Gym session today. Had big plans on running 3 km + developing intervals into 30 secs x10, but as soon as I started I felt I wasn't on top. Something was wrong. I was faint, weary, energy-less and was worried I might pass out. Not sure why, but interval cycling almost killed me, and even though I did feel a bit better once that was done and I'd finished all the strengthening, I thought it might be best not to take on the huge effort that running would be. I think I actually don't work out enough to improve my stamina. Running twice a week, especially the distances I'm doing, simply isn't enough. I'm still very unfit, which is annoying. Nevertheless, I know I'm not doing 100% in interval cycling - it's so bloody hard! Meh. One of those moods. Regardless:
10 mins cycling
Interval cycling
Leg press: 70 kg x3 (better than usually, once I pulled myself together, got over myself and went for it)
Leg curl: 39 kg x3 (easy peasy, might need to increase here)
Leg extension: 14.5 +17 + 17 kg (wow improvement! and it felt a lot more natural than usual)
Lunges (pain pain pain and unbalanced, but worked)
Squats: (see above)
Ski jumps (trying to increase difficulty on this one by speeding it up for example)
Bending (need to keep this up as I don't have Mr Physio checking mobility every two weeks)
Intending to go tomorrow/Sunday and do another strength session + running, or just running. Depends on mood, but really should try and get 3 sessions in this week. We shall see. I'm in a weird, slightly discomforting mood at the moment...
x
9/30/2011
9/27/2011
good
10 mins cycling
Interval cycling
Leg press: 70+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 39+39+39 kg
INCREASE! Leg extension: 3x 14.5 kg
Lunges
Squats: no weights
Ski jumps
Bending
Running: 3 km (lvl 10-10.5) ~20 min
x
Interval cycling
Leg press: 70+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 39+39+39 kg
INCREASE! Leg extension: 3x 14.5 kg
Lunges
Squats: no weights
Ski jumps
Bending
Running: 3 km (lvl 10-10.5) ~20 min
x
the trick with rehab
I'm about to let you in on a little secret. It is so secret in fact, that only I know this, and I only know because I figured it out today, just now, ten minutes or so ago. Perhaps I am the only one in the world who knows this fact, for I have not heard anyone else say it in this particular way. CJ has mentioned it, but hardly as specific as what I am about to divulge.
Take a deep breath. You're about to be let in on the big secret to successful rehabilitation. Yes, I told you it was big. I figured it out. Drum roll please...
DO NOT OVERDO IT!
Simple as that. It's rather self-explanatory. Had a good session today and even squats and lunges were fine (CJ e-mailed a reply to my question and basically said it will hurt, but as long as it's bearable, deal with it: push through) and running 3 km felt ok too. Actually, when I was finished I felt good - alive, alert, and able to do more! But I said stop, hold on a second, let us think here. I'm taking the double recommended dosage of painkillers at the moment and I've just had a setback in pain levels. Is it a good idea to continue? What are the chances I'll take it too far?
So, good me stretched, showered and went home, proud and happy about a good 1 ½ hours' work.
Quit while you're on top, isn't that what they say?
x
Take a deep breath. You're about to be let in on the big secret to successful rehabilitation. Yes, I told you it was big. I figured it out. Drum roll please...
DO NOT OVERDO IT!
Simple as that. It's rather self-explanatory. Had a good session today and even squats and lunges were fine (CJ e-mailed a reply to my question and basically said it will hurt, but as long as it's bearable, deal with it: push through) and running 3 km felt ok too. Actually, when I was finished I felt good - alive, alert, and able to do more! But I said stop, hold on a second, let us think here. I'm taking the double recommended dosage of painkillers at the moment and I've just had a setback in pain levels. Is it a good idea to continue? What are the chances I'll take it too far?
So, good me stretched, showered and went home, proud and happy about a good 1 ½ hours' work.
Quit while you're on top, isn't that what they say?
x
9/25/2011
4 months
May 25 2011 I was at Sophiahemmet in Stockholm, prepped for surgery. In my lovely room with TV, locker and curtains for privacy, I lay down for my fourth knee surgery in 7 years; second in 8 months.
That was four whole months ago. 1/3 of the total rehabilitation time.
Now, September 25 2011, I have run 2.5 km, started interval running (60 secs intervals), and doing squats and dynamic lunges. Even though the knee feels far from 100%, or even 80%, even I can admit I'm a far cry from what it was on Day 1, or even the day before the surgery (in terms of capability).
Before the surgery I had not run once since July 2010, not been cycling any longer periods for a while either, and certainly not done any intervals at 14.5 km/h. It's painful, it hurts, it aches, but sometimes I think about this progress and smile. There is a long way to go still, but 30% is done, and in a few months I'll be able to try sporty things. But that is looking a bit too far ahead. One week at a time, lady.
However, the completion of four months post-op has awarded me a voucher of 4 nashi pears, now posted on my wall. Considering the effort yesterday, I thought I deserved all four of them.
x
That was four whole months ago. 1/3 of the total rehabilitation time.
Now, September 25 2011, I have run 2.5 km, started interval running (60 secs intervals), and doing squats and dynamic lunges. Even though the knee feels far from 100%, or even 80%, even I can admit I'm a far cry from what it was on Day 1, or even the day before the surgery (in terms of capability).
Before the surgery I had not run once since July 2010, not been cycling any longer periods for a while either, and certainly not done any intervals at 14.5 km/h. It's painful, it hurts, it aches, but sometimes I think about this progress and smile. There is a long way to go still, but 30% is done, and in a few months I'll be able to try sporty things. But that is looking a bit too far ahead. One week at a time, lady.
However, the completion of four months post-op has awarded me a voucher of 4 nashi pears, now posted on my wall. Considering the effort yesterday, I thought I deserved all four of them.
x
9/24/2011
Run for your life...
...that's what I did today. Like I promised, I went to the gym to make up for yesterday's disastrous training session. And made up for it I did. Knee felt crap even though I'd taken 500 mg of whatever substance I'm taking to reduce irritation. I wasn't confident and in the stairs up to the actual fitness suite it almost didn't want to cooperate at all. But I had to pull through. Cycling went fine, then I took away the weights for squats like Mr Physio said - and it felt a lot better, however not good. Lunges also painful, but not to the same extent as yesterday. This pain was bearable. So I did all that. Then on to running.
I ran so hard and fast that I almost threw up. After 2.5 km at speed 10.0-10.5 I had to stop and rest before moving on to intervals. Could barely breathe and felt sick. Don't know if stamina is so bad and down, but it felt like a great effort. Knee held up alright, got better after maybe 1 km or so. Then intervals. Kept to the 60 secs intervals x5 and held speed from 13.5-14.5 km/h - great, great effort! Once I was done I was ready to throw up but didn't, thankfully. Again, great effort and good to see the knee holding up in running, even if it's acting up during strengthening.
Hopefully next week's sessions can feel a bit better as I will now be on painkillers (double recommended dose) for a week. Please, please, feel ok. Running next week promises 3 km + 30 sec x10 intervals. Yeah, not looking forward to that, but in a way it felt so good to be able to perform such an effort. Feeling the heart beat a million beats a minute, sweat flowing down the whole body, face flaming red, and legs urging you to sit down, lie down - anything!
And to think, a year ago I couldn't run at all.
x
I ran so hard and fast that I almost threw up. After 2.5 km at speed 10.0-10.5 I had to stop and rest before moving on to intervals. Could barely breathe and felt sick. Don't know if stamina is so bad and down, but it felt like a great effort. Knee held up alright, got better after maybe 1 km or so. Then intervals. Kept to the 60 secs intervals x5 and held speed from 13.5-14.5 km/h - great, great effort! Once I was done I was ready to throw up but didn't, thankfully. Again, great effort and good to see the knee holding up in running, even if it's acting up during strengthening.
Hopefully next week's sessions can feel a bit better as I will now be on painkillers (double recommended dose) for a week. Please, please, feel ok. Running next week promises 3 km + 30 sec x10 intervals. Yeah, not looking forward to that, but in a way it felt so good to be able to perform such an effort. Feeling the heart beat a million beats a minute, sweat flowing down the whole body, face flaming red, and legs urging you to sit down, lie down - anything!
And to think, a year ago I couldn't run at all.
x
9/23/2011
I did it
I e-mailed CJ. Today's training was disastrous and for the first time I cut it short. Leg press was killing at a mere 70 kg and the squats were too much to handle. I completed the interval cycling + all three leg machines, and that was it. No running, no ski jumping, no lunging. I feel awful about it but I couldn't continue. Far too painful. CJ's reply was sadly short but comforting. He wasn't too worried about it, but said I should go on painkillers for a week and try to avoid stairs (I've been walking a lot here) and take away weights for squats. Appreciate having him to ask, even if he really can't say much. E-mailed him back now asking whether it's best to just push through the pain or not. We'll see. So, the shortest summary yet:
10 mins cycling
Leg press: 70+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 39+39+39 kg
Leg extension: 12+14.5+14.5 kg
Interval cycling
I suppose this only gives me 3 nashi by the end of 4 months, but I'm fully determined to make up for today's disaster tomorrow. I will do squats, ski jumping and lunges + running + interval running. It's per week it counts, not per day, even if this organisation of training obviously isn't ideal. I'll be honest with you few readers, I'm starting to feel despondent about this thing. It's taking such a long time, I can't do anything, and it's not getting any better. I know, I know, it takes time and so on, but I don't know how much more I can take. Watched a dance class today and all I could about was that I'll probably never do that. I will most likely be able to do simple things, but dancing is such an effort for the knees. Basketball? Forget it. Football? Not a chance. And if I'm to go anything by the feeling I'm having now, it's like it won't be good this time either. Like it's not supposed to happen for me. Like this is my lot in life. Perhaps that's not the case and it's at any rate far too early to say, but my confidence and even motivation are failing me. It's a bit scary, like I can't control it, and I don't like it. But I don't know how to solve it. I'm going to quote Ted from How I Met Your Mother here:
"Its just, everyday I think I believe a little less, and a little less… and a little less, and that… sucks."
Yeah, pretty much.
x
10 mins cycling
Leg press: 70+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 39+39+39 kg
Leg extension: 12+14.5+14.5 kg
Interval cycling
I suppose this only gives me 3 nashi by the end of 4 months, but I'm fully determined to make up for today's disaster tomorrow. I will do squats, ski jumping and lunges + running + interval running. It's per week it counts, not per day, even if this organisation of training obviously isn't ideal. I'll be honest with you few readers, I'm starting to feel despondent about this thing. It's taking such a long time, I can't do anything, and it's not getting any better. I know, I know, it takes time and so on, but I don't know how much more I can take. Watched a dance class today and all I could about was that I'll probably never do that. I will most likely be able to do simple things, but dancing is such an effort for the knees. Basketball? Forget it. Football? Not a chance. And if I'm to go anything by the feeling I'm having now, it's like it won't be good this time either. Like it's not supposed to happen for me. Like this is my lot in life. Perhaps that's not the case and it's at any rate far too early to say, but my confidence and even motivation are failing me. It's a bit scary, like I can't control it, and I don't like it. But I don't know how to solve it. I'm going to quote Ted from How I Met Your Mother here:
"Its just, everyday I think I believe a little less, and a little less… and a little less, and that… sucks."
Yeah, pretty much.
x
9/20/2011
Bad, JoJo, worst
Absolutely no new low in training today but certainly not good. Squats went better than usual - I think I'm getting the hang of free bar now - but lunges and leg press were killing. Still considering e-mailing Mr Physio because let's face it: in two months I'm supposed to be doing sportsy stuff! Soon I will begin running short intervals and stairs! So far from that point right now. Anyway:
10 mins cycling
Leg press: 65+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 32+39+39 kg
Leg extension: 12+14.5+14.5 kg
Interval cycling
Lunges on board
Squats: bar only (20 kg)
Ski jumps: 3x 40
Bending
Running: W500m R2,500 m
Very happy I went with a nice gym, even if it is expensive. Makes this whole crap a little more bearable even if it is borderline right now. I am sick of it and I want a normal life. I know that's what I'm working towards at the moment, but I'm done with having a bad knee. Is it too much to ask to have some good luck flow? 8th year and counting since I had a fully functional leg. Add to that that my hearing apparently is quite bad (can't hear certain noises and when there is buzzing, I'm lost) and that I've had bad eye sight since I was 10, and I might as well jump off a bridge.
Just one of those days. Again.
x
10 mins cycling
Leg press: 65+70+70 kg
Leg curl: 32+39+39 kg
Leg extension: 12+14.5+14.5 kg
Interval cycling
Lunges on board
Squats: bar only (20 kg)
Ski jumps: 3x 40
Bending
Running: W500m R2,500 m
Very happy I went with a nice gym, even if it is expensive. Makes this whole crap a little more bearable even if it is borderline right now. I am sick of it and I want a normal life. I know that's what I'm working towards at the moment, but I'm done with having a bad knee. Is it too much to ask to have some good luck flow? 8th year and counting since I had a fully functional leg. Add to that that my hearing apparently is quite bad (can't hear certain noises and when there is buzzing, I'm lost) and that I've had bad eye sight since I was 10, and I might as well jump off a bridge.
Just one of those days. Again.
x
9/19/2011
Seriously!
Knee is killing me. Ki-lling! Was stupid enough to wear shoes with a mini heel on yesterday (tiny heel though and very stable shoes in general) to the welcome party. Should have known better. But we only walked for about 15 minutes to get there and the party went on for about 3 hours - I even sat down for part of it! Apparently over estimated my abilities.
It's not swollen or anything, just painful and a little stiff. Thankfully the gym is closed today so I can't go even if I wanted to. Tomorrow is a normal session again. Took some painkillers so let's hope it'll clear up.
One of those days today. And not the good kind...
x
It's not swollen or anything, just painful and a little stiff. Thankfully the gym is closed today so I can't go even if I wanted to. Tomorrow is a normal session again. Took some painkillers so let's hope it'll clear up.
One of those days today. And not the good kind...
x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)