Fourteen weeks down, 10 to go

Uhhh ... this is super late. I blame the holidays.

For week of 12.14.15:

After three months, all I can think is that I have 3 left before I'm released from care. I assume by that time, I'll have at least started some type of running program. It's hard to know, though, what with wintery weather in Kansas City (!!) meaning icy roads. You can bet I don't want to risk a fall that could potentially set me back for months.

Life is getting a bit harder to manage these days. I was completely spoiled by my less than 2 mile commute and now having a 35 mile one every day in Denver traffic just takes more of my previous free time away. But, I'm still making it to the gym and getting my workouts in. Sort of.

Thinking of getting my PT a parting gift, but I can't decide what to get her. Food is always a safe option, as it doesn't violate any ethics codes, but I don't like the idea of just going to the store and buying something. So, I guess if I go that route, I'll need to put my baking skills to use.


Sunday
2.75 mile walk on the treadmill. Wasn't my first choice, but it was cold, it had snowed and the sidewalks just outside the neighborhood hadn't been cleared.

Monday
PT stretches followed by pushups and dips

Tuesday
1 mile warmup on elliptical
PT workout

Wednesday
PT stretches and pushups/dips

Thursday
PT
Got the okay to do kettlebell swings, pool running and more ab work (although she mostly recommended plank series, UGH)

Friday
40 minutes on the exercise bike (8.65 miles)

Saturday
Nuthin'. Got ready for the drive to Kansas City to look at houses and then to Iowa for Christmas! Yay!

Lucky week 13

There actually wasn't anything too lucky about this week, except that, after moving 35 miles away from my office, I felt lucky that I was only going to be doing that commute for a short while. I really learned that I don't want to live that far from my office. Makes home buying a little difficult, because you never know where your office might be in a few years, but there are also only so many places in Kansas City I can work with my background. So, there's that.

This week was the first week I really got tired of the continued achyness in my hip. I know it's not going to go away, but gosh darn it, I really would like it to. The left side of my brain is all, "Suck it up, this is normal," and the right side is whining, "I don't care, I just want it to stop!!!!"

Then I remember this is a first-world problem ("oh, no, my hip is still hurting after my fancy surgery") and I try to put things in check.

I don't talk about my faith a lot - it's probably the one thing I keep the most private in my blogging world - but I just had to share something that I found extremely profound this past week. I am Catholic, and am trying to celebrate the current season of Advent (preparation for Christmas for those not in the know) the way it was intended to be celebrated. For me, part of that is getting daily emails. The email for day thirteen talked about forgiveness under the theme of mercy. What I found so profound about it was that forgiveness was not saying "oh it's okay" and brushing offenses off. Forgiveness, as described in this email, was about counting what an offense cost you, recognizing that the hurt (in whatever way, emotional, physical, financial, etc) was real. And, after you count those costs, you release the person from that debt - you say, "I'm not going to make you pay this back." For me, it was something that really stuck with me, and has been at the front of my thoughts ever since. And I just thought, wow, that is something that is really universal, and I really had to pass it on. So thanks for letting me do that.

Aaaand ... here's how my week played out.

Sunday
2.3 mile walk with Jeff and his puppy cousin Finley

Monday
PT stretches

Tuesday
20 minutes elliptical (1.4 miles)
PT exercises
(workout log link)

Wednesday
Sooo tired from the work schedule change. Thought about setting up my new trainer and riding the bike ... but took the dogs for a 30 minute walk instead and spend 20 minutes doing PT stretches. My LEFT quads were incredibly sore from single leg squats the day before.

Thursday
PT - added single leg deadlifts and worked on both legs with my therapist. It didn't feel like I worked as much as I have in previous sessions, but we did spend a lot more time stretching, so that took up a good chunk of my hour with her.
45 minutes on the elliptical.

Friday
Rest
Spent time with family

Saturday
30 minutes on the exercise bike, followed by pullup training and stretching

A double whammy! Two week update

I'm behind on updates. My apologies if anyone has been chomping at the bit, wondering how I was progressing over these weeks.

These weeks were better than week 10, in some aspects. I had a lot on my plate, between moving in with family as the lease on my apartment was up, moving everything other than clothes and food and Jeff's stuff into storage and a last-minute trip to Kansas City ... well, it made for an exhausting two weeks. I didn't work out as hard as I would have liked this most recent week, but, hey, that happens when you move.

My PT still is pleased with my progress. She didn't add any new exercises this week, but she did say my form looked good. Asked about adding deadlifts the following week since I wasn't going to see her, and I was told yes, but RDLs, not powerlifting style. Also, got told I could add dumbbells to my walking lunges.

... and that last minute trip to Kansas City? The result of one amazing phone interview. I had an in-person follow up and .... I will be moving back to where I belong after the New Year! I couldn't be more excited.

I also had my 3-month post op appointment during week 12. I had xrays done (this would be set #2 since surgery, and set #3 overall), met with my PA, who I asked for a referral for a surgeon in Kansas City, and who tested me with single leg squats and essentially gave me permission to push a little harder and get my butt back. Actually, he phrased more in a "get the glutes stronger" way, but it's the same thing.

I can do that.

Then I met with my surgeon, who gave me a similar butt speech, told me I didn't really need to see a surgeon in KC unless something felt wrong, gave me a name of a guy that was a fellow under him a few years ago and then said, "Actually, if something goes wrong, call me and then I can call him and fill him in." Another reason I like my surgeon. Then, after taking information to deal with more insurance stuff, he shook my hand, wished me luck and that was likely the last I would see of Dr. Genaurio.

Week 11
Sunday
2 mile walk (40 minutes)
Stretching/The Stick

Monday
PT/Stretching
20 minutes elliptical (1.5 miles)

Tuesday
Chest/Tris/Bis metabolic workout

Wednesday
23:17 on exercise bike before PT
PT

Thursday
Stretched, The Stick

Friday
Chest/Shoulders metabolic workout
20 minutes on elliptical

Saturday
Stretched
Moving in with family next weekend, so moved most of the items I was keeping to their place. Was going to do full PT, but glad I didn't, as those stairs were enough of a workout.

Week 12
Sunday
Early morning (5:30 AM) flight to Kansas City, where it was 40* and rainy meant 1) brunch with my second family and 2) no 2.25 mile walk. Instead, I looked at a few places to live, met another friend for a late lunch and wandered around one of my favorite local stores.

Monday
Met with a realtor (house buying!!!) in the morning, met old co-workers for lunch and secured my new job in the afternoon.
I celebrated by doing an attenuated version of my PT exercises while I waited for the friends I was staying with to come home. Attenuated only because I didn't have all the equipment I needed, but it was better than nothing.
Late night flight back to Colorado.

Tuesday
Exhausted from the past two days, so did the ex bike for 30 minutes. No upper body lifting this week, sorry.

Wednesday
Apparently I need glasses now (the eye doctor told me so).
After that news, PT exercises at the gym, where I pushed it - bumped single leg press up to 80 pounds, did single leg squat heel touches from a higher box and made my butt nice and sore two days later.

Thursday
Stretched and got lots of stuff packed. Then I went to bed before 9.

Friday
PT exercises at the gym, followed by lots and lots of packing.

Saturday
Moving day. Enough Said.
Wait ... stairs, stairs, stairs, stairs.
Now, enough said.