The Best Month

Hello hello! It's been over a week since my last post, how does that happen? Time has been flying by like crazy. October is here and having thought about it for a moment, I realized that it could be the best month in some ways.

I really love the fall season and October usually tells you that you're in it. Today feels a little crisp and long sleeves are totally appropriate. The way I like to dress is totally fall, so now I feel like I am in my element. It usually doesn't snow here in October (although, sometimes...) so it's just all about enjoying the cooler weather (great for outdoor exercise!) and the changing leaves. This time of year feels like a renewal for me, maybe a holdover from when I was still going to school. It's nice. I like it.

Anyway... as you know, I have not been running for a little while now, and my knee has not been feeling all that much better since starting PT – in fact, a little worse, to be honest. Yesterday at my appointment my therapist said that it's time to get checked out by a sports doctor just to rule out anything more serious, so I'll be doing that, I guess. Bummer – though when I said that to Becky (PT), she was like, "No! You'll come out of this even better!" I was just feeling like I could have prevented this somehow, that I took things too far, too fast (my partner commented last night that he just knew I was pushing myself too much, that our big bodies can't take that kind of abuse, etc). I'm not sure I completely agree with that, but I do think that I should have stuck with some shorter distances running (3 and 4 miles) a little longer than I did before getting too crazy with the 5+ miles.

But oh well, what's done is done! And hopefully I will get fixed up better than new in the end.

In the meantime, I have needed to find other forms of exercise than running and tennis, which are my two favorites but also the worst for my knee at this point. There is walking, of course, and I will be doing plenty of that. I also have PT exercises which are working my core and my lower body like crazy! I'm hoping to also get some more hiking in with my partner before the snow hits.

The best thing I've done, though, is sign up for a gym membership again. A friend of mine goes to Best Fitness and likes it a lot, plus it is VERY affordable, so I tried it for a week. Yesterday I sealed the deal and so now I have a place to go every weekday morning to get my PT homework finished and work on some upper body strengthening, and use the treadmill and whatever other cardio equipment I want! My needs are pretty basic. This is especially nice because even though I could do PT homework at home, I just wasn't doing it because I didn't like the space I have to workout in – very cramped and too many distractions.

Since the end of last week I've been enjoying my new routine of going to the gym almost every day before work. Many fewer people go in the morning, so it's relatively open and I get everything done that I need to do – and I get at least an hour of good sweating in! I love it. It's a great way to start the morning.

Unfortunately this week has been a little funny for getting there. Monday was perfect, Tuesday I had a PT appointment scheduled (I go in the early morning two times a week) but then had to cancel because traffic was SO bad and I just went straight to work, and of course Wednesday I had my rescheduled appointment. I didn't go today because I had to go to my doctor's office ahead of work to pick up some paperwork, blah. Tomorrow I have more PT. Alas. But I am looking forward to next week getting there on the days I don't have PT.

In other news, eating has been pretty OK. I am still sitting in the low 270s, so not gaining. Apparently I am a champ at maintaining, which is good to know! Unfortunately I didn't meet my goal of hitting the 260s by the end of September, but I just can't imagine that October won't be my time to get it done!

One of the problems I realized I've been having is doing relatively OK during the week, and then on weigh-in day (after weigh-in, of course!) I totally indulge. You know, that feeling of, "I deserve it!" Well, it's stupid because all that is happening is that I am cancelling out any progress I've made and starting from square one again. This weekend I have decided that I'm not going to do that to myself. I'm going to keep to my routine and see if I can't break out of this weight loss funk I have been in. I am excited about it!

Another step I have taken is to make an appointment with a nutritionist – the one who has been working with the ToF group at Fleet Feet, actually, Mindy. She's really great and I am hoping that she will help me get more focused and give me a good framework to play with. As you probably have realized by now, I have a very loose approach to how I am doing all this stuff. Mixing it up and shifting to something tighter might just do the trick to take me to the next level, and maybe I'll even learn something new, too!

All in all despite the setbacks I've been having, I feel like I am in a very positive place right now.

I'm totally trusting the process and I am ready to lose another 100 pounds.

Cheers? Anyone? Give me a cheer, and I'll give you one back. :)