Woes of the Wounded

My latest doctor visit did not go quite as planned.  Sure, I got the go ahead to resume most physical activity.  I can go back to yoga.  I can wear real shoes.  But I can't run.  Sure, I expected that.  At my appointment a month ago, he said it would be 6 weeks before I could start again.  But he is a lying liar.

No, I don't have to wait 2 more WEEKS.  I have to wait 2 more MONTHS!  I don't think I can run in the pool for 8 weeks without losing my sanity.  Of course I want my foot to heal completely and not end up where I started on November 9, but I'm really getting antsy to run again.  Watching Mark train for a half marathon isn't helping the matter either.

At least I had this to cheer me up.

So which is better for an injured runner:  elliptical or spinning?  Leave a comment and let me know!

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^^ That was my original post.  Since I wrote it, I've had a little time to get perspective on my situation.  I've also been able to go for a walk and do upper AND lower body weights.  And the fact is, my foot hurts alot and I've lost quite a bit of fitness in the last couple of months, no matter how much I ran in the pool.  Even if I wanted to start running right now I'd just end up out of breath and frustrated.  I need to take the next month and a half to lift, cross train, and regain my cardio vascular fitness, so when I do start running, I'll be setting myself up for success.

What I've Learned: Pool Running Edition

Ever since my last doctor's appointment, I've been here 3 days a week.

The first thing I did when I found out I could pool run was order an aquabelt and start watching youtube.  I wanted to be prepared and all.

Nothing prepared me for how boring pool running really is.  I don't have a waterproof ipod and they don't play music at the pool, so it's just me and my thoughts.  And usually 47 thousand swim team-ers.  Gah.

So here's what I've learned in my first couple of weeks of pool running:

1.  I'm not one of those zen, just-me-and-my-thoughts type of people.  I need something to distract my brain while I work out. I'm trying to combat the boredom by doing intervals.
2. I also get distracted easily.  I can't just zone out like I can running. Start thinking about the grocery list, and BOOM, I'm just doggy paddling.
2.  Pool management at my pool sucks.  Three quarters of the pool are taken by different swim teams at any given time, and aqua aerobics takes care of another 1/8th.  Um, I pay my money same as you, so I deserve a little place in the pool, right?
3.  People do not like to share the pool.  I've been dive-bombed, stared at, fussed at and very nearly kicked.  And I'm just one tiny person taking one-half of a lane, doing the only cardio I'm allowed to do right now.
4. Pool running can make you of breath and a little sweaty, but my legs don't feel worked out at all.  They do feel a little tired after.  It's hard for me to reconcile in my brain that indeed I am getting a workout.
5. Anytime I get near a pool I am starving for the rest of the day.
6. Chlorine is hell on the fingernails.

I've got probably another 3 weeks or so of this before maybe perhaps I can put on my Newtons and start to wog around again.  I hope it all pays off and I won't have lost too much of my measly fitness.

#3121: Dolvett is my co-pilot

I wish I could say I gained weight because I broke my foot, but I can't.  It's been going up steadily and quickly for about 18 months, and took a real spike starting last May.  I was training for longer races and I guess I fell into the fallacy that I could eat anything I wanted: I was training, right?  Gotta fuel!

Hormonal problems that I'll address in a later post make it easy for me to gain weight and difficult to take it off.  I know this, and know better about my eating and exercising, but it still sucks.  I visited a registered dietitian over the summer, and at least she helped me to stop the gain and plateau my weight.  She didn't do much else for me though.

Over the Christmas break I read The 3121 Diet by Dolvett Quince.  You know, the trainer from The Biggest Loser.  His plan of low carbs and clean eating while incorporating 2 "cheat" days a week made sense to me. I also like that it works on a 5 week cycle.  I can't really commit to a strict diet for months at a time, especially with Mardi Gras coming up, but I can find 5 weeks to follow the diet straight out, go into maintenance mode for a while, and pick it up again.   I lost 40+ pounds on Weight Watchers a few years ago, which was great, but I got burned out on  long term low low calorie eating.  And since I'm not able to do any serious cardio right now, I really need to concentrate on my calorie intake.

Today marks day 12 with my buddy Dolvett.  As of last Sunday I've lost 2.2 lbs.  It's so good to see the scale going in the right direction again!  I'm not going to lie: it was tough to get through the first few days, and I had a touch of the carb-flu in the beginning.  And I do miss my Diet Dr. Peppers! But with frequent higher calorie days and a sunset date for each cycle, it's easier to keep my eye on the prize.

And what's the prize?  I need to lose a little over 25 pounds, and this is the time to do it.  My biggest challenge will be to keep it off, but I am much happier and healthier when I am not overweight.  I have an entire wardrobe in the back of my closet that I am too big to wear.  Some things still have tags on them!  Now is the time to do this!  

One Extra Christmas Present - #JollyVoxBox

Just before Christmas I was notified that I'd been chosen as an Influenster, and that I would receive a #JollyVoxBox! 

My box contained a Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong To Go tissue pack, NYC New York Color HD Color Trio eye shadow set, Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer, a Ducklings mini roll, and a box of Skinny Cow peanut butter filled chocolates.

The Puffs went right into my work bag to put in my desk for the inevitable winter sniffles come January #PassthePuffs, and I took the Skinny Cow chocolates to work also.  I'll be indulging in those 110 calorie 3 packs of chocolate and peanut butter on my cheat days! #indulgewithskinny.

Although the color of the lip lacquer didn't agree with my pale skin, the texture was great.  I love the NYC eye shadows and wore them over the holidays.  Now to resist these Skinny Cow treats sitting in my desk...

Discliamer: I received the #JollyVoxBox as part of my relationship with Influenster for testing purposes.

An Injury Update & Racing Plans

Well, my post-Christmas doctor's appointment didn't go quite as I expected.  My foot is about 80% healed and I have a follow-up later this month.  I did however, get to buy these lovelies.

I can use them for walking, driving, stationary biking and the elliptical.  I will be stylin' at the Y!

I can't believe how much muscle mass and strength I've lost in 6 short weeks.

leg comp pic


Luckily, I haven't lost any weight though!  Yay.

I'm also allowed to use the pool.  I ordered a aqua jogging belt and made an attempt at making a pool running plan.  Pool running is probably the most boring thing in the world, but FAR better than arm cycling.  I'm in for a few weeks of physical therapy after my next appointment, and can likely start running some in February. I had to pull out of the Disney Minnie Mouse 10K because my foot just isn't up to even walking that distance.  This was a real bummer, but I need to take things carefully and slowly to make sure I don't re-injure myself.

I'm actually looking forward to the PT and being able to do more lower body workouts.  It's like a New Year, New Foot sort of thing.

Taking on 2014

Although the arm cycle has been super-duper fun,  I'm itching to get my burn on.  But I know I have to take things slow.  Listen to my foot, like my doctor says (and now Mark says too.  Because that was his favorite thing Dr. Roca said at my appointment).  I've never really made fitness goals, other than the obvious "lose allofthe weight and be skinny by May" variety.  But having run my first distance races and being injured, I can see the value in thinking about and writing down what I want to accomplish in this new year.

1. First and foremost: Heal and recover completely from my injury.  Every kind stranger I meet lately tells me a) they've been in a boot before and b) it took 10 months to recover/they broke the same bone again/they ended up having to have surgery.  While I appreciate that in some way they are trying to be sympathetic, I really don't need to hear the horror stories.  I fear having a constant recurrent injury or weakness, so I plan on taking it slow and doing everything the doctor and PT tell me.  Even if the pace drives me crazy.
2. Concentrate on shorter distances, improving my time and strengthening my base.  Even before I broke my foot, I was planning on taking a step back on distance to concentrate on adding time to my run intervals.  Once I'm cleared to run, I'll be starting the Couch to 5K program over again, with a goal of being able to run a 5:1 ratio at some point.  Of course my immediate goal will just be to run.
3. Get fast enough to feel comfortable stopping for 2 character pictures at the Tower of Terror 10 Miler.  See what I did there? Not a time goal, because Disney races are not for PRs, but a goal to get speedier while taking a breathe and enjoying the race.  I only got to stop for 1 character in 2013 and it was one of my bigger disappointments from that race.  TOT is the plan for my fall comeback race.  I'd love to think there will be a fall half marathon in the works, but the truth is I have to wait and see how recovery goes. But there is a big 2015 spring half planned...
4. Find some kind of kickass cross training that I love: spin, TRX, swimming... Something. Over the last training cycle I cobbled together bits and pieces of XT on the days I was supposed to.  I'm not ready to give up Gentle Yoga, but I want to find something that I really enjoy doing that can complement running that doesn't consist of trying to mitigate boredom on a machine by watching TV.
5. Weights 2 x/ week.  When I lift consistently, I can tell the difference in my running.  My knees hurt less.  My core is stronger.  Mark and I started New Rules of Lifting for Women last year, but quit when it started to interfere with training for the half.  I think the off season will be a good time to start back.  It should help re-balance the strength on both sides of my body, and help with...
6. Drop 10-15 lbs/get hormonal issues under control.  And, of course, the weight.  I'll talk more about the weight/hormone problems at a later time, but suffice it to say I have a hard time losing weight.  I think I'm going to give #3121 a try, but I'm having a tough time finding 5 weeks that I can commit to right now without a major temptation like Jello shots.

So, in summary, I want get stronger, faster, and thinner, or basically become Kara Goucher. Sure, no problem, right?


Do you have goals for 2014?  Share them on my Facebook page.