I'm itching!

With all that's gone on with my knee, I have not had a GOOD workout since our 5K on Aug 15. I did what I could until the pain got even worse - arms, abs, etc... But, not what I've grown to LOVE - dripping sweat, exhausted, and happy!

Now that the brace is helping, I want to go back to the gym. I really haven't "wanted" to go back - I had kind of decided that I wouldn't be able to go to the gym for who knows how long... We had even talked about canceling my portion of the gym membership in February when we're up for renewal.

When I had PT on Tuesday, I asked if I could start doing the gym again. Mike said to give it a couple more weeks - I could be working on arms, but no cardio, legs, or abs. Well, that's what I love! The arm circuit takes me 15-20 minutes and doesn't get my heart rate up.

I want to go back - I NEED to go back. I'm READY to go back. I'm hoping I can go back around Thanksgiving. I would LOVE to start earning some activity points and getting toned again... I miss the cardio that I used to do. No, I can't run anymore. But, I can do cardio, and I can do the elliptical. I can get my heart rate going, and then throw some arm weights in... And then I can get back down to the 185 that I LOVED seeing on the scale!

I'm itching to get back to the gym! Itching! Need to go.. Need to go.. Need to go... hoepfully soon! *end of the most random post I've posted in a long time!*

Progress!

Today, I'm happy! Why? Because things are maybe starting to turn around! I don't want to say they are DEFINITELY turning around, because that would jinx it! So, things are MAYBE turning around....

The Knee

I got my brace 3 weeks ago. We've been playing with the right resistance, how long to wear it, etc... Last week, Mike (PT) added 2 quad strengthening things back into my night routine. On Wednesday, it tough, but I was able to do it. My leg was shaking and quivering, and I was having alot of pain after completing 6 out of 10 leg raises. Throughout the week, I've been able to do all 10 leg raises - yeah, I shake still, but no pain!

I went today for my weekly appointment. Every week, he has me do the series of 4 leg curls, and then does a "trunk rotation" test. I lay on my back with my knees bent, and then lean them to one side or the other. I've always been able to go farther going to the left (with my good leg on top) than to the right (with my bad leg on top). The first week, it was almost a 2" difference. Last week it was between 1 to 1 1/2".

This week, it was the SAME! That's right! The same!! This means that my hamstring is getting stronger, and "rotating" my femur to the correct path, which will make my knee track correctly. He increased my quad "sets" (flexing and relaxing the quad) from 15 to 30, holding each one for 5 seconds. He also increased my leg raises to 2 sets of 10. The last couple hurt, but I worked through it. He told me to work up to 3 sets of 10 by next week if I can - basically, as I don't have pain, I add more. He also added an ab strengthening thing. Again, one more thing that will make my leg muscles work correctly!

Weight Loss

After I stepped on the scale last week and saw 200.5, I freaked. Oh My God. I CAN'T let this happen to me. I've worked WAY too hard to get down to 185-190, and I've crept back up to 200? No FREAKING way!

So, I cut myself down to 27 points and actually tracked for a week. I lost 4 lbs in water weight literally overnight. This morning, the scale said 191.7! In 8 days, I've lost 9 lbs of the dreaded water weight and a little fat.

We're going to the Weight Watchers meeting tomorrow, good or bad. If I have to pay a week, I pay a week. I should be under 192 on their scale, as long as I don't overeat during the day. I still want to get back down to 185, and I know I will as long as I keep with it. I'm still not able to exercise - hopefully within a couple weeks - but I can watch my points and make healthy choices.

Vacuum Decisions!

My dad was planning on getting us a snow blower for Christmas with his Sear's rewards. I talked to him about what David and I could REALLY use - a new vacuum. He's willing to do this for us, so I get my vacuum!

The winner is:

The Dyson DC28 Animal vacuum! It has 2 removable filters that can be rinsed and reused. It's a little heavier, and more expensive, than the version with the ball. But, that one has 2 filters, but only 1 filter is removable. So, how do you actually clean the 2nd filter? Doesn't make sense to me, so I asked for this one. And it's a bonus that it's purple!

So, I have lots to be happy for today! Only thing that could be better would be to get pregnant this cycle! I'm ovulating sometime in the next week or so.. Fingers crossed, but not too tight because then the disappointment is harder...

You know you're old when...

Your Christmas wish list consists of 2 things:
** teaching certificate for the state you live in
** new vaccuum!

Yes, there are the normals - clothes, ornaments, scrap booking stuff, etc... But I would much rather have the other 2 things! In fact - I NEED the other 2 things!

So, Poll: What's your vaccuum - remember: we have dogs, allergies, and a dust-attracting house! What's your heavy duty vaccuum? And why do you love it?


In other news...

I'm thinking about going back to school to get my administration endorsement. I spoke with my PK supervisor and she said she hesitated quite a few years ago and then realized how many opportunities the administration opened up for her. Did she HAVE to leave the classroom? No. But, now she loves what she's doing and knows that she could go back to the classroom someday if she wanted....

The knee brace is working! I have 4 exercises that I do everyday - 2 of them, I do 15, and the other 2 I do 10. I do them 3 times a day (2 of them I only do 2 times a day because they are hard to do without a bed or table - laying down). I wear the brace all day so that I can get the support I need. Sunday was a sore day, and Saturday evening was pretty bad... but, still, the pain is WAY better than it was. Today? I walked around Walmart and it stopped hurting as soon as I got in the van and had a chance to rest for a few minutes. One of the exercises that I have to do was making my knee pop. My PT told me if I had unbearable pain associated, to stop. Well, yesterday.... the popping STOPPED!! That's right - no more popping! My knee itself pops sometimes, but not as often. Ahh.. relief! Here's what it looks like:





Last week was Red Ribbon Week (drug awareness/prevention). Thursday was Jammie Day, so David took a picture of me in my sexy jammies. And no, I don't really wear these to sleep in, but the kids LOVED them! And it gives you a better view of the brace.

That's about all I know right now. I'm busting ass on healthy eating this week, and I'll go to Weigh In next week. This week, I won't be able to make it because of PT, so next... Sure hope I'm under 190!