Getting back in the race

The last year has been insane. Thankfully I have amazing friends and family to keep me grounded when sometimes all I want to do is float away.

As many of you know two and a half years ago I injured my knee really bad. 90% of the cartilage was torn among tendons & ligaments. They thought I wouldn't be able to run again, but I started running a year after surgery (to the day). However, it wasn't easy, my knee kept giving out and I truthfully gave up.

I couldn't run, how could I workout? Right around the time of starting this blog I was in the throws of my frustration. I tried yoga and numerous video challenges to keep my spirits up, but nothing worked. I needed to change something and fast.

I changed my schedule around and started biking and swimming 5-7days a week. I felt happy to be working out, but never fully challenged. I love swimming, since injuring my back four years ago it's been the best thing I could do for myself.

Biking was just my last resort in working out at this point, since my knee could barely even hold me up most days. I spent four months on a routine of swimming, biking and weightlifting every day. Pushing myself to points I didn't think possible (yes I can lift 250lbs but I rather not most days).

But I never felt complete, after months of staring at the treadmill as I biked in the back row of the gym I figured I'll give it a try. If my knee says no then I'll just walk. Well, I'm three weeks in and the only thing that hurts are my shins.

I don't run much, my maximum time so far is 2.5minutes, in a consecutive run. I listen to my knee, if it's weak I don't run, if it's strong I push it until I get an inkling that it's weak. Listening is the best choice for me at this point, but when I took the first 30 second run with out any pain, I had the biggest smile on my face. I felt back in my game, even if I'm still in last place.

I'm not pushing myself to run a 5K any time soon, but sometime in my future maybe I will be able too, without stopping to walk.

With this new accomplishment I feel more confident in my workouts, I do a regular fitness test on the bike at least once a week and I'm pushing myself harder in my swimming. I used to hate sweating, now I love the feeling of it dripping down my neck as I stumble my way out of the gym.

I never give up, even when all the odds are against me.

Lazy workouts

It's been a while since I have written about my actual weight loss. I have hit my ups and downs in the last few months. I've fluctuated in the last 10 pound range for a year now. I wasn't sure why since I workout five to seven days a week then I realized I got lazy.

Yes I was working out, but once I hit a plateau with my workouts I never tried going further. I kept my speed, kept my resistance and length of time around average. The only thing I did was up my weights when weight lifting. But even that felt easy.

Re-evaluation my workouts proved to be a help. I have lost 6lbs since my re-evaluation. Instead of staying on the same resistance I push myself to climb mountains, go faster and longer. Each workout is different, one day I'm climbing hills, the next day its a speed race with myself.

I have even started running again. I know everyone thinks I shouldn't, but I needed to try. I only work on a ten minute block of time to do this. I base my run on my knee, if I'm feeling strong I run for as long as possible, if my knee is weak I speed walk. The slow progress has helped, at least I believe it does.

So take the chance every now and then to re-evaluate yourself, not just your workout. You will be surprised what you learn.