I just completed my 7th week with the new ligament. Now that I'm able to do more things, I've cut down on the blogging, hoping to do it at least once a week now. Things have started to plateau, exercises have been about the same, just with more resistance/challenge added to them. This week I started lunges and heel taps, all tracing each end of this asterisk:
The new exercise of the week is the elliptical! Now instead of warming up on the bike, I can warm up 10minutes on the elliptical. It's pretty much the same, if not, less movement with the knee, only there's more balancing act to it. The total gym single leg squats have continued on level 10 (highest level). I've noticed there are more squats incorporated in my session. Not just on the total gym, but on a foam pad, on the balance board, and on the squishy side of the bosu ball. Btw, here's what Kim was talkin about with the Bosu disclaimer not living up to its namesake ("BOth Sides Up")
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| "standing on platform not recommended" heh? |
Kim had me show her my ability to go up 2 flights of stairs located in the front of the facility (that rhymed!) I got scared because there's an abandoned big room on the 2nd floor so I kinda scurried back down the stairs, Kim was impressed. Not a fan of abandoned cold areas, too Blair Witch for me. Once I got back to the bottom of the stairs, my heart rate was up. I went onto the mat to do some side planks with leg lifts, and diagonal planks on the exercise ball. Those things made me sweat! Really works the lower abs. Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing them as my forearms are shaking like crazy. But Kim stresses the importance of core strength which the hip muscles contribute to. This past week was another 6th visit check up for strength when both my legs are tested. Interestingly, my left leg felt stronger than my right when doing the resistance tests! The exciting news is that I'm able to touch my heel to my butt on the first try! Besides the elliptical, the other new exercise had to do with this push and pull apparatus
I have to push this thing forward and backward, 5 laps, each lap at a faster speed. Reminded me of when I'd mow the lawn at my parents house. I'd imagine this is what waxing a floor would be like. Or two handed vacuuming? Or just pushing a real heavy cart, like at costco. There's 20lbs total on it. I'm thinking the weight will increase next week. I've upgraded the treadmill walking to side stepping. It's harder to side step facing the left side because I'm pushing off with the left leg, kinda takes some thinking to do it with good rhythm. These side steps go along with the step overs on the bosu ball. Right now my main worry is the little pull I feel along the outside of my left leg when I step over the bosu. It's the IT band acting up, which may be troublesome when I start distance running again. Finally, I end my sessions with forward lunges with 4lb medicine ball in hand going side to side with each step.
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| another fun pic that I get to look at when laying on my tummy on the table |
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| chillin'....literally! this is my fav part, the icing! |
In the work world, this was the 1st week that I worked 3 full shifts. Get this- 2 of my coworkers will be seeing Dr. Edwards! I didn't realize there were so many ortho issues amongst the NICU! Could our lil babes really be workin us that hard? Anyhoo, this is what my ride home looks like on the bus afterwards, always lookin for a spot to elevate. God bless Beth, my fellow south looper. She let me elevate my leg on her legs.
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| ahhhh, relief. |
On the homefront, i've been baking more. the weather is such a debbie downer so i bake to make the atmosphere a lil more uplifting. It distracts me from looking at the gloomy weather. Here are my latest concoctions:
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| banana cranberry walnut bread |
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| neiman marcus cookies |
it's fun playing martha stewart, plus it makes my place smell super yummy. That's all for the 7th week summary, all that's left is...you guessed it, the post op week 7 pic!
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| dimple patella still there, scars still the same color... i think from now everything will look the same, only the muscles will start to come back |
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