Back - up plan

What is your back-up plan? This is a question that my support group leader Dana asked me at our meeting last week.  My answer – I will have to do something else?!?!?!  This turns out to be both a statement and a question.  The emphatic part of me that will not accept defeat and the learning part of me that is not sure what something else is…  yet.

 

Ok – the background – over that last year – I have become an avid runner.  Losing 130 pounds makes exercise much easier and running is a freedom I could not enjoy in the past.   A week ago – my knee started hurting during a 10 mile run.  I suffered through the pain and finished my run – iced for the next few days and got a good stretch in at yoga.  Knee felt great during my next run (7miles)  so all is good right?  More yoga and all is well.  The next day – pain from almost the first step.  I tried to push through the pain but had to turn around after 3 miles (plan was for 11 miles).  Slowly walking back – I try to enjoy the beauty of the day, the flowers, the wild animals, the fresh air, but the pain is getting worse and I can barely walk.  Once I make it to a road – I call my niece and ask her to come and get me with the car – I literally cannot put weight on my knee without wincing at this point.   So doctors appointment is made for today (Monday).  I was scheduled to run a 10K yesterday -  my hubby and I argued over my intent to continue with my plan (I can be very stubborn).  In the end – I won, it is my body and I figured the damage was already done.  My compromise – if my knee hurt – I would walk.  Well I ran over the start line – feeling the twinges of pain, made it maybe an 1/8 of a mile and realized that I had better enjoy some nature watching as I was going to be walking the entire way.    Ironically – the course was not well marked and many of us missed the 10K turn around point (a 5K & ½ mar were also being run)  so my 6 miles was closer to 7…  not what my knee needed but hey that’s life – my walking finish time was 1:35:54. 

 

So off to the doc today – good news – he thinks I have strained my lateral collateral ligament (LCL).   Remedy – stay off my knee for 2 weeks – no running, no walking for exercise, no yoga (except gentle stretching).  In 2 weeks –re-evaluate to see if the pain has improved if not MRI to see if I actually tore the LCL.

 

So the question comes to mind – what is my back-up plan?  I will have to do something different!?!?!

 

I have a few choices –

1.       Head home and sit on my butt for the next 2 weeks feeling sorry for myself.

2.       Head home and sit on my butt, feeling sorry for myself, after hitting the store to stock up on cookies and chocolate.

3.       Find an alternate source of exercise for the next 2 weeks.

4.       Find an alternate source of exercise and deal with the emotions that I am feeling.

 

Prior to my RNY 2 years ago – choice #2 would have won out.  I would have drowned my poor luck, hateful body and sorrow in those dangerous foods.   I would have beat myself up repeatedly because I was doing the right thing!  I was working out and taking care of myself and look at how my body betrayed me.  The only solace I would have found would have been in some Oreos and maybe a few Twix bars.   This could still be my choice today – I would pay dearly for it – but oh maybe I need to be punished; maybe I am not good enough for the healthy life I so want.  Maybe this is just nature telling me I do not deserve the life or body of my dreams.  As you can see – this is a very self destructive cycle that I have been through many many times.

 

So again the question – What is the back-up plan?  What am I going to do that is different than I have done in the past.  Because suddenly this is not just a question of how I am going to get some exercise in but how am I going to handle the emotions that accompany this injury?  How am I going to handle the emotions of my body again working to defeat me?  Guess what – yoga and running ARE my coping mechanisms.    In the past I turned to food, now I turn to my running shoes or yoga matt to deal with stress.  

 

The beginning of doing something different:

1.       Recognize and acknowledge my feelings.   Don’t feed that pain – experience the pain and disappointment and then move on to more positive emotions.  It’s just 2 weeks and if it turns out to be more?  Then I can deal with it. 

2.       Realize that I can make other choices and that food will not make this better – if anything 2 weeks of eating will make it worse – dumping, lack of energy, maybe a few pounds – guilt!

3.       Focus on finding alternate sources of exercise.  I have been wanting to work on my arms to help with the excess skin – keep saying that I should hit the weights – well guess what – I have the time and the opportunity.   Weights, rowing, stretching maybe even some swimming – great upper body workout if you can’t use your legs.

4.       Realize that I am strong, worthy and deserving of the life I want and desire – and NOTHING is going to deter me from my wonderful life.

 

So my question to you is – What is your back-up plan.

This is a great question.

I'm still sorting out Plan A. Now I need a B and a C plan.
Actually, Running is my Plan A. Walking is my Plan B. but if my legs hurt... I need help! Hopefully this is the summer I will get on a bicycle. :)

Thanks for this! :)

this is very thoughtful and thought provoking.  most of us that were/are MO suffer from the all-or-nothing mentality, that is one of our biggest issues.  so my backup plan is not to have one.... EXCEPT, to accept that things will happen and when they do to evaluate the problem, adapt, and move on.  if that means alter my nutrition and/or exercise regimes due to injury or illness, so be it.  great post.

Great post. I have always mentored people to look for alternatives to their favorite exercise. If you walk constantly, you need to find a way work on your upper body. This is particularly important for people in the early stages of weight loss. I have seen many people that when they can't walk, they shut down.

Once you get exercise in your blood, you search for alternatives. I always have mutliple options up my sleeve. I love long runs, long bike rides, spinning classes, bosu balance classes, etc. Running usually wins out, but I have developed some lasting friendships with fitness instructors who allow me to drop in on their classes any time. Part of my other plan is to maintain good working relatonship with a great chiropractor, a running therapist, and a great massage person. Being older than most of the posters here, I need to keep a closer eye on the body, and know how to keep it in working order, so that I don't miss any time. Last year, was feet and knees, but I was able to plow through with a lot of alternatives, accupuncture, insoles, and a commando running partner. This year, it has been hernia surgery and hip arthritis. Weights, crazy balls, massage, and chiro are keeping me moving, as well as my toned down running partner.

So the message of this long rambling note is that your need to plan your fitness journey while your healthy, just like you should be planning your nutrition every day. Try recumbant to see if that takes less knee pressure, or hand cycling. Keep plugging away, work on other parts of your body, and have fun. Just don't fall into the grazing party (#2) to make yourself feel better. We've all been there many times, and we all know the result.
Rob

Wow, great post.  I haven't thought of a backup plan, but I really like yours.  Mind if I just steal it?  This is a great post and I really appreciate it because I have not dealt with this yet.

By the way, where and when are your support groups?  Mine are once a month (4th Wed) at PAMF in Mt. View, but they interfer with my tap class, so I'm curious to know of what other ones are around the area.

Thanks.
Jan

We have a great support group at Good Sam - 2nd Tues & 4th Thurs 7-9pm. Behind the hospital in the meeting trailers.  From Good Sam Drive - take the "East Entrance" into the parking lot and the trailers will be straight back on the left hand side.  Very convenient if you live in San Jose.  Cost is $5 if you did not have your surgery at Good Sam - but well worth the small donation.

Hope to meet you!

I might try the Tues.  I have classes on Thurs. but Tues would work great.  Then I could go to both groups.  So I assume you are talking April 12th?  I'll definitely try to be there.  I had my surgery at El Camino, but $5 is worth the cost of a good group.
Thanks.
Jan

Yep - April 12th is the next Tuesday meeting.

Here is the yahoo group that has the dates, etc - http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GoodSamWLSGroup/

I know that there are a few other meetings around - 1 in Saratoga - but I have only been to the Good Sam group. 

Good luck!

Yeah it's a great meeting! I haven't been in a while, but I gotta get back.

I would say my back-up plan is chocolate and exercise...Maybe not in that order.  With lemons make lemonade (with Splenda).  You will have to find an exercise that suits both you and your knee.  I was using those bungee cords (you can get at any sporting goods store) post op...Good for toneing, but not for the endorphin rush.  I really wanted to go back to jogging post op.  I did it in college...I could go up to 10 miles without stopping.  But alas, arthritis took its toll on my back...So I had to take up biking.  I also wanted to swim post op...sank like a rock!!  I had to go from one sport to another to find the right one for me.  You may have to also.  Just my thought...Brian  PS  Just wondering if there is some transfer addiction going on (exercise addiction) that you need to deal with?