Category: workouts
Panic
Oh joy, plantar fasciitis is such a delightful ball of fun! I just love it. I hope it never freaking goes away.
Yes, this damn injury is starting to make me grumpy, if you didn’t notice. Seriously! I finally get to a point that I enjoy my workouts, love to run, and BAM, my own foot betrays me, and now I can’t run at all. Or do much of anything, for that matter.
I dived into research and articles about plantar fasciitis, and the more I read, the more horrified I became. I read how it can take months to go away, how you might need to rest for weeks on end, and people saying once they had it, it never truly went away.
All I took from it was: “OH MY GOD! I can’t work out anymore! EVER! I will never run again! I will stop burning calories completely and will most certainly gain weight and will end up 600 pounds on that TV show, and my husband will have to bring me food, and I won’t be able to leave the house because I will be so big, and I will be depressed and miserable and did I mention FAT?”
*clutching heart, panting, sobbing, collapsing miserably to the floor*
Maybe I overreacted just a little, but it is a stressful situation. I worked hard to build the endurance to run 15 miles, and every day trying to treat this stupid injury is just another day I am slowly but surely losing strength and endurance. It pisses me off.
After my panicked melt-down, I made myself calm down just a fuzz, and I researched workouts that I can do with plantar fasciitis. Most of them are not practical, like swimming, because I hate water (and the smell of chlorine) and don’t have access to an indoor pool anyway. But I can still strength train, and cycling was on the list. I will have to meander back to my Spinning classes. Supposedly the elliptical is an option too.
I will also need to be very careful with my calories. Less intense workouts means, obviously, I am not burning nearly as many calories.
Losing 2 or more pounds a week is just not going to happen for a while. I hate that, but not being able to work out like I want to means my weight loss will slow down. I am hoping it doesn’t come to a screeching halt. If I am mindful of my eating, and keep up with the workouts that I can do, I hope that one pound per week is realistic.
What I absolutely cannot do is use this as an excuse to give up, to throw in the towel, and just quit trying. It’s a setback, sure. But it’s a slow-down, not a stop. If I stay tough and devoted and focused, I can avoid gaining weight back and will keep moving forward, just much more slowly.
Thanksgiving Survival Plan
Most people are probably bustling around, frantically planning a Thanksgiving meal, calculating how many pies to bake, pondering which relatives to avoid sitting near each other, and strategizing their big grocery store trip…while I am mostly concerned about not gaining weight over Thanksgiving.
I will still weigh in Saturday morning as normal, so I need a plan to stay on track as much as possible. First things first: I will work out that morning. No compromises, no questions asked, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. I signed up for a virtual Turkey Trot of 6.2 miles, so I will lace up and hit the trails that morning.
My plan is to eat my typical breakfast, and I would like for us to eat earlier in the day, closer to lunch than dinner, so that I’m not so full in the evening or before heading to bed. I might add on a walk after we eat, depending if I have any takers to go with me (probably not!)
Friday will be back on track, morning workout, enjoying the day off, then venturing out for my younger stepson’s football game that evening. Friday will be tricky. Day off, out of routine, and a lot of leftover food in the fridge are all going to add up to a big, fat challenge, but I need to get a grip and stick to plan for a good weigh-in Saturday morning.
Not surprisingly, after increasing my running mileage so much, I have a pain in my right heel that I am concerned about. It seems to fit all the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, oh yippee. I have been reading a lot about it and treating it with ice, Epsom salt soaks, stretching. I need to cut my miles and give it a chance to heal up, which is frustrating as hell. I already planned a distance run this weekend, but I need to force myself to slow down and take care of this so it doesn’t get worse.
Sports Bras
This week has gone by quickly. I’ve been doing much better this week, not struggling with my eating nearly as much, and diligently sticking to my workouts. After skipping weigh-in last Saturday, I want to do all I can to make sure I have a good weigh-in this Saturday.
Browsing a department store yesterday during my lunch break, I discovered Champion sports bras at 20% off. Score!
When I started running and doing Insanity workouts again, I quickly appreciated the value of a good sports bra…and how most of the ones I had just weren’t cutting it. I found a maximum support one yesterday and practically shouted, “Take my money!” from the middle of the store.
It got a chance to show me its stuff when I did another Insanity workout last night, and I am pleased to report that it impressed me and has officially earned its spot in the lingerie drawer. When I get to goal weight, I will buy more. I’m afraid the ones I have right now will end up too big to do me much good when I lose more weight.
Today I am wearing a top I bought for our board meeting about two months ago, and as soon as I put it on, I realized its days are numbered. It’s not huge or baggy just yet, but it fits way looser than it did when I bought it. I really like it, but quite frankly, if I have to buy another one in a smaller size soon, then so be it. I’m not complaining!
Moving On
A funny thing happened yesterday. I’ve gotten consistent with working out, but I have seen it as a necessary evil, something I grudgingly have to do in order to lose weight and get healthy. But yesterday, for the first time in a very long time, I actually felt this itch, this urge…I actually wanted to go running!
I did a short weight-training workout at home, then headed to the gym to scratch the itch and run on the treadmill. As I ran, I thought how funny it was: I used to have to force myself to run. Now I get a craving to do it. I’m even looking forward to my run plans this weekend.
Another running group is meeting on Sunday, but I haven’t decided if I will join up with them or not. I just really prefer to run alone, my own pace, my own time, my own miles.
I decided to simply view my eating struggles this week as a temporary hitch, something I can at least learn from. One thing I learned is that once those eating cravings start, I cannot give in an inch. I am not a “oh, just one bite” person. One bite just makes me want more. Maybe someday that will change, but for now, I need to stay strict and just say no.
I also learned that I need to give myself more credit for my hard work and what I have accomplished so far. It was a bit ridiculous to start moaning about not being able to do this, just because of a few shaky days. I haven’t lost weight by sheer luck. It has been from sweat and sacrifice and work, day in and day out. Of course I can do this. I already am. Now, I just need to remember that.
Sweat & Sparkle 