Dropping the lbs.

Pretty busy day!  Work, Physical Therapy, Cook Dinner, Swim Classes!

Physical Therapy was pretty good, lots of range of motion checks, stretching instructions, massage.  He wants me to stretch a lot more than the Doctor was instructing me to do, so I’ll do that.  Also gave me this band that I put around my ankles, squat and shuffle back and forth which should build up the muscles on the outside of my upper legs.  

Twice a week PT for the next two weeks, then once a week for two weeks.  He’d like me to follow up with my Doctor after these two weeks, and then get a run in of a couple of miles and see how the knee responds after a run.  

He did stress that when I start running again he wants me to treat it like I’m new, IE long runs of 2-3 miles and build from there, don’t just get going again with a 5-6 mile long run and build.  Start the base over.

He again mentioned how tight I am, and said over and over again “Man, you are really really tight!”.  So uh, yeah I must not flexible at all.  Excuse me while I go stretch again.

Hopefully swimming tomorrow night!  

That’s what I’m about these days. Just foam rolled (hurts a little less each day), stretched (getting closer to my toes), and took turns standing on each leg (wobble wobble wobble). Feel like I’m slowly making progress.

Depending on the weather I should have my first full on physical therapy session tomorrow. Hopefully swimming on Wednesday, that also is weather dependent but it’s a little more in my hands.

Tabacco free is still going well. It’s interesting that I’m slowly dropping followers, too bad I’m slowly replacing them with some extra pounds.

I said yesterday I was going for a bike ride. So. When the time came and it was pouring and 39, I put some workout pants on instead of shorts, grabbed my running jacket, and got the bike ready. Should have grabbed some gloves though.

Just did a short running loop though, 2.5 miles 12:35. Not very quick, not very far, but at least I got out there. Definitely have lost some fitness over the last couple months, my legs feel like they did when I would go on 12 mile rides.

Nice day with the family, we headed up to Portland and went to O.M.S.I. (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry).  Spent a good 3 hours playing with all the exhibits.  Tiffany had won admission through her work to see the body works exhibit, and today was the last day it was there.  Pretty interesting stuff, but Nathan was in a big hurry to rush through it and get to the stuff you could touch and interact with.

Did get my stretching in, and my foam rolling.  I’m going for a bike ride tomorrow as too.  Pretty excited to get back on the bike!  

On the tabacco front, instead of Nicotine lozenges I’m alternative between a sugar free Wintercool Ice Breaker mint, and the nicotine lozenges.  I’m already doing less lozenges than recommended, but I’d like to not repurchase them once this initial supply is up.  They say to use at least 9 a day for the first few weeks, and 72 come in a box, so that should last about a 8 days if you just use the minimum.  I’m 8 days in and about half way through the supply.  Seems pretty doable to ween back quicker than they recommend.  I do crave from time to time, but its not too bad, I’ll make it.  The doctor was pretty stoked when I was talking with him about it yesterday.

Twice a week physical therapy, twice a day self foam rolling, follow up with this doctor in two weeks to check progress. Daily stretching, focus in on hamstrings which are extremely tight, and strengthening of some word that I forget that correlates to all the little muscles in your legs (stand on one leg for as long as you can eyes closed, then switch legs).

No running for now, swimming and biking encouraged to keep building cardiovascular endurance. The big focus on building smaller muscles and flexibility will be happening for at least a couple months, due to how extremely tight my legs and back are.

One week tobacco free, getting a little better each day. Follow up doctor appointment tomorrow, where I’ll be in pain but learning how to get better. Peaked at the scale, even splurging a bit, crazy sodium intake, lack of exercise, and general not worrying about weight loss for the last week, the scale is the same. Tomorrow is my “Friday” leading into a 4 day weekend. All in all not too shabby.

My last few updates have just been, ok still alive, still quiting tabacco posts, so what’s going on?

Well, right now I’m just focusing on getting off tabacco.  That means, lots of sun flower seeds, good amount of beef jerky, and nicotine lozenges.  It sucks a lot of the time, so to eliminate any extra pressure I’m not tracking calories.  At the same time I’m not going crazy, and I’m trying to eat pretty well.  And I have except for last Friday where I did eat fast food twice (first full day quitting, I didn’t care).  

Other than that its been pretty standard, Turkey Sandwhich, apple, yogurt for lunch and dinner in with the family.  I stepped on the scale once this weekend, and was up a couple of pounds, so I’m going to stay off for a bit, and chalk it up to the sodium from Sunflower Seeds and jerky.

The cravings are getting better, but still suck a lot of the time.  Don’t ever chew, smoke, or whatever, its dumb and sucks to quit.

Dr visit on Thursday.  Hoping I’ll get cleared to start running.  Its a session to learn strengthening exercises, and stretching to deal with IT Band.  I’m not sure if the Doctor will want me to work those for a while before I start running again, or if I can run while I continue to do them.  Also going to ask about biking, I can’t do it during the week, but it’d be cool if I can do it on weekends.  Looking forward to Thursday to find this stuff out.

Its another go go go day.  Work, pickup Nathan, clean house, get dinner ready, eat as soon as Tiffany gets in the door, rush to swim class.  Busy but fun and worthwhile, Nathan loves swim class and I love to see him have fun and learn.  Have a good day!

Just might make it.

Nice relaxing day at home, with treks out to exchange a duplicate Christmas present Nathan received and to do the weekly grocery shopping. Not much else going on.

Day 4 in the books. Still on edge, still downing sodium, still tobacco free.

Craving salty things like crazy. If I get through a week or two it’ll be fine. My blood pressure was really good 102/60, so extra salt won’t hurt right? For now non stop sunflower seeds, fills the salt craving, keeps my mouth busy.

Day 3 in the books. PS food was terrible again today, but that’s not the focus for a few days.