Moving Forward

My legs were still sore from the body pump class on Saturday. I can tell I really need to do more of that class!
5.4 on the elliptical, messed with the crossramp and tension of the machine to change it up a bit.

Did a mini test drive on the knee... after we got off the elliptical and stretched, my daughter and I ran around the indoor track three times, so that is really not much at all, we did it in our stocking feet. Knee didn't hurt, but felt different... weak.  So, that was a pretty much it :)

Did a bit more on the elliptical, also tried to keep it at a higher intensity. Felt pretty good... a bit of arms and abs, lots of stretching. 

So... it has been a bit over two months since I have had any diet soda/caffeine, I was not a huge drinker, and the first week or so were a bit hard but I don't really miss or crave it anymore now. So I thought to myself, lets really get to the core of my problem. I have a huge sweet/chocolate craving, and started last week cutting this from my diet. I was doing pretty well until yesterday and today... man I know that I can never tell myself never, because then all you do is think about what you can't have. I had been so good, but one of my friends at work got chocolates from her supplier and she came to my desk to share. I had three!!! I know you are thinking that is not that bad... but then I had a bag of M&M's and then they brought cake to celebrate a graduation of one of our techs, and I had a piece of cake AHHHH!! I was out of control!!

  OK now that I have confessed all my sins I feel much better... I will try my best to be better at controlling my need for sweets, this is going to be one of my biggest challenges! I am down 7 pounds so I'm happy with that... but I still have a bit more to go.

I go see my NP doc tomorrow after work so I'm hoping she will have some good advise to deal with my knee and good news on all my blood work.

Busy night, no sleep to little sleep lately, so it was a short workout at the gym, three miles at a high intensity on the elliptical then one more at a moderate intensity. Then I took off my shoes and ran .40 on the treadmill at a very slow 12mm pace. I wanted to go more but I keep thinking I need to ease back into this and not re-injure myself. My knee didn’t hurt but still felt weak. It did feel like it was going to give out on my twice, and from what I remember the doctor telling me, that feeling is more because of your quad then your knee, so this means I need to do more to strengthen my quad. Looks like lots of squats are in my future.

Update from my doctor visit: Looks like my feelings were pretty accurate. The blood work says I’m in adrenal fatigue, and my thyroid looks so bad she wants me retested in two more weeks. DHEA is in the toilet along with all other hormones. She told me I need to see her more often until I get my numbers under better control. I love visiting her but she is not covered by my insurance so this is out of pocket!! Wishing I had planted a money tree a few years ago! Also from the blood work it looks like I don’t tolerate gluten very well. This could be contributing to all the inflammation/arthritis. Looks like the Metcalf’s are going gluten free! Don’t know how the family will be taking this new diet. She did give me some new things to try for the arthritis, will see how that goes, but I think the big key for me will be the diet. In the back of my mind I was thinking “Great, the one thing that I don’t really do very well, is now going to be my biggest challenge.” Isn’t that always the case? At one point in our conversations she said. “Let’s try these things so we can get you back running” That sentence seriously put a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes! Finally someone who is on my side!

Some of the talk with the doctor turned to minimal shoes when running or 5 fingers. Then on of the people I work with sent me this link about running http://www.posetech.com/ I know that I need to change things about my running but I’m so confused as to what I need to change and how to go about doing it. Is running barefoot or in minimal shoes in and of themselves enough to change the way I run? Or do I need to have my gait analyzed? Has anyone ever read Chi Running? They claim to make it so you are running faster with no pain or injuries. I’m just so confused on where and how to start this. Any and all advice would be helpful.

Sorry for the long post. I hope you read it long enough to maybe help me with my questions.

Moderate effort on the elliptical with my daughter. 

Hubby and I took the day off work and so I talked him into going to the gym with me. He likes to do the weights, so did lots of shoulders, and arms. Then did four on the elliptical and .50 running bare foot on the treadmill. !!

Spent the rest of the day sculpting a new head for a fairy doll. Oh ya that is what I call a great day!

Quick and easy at the gym by myself.... 4.5 on the elliptical .50 on the treadmill, barefoot.