Weekly Workout Recap!

It was quite a dreary week here in Central PA! It motivated me to stay inside and lift more often than go outside and walk or run!

Epic Chest workout at Planet Fitness! I was sore the next two days!

 

4 mile walk @ 17:31. Slowing down, as per Cheryl's advice!

4 mile run, 1/2 mile cool down. Knee felt VERY strong. 

Hip was tight later in the day. If it's not one thing it's the other.

Bird dog looks relaxing but I think it is hard!

Look who hijacked my towel. I had to do bicycle crunches on the hardwood floor!

I celebrated National Running Day by going for a 4 mile walk. And I danced to Uptown Funk several times with my students. If you saw the video we were dancing to, you would understand why I count this as a workout... and why my knee was sore after.

Sooooo.... that's 4 lifting days, 2 walk days, 1 running day. BLECH! I am running on Saturday. I need it.

Do your fur babies hijack your workout towels?

How did you celebrate National Running Day?

Happy Birthday, Meg Go Run!

On June 5th, 2013, I published my first blog post and never looked back! I went balls to the wall and committed to posting every day. Now, 2 years later, I am still going strong!

It's my 2 year BLOG BIRTHDAY!

Thanks everyone who reads and/or comments each day. I really appreciate it! I know my blog is little (turns out, writing blog content takes up so much time that I don't have any energy left to get my blog's name out there), but it is MIGHTY and it has some loyal readers!

Here are my favorite birthday boys... in no particular order....

Here are some of my favorite blog posts from the past year! Check them out if you have missed them.

Hey, it's okay to HATE running!

5 Reasons Paul Hates Facebook

Why Pot Should Be Legal

Kids' Chance 10k Recap

Why Don't You Have Kids?

If you blog, how long have you been blogging?

Self diagnosis and questions/info for my doctor.

WARNING: THIS POST IS ALLLLL OVER THE PLACE AND LONG.

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. OR SKIP!

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY: THE MORE I LEARN AND THE MORE I KNOW... THE MORE I REALIZE I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN AND ACTUALLY BARELY KNOW ANYTHING!

Seeing a doctor Monday...

I am finally seeing my doctor on Monay! I don't know why it takes so long to get an appointment at OIP, but it does. They herd cattle in there... "cattle" meaning patients. I really feel like I am an animal on a farm when I get bounced from room to room, only seeing each doctor or nurse for less than 10 minutes. You have to show up about an hour before you see a doctor, and when you finally see him, you barely get to talk to him. (I AM GETTING MYSELF WORKED UP JUST THINKING ABOUT PAST EXPERIENCES THERE!)

You may be wondering why I am going to such a place in the first place. Well, I want to see the doctor that did surgery on my knee. I figure he's a good place to start. Then, after I get my MRI results back (because I am pretty dang sure they are going to order and MRI), I am going to listen to what this doc has to say (If the answer is not surgery, only the secretary calls to explain things. Yeah, it's horrible. They are only interested in you if they get to cut you open.) and then also get an appointment somewhere else entirely and have OIP place send my MRI to the new place I go. I do not completely trust the doctor who did my surgery.

Anyway, so that's my big plan for tomorrow. I just hope if they order an MRI they can get me in before we leave for vacation. Otherwise it will be quite a long time before I even get and MRI let alone have the doctor analyze it and have his secretary call me.


Self diagnosis via the internet...

I actually don't like going online and doing a self diagnosis because it FREAKS ME OUT! Also, even though I know a lot about my body, I am not a doctor, so what is the use of working myself up about something that may even not be true?

That being said, a couple nights ago, I did do some "knee pain" research. It's kind of tricky because 14 months ago, I got my knee scoped- which means there was a doctor in there looking at everything. He removed a plica and some scar tissue under my kneecap. Other than that, there were no tears in the ligaments or menisci. (Is that the plural of meniscus!?) In fact, at my surgery follow up appointment, I remember him quite clearly saying, "You have a brand new knee."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem, sorry for the sarcasm. Boy does remember shit like that make my blood boil. Anywhoo....

So if there is something "big" wrong with my knee, like a ligament or meniscus injury, it would have had to have been from after my surgery. But there has been no acute injury between my surgery and now. From what I read about torn ACLs, I definitely do NOT have that because there are things I can do that someone with a torn ACL cannot. Also, the pain would be more severe, most likely. (This is just me reading and conjecturing. I know I am not a doctor!)

The closest thing I have found to what I am experiencing is a torn meniscus. Here is some stuff I lifted from the web about signs of a torn meniscus. I have crossed out the things that don't apply to me, but left the things that do  apply to me....


Symptoms of a Torn Meniscus may include (but are not limited to):

knee pain

hearing a popping or clicking within the knee (can't hear one but can sense/feel one!)

limited motion of knee joint

pain with running or walking longer distances

Intermittent swelling of the knee joint: Many times, the knee with a torn meniscus feels "tight". (mine never feels tight but feels like it is swollen sometimes)

Popping, especially when climbing up or down stairs

Giving way or buckling (the sensation that the knee is unstable and the feeling that the knee will give way): Less commonly, the knee actually will give way and cause the patient to fall. (mine has never actually buckled but feels like it could)

Locking (a mechanical block where the knee cannot be fully extended or straightened)

That all being said, there are days when my knee feels COMPLETELY FINE. Like right now, it feels great. I ran 4 miles this morning and my knee feels wonderful. Yet some days it feels like it's going to collapse... so confusing...

On Friday night, I was convinced I had a torn meniscus. Then, after reading some advice from Cheryl over the weekend, I started to wonder if maybe I was suffering from just plain old runner's knee? Here is her comment:

"Okay, it sounds to me like a type of Runner's Knee. When you walk aggressively/quickly there are more compressive forces on the patella-femoral joint than running easily/efficiently. I would stop all activities that put pressure on the knee- lunges, squats, plyometrics, and the hip stretch (anything with excessive knee flecion/compression), and ice it, rest it. With Runner's Knee, sometimes even the bursa under the kneecap is inflamed."

Well, THAT is interesting! Guess who has been putting a TON of pressure on her knee lately via walking instead of running and doing that DAMN COUCH STRETCH FOR LIKE 4 MINUTES A DAY! THIS GIRL.

So then I Googled Runner's Knee...

"Symptoms of runner's knee include tenderness behind or around the patella, usually toward its center. You may feel pain toward the back of the knee, a sense of cracking or that the knee's giving out. Steps, hills, and uneven terrain can aggravate PFPS."

Researching Runner's Knee led me toward Pateller Tendonitis...

"Patellar tendonitis usually begins with a stiff feeling in the patellar tendon, especially when running downhill or descending stairs. Like most tendon injuries, it may go away once you get warmed up, but as the injury worsens, it will remain painful for the duration of your workout.

It is also important to distinguish patellar tendonitis from patellofemoral pain syndrome: patellar tendonitis does not hurt along the top or the side of the kneecap, and isn’t usually sensitive to the touch." <----- It actually feels GOOD to touch and compress my knee.

So what does all this mean? It means I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG BUT I AM GOOD AT GOOGLING SYMPTOMS.

Stuff I wrote down for the doctor...

Here is a bunch of stuff I wrote out that I plan on printing out and giving to the doctor. I know there will be forms to fill out but there is never enough space to say everything I need to say on them!!! I don't have any specific question other than, "What the hell is wrong with my knee!?"

There isn't one acute incident that has caused this. I have been managing pain through rest, changing exercise habits, strengthening my hips/glutes. In the beginning of April, my right hip started to bother me which made me decide to stop running for 2 weeks and walk only. That is when my knee seemed to take 5 steps back. I felt like I was slowly managing but then when I changed to only walking it's like everything I had done so far went out the window.

Never hurts to touch- in fact, feels good to have pressure

Throbs under knee cap and on lateral side

It feels clicky deep in the middle. I can't feel the click with my hands, it's just an awareness.

Feels weird to go from a locked knee (like when doing a forearm plank) to pending

Walking bothers it more than running

Bending it the entire way does not hurt

Feels very weak. Sometimes it pulsates, sometimes it just feels “puffy”

Haven't been able to lift lower body, jump, or run long distance since my surgery because it is either uncomfortable during, or after activity- not worth it to feel the pain

Driving is probably when it feels the worst. It can feel fine all day especially at work when moving around, but then I get in the car after work and within the 15-20 min drive home, it is pulsing and feels weak.

Activities with repetitive motion bother it- low impact activies included. It's not the impact it seems, but the motion

Do you self diagnose?
Anything else you thing think I should mention or ask my doctor?

Randomy Randomness

1. I am trying to figure out a stylish way to wear my compression socks in the summer. I normally wear them after a workout. That used to be easy because I would just wear boots or leggings to work to cover them up. But in the summer, it is hot. What am I going to do, wear my jean shorts with my ugly ass compression socks and flip flops?

2. Our house isn't necessarily always clean (we have cats, the hair gets everywhere quickly!) but it is always tidy. There's not clutter laying on the counters or tables. However, we do have this one place where we throw everything that doesn't have a home!

The cabinet looks innocent enough... but wait until it is opened...

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Puzzles, paperwork, business cards, folders, books, a ukulele... it's a MESS! I probably organize it once a month, but then a week later it looks like this again! It's the dirty little secret in our house!

3. My favorite part about when it rains it that I don't have to water my garden! Because watering the garden is so time consuming, right? I mean, it takes at least 90 seconds to fill up my huge watering can and then another three minutes or so to walk outside and water everything.

Look, a tiny little pepper and a tiny little tomato! I can't wait until they are abundant!

4. My winter coat is still hanging on my desk chair at work. Do you think it is time to take it home?

5. The school year is winding down, which means I am starting to get cards from my students!

'

"Dear Mrs. Cooney, You are the world's best music teacher. Brea and I will cry each night!"

(I joke with the kids that I will cry myself to sleep every night because I will miss them. They get my humor. At least the 4th graders do!)

Any compression sock advice?
Do you have a place where you just THROW all your junk?
Tell me something random!

Balls to the Wall!

I was texting a client the other day (who also happens to be my friend), and she mentioned that she read my post about my breakdown about my knee. She said some very caring words, and also mentioned that she knows I "like to go balls to the wall" and it must be frustrating that I can't.

Yes! That's exactly it! I haven't gone balls to the wall and had the burning feeling in my chest and legs for quite a long time. Obviously I don't need to be going balls to the wall every day, but once a week would be just perfect! Whether it was through speed training, tempo runs, or HIIT workouts, I really enjoyed pushing myself in a way that I can't right now.

I am feeling the burn in the ways that I can- through upper body strength training. The burning feeling of a good, hard sprint has been replaced by the throw uppy feeling I get every time I max out on unassisted pull ups. And I am definitely seeing improvements! Pretty soon I won't be buying my bras in the little girls section. (Not because my boobs have gotten bigger, but because my lats have been freakin' POPPING lately!) I see definition in my arms not just when I flex or when I am swole after a workout, but just doing everyday activities. It's very motivating! And just the other day I benched at the gym (with the Smith machine- I know that is easier than straight up benching but that's all Planet Fitness has) and I managed 5 reps @ 95 . I'M GETTING BEASTLY.

As much as I love lifting upper body, I wish I could lift lower body. And I wish I could sprint, do squat jumps, lunge switches, and all that crazy stuff I used to do in front of my house while my neighbors watched in confusion...

How often do you like to go "balls to the wall"?

Weekend Wrap Up!

Lately, everyone has been asking me, "How many more days of school left?" Answer: 3.25 student days, 6 teacher days. Woohoo!

Friday started with a pretty good run! I did a short walking warm up, 4 mile run, then a short walking cool down. I have come to realize walking bothers my knee way more than running does. 

On my way to work, I dropped Paul off at his favorite fishing spot. He spent the morning along the creek, and at lunch, I took him home. Then it was back to work. I won't lie... I was counting down the hours until 3:40!!!

After work, I blogged, cooked, and did some random house things, which may or may not have included cleaning up cat pee.

Paul and I played cards, as per usual on our Friday nights. I switched things up and had a dirty martini! I like mine really dirty... and really cold!

 

For dinner, I made a yummy bowl of brown rice, grilled chicken, salsa, cheese, and fresh cilantro from the garden! I love my garden! I have also been slacking on drinking water, so we stocked up on seltzer water this week.

<---- Not cat barf.

I had a great chest workout at Planet Fitness in the morning. I benched for the first time in months and after a THOROUGH warm up, loaded the 15lb bar up with 80lbs and banged out 5 reps! I have to use the smith machine because it's Planet Fitness so I am pretty sure I couldn't do this without the stabilization of the machine. (I just need to point that out and be honest on here!)

Okay, this one guy at the gym loaded the bench up with... 5 sets of dumbbells.

You can't just hoard dumbbells like that! I mean, I can understand maybe having two pairs if you are alternating something, but 5!?

That afternoon was the yearly piano/violin recital my sister-in-law and I have for our students. I am so proud of them, they did a wonderful job!

Aren't they cute?

This lovely lady has been my student for 10 years and it was her last recital.

I may have bawled like a baby at her last lesson...

That night, our friends Geoff and Bree came over for game night... except we ended up talking for about 3 hours and only playing one game!

Cuties!

One of Paul's Quiddle rounds. Boy did we have making fun of this!

You won't believe how late I stayed up on Saturday night. 2:00 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Due to our late night, I didn't crawl out of bed until 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. My day consisted of...

-Watching a lot of Jeopardy with Paul

-Grocery shopping

-Walking 4 miles in the scorching sun

-Weeding, yard work, cleaning off the back porch, car pot, shed, fixing the bird bath, getting 

rid of dead tree branches.... I just basically made sure the outside of our house looked nice for one. (FUN FACT: i MOWED THE LAWN ON SATURDAY AND WORE MY GARMIN. .93 MILES! AND WE HAVE A REALLY SMALL YARD!)

-Finishing a puzzle

-Started a puzzle

-Watching a lot of Survivor with Paul

-Trying to go to bed at a decent hour... which is hard to do when you sleep half the day away!

Tell me something fun you did this weekend!
You should wear your Garmin the next time you mow the lawn and see how far it takes you!

A Workout You Should Do Because I CAN'T!

One thing I miss about really being able to push myself is designing fun, high intensity workouts for myself! Just to further torture myself, I made up one I wish I could do. I mean, I could do it, but my knee would be screaming at me later on! 

Since I can't join in on the fun, I think you should! Grab your jump rope... or just pretend you have a jump rope... and get going!

Note: You can alter the number of reps for the exercises to fit your fitness needs!

Enjoy!