefully keep my muscles from getting too tight.<br />
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I have an ortho appointment next Thursday and I will be requesting an MRI. I'm tired of this and sad about what I'm missing out on this summer - like swimming at the fancy Brown pool while the swim team isn't crowding out the lap swim schedule.<br />
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Like kayaking. Tomorrow if the weather holds out Jason and two of our friends are going kayaking in our favorite spot with the Groupons we bought in May. Me? I'll be starting at the local town beach and walking down to meet them where the river flows into the ocean. I love a nice beach walk, but I'd rather be paddling.<br />
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I know I'm being whiny, but these are the highs and lows of my summer. I'm hopeful that by next summer I'll be able to enjoy normal again.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-69313122593737754522014-07-30T10:50:00.000-04:002014-07-30T12:24:16.754-04:00Keep On Keeping OnSo my shoulder is still wonky. I started doing PiYo a few weeks ago and am really enjoying the short but intense workouts. However, I've discovered that I can't double up on workouts and I can't do it 6 days a week like the schedule calls for. Even with modifications, it's too much for my shoulder and if I push too hard I wind up with tingling and numbness, a massive headache, or both. I've been feeling so discouraged.<br />
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I have an appointment with my PA next week and I'm going to insist I get an MRI to see if there is any real damage. As everyone keeps telling me, if the rotator cuff or any tendons are damaged, they don't heal on their own and surgery is the only option. I've been doing PT for over 3 months now and my therapist and I agree that I have plateaued and am not improving anymore. I'm kind of to the point where if surgery is the key, then let's get in there and get it done!<br />
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Last week after working out too hard, I had a 2-day migraine. Too hard = 2, 20-minute PiYo workouts. I felt great while I was doing them, but the next day all of the muscles around my right shoulder blade and in the right side of my neck had completely seized up. My boss suggested going to his chiropractor. I am open to any and all suggestions at this point so I made an appointment and went yesterday. <br />
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The chiropractor also wanted to see an MRI, but he said if there is damage, he might be able to help with some of the peripheral pain and stiffness. And he did. He tested the strength in both of my arms and it was obvious my right one was struggling to do some of the resistance tests. He checked my alignment and told me my right clavicle was drooping. He used this tool to push it back into place with a little *pop*. Then he tested my resistance strength again using my shoulder muscle and suddenly I could resist without any pain. Wow! I actually said, "Wow!" which I think pleased him.<br />
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So I'm definitely going to keep going to him, get the MRI, see what's going on, and go from there.<br />
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In the meantime, Jason asked me yesterday if I was going to be able to use my kayaking Groupons. Every summer we buy several Groupons from our favorite kayaking place when they pop up in May and I'm really sad to say, I don't think I'm going to be able to kayak this year. The shoulder has now taken away swimming and kayaking, two of my very favorite things. So. Frustrating.<br />
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I just hope by <em>next</em> summer, my shoulder will be better, whether that means surgery or just time (though I think it might mean surgery).Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-77874954744767847222014-07-17T09:51:00.000-04:002014-07-17T11:06:40.048-04:00PiYo Highs and LowsIt'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 <em>do</em> 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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-14947931245044122802014-07-08T17:56:00.002-04:002014-07-08T17:56:28.216-04:00Starting A Challenge and Office ImprovementsNo, the improvement isn't that there's less junk food in the office. However, today I got an office again! I figured since I moaned about not having an office on here a little bit ago, I should talk about the exciting development that is having an office again!<br />
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The people in charge have finally accepted that we're not going to be out of this temporary space by September and something needed be done about the cramped environs. For instance, I was in a cubicle and 3 other people were all sitting in a large conference room together. Cozy! So the landlord rented us some space on the second floor, which means all the lawyers actually have offices now. Hurrah!<br />
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The benefits so far are: (1) I have an office; (2) people will no longer be sneaking up behind me and opening a file cabinet, scaring the crap out of me; (3) I can close my door and have a private phone conversation; (4) unlike the first floor, the AC seems to work pretty well up here; (5) since we still don't have bathroom keys on the second floor, every trip to the bathroom means taking the stairs so bonus steps and floors for the Fitbit. (I could take the elevator, but it's the slowest elevator in the world. And it's one floor.)<br />
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As an extra bonus, I also now have a parking spot. It came with the additional office space we rented. I've been resisting getting a parking spot because I don't usually mind taking the bus, but I've needed my car a lot lately, and the bus routes and schedules just changed significantly, so what better time to just admit that I'm part of the problem and drive my car to work every day?<br />
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In other news, I started PiYo officially yesterday as part of the PiYo Facebook challenge I'm doing. I've done two workouts, and have had to tweak some things for my shoulder, but so far it's not so bad. Tomorrow's workout is called "Sweat", so I may change my tune.<br />
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As part of the challenge I post pictures of my meals, which means they better be healthy or I get no points. Points are excellent motivation for me.<br />
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It's like when the teachers on The Simpsons are on strike and Lisa pleads with Marge, "Grade me! Grade me!" I always thought Lisa was my nerdy, bookworm soulmate.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-70048440173851870552014-07-03T13:02:00.002-04:002014-07-03T13:02:49.226-04:00Struggle At the OfficeOur office used to consist of me, my boss and our assistant. We also had a junior associate periodically. So there were 3 or 4 of us and we had an unspoken arrangement that we would not be bringing junk food into the office. I swim, my boss bikes, our assistant walks and does P90X. Office snacks available for general consumption consisted of trail mix and granola bars. We got birthday cake at the appropriate time, but since the assistant's and my birthdays are 3 days apart, cake happened twice a year.<br />
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Then the office grew. We now have 9 people, but we knew we were in trouble when numbers 5 and 6 joined us at the beginning of March. Within a week, number 5 had brought in donuts, cookies and cupcakes to share with everyone. We also learned that number 6, probably one of the skinniest women I have ever seen in my life, lives on chocolate and pizza.<br />
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Now, in addition to trail mix, our office kitchen is also stocked with Nutter Butters (my personal kryptonite), those crappy crackers with cheese or peanut butter that are full of trans fats, and chocolate chip cookies.<br />
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I really miss the unspoken arrangement of no junk food. It made it much, much easier to stick to my food plan. Now I have to exercise actual willpower and not pick up that package of Nutter Butters. It's hard, y'all.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-48207383495505451842014-06-25T15:49:00.000-04:002014-06-25T15:49:47.677-04:00PiYoYesterday, I ordered PiYo from beachbody.com, fine purveyors of such products as P90X and Insanity. <br />
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One of my online knitter friends is a beachbody coach (pretty sure this means she gets a kickback any time one of her people orders a product through her link, which is fine with me). I've been whining about my shoulder and my inability to do anything with any sort of impact and she suggested PiYo. It's a combination of pilates and yoga and is low impact. Sounds ideal, right?<br />
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I have lots of friends who have done various beachbody workouts with success, so I know this is a tried and true company. So I ordered PiYo.<br />
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Now my friend has hooked me up with a couple of Facebook challenge groups, and the main PiYo challenge starts July 1. From what I've read, the PiYo workouts vary from 18-35 minutes, and there are lots of modifications you can do if you have issues. I've already been reading some comments from people in the Facebook group and there are so many people there who have knee, hip, or just general joint issues and they're loving this workout. I'm excited!<br />
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In the meantime, I still have pain in that one little pinpoint on my shoulder and I notice if I even walk for a long time, my shoulder aches. For real, shoulder? You're not even going to let me walk? <br />
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<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-41659693562335841202014-06-18T10:21:00.000-04:002014-06-18T10:21:17.538-04:00State of the ShoulderI won't lie, I'm a little down. I joined a 3-week challenge that started last week, and despite the allure of points and knitting-related prizes, I haven't been doing that great. Mainly because I haven't been working out. Part of it is because I haven't been sleeping that well (which is odd) and of part of it is because I've been down about my shoulder.<br />
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With physical therapy, I've been doing a bit better. My range of motion has improved and I've strengthened the muscles around my shoulder to stabilize it better. Last Wednesday I went to Masters swimming for the first time in a few months. It was so great to be back in the pool, but I paid for it. I swam in the slower lane, and swam last so I could take my time. I got out of the pool early, but I still did too much, I guess. All day, my shoulder was stiff and sore, and I wound up with a really bad headache as the soreness crawled up my neck and into my head.<br />
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The next morning I went to pt and my therapist spent about a half hour working on my super tight traps and neck muscles to try to get them to release. By the time I left, my headache was finally going away, but I was still miserable at my failed swimming experiment. Later that day, I met with the orthopedic PA and he gave me a cortisone shot.<br />
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The idea of a cortisone shot scared me to death. I mean, doesn't the idea of a shot in your joint sound horrifying? But it was seriously no big deal. Over the weekend I felt a bit sore at the injection site, but I gradually realized my regular pain had lessened. Except for this one pinpoint on the front of my shoulder. I went to physical therapy yesterday and my therapist poked around the sore spot and explained that it's the convergence of a muscle and a tendon and sometimes that tendon can get frayed or ripped. If that’s the case, tendons don't heal on their own and surgery is the only option.<br />
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Yesterday I was sore from the piddly little weight exercises they have me do at pt. So I skipped Masters this morning because I didn't want to aggravate my shoulder any further and have a repeat of last week.<br />
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I'm seeing the PA again in about 2 weeks. If I'm not seeing significant improvement, the next step is an MRI to see if there is a tear.<br />
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I’m trying not to think too much about surgery until it's an actual possibility. Apparently it can take 6-12 months for full recovery.<br />
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I'm just really sad. Swimming has always been the one thing I’ve loved and never got tired of. <br />
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So in the meantime, I think what I need to do right now is focus on strength training. My gym has all of the weight machines, and thanks to pt, I’m pretty aware of what my shoulder can and can’t handle. At least I can lift heavy with my legs. I don't love it, and it doesn't give me the endorphin buzz like swimming, but it's what I can handle right now.<br />
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Also, I need to walk. If I could walk 3 miles a day, or most days, that might get rid of some of this excess energy I have balled up inside of me that's keeping me from getting to sleep at a decent hour.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-87966239613693346422014-05-29T15:35:00.002-04:002014-05-29T15:35:36.346-04:00Second Place!First of all, we're back from St. John and I'm a little depressed about that just generally. Although I am happy my eyes are getting back to normal. I always forget, but every time we go to St. John I have an allergic reaction to <em>something</em> and the skin around my eyes puffs up and itches like crazy. This is the 4th year now. Every year I think, "Maybe it's such-and-such that's causing this," and every year we rule out one thing or another. <br />
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I have absolutely no seasonal allergies of any sort anywhere else in the world, but there is <em>something</em> in St. John that the skin around my eyes doesn't like. My eyes are fine - they don't get red or teary. I don't get stuffed up or cough or sneeze. I don't get skin irritation anywhere else. Just the very delicate skin around my eyes for whatever reason. It's bizarre.<br />
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Anyway, once I got past my self-consciousness about looking a little freakish with my puffy eyes and just wore my sunglasses everywhere, we had a great time. I wasn't going to let puffy eyes stop me from enjoying paradise. We snorkeled and swam in the ocean every day.<br />
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But the important part is, we got 2nd place in our relay! Only 2 seconds away from 1st! It was a race to the finish for Tad and the other team's anchor. However, I think it's important to point out that the 2 guys on the other team were both free divers and had fins that were, like, 4 feet long. I'm convinced if we had had 4 foot long fins, we would have smoked them. I'm proud of us!<br />
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My shoulder was great. Earlier in the week I took one little swim around a little island in the middle of one of the swimming beaches, just to get the kinks out and see how I felt swimming with my snorkeling fins. My shoulder started aching a teeny bit by the end of that swim, but nothing too bad.<br />
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After my leg of the relay, I iced my shoulder for about 10 minutes and I was fine. Actually, I had little to no shoulder pain the entire time we were on vacation.<br />
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Since I got back, though... I've realized that sitting at my desk all day, even while consciously pulling my shoulder blades together and sitting up super straight makes my shoulder ache. My sedentary lawyer job has injured me, which is probably the lamest way ever to get injured.<br />
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However, this morning I got clearance from my physical therapist to swim again since I did so well in St. John! She also tested my strength and range of motion and determined that I am much improved since I started with her a couple months ago. Saturday morning, I'm hitting the pool! I was reflecting to Jason yesterday how when it's my idea to not swim (for example, in the middle of a brutally cold dark winter), I can handle it, but being forced not to swim, especially as the mornings are brighter and I'm waking up early anyway because it's light out, has been wretched. I'm looking forward to getting back in the pool!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-55130377266232611692014-05-14T13:09:00.000-04:002014-05-14T13:09:00.826-04:00All Hail Prescription Drugs!When an orthopedist (or orthopedic PA, in my case) tells you to take an anti-inflammatory, it's a good idea to do it. The problem is, we're still trying to have a baby, right? And the particular anti-inflammatory I've been prescribed (or really any anti-inflammatory) isn't good for an embryo. So I haven't been taking my pain pills for a couple of weeks. <br />
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Which is when I did too much helping with set up at the Arthritis Foundation walk, and my back muscles knotted up and I had two weekends in a row ending with severe shoulder pain plus a migraine at the end of one of those weekends.<br />
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I started taking my pills again yesterday and it's like night and day. Yes, I still have a dull ache in my shoulder, but it's just a mild humming in the background rather than shouting in my face (and crawling up my neck and down my back). What I have learned is that up until a month ago, my shoulder hurt really bad, but I was just Dealing With It.* Then I had a couple of weeks of less pain, so I really, really noticed it when suddenly that pain wasn't being stifled anymore.<br />
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The point is, I'm feeling better and my perspective is a lot more cheery today.<br />
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*I have a history of breaking bones and not realizing it for a few days. A high pain tolerance can be dangerous.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-28449657233791382552014-05-13T13:46:00.000-04:002014-05-13T13:46:45.707-04:00Radio SilenceThings have been quiet around here. I just haven't felt like writing. I'm kind of down, if you must know.<br />
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Next week we're going to St. John. I'm excited, but it's tempered by my lack of working out over the past couple of months because of my shoulder. Yeah, I know these things take time, but I haven't been able to train at all for our swim. The good thing is, this time the swim is at the end of our trip so we will have been snorkeling for several days leading up to it so my legs will be good to go. Also, we're using fins, and I'm so glad we decided to do that. At the time we felt a little lame, but I know I couldn't do this swim without the fins right now. Well, okay, I could, but I would be in a lot of pain at the end of it.<br />
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As it is, I have a feeling I'm going to be in pain for a few days afterward. My physical therapist has recommended a couple of things for me to do following the swim to try to mitigate the repercussions. <br />
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Also, I'm just kind of bummed that I'm going to St. John as heavy as I am right now. I know I'll probably forget about it once I'm in my swimsuit for a couple of days, but right now I'm feeling extremely self-conscious and there's nothing I can do about it.<br />
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Also, my work environment has been significantly downgraded in the last month and a half and it's getting to me. I went from having an office for 6 years to now having a cubicle with no privacy at all. We've added some new people to our firm and we're in interim space until our new fancy space is built out. Only, the last I heard we still hadn't signed the lease on the new space. Originally they said we would move in September. At the rate things are going, I'm guessing we're going to be here for at least a year. <br />
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I share a cubicle with the filing cabinets, which means the admins and paralegals are constantly buzzing in and out of my space. I can hear everyone and they can hear me, which sometimes makes client calls a little awkward. There are two partners who have offices, with doors that close and windows, and the rest of us are out in a common area together. It's extremely stuffy and most everyone has a fan going at all times, which adds to the overall din.<br />
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I know I'm being entitled but, Office. For 6 years. Every other lawyer who I tell this story to is horrified. Because we're all very entitled, I suppose.<br />
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But this time next week I'll be in St. John, so I guess I can't be too down. I have a lot to do before then, though, so, back to work.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-29513990913656118782014-04-09T15:13:00.003-04:002014-04-09T15:15:29.274-04:00The Verdict on the ShoulderWell, swimming is going to have to go on the shelf for at least a month or so. I saw an orthopedic PA this morning and he said it's most likely a torn or inflamed labrum. I had no idea what that was until a couple of hours ago. Apparently it's the tissue surrounding the shoulder socket. According to the internets, tears are often caused by repetitive motions or a sudden pull, such as when lifting a heavy object. <br />
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Which basically confirms to me that I hurt it when I took that surfing lesson last September. It started hurting the next day. The instructor gave me a GIANT surfboard and I vividly remember several times when my arms were jerked as the waves pulled the surfboard out of my arms. Although I'm heavy, I'm not super tall and I think that board was too much for me to handle. Ever since then I've just been exacerbating the problem when I went to the pool and swam laps.<br />
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I have a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and start physical therapy in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I will have improved enough to not reinjure myself when I do the St. John swim at the end of May. Because there's no way I'm skipping that. However, this makes me really glad we decided to do the swim with fins. I definitely know I can swim 1 1/4 miles with fins, even if I don't train between now and then.<br />
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My fingers are crossed that we can get this fixed and it won't hamper my swimming long-term.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-72435788474900548002014-04-07T17:23:00.000-04:002014-04-07T17:25:46.152-04:00Getting Fit Part 2Well, I didn't win the entire March Knit and Get Fit challenge, but I did pretty well, and I won a prize (a fancy hank of yarn)! Here's what I most liked about this challenge. First, getting points for workouts means I actually made an effort to get to the gym and work out. I started Masters swimming again, regularly attended the morning strength class at the Y, and even did some walking and strength circuits on my own.<br />
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It was kind of gratifying when Jason joined me in those circuits one day and after one set, when I announced "Only 3 more rounds!", he looked traumatized. But he did them all with me. He's doing really great, actually, and lost seven pounds in March!<br />
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Second, we got points for posting pictures of the healthy meals we were eating, which is incredible motivation for actually eating healthy meals. March wasn't perfect, food-wise, but it was pretty darn good.<br />
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By the end of the month, I hadn't lost any weight, but I had lost an inch on my waist and hips, and a couple of inches on my chest. I was hoping for more, but the challenge was a really good jumpstart for me.<br />
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Now here's the bad part - I'm having a really hard time with my shoulder. Push ups and shoulder exercises in strength training class are bad. Swimming is bad. I went swimming on Saturday with Rebecca and even though we did half of the workout kicking, we did enough with our arms that by Saturday night my shoulder and head were hurting. Yesterday I realized the right side of my neck hurt. It's the end of the work day on Monday and my shoulder and the right sides of my neck and head are still hurting. <br />
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So today I made an appointment with an orthopedist. <br />
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I know I can do the 1.25-mile St. John swim right this second, and snorkeling doesn't really involve the arms, so no matter what, our vacation at the end of May is intact. However, I've skipped the last 2 weeks of Master's swimming because I don't want to aggravate the shoulder anymore than I already have.<br />
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So I've been walking. A lot. Since I seem to be useless for much else right now, my goal is to walk 10,000 steps per day in April. Saturday I got 7000 steps, but I swam, so I called it good. Every other day in April so far, I've walked at least 10,000 steps. <br />
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I have a feeling I'll also be adding physical therapy to the routine in the near future.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-70856076945640170302014-03-06T14:05:00.003-05:002014-03-06T14:05:55.483-05:00Getting FitUnlike all the other times I don't post for almost a week, I'm actually doing really well this time. The Knit & Get Fit group is off and running and so far (4 days in), I'm killing it!<br />
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Not to toot my own horn. But I did win a prize today for being in the top 3, so... Toot!<br />
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It's been interesting because the only person I know in the group is the organizer (and I only know her through <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://www.yarnbox.com/" target="_blank">Yarnbox</a>) and everyone is at completely different levels with their fitness and nutrition knowledge. We're all encouraging each other and the fact that I get points and am accountable to a group makes it that much easier to get up early and go to the gym.<br />
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Since it's Facebook-based, a lot of the points hinge on photos. We get a point for taking a picture of each of our meals, for taking a sweaty picture of ourselves post-workout, for taking a picture of our latest knitting project. We also get a point for posting a motivational quote, and it's been fun to find them and to read everyone else's.<br />
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This morning the organizer announced a mini prize. The top 3 of us are going to get a copy of a knitting pattern on our Ravelry wishlist. Nice! She told us that she'll be doing mini prizes like this all month, so that's fun.<br />
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The grand prize will be a set of interchangeable knitting needles, yarn handspun by the organizer (I've seen her stuff; it's gorgeous), stitch markers and some buttons. I understand none of this has any appeal to someone who doesn't knit, but the idea of winning makes me clap my hands with glee.<br />
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And now the reason you're really here: how are those workouts going, Kelly?<br />
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Pretty well, actually.<br />
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Monday: strength training<br />
Tuesday: swimming<br />
Wednesday: Masters swimming<br />
Thursday: rest (I need it. I did both of those swims still hurting from strength training. I'm not sure what exercise we did, but my calves have been killing me.)<br />
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Tomorrow I'll go to strength training again and Saturday I have another swim planned.<br />
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I need to get used to this schedule again. First of all, I'm sleepy by 8:30 or so and basically out cold by 10 lately. Second, swimming two days in a row this week made me HUNGRY. I've been doing pretty well with the low-carb/Paleo approach, I just need to eat a bit more until I get used to being so active again.<br />
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It's amazing how quickly I get back into this pattern. Last week I was a lump on the couch. This week I'm feeling guilty for not working out this morning. Just got to keep it up. As the Nike motivation I posted yesterday for motivation says: Just do it. Then do it again.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-37213206472237035072014-02-28T12:03:00.003-05:002014-02-28T12:03:45.129-05:00More Goals, Always With the GoalsBut this time, I really mean it with the goals!<br />
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March is going to be awesome, just you wait and see. First of all, I've joined a get fit group headed up by a woman who works for <a href="http://www.yarnbox.com/" target="_blank">Yarnbox</a>. She mentioned on one of the Ravelry threads that she was organizing a Knit & Get Fit group and asked if anyone else would like to join. There are points involved and knitting-related prizes. She pretty much had me at "points", but prizes? Yes, please!<br />
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I had already started setting myself up for March to be the month it all comes together. I rejoined Masters swimming. It starts Wednesday. I'm a little nervous. When last I swam with Masters, there was a slow lane, a moderate lane, a pretty fast lane and a super fast lane. I started in moderate, but eventually moved up to pretty fast and held my own. Especially with kicking. (Kicking is where I am <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbh4u_oA0rk" target="_blank">a Viking</a>.) I don't ever think I'll be in the super fast lane, and that's okay because they are SUPER fast, but I'm pretty sure at this point I'm also no longer in the pretty fast lane. Back to moderate I'll go and just hope I can keep up.<br />
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The good news is, I roped my friend Rebecca into Masters with me this time, and I know she has been swimming as little as I have over the past several months so at least I won't suffer alone.<br />
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So for March my plan is to get my eating dialed in for reals (low-carb/Paleo), to swim 2 times a week and to go to strength training 2 times a week. The light is already better in the mornings and the evenings and (despite the storm forecast for Monday) I'm hoping overall March will let up with the snow already.<br />
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I've been having a really hard time this winter, and I'm not the only one. The snow just keeps coming, it's been very gray and it's been COLD. I think the entire northern US is over this winter. There is much grumbling going on. Usually in New England, we get cold and snow, but at least it's relatively sunny. I thought I was just being oversensitive this year until our farm share people apologized because their greens supplier couldn't get us the usual amount of greens. In the winter they grow greens in greenhouses, but this year it's been so gray and dreary that their crop isn't growing as well as usual. It's not just me! I think next year I need to invest in a winter light box.<br />
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I'm pretty excited for March and to be involved with a challenge group again. I'm feeling optimistic and excited to get going. And I already have plans to swim laps tomorrow morning, to welcome in the month.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-75954671748345553452014-02-06T15:41:00.001-05:002014-02-06T15:41:43.197-05:00Excuses - I Have ManyI went swimming Monday! Yes I did. Swim buddy Rebecca psyched me up via text on Sunday afternoon and Monday at 6:30 we were in the pool!<br />
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The good thing about swimming in New England in February is that chances are, you'll get your own lane.<br />
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The bad thing about swimming in New England in February is that it's still very, very cold and dark in the morning. Although on Monday the cold wasn't so bad, so it wasn't too painful.<br />
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Tuesday was Masters swimming and I didn't join this session, so I couldn't swim. I thought ok, Wednesday I'll go to strength training and Thursday I'll swim again.<br />
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Then Tuesday night into Wednesday we had a snowstorm.<br />
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Then this morning I couldn't take my car because Jason wanted to use it and given that he is the one who shoveled our walk and my car out, I wasn't going to take my car and make him dig out HIS car too. That would qualify me as Worst Wife Ever, I think.<br />
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My next plan is to swim on Saturday.<br />
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In diet news, I baked bread yesterday in the bread machine. I woke up with my alarm at 6:30, and after realizing it was going to be a snow day, I padded downstairs in my slippers and thought, "I should make some bread." I don't know why. I haven't made bread in months. For some reason, it seemed like a fantastic idea. When Jason came downstairs a couple of hours later and realized there was bread baking he was thrilled and told me that the night before he had thought how nice it would be to have some hot bread and butter* on our snow day. I think being psychically tuned into my husband's culinary desires might qualify me as Best Wife Ever.<br />
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The bread was really good and we ate most of the loaf yesterday. In case you forgot, bread is Not Paleo.<br />
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So, you know, this week hasn't been awesome in the healthy living department. But I'll keep trying.<br />
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*What he actually said was "hot b with butter" which is what our niece used to request to eat when she was 2 and it's a phrase we use a lot. Also useful as an exclamation: "Hot B With Butter!"Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23303127.post-47053616727517872932014-01-31T11:05:00.000-05:002014-01-31T11:05:17.238-05:00Day 28 - Getting Psyched for FebruaryA month ago I set a goal to start swimming again in February. I don't know if you know, but February is tomorrow. It's not any lighter in the morning than it was when I set that goal. It's not any warmer - if anything, it's been colder.<br />
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Regardless, Monday morning I will be at the pool!<br />
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(With my awesome new <a href="http://kellyim10.blogspot.com/2014/01/day-21-reasons-to-swim.html" target="_blank">swim bag</a>.)<br />
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My <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> <a href="http://kellyim10.blogspot.com/2013/08/sparkpeople-meet-up.html" target="_blank">swimming group</a> will be doing a February challenge where we set goals every day and come back at the end of the day to report on how we did. The goals can be about food and exercise, but also about other things that we want to accomplish in February. Per usual, I am aiming for doing better with my diet and truly implementing my Paleo/Primal eating plan with ONE splurge day at the end of the month. I will start swimming Monday, and next week I'll plan to go to strength training Wednesday and Friday.<br />
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Over the next month, I also plan to list and check off some of the home organization goals that Jason and I have. We are determined to wrangle our clutter into shape before it gets warm again and we're out of the house every weekend.<br />
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I may include my knitting projects. I love checking things off of to-do lists. Sometimes I add things to my lists at work after I've finished them just to mark them complete. So satisfying!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573340707827029537noreply@blogger.com0