I ran the entire 3.1 miles – Something that normally for me, is unheard of.  This is because I don’t know how to pace myself.  Literally.  I start off too fast and then tire quicker.  So I end up run/walking every mile.  This is something I am used to, but yesterday, while on the treadmill, I picked an arbitrary pace and then modified it when I got in my ‘zone’ to where I was comfortable for the full run.  I walked a little bit after the run was over, and then got some random idea about weights.  I decided to do some arm exercises, and then stretching.

I felt renewed.  I felt great.  I felt strong.  I finished up the stretching and chugged some water, and then while walking up the stairs that familiar pain came back.  I wouldn’t allow myself to feel defeated.  I just ran 3 miles.  That is nothing to laugh at.

I’m excited about PT exercises today.  I know it’s going to hurt, but, I know in the long run it will feel better because of it.

I know a lot of you find the fact that with my injury, that I am allowed to run, a bit absurd.  To clarify, again, this current plan I am on is purely to get me through the race, with minimal damage.  The doctor is getting me to the finish line, then it’s rest until I’m 100% better.  While I appreciate the concern, the ideas, and the opinions, some of the responses I’ve been getting, and some of the commentary I’ve seen on my posts on facebook, twitter, etc.  are just almost hurtful.  So please, if you don’t agree with my current plans, then just ignore my blog, facebook, and twitter.  It will cure the discontent on both sides.

HAWT.

It’s Lent.  I’m not Catholic.  This shouldn’t even be on my radar, as Protestants don’t have to sacrifice something for 40 days to be closer to God.  We strive for closeness year round, while keeping out Coffee, beer, and excuses

I’ve decided though, that this year I am going to give up something.  I’m giving up a pleasure that has become a vice.  Since I already quit smoking, I’ve decided to give up chocolate.

Starting today till April 8th, no Chocolate.  It seems fitting that the Easter basket’s we’ve all grown to love and anticipate as children, will take on a whole new meaning for me now.

This will help with the lack of exercise too, because, lets face it, less chocolate = less sugar, fat, carbs going into my body that don’t need to be here.  Lucky for me, Jason devoured the pint of Chocolate PB Ice Cream last night (Yes the whole thing), and the only other chocolate I have is unsweetened cocoa.

If I need to make/eat a cake between now and Easter, it will just not contain chocolate.  Carrot Cake anyone?  How about Vanilla Almond?

I am pretty sure this week, I will have gained weight.  It’s sad but true.  I’m only going to have earned about 34 APs this week – which to some people is a lot – but to me is about 15 less.  Did my eating change? HAHA no.  So Next week, I’ll modify that.  I’d like to keep the scale going in the right direction, so anything that I can do to make that happen, that would be great.

So I think my refined plan will be as follows:

Cheat Day – Where I can use WPs and eat without guilt: Friday – This is my weigh in day, so my points reset regardless and its the end of the week.

Monday through Thursday – Daily Points & APs earned only, 100 oz of water, fruit as snacks, listen to hunger signals

Saturday & Sunday – Weekly points can be used, but not in a crazy fashion.

No Alcohol Sunday through Thursday

Let’s hope this works.  I don’t have my old sized clothes anymore, so it kind of has to.

Tonight’s Schedule:  PT Exercises & Low Key resting night.

xoxo

I’m not catholic, but I love challenges.  For Lent this year, I’ve decided that I am going to give up chocolate.

That’s right, from February 22 (Tomorrow) to April 8 (40 days from tomorrow) I will not eat one piece of chocolate.  I will not indulge in a Skinny Mocha from Starbucks.  I will not bake chocolate cake and then have just a bite.  No Chocolate.

Have I gone mad?

No.  I realize that this may seem a bit extreme for some, but for me, it may be my answer.  If I eliminate a trigger food from my life, will other triggers stop?  With my ‘cravings’ and ‘cheats’ go away?  Will I just end up replacing it with something just as bad?  Or will I slowly realize I don’t need them anymore?

I never thought I would be able to quit smoking, but here I am.  Smoke free.  Do I miss it?  Sometimes.  But I miss the addictive properties.  I miss the act of it, the ritual.

Truth be told, the smell makes me sick now.

I don’t want the smell/taste of chocolate to make me sick, but I also don’t want it in the front space of my mind.  I would like to have it as an indulgence, not a routine.

So tomorrow starts 40 days.  Wish me luck!

My leg/foot could be broken.  The doctor could have flat out said no running, instead of working with me and the medical assistant (Jeff I love you for standing up for me and my race).  My foot could hurt worse today than feel better (which is does, it really does).  I could have to forgo any type of physical therapy due to my insurance not willing to cover it (Something about not going to the hospital when I noticed the injury or some junk – don’t bother with the advice on this one, I spent 45 minutes on the phone with them yesterday and got the same answer) but instead I have friends (Diana FTW) who had similar injuries and took scans of her PT exercises to give me.

Gotta love the love, right?

I’m so angry at myself for my horrible bone mechanics, and the fact that if I had just paced myself a bit more – may be spaced out the runs more, not picked such an aggressive deadline (I guess 6.5 months was not enough time) or possibly, I don’t know, not been so freaking stubborn, I wouldn’t be in this mess (BTW I don’t need lectures on this.  I have a Mom and a Dad and they do a great job of this on their own.).  I’m not trying to be difficult or mean, but have you ever noticed that when anything happens at all be it good or bad, it seems everyone has an opinion?

That’s great, and all.  But when EVERYONE – i.e. people you don’t normally talk to, lost facebook friends who you haven’t seen in real life since elementary school or friends of friends, who somehow post on your wall (Thanks Facebook Privacy!) it gets to be a bit much.

I asked the doctor what I should respond with, since both of us agreed I would not only get flack for even talking about moving with a boot on my foot, let alone still doing the race in March, but that this practice is not really ‘orthodox’ in that most injuries state you should rest, not continue to train.  He said “I’ve given you a plan, follow the plan, listen to your body, we’ll get through this alive.  You will finish the race.”

That’s all I need to know.

So here is the Doctor’s Plan in Detail (i.e. the workout plan I posted yesterday? yeah forget that.)

• Monday – PT exercises (At home) – This starts next week because I was diagnosed yesterday)
• Tuesday – Run 3-4 miles & PT Exercises
• Wednesday – PT Exercises
• Thursday – Run 3-4 Miles & PT Exercises
• Friday – PT Exercises & Yoga
• Saturday – Long Run (Whatever that ends up being) & PT Exercises
• Sunday – PT Exercises & Yoga

Because I am not going to a PT Center and therefore will not be getting the “Full PT” experience he said light yoga (he actually mentioned the DVD I use by name) twice a week would help.  He told me that I shouldn’t hold plank longer than 30 seconds until I am pain free because of the formation of how the foot is in that instance.

I told him I was already on Diclofenac for something unrelated by my Primary Care Doc and he agreed that piggybacking on that for the anti inflammatory goodness would be fine.  He said for pain he couldn’t give me narcotics (Wasn’t severe enough, or he doesn’t believe in pain pills, or I fit some sort of stereotype – I can think of a million conspiracy theories.) so advil/tylenol it is until I can find some on the street.

He also said overdose on water – this will help it heal?

He then said ‘If you don’t have to move, then don’t.’  i.e. Jason becomes the Domestic Goddess I know he is.  He did laundry last night, and cleaned up from dinner.  He waited on me, and took care of the dogs.  It was really cute.  It will be odd for my control freak habits to be okay with him doing this for me, for this long.

Mainly though, he said take it easy.  So that’s why I have basically eliminated other activities from my calendar… I know I didn’t really have any other activities, but if any should have transpired I would have to respectfully decline now.  I see a lot of sitting in my future.

It’s always that way though.  I complain about the idea of going out for a run, or having to exercise at all, or dread doing anything involving movement, until I can’t push myself any longer.  I’m having to scale back to what I would consider an ‘easy week of workouts’.  If I am able to do my long runs on Saturdays, then that will be the one day a week I push.

That is unless PT hurts like a jackhammer to my face, then I’ll be pushing in a less than cardio way every day.

I’m excited to see what the run does to me today.  I am interested to see if I’ll be able to do anything at all.  I’m doing this one on the treadmill in case I have to stop suddenly.  The way our basement is laid out is kind of nice.  I have the TV in the corner, the treadmill in front of it, but to the side, and then my exercise mats next to that.  Behind the treadmill about 4 feet is a couch, and then to the right of that couch is another couch.  So, if I need to stop, I have somewhere to sit while I get back to normal.  If this run goes okay, then the next step is outdoor run on Thursday.

The goal of the half is to finish.  Just to finish.  I’m okay with what ever that means.

So what about my foot deformity?

Source

Metatarsus adductus (met adductus) is a deformity where the forefoot turns inward, and you are born with this deformity. It is not common. A podiatrist should be able to spot this problem fairly easily.

The best time to treat metatarsus adductus is early – when the child is an infant. At birth our bones are pliable and the podiatrist will treat this deformity by placing the child’s foot in a cast that gently nudges the foot back into its correct position.

If an adult has pain or problems associated with metatarsus adductus (med adductus), most podiatrists would recommend trying a special arch support called an orthotic. Orthotics help balance the foot by placing it in a more normal position.

If an orthotic does not work, then one would need surgery to “fix” the problem. The good news is that most adults with metatarsus adductus do not have a lot of problems and surgery is rarely necessary.

There you have it.  I can just get custom orthotics and hopefully be okay.  Right now I’m feeling pretty good.  Pretty Stellar.

I’d like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support yesterday when I was at my weakest most horrible point.  I was crying and unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even though my prognosis was good.  It was the amazing amount of love, and kind words, and prayers that made me see that though it’s a bit of an annoyance, it’s just a speed bump.

Thank  you.

xoxo

I went to the ortho because frankly my foot is something I don’t want to mess with.  Well, it didn’t go exactly as planned.

First he said “There is no way you can run.”  Then after some soul searching on his part and with the help of his Medical Assistant and the fact that he too, is runner, we have devised a plan.

My weekly Runs of 5 miles on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s are now: 3 miles – 4 miles (new number since this morning, since he called to let me know my Primary care doc said I don’t have a Vitamin D Deficiency.  I am not sure how this correlates, but okay)

Long Runs: I can stick to my current training plan of 10 miles this Saturday – BARRING ANY HORRIBLE PAIN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.  (Don’t yell at me because you think this is ridic.  The Doc told me it was okay).

He said I don’t need to run any more than that to be ready for the race, and frankly I believe him.

He also said that if the pain goes away between now and the race, I can stop wearing the boot.  He told me to listen to my body – something I have issues doing, so I asked him specifically what to listen for – If the pain gets worse then where it is now, STOP.  IMMEDIATELY.  If the pain gets better, then I’m doing something right.  Stretch like it’s my job – so more yoga.  Go slower pace wise then normal – NO PROBLEM.  Finally, If something is not working after 2 weeks, go back to the doctor.

I’m pretty much okay with this, because I am still doing the race – I don’t care who tries to stop me.  I’m getting that medal and I’ll take a month off from running afterwards.  Whatever it takes.

He also said my bones were weird.

I have: Metatarsus adductus

WHAT THE FUDGE IS THAT?

Metatarsus adductus is a foot deformity. The bones in the front half of the foot bend or turn in toward the body.

Oh. (Source)  If you look at that article it only has treatment plans for children.  Apparently if you are an adult when this is found, you’re screwed. Thanks Medicine!  (I’m not sure if that is true, I am just very negative at the moment.)

He mentioned things like motion control shoes (I tried to tell him that I couldn’t wear them because of other things, but he wouldn’t listen.)

Then he looked down at my foot randomly and said “Oh you have extra bones.”  He rolled over in his chair back to the computer and pointed out the extra bones.  I immediately got a confused look on my face and he said “Oh it’s very common.  You wouldn’t see it on Grey’s or anything.”

SAY WHAT.  Is he seriously talking about a medical drama while telling me my foot is all deformed?

Whatever.

So I’m in the boot unless running my slow short training runs or sleeping.  I’m cool with that.  I’m gonna get some puffy paint, stickers, and glitter this bad boy up.

IT’S HOMETOWNS WEEK ON THE BACHELOR!

Plan of the Week!

 Dinners:

• Monday: Chicken Alfredo Pizza (via emilybites.com)
• Tuesday: Taco Cupcakes w/ refried beans
• Wednesday: Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Turkey
• Thursday: Chicken, Walnut, Gorgonzola, Spinach Salad
• Friday: Dinner with Beckie (Bethany Out, Jason will have to fend for himself)
• Saturday: Out (Somewhere less indulgent than this past weekend)
• Sunday: Chicken and Biscuit Casserole (Adapted from Many, Many recipes)

Workouts: 

• Monday: Yoga – I took Sunday off instead of today due to some foot issues – I’ll get to that in a minute
• Tuesday: 5 Miles
• Wednesday: Yoga/Walking on incline
• Thursday: 5 Miles
• Friday: Rest/Yoga
• Saturday: 10 Miles
• Sunday: Rest (I think I need to just rest the day after long runs.)

So how did I do last week?

Dinners

• Monday: Mac & Cheese with Broccoli and Turkey Done
• Tuesday: Emily Bites Meat Lovers Pizza Done
• Wednesday:Taco Cupcakes with Re-fried Beans Done, kind of.  We had no beans
• Thursday: Spinach, Gorgonzola, Walnut, Apple, Chicken Salad Done
• Friday: Adie and BeBe’s Hot Date Done and it was AWESOME.
• Saturday: Tony’s Pizza Most Likely No Pizza, we went to fosters where I ate my weight in hamburger and fries (FAIL)
• Sunday: Steak and Green Beans with Shallots Done – but I had such an indulgent day that even this healthy meal couldn’t help.

Workouts

• Monday: Workout DVD/Walking on Treadmill/Or Nothing (depends on legs) Ended up doing nothing
• Tuesday: Forced Rest Day (Most likely not getting out of work till late) Did Nothing
• Wednesday: Run 5 miles Done
• Thursday: Run 5 Miles Kind of Done – 3.1 miles
• Friday: Rest Day Done
• Saturday: 10 Miles  Done
• Sunday: Cross Training/Yoga Forced rest day due to foot

So I didn’t do horribly.  I lost 1.4 last Friday, so that’s awesome.  I indulged toooooo much this week.  It’s one thing to have a cheat day, that’s fine, but to have an all out cheat fest?  No.

So about my foot.  I noticed some interesting new pain in my foot during and then more so after my 10 miler on Saturday.  I also had to take way more walk breaks then normal when running – even with in the first mile – I chalked it up to the crazy amounts of mileage.

Well all day Saturday it hurt.  So I iced, rested, took advil, and decided that Sunday would also be a rest day.  I woke up Sunday with pain (at about the same level as the day before) and iced, took advil, and rested.

This morning I woke up, with different pain, it’s like pain is going away, but it’s leaving kicking and screaming.  I need to find an ice pack in our first aid kit to put my foot on while I’m here.  I also want my tylenol to kick in already.  I will most likely go into liver failure because of how my tylenol I will be taking to get rid of this pain.

Bon Iver is helping.  I swear.

My only consolation to being at work today is that I get Friday Off, which will be amazing.  I am going to sleep, yoga it, bake things, and watch random TV.   Oh yeah.. and write.

Have a Great Monday!

xoxo

It was an interesting run.  I didn’t have any really cramps or chest pains, thank God, but my ankle and left foot started hurting.  I think I landed wrong or something.  So today is a rest day and tomorrow will be some walking on incline with a little yoga.

We are supposed to get snow today, which is kind of foreign.  It’s been so warm, so tepid this year for a winter that the idea of cold and snow is weird.

I’m also having lunch with Lisa which of course will be awesome.  It always is.

Tomorrow I don’t have the day off work, sadly, but at least traffic will be light.

xoxo Enjoy Your Weekends!

Not too shabby.  I’m back in a happier decade, with about 19 pounds until goal.  I was here once before and got cocky, so this time I won’t.  My Weight Watchers Goal is slightly higher than my personal goal, by about 5 pounds.  I’ll be happy if I just stick at my WW goal, but the personal one would be a triumph.

I only did like 3.5 miles last night, and frankly I need to stop slacking on those runs.  I need my weekday runs to be where I build endurance so when there is a 10 miler on the weekend, I’m not losing steam after 3 miles.  Hah, who am I kidding, 1 mile.  I have no real endurance I’m finding, or rather if I do it’s weak.  I’m not sure how to build that up before the half marathon or if I should just cut my losses at this point.  I’d be happy with a pace of anything under 11 minutes a mile at this point.  even 10’59″ is still a 10 – not an 11.  Or I could just listen to everyone around me and be happy to just finish.  I’ll get the medal regardless, right?  I’m so incredibly nervous, but excited, and can already tell this will be an addiction.

I traded a pack a day of cigarettes for mileage.  I think my lungs are thankful – still not letting me breathe without pain all the time, but still thankful.

Today is a rest day – even though I took Monday and Tuesday off (Thanks Work!) I ran the past two days and my ankles are screaming at me.  Plus tomorrow is 10 miles… again… so I need to rest before putting my body through that.

Did you hear Sunday the DC area should be getting it’s first measurable snow!  I am not sure what that means!  I guess that’s anywhere from an inch to a blizzard?  We’ll see.  Only time will tell.

ANYWAYS.

Tonight I have my Muy Caliente date with Adie at a cool restaurant in the area that has been featured on Food Network.  Kind of excited because all the food looks absolutely amazing, and frankly, after this week, absolutely amazing food is just what I need.

Then tomorrow I run 10 miles.  So tonight will not be alcohol filled, but it will be filled with desserts and good food.

]]> http://allofmywords.com/2012/02/17/tales-from-the-scale-friday-10/feed/ 0 allofmywords http://allofmywords.com/2012/02/16/thursday-2/ http://allofmywords.com/2012/02/16/thursday-2/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:10:50 +0000 allofmywords http://allofmywords.com/?p=4244 ]]>

Yeah I cried (Actually sobbed and hugged my puppies almost to the point of strangulation after this) watching this commercial.  It’s not sad, it’s very uplifting.  But at a moment on a day where I felt like death and that I had been clobbered by every single person around me at work, it was enough to throw me to the breaking point.  It was enough to push me over the edge.

Apparently so was “Place in this World” by Michael W. Smith as I was driving home, but that’s another pathetic story.  Can’t give all the goods away in one post.

So yesterday I left work early – I had the hours from the previous day to use up so I just left.  I got home changed clothes and went out for a run.  I got about .40 miles into it, and I had to stop and walk.  I immediately knew this run would suck.  I was letting everyone and everything at work get to me.  I wasn’t focused.  I wasn’t running for the sake of running.  I was running away from them, from it.  And I couldn’t even do that fast enough.

In Other News – Fights about Jean Shorts!  Yes this did happen.  I think they are hideous and frankly no man should wear them, but apparently, there are men who still think that they are perfectly acceptable.  No.  They aren’t.  If you think you look cool in Jean Shorts as a man, you do not.  At all.  Unless you have some occupation that requires you to wear Jean shorts (Please explain that to me) you shouldn’t be wearing them.  Shorts are for when it’s warm outside.  Why would you wear a heavy fabric like jeans if it’s warm?  Whats wrong with Khaki?  or cargos?  Really now.

ANYWAY.

I’m planning on running again tonight, but because of the rain that is coming it will be on the treadmill.  I can run in cold, heat, snow, but the minute water falls from the sky I stay indoors.. I’m afraid I might melt.

So in that I’m hoping for like 3.5 miles on the treadmill.  I’m totally not following my training plan, and I think it’s funny.  My legs will fall off.

How?

I’m not even sure.  I am not sure what I did wrong.  I am not sure how I could have messed up so little by running a slide set.

They are blaming me for it all, though.  FOR IT ALL.

I’m okay,  I’m okay.  This is nothing a run and little wine can’t fix right?  I sure as heck hope so!  I frankly can’t. take. it. anymore. YOU HEAR ME WORLD?

In one breathe I am being toted as an amazing human being, a diligent loyal worker.  In the next I am someone who ruins power point presentations for all.  FOR ALL.

It doesn’t matter that I did all of this work solo, or the fact that I have basically carried this part of my team, alone, for months – nay YEARS. I messed this up, therefore the only proper response from anyone in a lead role is public humiliation.

Oh yes. It happened.

Then, today, the day after humiliation, I was given the gift of part deux.  Not the Hot Shots Variety, either.

I was called, a Sour puss.  Yep.  Because at the end of a 11.5 hour day of the meeting and meeting prep, and the past month of over 50 hour weeks, I am not allowed to frown or look anything but Happy To Be Here.  Because yes.  In clothes that are uncomfortable, and shoes that have no support, with my stomach in knots, and migraine brewing I should be smiling just like the rest of the room.  Right?  BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WAS SMILING.

I wasn’t smiling, because frankly, I was and still am exhausted.  I am run over with tasking, I am given massive amounts of crap from EVERYONE, and I am just supposed to do it all without complaint.

To that, Sir, I say “Fine.”  with a smile.

–

I love ballpoint pens.  This is random but for some reason seems fitting.

Gift From Jason

If he thinks for one minute this counts as another dog, well, he’s gonna be really upset when I tell him it doesn’t.

But he’s so fluffy!

I’m in an all day meeting on my Valentine’s Day.  Lucky me.  I hope everyone else has a day filled with love, happiness, and most of all no stress.

Get a workout in if you can.

xoxo.