Getting back at it!

I’ve made a lot of progress this week.  I was able to go to both boxing sessions this week, but was still limited in my movement.  Although I was finally able to do some crunches, whereas last week, I could not.  My physio has helped incredibly as well.  My physiotherapist is happy with my progress.  He was impressed with my range of motion (sitting down with no pressure on my knee) and sent me to the gym to get a few exercises a try.  I was able to do them all.  Low amount of reps, but still, it’s more than I could do before!  He told me that because I’m fit and have never had problems with my knees, that I should recover quicker than most.  I have to say though that after each workout, my knees would hurt.  Two steps forward, one step back, I guess.  Next week, I’m going to get back to boxercise with the help of N.  I’m still not able to do a whole class on my own just yet.  Hopefully soon, I’ll be able to do the workouts I used to do!

First day back…

I tried to box tonight, but it was not successful.    All I could do was shadow boxing and I was slow at that since I don’t want to get any bad habits by compensating for my knee.  Then, I tried to get into the sit-up position and couldn’t bend my knee that much!  So, I did between 30 and 40 push ups tonight, but it just didn’t seem like I did enough.  I hit the bag a few times and did some mitts, but overall, tonight sucked.  It frustrates me so much that I can’t do what I was used to doing and it just makes me angry.  Angry for being in an accident, even though I didn’t ask for it.  Angry because now I’m afraid the weight will come back.  Angry because I can’t feel satisfied after a good workout.  Angry that I can’t have my cheat days.  I know that with time, things will get back to normal, but right now, I feel like punching something and doing that hurts my knee!!!  Boxing was my therapy and now everything is stuck inside.  Plus, I won’t be able to go to hip hop for even longer, since it’s an advanced class.  It was a challenge when I was going every week, but now, I’m going to be completely lost!  Thankfully, one of my former students has agreed to “tutor” me when I’m feeling up to it.  At least there’s that…  So I guess my goal of the 6 pack will have to wait until I’m fully recovered. 

Stitches are finally out!

I finally got my stitches out of my knee after 14 days.  I’m still cautious about bending my knee.  I would hate to have it split open and have my recovery be prolonged!  I have to say that I’m going to try to go back to boxing on Monday, but I’m not sure just how much I can do.  I will be able to do push ups and drills on the bag, but definitely no squats, burpees, mountain climbers or anything that involves jumping up and down.  I’m not running yet, so there will be no jogging on the spot.   Like I said, I’m starting off slow and see how much I can do.  My doctor told me last week that it would be another 2-3 weeks before I can do anything, but I’m going to try the 1-2 week thing instead. 

I’ve been doing well eating clean too – with the exception of two days, where I indulged for only one meal and it wasn’t all that bad.  Even though I probably haven’t gained all that much weight (everything still fits the same), just the fact that I haven’t been able to workout as usual makes me feel somewhat pudgy.  Not a great feeling.  But I have to be careful and not hurt myself.

The road to recovery will be long, but I hope that with hard work, determination (and physio!) will help me get back on track!

Recovery will be quick – I just know it!

I went to see my family doctor yesterday in regards to my knee.  She told me to gage myself in my physical activity and that I could probably start to box within the next 2-3 weeks.  But knowing myself, I’m going to try to get back at boxing next week.  Slowly, but surely.  I’m very determined and nothing’s going to stop me from doing what I love!  So I’ve decided that I will try boxing again within the next two weeks.  I know that I’ll be able to do push ups, abs and boxing combos on the bag, but there won’t be any squats, lunges or high impact for me right away.  I’m going to take it slow.  The stitches are coming out tomorrow and I have to say that once they’re out, I’ll feel more confident trying to bend my knee more than a 45 degree angle.  Right now, I can walk slowly and walk up stairs.  Going down stairs is tricky right now.  With every passing day, I see progress.  I can do more and more each day.  The key is perserverance!

Hanging in there…

My parents came to help me out NY’s day.  They took really good care of me, including feeding me wonderful home cooked meals.  I gave myself permission to eat it without guilt.  But now that they’re gone, I am watching what I’m eating since I can’t really exercise.  I’ve been trying to slowly bend my knee over and over again.  It’s getting better every day, but I’m still not better enough to drive any car.  I’m getting my stitches out on Sunday and maybe by then, I’ll feel confident enough to bend it even more.  I’m just being cautious, since the last thing I need is for the stitches to come out or something!  It’s only a setback in achieving my goal and I need to have a positive attitude.

Happy New Year!!!

I have to say that 2009 certainly went out with a bang for me – I totalled my car a little after lunch on New Year’s Eve!  Certainly not how I was planning on spending the last day of 2009!  I was coming home and a car pulled up in front of me.  I was not at fault, since I had the right of way.  I was going about 70 km/h when I hit into the passenger side of a black vehicle.  Luckily, the only injury sustained was a huge gash in my right knee that required 10 stitches, a bruised and swollen left knee, stiffness in my neck/back and a few bruises here and there.  I am saddened by the fact that I won’t be able to work out for a while and that I have to take it easy.  I have to say though, that someone was definitely watching over me, since I was surrounded by people I knew that came to the scene of the accident, as well as at the hospital.  I guess that’s what happens when you live in a small town!  My family (aunts and uncle) came to the hospital as soon as my parents called them and I felt so much better having them there.  In the end, I did manage to have a wonderful New Year’s Eve!  Now is the time for rest and I’ll be eating clean until I can work out again.

May your New Year be filled with love, luck, health and wealth!

Things I’ve learned this decade…

Looking back on the past 9-10 years, I’ve learned a lot about fitness, nutrition and being healthy.  I’ve had my ups and downs.  Here’s a glimpse of one thing I’ve learned every year throughout the 2000’s:

2000: Your first job can pile on the pounds and only you can decide whether you’ve hit rock bottom or not.

2001: Losing weight is about a lifestyle change, not about dieting.

2002: When you look good, you feel good! 

2003: Relationships do not have to equal putting on weight.

2004: When getting dental surgery, it’s not okay to eat as much ice cream as you want…

2005: Being in a bad relationship hinders self-esteem.

2006: Ending a bad relationship can help jump-start weight loss and build your self-esteem.

2007: It’s okay to wear a mini skirt after the age of 30, as long as you feel comfortable in it and look good!

2008: I let a dental surgery be the excuse for weight gain… not good and never again!

2009: Losing weight has made me a stronger person, both physically and mentally.

The holiday aftermath

Christmas is over and the new year is slowly sneaking up on us.  You know, it’s funny what we do to ourselves as a society during the holidays: we eat, eat and eat before Christmas and on Christmas day, then we expect everyone to feel hot and squeeze into a little black dress.  Why would we do this to ourselves?!  It’s ridiculous.  I have to admit that over the past few days, I’ve enjoyed my mom’s home cooked meals and her cookies as well, however, I’m not feeling that great about myself right now.  I’m trying not to be hard on myself.  Granted, I didn’t make a pig out of myself during the holidays, but I didn’t eat all that well.  I’m going back to boxing tomorrow and back to my good eating habits.  That’s the only thing you can do.  When you fall off the wagon, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on it.  That’s all there needs to be done.  When I got home today, I got rid of all the treats that I received over the past couple of weeks.  If they’re not in the house, then I won’t eat it.  In a few days, we’ll be starting a new decade.  New decade, new goals.  A couple of my goals this year is to better myself as an instructor and to finally get to see my abs!  Here’s to new goals!

A Poll Just for Fun!

So what’s your main goal for the new year?  Click on one of the following choices or insert your own answer!

The holidays are not an excuse to slack off

During the holidays, most people take a break from their daily routine.  Some are on vacation and feel that because it’s the holidays, that means they need to take a break from working out and eating right.  This shouldn’t be an excuse to slack off on your regular workout routine and eating nutritious food.  It’s important to stay active during this time of year to avoid putting on the holiday pounds.  Just think if you keep your regular routine, come January, you’ll be looking fabulous while most people around you are complaining about the 5-10 extra pounds they’ve put on over Christmas time.  That doesn’t mean you have to barricade yourself in a gym!  Just do some fun stuff (think of what you liked to do as a kid): go skating, snowshoeing, sliding, skiing, snowboarding, going for a walk and admiring the pretty lights and the winter scenery.  It’s never too late to get back on track!  I know that for me, this weekend was a “cheat weekend” instead of a “cheat day”.  Instead of beating myself up for it (and making crazy promises to myself about not having the right to eat anymore junk over the holidays), I’m just going to keep working out.  I’m going to boxing tonight and hitting the gym with S. tomorrow.  I’m going to try to eat healthy (with the exception of some treats here and there) and not overdo it.  It’s all about moderation.

In 10 days, I’ll be celebrating my first year anniversary of my weight loss journey.  If someone would’ve told me a year ago that I would look and feel like I do now, I wouldn’t believe them.  What a difference!  Last year, I felt overweight, unhealthy and always tried to hide my body with clothes that I deemed flattering (hence the reaction of most people, “I never thought you were fat!”).  Now, I feel strong, healthy, beautiful and happy.  You’ll hear people say that being “skinny” (in my eyes, the word should be “healthy”) won’t make you happy, but I have to say that it sure does help a person get through life a lot easier!  For one, I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to wear.  I don’t have to worry that I can’t open a jar or shovel my yard – being in shape makes those things a lot easier.  And lastly, as unfair as it is (depending on who you ask), people generally treat you better.  I know, that’s not the way life should be, but it’s a reality we all face as humans.  We can’t help it.  They say, “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but in our appearance-driven world, it sure can help when you look good.  Hopefully then people will see who you truly are, underneath it all.  Bottom line, when you look better, you feel better.  When you feel better, you feel like nothing can stop you from accomplishing your goals. 

In a little more than a week, we’ll be entering a new decade.  It’s time to set new goals (I hate the words “New Year Resolution”) and I have to set some new goals for myself.  Of course, the constant one is to maintain my new weight.  I have to start thinking about what my main goal will be for next year.  Time to start thinking about yours!