I am trying very hard to get back into working out, but slowly enough that I don't hurt myself even more.
My back is not any better than last week. I went swimming on Sunday, and woke up Monday morning barely able to walk. I tried the recumbent bike yesterday...well, first I tried the regular stationary bike, but the seat was so hard I'm convinced it bruised my ass...but I loved the recumbent bike! I feel like it gave me a better workout than even the walking/running, since my heart rate went and stayed higher than it does when I'm walking. Not that I can or want to stop walking/running...but this is something new I can do, that I like.
I've been taking the tramadol pretty regularly...it makes me itchy, anxious, and a little sick to my stomach, but it's better than the constant back pain. I have learned that my 16-year-old sister and my 13-year-old cousin have both started suffering from back pain as well, and my cousin has been diagnosed as having the same thing I do: a herniated disc. I had read that it's genetic...my family definitely confirms that. On both sides, actually, since my first cousin on my dad's side had it as well. So I was pretty much doomed from the start.
I'm hoping to be back to a more regular workout schedule next week. One of my workout buddies has been gone for the last week and a half, which hasn't helped my motivation...but she'll be back this weekend. Having 2 workout buddies has been the best thing possible for my workout regimen...they keep me honest, and if one of them can't work out with me then the other one likely can.
So, this week, I swam Sunday, biked yesterday, and I'm swimming today. That's not great, but it's better than nothing. I should be biking this coming Sunday, which should start off the week on a strong note. Next week, my goal is to work out 4 days...this week it was 3, and my normal is 5-6, so if I do 4 next week that will be progress. I'm not worrying overmuch about the triathlon at the moment...I'm ahead of where my triathlon training book says I should be, so I think I'll be ok. I just need to increase my endurance, and my breathing.
Speaking of breathing, I don't know if I posted about this last time, but I believe my asthma is more serious than originally thought. When I'm working out, I get to a point where I just cannot pull in enough oxygen. I'm trying to avoid that by keeping my heart rate below 180...I have calculated my maximum heart rate as being 191, so the target should be 70-85% of that, so roughly 133-162. When I've been walking or biking or whatever, my heart rate has easily been in the 170-180 range in intervals, so I might even need to slow it down a little and exercise for longer. That would probably help my breathing.
Alright, off to have some quiet time before exercise time. At least it's swimming today...I always love swimming days, I feel cleaner and stronger and cooler afterward. : )
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Oh, Body...
Why do you have to sabotage me every. single. time?
I walked/ran and did that crazy 100 workout on Wednesday, and then swam yesterday...and by last night my back was so stiff I could barely get off of the couch. Stiffness is usually the best indicator of inflammation in the disc, so at least I know what's going on. I guess I've just been going too hard this week...I really have been taking myself to the limit, working out every day.
So, I need to dial it back just a bit. That shouldn't be too hard this next week...it's going to be a light week anyway, since I have to go to Tallahassee on Thursday, and my mother and sister are coming back up with me on Friday to hang for the weekend. Tomorrow, I have a 6-hour biking class...but my plan is to check out early if I'm having issues. Sunday is Craft Day at a friend's house, so no workout that day. Monday, I'll probably swim...Tuesday, maybe I'll bike a little or do a light walk...and Wednesday is (I think) group swimming and yoga. Thursday-Saturday is family time, and then group biking is on Sunday. All of that sounds pretty reasonable.
This whole next few weeks is going to be kind of ridiculous for me. I have LOTS going on...biking class and crafts this weekend, Tallahassee and then family next weekend, a class on handspinning wool on the 23rd, a wine-tasting tour for a friend's birthday on the 30th, my own birthday on the 1st, and then another trip to Tallahassee (tentatively) on July 4th/5th. AGH! All of this means that I will need to be extra diligent in sticking to a pre-determined schedule for my workouts - I won't be able to shift around my schedule much, so I need to take advantage of every opportunity to work out.
Ok, off to work. Later.
I walked/ran and did that crazy 100 workout on Wednesday, and then swam yesterday...and by last night my back was so stiff I could barely get off of the couch. Stiffness is usually the best indicator of inflammation in the disc, so at least I know what's going on. I guess I've just been going too hard this week...I really have been taking myself to the limit, working out every day.
So, I need to dial it back just a bit. That shouldn't be too hard this next week...it's going to be a light week anyway, since I have to go to Tallahassee on Thursday, and my mother and sister are coming back up with me on Friday to hang for the weekend. Tomorrow, I have a 6-hour biking class...but my plan is to check out early if I'm having issues. Sunday is Craft Day at a friend's house, so no workout that day. Monday, I'll probably swim...Tuesday, maybe I'll bike a little or do a light walk...and Wednesday is (I think) group swimming and yoga. Thursday-Saturday is family time, and then group biking is on Sunday. All of that sounds pretty reasonable.
This whole next few weeks is going to be kind of ridiculous for me. I have LOTS going on...biking class and crafts this weekend, Tallahassee and then family next weekend, a class on handspinning wool on the 23rd, a wine-tasting tour for a friend's birthday on the 30th, my own birthday on the 1st, and then another trip to Tallahassee (tentatively) on July 4th/5th. AGH! All of this means that I will need to be extra diligent in sticking to a pre-determined schedule for my workouts - I won't be able to shift around my schedule much, so I need to take advantage of every opportunity to work out.
Ok, off to work. Later.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sticking to it!
Well, I have managed to (mostly) follow my plan for the last 3 weeks!
I think I've probably only taken 3-4 days off...and that's because I went to Tallahassee the first weekend, the Renaissance Festival last weekend, and went on an impromptu trip to the North Carolina mountains this weekend. And both the Ren Fest and the Mountains were pretty physical, so those actually might count as exercise days.
Mostly, I've been walking/jogging and swimming. Swimming, I do probably 3-4 days of the week, and walking/jogging another 2-3. One of the girls knows this crazy 100 workout, also, that we've been doing after our walk/run on Wednesday afternoons. That shit is ridiculous...I hurt for DAYS afterward. I have been modifying my plan as I go, so as to minimize the impact on my knee, and also because of variations in my schedule.
I've only biked for one day, last Sunday. It was HARD. I have since learned that my mountain-hybrid bike makes it about twice as difficult for me to do the same thing as the other girls on their road-hybrid bikes...and I felt it. I had to stop when I was having problems pedaling just on a flat surface. Also, my helmet was about 2 sizes too small...I have since gotten another one, which is a lot better. So, all in all, a little more difficult than I had expected...but I'm doing it.
My knee actually is doing ok, for now. I went walking/running last Wednesday, and it hurt a bit after that...but it seems better now. I'm biking this afternoon, and swimming tomorrow...this is going to be a crazy week, I'm working out every weekday and then doing an "Introduction to Road Cycling" course on Saturday. Bring on the Advil!
I haven't been doing my normal neighborhood walk often, but I plan to do it twice a week for the time being. I cannot, canNOT, just pick up where I left off, though. I am forcing myself to start slow...which means resetting my walk to 3 miles and gradually increasing from there. I have to remember that I am doing enough exercise during the week that I don't need to kill myself walking/running. I need to avoid knee problems, as well as shin splints (no sign yet, thank GOODNESS!) and back issues. So far, so good on those...nothing more than normal pain right now, happily.
I have discovered before, and rediscovered recently, just how enjoyable my neighborhood walk is compared to walking the track. I HATE walking the track. Every time I get back around to the beginning, I think about getting off and being done. When I'm out walking the neighborhood, I don't have that option...if I walk out to a certain point, I have no option except to walk my ass back. My original plan was to walk the track every morning, but one morning of that was enough to change my plans.
Really, I just need to be able to do all of the different triathlon activities, separately, by the end of June. Well, I don't think I'll be able to bike 12 miles or run 3 miles by that point...but, if I can manage MOST of that, I think I'll be ok. The running is going to have to come with time, and I'll get better at the biking as I go. I'm able to swim the 400 meters right now with no problem...but I definitely can't do it all in one go, so I need to work on getting faster with it.
So, that's the plan for right now. Should be a fun week! : )
I think I've probably only taken 3-4 days off...and that's because I went to Tallahassee the first weekend, the Renaissance Festival last weekend, and went on an impromptu trip to the North Carolina mountains this weekend. And both the Ren Fest and the Mountains were pretty physical, so those actually might count as exercise days.
Mostly, I've been walking/jogging and swimming. Swimming, I do probably 3-4 days of the week, and walking/jogging another 2-3. One of the girls knows this crazy 100 workout, also, that we've been doing after our walk/run on Wednesday afternoons. That shit is ridiculous...I hurt for DAYS afterward. I have been modifying my plan as I go, so as to minimize the impact on my knee, and also because of variations in my schedule.
I've only biked for one day, last Sunday. It was HARD. I have since learned that my mountain-hybrid bike makes it about twice as difficult for me to do the same thing as the other girls on their road-hybrid bikes...and I felt it. I had to stop when I was having problems pedaling just on a flat surface. Also, my helmet was about 2 sizes too small...I have since gotten another one, which is a lot better. So, all in all, a little more difficult than I had expected...but I'm doing it.
My knee actually is doing ok, for now. I went walking/running last Wednesday, and it hurt a bit after that...but it seems better now. I'm biking this afternoon, and swimming tomorrow...this is going to be a crazy week, I'm working out every weekday and then doing an "Introduction to Road Cycling" course on Saturday. Bring on the Advil!
I haven't been doing my normal neighborhood walk often, but I plan to do it twice a week for the time being. I cannot, canNOT, just pick up where I left off, though. I am forcing myself to start slow...which means resetting my walk to 3 miles and gradually increasing from there. I have to remember that I am doing enough exercise during the week that I don't need to kill myself walking/running. I need to avoid knee problems, as well as shin splints (no sign yet, thank GOODNESS!) and back issues. So far, so good on those...nothing more than normal pain right now, happily.
I have discovered before, and rediscovered recently, just how enjoyable my neighborhood walk is compared to walking the track. I HATE walking the track. Every time I get back around to the beginning, I think about getting off and being done. When I'm out walking the neighborhood, I don't have that option...if I walk out to a certain point, I have no option except to walk my ass back. My original plan was to walk the track every morning, but one morning of that was enough to change my plans.
Really, I just need to be able to do all of the different triathlon activities, separately, by the end of June. Well, I don't think I'll be able to bike 12 miles or run 3 miles by that point...but, if I can manage MOST of that, I think I'll be ok. The running is going to have to come with time, and I'll get better at the biking as I go. I'm able to swim the 400 meters right now with no problem...but I definitely can't do it all in one go, so I need to work on getting faster with it.
So, that's the plan for right now. Should be a fun week! : )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)