2 1/2 cups sliced zucchini (about 2 small zucchinis)
Directions: -Preheat oven to 425 degrees. -In a medium bowl combine breadcrumbs, cheese (if using) and black pepper. -In separate bowl add flour, milk and vinegar. Gently stir until combined but do not over stir. -Dip zucchini slices in flour mixture and then dredge in breadcrumb mixture. -Place coated zucchini slices on a baking sheet (I line mine with non stick foil for easy clean up!) and bake for 30 minutes, flipping the slices over once halfway through cooking, or until browned and crisp.
If you're like me grocery shopping at first can be very overwhelming. You don't know what to buy, where things are, and so forth. I am here to tell you it isn't that difficult and give you a few tips that helped me...
Write your grocery list out as you are going through the pantry and fridge. Do not try to going through eat aisle remembering what you need, because this will make you spend more money and get unwanted things.
Stick to the outside aisles. These are the aisles with fresh fruits, veggies, stuff that has minimal ingredients, no processed foods.
If you go into the middle aisles make sure you stick to your list (you should do that anyways) but this is where most of the processed food is and food that has some ingredients where names cannot be pronounced. If you can't pronounce it do NOT purchase.
I can't say it enough, stick to the grocery list. You made a list for a reason but if you don't stick to the list you are going to be spending more money than you want and more food than you need.
Spice your dishes up. Use natural spices to flavor up your chicken, burgers, veggies, etc. And spices on the fix are a freebie!
Don't get frustrated when you can't find something at first. Just take a deep breath and look again. (I have done this before) It does get a little overwhelming, but all you have to do is look or ask...you will find it.
I hope these simple tips help! If you have any questions feel free to email me : alyssayourish@gmail.com
If you have been following me you know I have been struggling with a knee injury (IT band) for about two and a half months. I have been going to physical therapy to work on my flexibility and strength. I must say therapy has really helped, because my IT band no longer bothers me. I started swapping the bike for the treadmill as a warm up....one minute at 2.0 speed and 5 minutes (somewhere between 3.2-3.5) nothing higher. Just a light jog to get my heart rate up and making contact with my knee. Then up to a total of 8-10 minutes or until I no longer can. But let's be honest eight minutes is the max I can do! It is hard to listen to someone else when all you want to do is push yourself harder, but you know if you do it could not end well.
I started to be very cautious of how I run/walk. Because instead of my original issue it was as my right foot was landing my knee was going in, causing the inside to hurt & then I was feeling burning underneath my knee cap (tendinitis)
How are my feet landing?
Is it something I can do to prevent it?
Should I take bigger strides?
Come down softer on my feet?
The PT asks how I feel as I'm winded (since its the only cardio I have done in 2 months). I tell him I try to consciously make an effort of thinking how to land and he says stop, don't do that. Because this simple motion should be natural. So my next step is to ask, "how does this get fixed?" it all comes with practice, working on my at home exercises, and having someone watch me/video tape me as I'm doing my agility work to see what I'm doing.
The struggle is real. It's difficult to be told no. It's hard accepting you are limited to exercises you should do. No one wants to be told don't push yourself to hard. And everyone wants to be fixed, but QUICKLY!
But how do your struggles become your successes?
Every struggle pushes you to your limit. You listen to your body and understand exactly what you need. This diagnosis may seem so little to some, but to others it may be a different story. But we all have two choices: you can either accept it & push forward doing all the things you can to make yourself better OR you can throw your hands up &give up....the choice is always yours.
That is EXACTLY what I did. I could have told the therapist no, I don't care about never running again. Is it a life or death situation? No, but it would be nice to run when I can. But I choose to fight. I choose to do whatever it takes to be able to jog or sign up for another 5k. And in the process I grew my muscle strength, flexibility, and overcame it. But it is nice to enjoy your hard work for just a little while.
Only for a little while? YEP! Because in the middle of fixing my IT band (which it is strengthened) it has brought out another issue....not because of fixing it, but because my IT band has never been properly functioning neither have other parts of my knee. I now either have a stress fracture or petula tendonitis. How fun right?
So now that physical therapy has come to an end, what does that mean? Do I stop and quit doing all the exercises that were given to me. NOPE! I still continue to do them. Practice makes perfect and I have to continue to build up that strength & I have to continue to work on getting my knee straight. If I stop doing what I have been doing for the past two months all my hard work is going to get thrown out the window and honestly it will all be for nothing. That first time I run; I will be right back where I started. So even though we have overcome the first issue (success) we now have another issue on hand (another setback). And that is just okay. Because every little setback makes up for a bigger & better comeback.
When you receive bad news, get diagnosed with a health issue, or you become injured...YA it is never fun & you may not know what you are going to do, but you have two choices when this happens. You can either throw your hangs up & give up before the journey starts. Or you can choose to fight this battle full force and give it everything you have got.
Your setbacks make you into the person you are today and the person you will be down the road. The choices you make today help determine your future. Like the book "the slight edge" says stay consistent over time, there may be things you do not always feel like doing, but do them ANYWAYS.
Consistency is KEY!
And that is what is going to make you stronger. That is what is going to allow you to overcome your struggles and your setbacks!
One of my favorite recipes when I was little. But I wanted to find my own way to make it. So that is exactly what I did. Ingredients: - green peppers - ground turkey - 1/2 onion; chopped - garlic - tomato sauce (your favorite sauce) - sea salt - pepper Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. - Cook onion and garlic on low for a few minutes. - Add ground turkey ; you can also add salt, pepper, and spices if desired for taste. - As the turkey is cooking cut the tops of the peppers off, and hollow out the insides.
Hollow Green Peppers
- Once the ground turkey is cooked all the way through add your sauce. (I did not measure anything out)
Ground Turkey Mixture
- Fill the peppers with your mixture.
- If desired sprinkle cheese on top. - Place in over for 30 minutes; let cool for a little. - Serve with a side of brown rice or black beans.
- 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar - 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice - 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard - 2 cloves garlic, chopped - 1/4 tsp. sea salt - 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper - 6 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
1. Combine vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl ; whisk to blend.
2. Slowly add oil while whisking ; mix well
**Tip: store leftover dressing in a covered container in the refrigerator. If dressing thickens when cold, hold at room temperature for 3o minutes and stir before serving.
Know you are meant for something greater out there?
A daughter?
Teacher?
Nurse?
Busy Mom?
Have a FT job?
Believer?
Dedicated?
Goal Driven?
Want to "fit in" just by being you?
Beachbody may just be the perfect fit for you! Truth be told, beachbody is NOT for everyone. And that is perfectly okay, all you have to do is have a passion for helping people!
What you don't have to be:
- you don't have to be at your goal weight
- you don't have to be a salesperson
-you don't have to reach a certain number each month
- you don't have to be anyone but you
Share your journey. Share your story. People want to connect with the real you. Be truthful. Be honest. And show what you love.
Have you been thinking about becoming a coach, but you just weren't sure if it is right for you. Do you need a little more information to see exactly what Beachbody is and what we are all about? Check out this webinar we recently just had; explaining the company, what it is we do as a company/team, & how you can make this a career (if you wanted) just by helping people.
Are you interested in Becoming a Coach on my team?? I am going to host a 5 Day Sneak Peek into Beachbody Coaching on August 11th!! And my Coach Apprenticeship Program will start one week after that (August 18th) l If you would like more information on becoming a coach please complete the application below to be considered for a space on my team!! Do you get a feeling that you know you are meant for something more? You are tired of heading to your 9-5 desk job not getting anything out of it? Why not act on your feelings? You never know until you try?!
So you wanna know the scoop on PIYO. The first official week is over & I'm about to give you the low down?! Piyo is no joke, but I love that you can still get a workout from strength & flexibility.
Imagine what you could get with :
*30 minute workouts
*Meal Planning
*Accountability
* Online Support
This was a program I was waiting for, as most of you know I injured my IT band back in June and was not working out. When I heard the program was being released I asked my physical therapist and he said slowly get back into it. I was nervous, but ready to go. With that said, I am going to share the good, the bad, the struggles, the triumphs. But I am so excited to be sharing my whole progress with you. I do have to say I was a little nervous because I am so used to doing high intense workout, but I know my body needs the stretch.
I just want to listen to my body and really focus on each stretch along with gaining strength. I'm excited to switch my workouts up. I know my flexibility really needs some work to it and that is a focus of mine. I want to be present in the moment & really clear my mind with each workout. I wouldn't mind losing some weight, but really focusing on toning up. Since having my knee injury, to be honest I was a little down on myself & I would go in spurts of clean eating, then I would fall off track & it was really hard for me to stay focused. So with PIYO I really need to be careful & cautious of my food choices.
What does week one of PIYO look like?
Monday- Align: The Fundamentals
Tuesday- Define: Lower Body
Wednesday- Define: Upper Body
Thursday- Sweat
Friday-Rest (sometimes I make my rest days on sundays)
Saturday- Define: Lower Body
Sunday- Define: Upper Body
I'm ready and my game face is on! I have decided that nutrition is KEY to see the results I have been lacking. I have decided to throw away the excuses (yes, as a health coach even i struggle with the self doubt), but my determination & challengers are what is getting me through. I am following the PIYO nutrition guide, BUT I have decided to use the 21 day fix color containers to use proper portion control. Because portion with food is also a key part in weight loss & staying on track .
Are you joining me for the ride? I will be providing weekly progress & updates here on my blog, my YouTube channel, & Instagram account. If you are interested in starting PIYO I am not accepting applications for my upcoming challenge group. You can be the next SUCCESS STORY & WIN MONEY!!!
I've actually had this post in mind for about a week. I have delayed writing it. It's almost like I lose my words when I start writing & stare at the blank screen.
Why? Because last Thursday to be exact was one month of physical therapy. One month and I was to be done and back to "normal" (is what I thought). And here we are five weeks in and my therapist drew out another months plan to get approved, but we are trying two weeks to see where I am.
When week four hit, I was so excited & anxious to get back into running or start cardio again. I never in a million years would have ever imagined hearing me say, "I miss cardio." But I do. So, on Monday we decided to try running on the treadmill...slow jog. If it started to get painful I was to get back to walking. Not even three minutes in & I was feeling the pain. I had to instantly stop, got off the treadmill, and I was limping. My therapist looked at me and said, "okay so we learned-you are not ready to run yet." I literally looked him the eyes (disappointed) & said... maybe I am just not meant to run.
He told me I am, just not right now. I thought about how this really affected me at that moment. How I really felt & I was so upset, that I was not 100% and could still not run. For four weeks, 2 times a week, for at least an hour each time I would go to physical therapy and for what? Was it working? Is it worth it?
It is worth it. I am always telling myself progress vs. perfection. I may not be able to run & get cardio in. But the bigger picture is I have come much further than I was on day one. On day one I had no strength or flexibility. I was moving like a snail on every single exercise & almost in tears. I couldn't walk, my knee never relaxed, and I was just uncomfortable. Even though I am not done, I have come so far. My strength and flexibility have improved greatly. I am moving faster through my exercise, upping my reps, using more resistance.
You may not be where you want to be at that moment, but take it all in and remember where you started.
So, I will admit I was down because I am STILL going to physical therapy. And still have at least one more week if not more. But I know to trust the process and be patient. Everything happens for a reason and I am only going to come back stronger!!
After being active for pretty much this year of my life & they are telling me my knee isn't strong and no flexibility. I looked at them and said, "how is that even possible" I had no idea why it was the way it was, only thing I could do is push myself at physical therapy & do my exercises at home.
But I feel as though there a lee a ton of active people out there running, going to the gym, or doing at home workouts and even though you are stretching are you doing the right ones to prevent injury.
This blog I'm going to be specific and talk about the exercise I have been doing to work on my IT band, but a lot of these exercises target your hips, butt, calf, and hamstrings.
**first you always want to make sure you warm up** at PT I start with ten minutes on the bike. Try going for a short walk, just to get the muscles moving.
1. Planks- who would have ever thought I'd be doing these at therapy. When your favorite trainer (Chalene, Tony) says the core is a major part in everything...they ain't lying. If you aren't stable in your core everything is out of whack. Start on your knees and do 2 set of 10- hold for 5 seconds each. You want to make sure everything is in a straight line.
2. Clam shells- stack your knees on top of each other. Then move them in front of you at a 45 degree angle. Whatever leg is on top lift til you can't anymore (without moving your body) come back down. Start with a set of ten and measure your progress from there. I am now on 3 sets of 12.
3. Lunges- I'm sure you know how to do lunges, but make sure your knee doesn't go over your foot. You want to make sure you are straight when you go down and your hips do try to go out on the side. Don't take big strides, just a step & the back knee does not have to touch the ground. I usually do down an aisle and back twice.
4. Hip Abductors- lie down with your legs stacked. The leg on the bottom bend for support. Raise the top leg at 45 degrees and hold up for 5 seconds, ten times each.
5. Side Planks- the planks turned to the side. But I have been doing these all wrong. Make sure your hips are stacked straight and your shoulder is in align with the rest of your body not hunched over .
Holidays are over and maybe you even over indulged? And now it is time to get down to the nitty griddy. Where are over half way through the year...how are those New Years Resolutions coming along? Let's be honest; if you fell over track, you fell off track, BUT why are you not doing anything about it now. Are you going to say to yourself...okay well maybe next year!
NOPE! You are not and I am here to help!!
Think about it: how many times have you exercised until you were sweating so much but then you were just not watching what you are eating? You can't out exercise a bad diet and that is the number one reason why people are stuck. We all have areas that need some improvement and this is the time to really sit down and think about how you can improve to get those results you are looking for. You say to yourself one cookie won't hurt, but then you catch yourself having more than one. Then you are craving more sugar & you can't stop yourself. Once you start to slowly let yourself slip up it becomes bigger and bigger, kind of like the ripple effect. When you start to eat that stuff you feel sluggish and bloated correct? YEP! Me too, it happens to the best of us and sometimes we just need a restart.
So, I have been trying to come up with my next challenge group and what I really wanted to focus on. I ran a sneak peek 7 day clean eating group to get my challengers started on the right track and then it hit me! What if I ran a 3 Day Refresh closed Facebook group, BUT extended to 30 days to incorporate clean eating. And here my friends is exactly what I am doing!?
July 21st is the official start date!!
What is the 3 Day Refresh and who is it for? The refresh is designed for anyone who wants to make a fast, clean break to drop a few pounds in a hurry. Or get rid of those bad habits. It consists of 3 shakes daily: a fiber drink, plenty of water, fresh fruits, veggies, and healthy fats to keep your energy and metabolism going through out the day. Do not expect a liquid diet, but you won't get one here!
Here are two results on the 3 day refresh!
After the 3 days ....then what? I did say this would be a 30 day group so then we just keep on moving. You do not want to fall back into place with your bad eating habits, so we are going to start with the basics. I will teach you how to meal plan and prep, grocery shop, tips of clean eating, what you should be looking for, etc. The purpose of this group is to help you lose a bit of weight/bloat & then keep you on that same track so you don't fall in place where you were before you started. Why start something and then fall right back into place and feel crappy. This is NOT you, NOT THIS TIME!!!
So, what's next?? How do I join? You want to sign up with me as your free team beachbody coach. If I am not your coach & you are interested in joining please fill out the challenge application below to be considered for this group.
**Requirements**
- I must be your coach
-You must purchase the 3 day Refresh Challenge Pack
-Check into the group daily
-Ask questions; don't be afraid to speak up if you have something in mind or want me to discuss something
-Have fun (yes we are here to reach our goals, but this is YOUR group!) Enjoy it and get to know your fellow challengers. They are your biggest supporters.
Why wait?
No matter what July 15th is the absolute last day you have to order your Refresh Challenge Pack to be added to the group. This will ensure you receive everything you need on time & then have time to review the material before hand. Don't wait and miss the opportunity!
If you are nervous or scared, trust me YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! Take it from someone who was hesitant to join her first challenge group. You are not in this alone. We are in it together ...TIL THE END!!!!
I just have to give a quick shout out to my girl/fellow coach Haley. I first met her friend through Instagram she joined & said her roommate may be interested. Haley emailed me a few days later and the journey began. At the time she was working out to Focus T-25 abs said she wanted finish it all the way through and the do the 21 day fix. So that's what we did.
And let me tell you from day one I knew this girl was going to be a rockstar and she totally KILLED it in the challenge group. Not only did she get herself motivated, but she was a huge motivator to all the other girls in the group. She was engaged daily, keep the group fun/exciting, and really cheered the girls on when they felt like they were struggling.
So, when she sent me her results in just three weeks I had to share her results & what she thought out the whole process.
Congrats girly!!! In so proud of you! You are proof that this system works & with hard work/dedication you can see the results!!!
Haley:Here are my before/after pics! I decided to use my new bathing suit as my modeling outfit hehe I started the program at 135.7lbs and ended at 128.0! I lost 7.7 lbs :D Inches I started at 165.2 in. and ended at 155.6 inches, I lost 9.6 in. :) I feel amazing. and I learned so much about how much what you are eating really affects your progress. I am in love with this program and I am definitely going to repeat it in a couple weeks. In the mean time I will continue to eat clean best and I can, I am still using my containers to get portion sizes. ;) I think I was stuck at a plateau when I was doing T25 and what I really needed was this eating plan. It just made everything so simple and easy (and delicious). I can't say enough about this program. Thank you for all of your help and inspiration through these past 21 days :):)
1. Describe yourself before the 21 day fix? I thought I was happy with were I was fitness wise. I had just completed T25 which I liked a lot but I noticed after the first month or so I had hit a plateau with my results. Nothing was really changing, I was fine with where I was, but I was not at my goal. I assumed I would just continue on to another program and the results I wanted would come eventually? I also thought I was making decent choices food wise and that I was doing well enough.
2. What made you decide to sign up for the challenge? I had seen some other people's results which was intriguing. But I also really wanted to see what this whole eating plan was about. I wanted to see if the way I was eating was really impacting my progress, so I decided to give it a shot.
3. What were you expecting at the end of the 3 weeks? I was expecting to see some sort of change in my body, I wasn't sure how much or how little but I was hopeful. A small part of me was also expecting to be hungry haha I thought at the end of the 3 weeks I might be starving and just stuff my face with everything (that didn't happen thank god!)
4. How did you feel after week 1? At the end of week 1 I was feeling pretty accomplished. It went by quite fast and I LOVED having my food already prepared where I can just grab it or pack my lunch box and head to school for the day! I was also sore (in a good way!) I was a bit tired but after a good nights sleep over the weekend and yoga on Sunday I felt rejuvinated and ready to see what week 2 would bring.
5.Was this program anything like you expected? Yes and no. Yes in that it gave me results and helped me to understand what proper nutrition REALLY is and how much it does affect your progress. No, in that I thought I would be hungry. Those containers look so small, but it is a lot of food. I was hungry the first day or two but my body adjusted and I am so happy I didn't cave in and have an extra snack :)
6. What were you first thoughts on this program? My first thoughts were that it sounded so simple. Something I could do with my busy schedule. I was a little intimidated to have to prep my entire meals for a week at first (it got easier as I went on). Also, the fact that the workouts were only about 30 min each sounded perfect.
7. If you could give advice to others considering it what would you say? It is so worth it! I think this is the best program I have completed. Don't get me wrong I love the other Beachbody programs, but this one really simplified the whole eating and nutrition part. It also helped me break alot of bad food habits I had. If that is something you struggle with or are curious about, definitely try it. I have finished the program and I am still using my containers and making choices that reflect what I learned while doing the program. The results are addictive. Stick it out and you won't regret it.
Interested in learning more about the 21 day fix or what a beachbody challenge group is? Ready to join my next one? Please take a moment to fill out the application below and I will get back to you as soon as possible! If you have questions feel free to e-mail me: alyssayourish@gmail.com
I can't tell you how much I love Pinterest for recipe ideas! And turning your favorite dishes into healthy. I have to show up with an idea of what I want or I can be lost on there for hours; thinking of what I want to make next week!!!!
What you need:
-1/2 cup (~1 medium) very ripe banana
-1/2 cup all natural peanut butter
-2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-2 tablespoons brown sugar, lightly packed*
-1 large egg
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon oat flour (regular oats that have been blended or processed)
-1/3 cup old fashioned oats**
-1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
How to make:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray the 7-8 cavities with nonstick spray and fill the other ones halfway up with water (ensures even baking).
Do not use muffin liners.
Remove the banana peel and mash well using a fork. Measure the banana after it has been well mashed.
In a large bowl, using hand mixers, cream together the mashed up banana, peanut butter (do not warm up), agave or honey, vanilla extract, and brown sugar.
Beat until completely combined. Beat in the egg.
Beat in the salt, baking soda, baking powder, and oat flour.
To make oat flour, take oats and pulse them in a blender or food processor until they are in a flour like consistency. Make sure to measure the oat flour AFTER blending and not before or the amounts will be off.
Beat just until combined.
Stir in the old-fashioned oats and the dark chocolate chips.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop two full scoops of the dough into each muffin cavity. If you want larger muffins only fill 7 of the cavities. If you'd rather have more muffins fill up 8.
Bake at 425 degrees for 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 6-7 minutes.
Slightly under-baking these muffins makes them taste way more moist and light. If you don't like that though, bake them a little longer, just watch them carefully so they don't burn.
*If you want your muffins sweeter, increase brown sugar by 1-2 tablespoons. **Make sure oats are certified gluten-free to have a gluten-free muffin.
Are you a runner? A sports athlete? Physically active?
You may be curious as to why I am asking these questions & what it has to do with IT band syndrome. If you workout, run, or play sports this injury is mostly common.
How do I know? I was diagnosed with about a week and a half ago. I was running with my friends & (I haven't ran much in a while, but I workout daily so I thought my stamina was up). We ran & walked five miles around a local park. I was starting to feel pain, but thought it was just muscle cramps from the heat or beginning to run. Around the last stretch I started to get sharp shooting pains in BOTH knees and at that point I clearly knew something wasn't right. I was in shear-utter pain...could not even walk in tears kinda pain. Came home and just had to ice my knees & try to relax the best way I could. Didn't do any physical activity, but was scheduled to run a 5K that Saturday. I should not have ran
Saturday comes I get up & I'm super nervous for this fun little thing called run or dye. But promised myself to do what I could. I'm not even sure I ran a whole mile. At one point I caught up with my mom and we were running together, we started going down a grass hill & I just had to stop and go to the side. I was getting the pains again, but this time it felt like someone was stabbing me (not that I know what that feels like) just unbearable pain. Tried to pick up in run, then I'd stop. I heard someone say this is it, the finish line is there so I ran at a slow turtle pace, but did it & right at the end I hit a ditch & knew that was it. Crossed the finish line & so many emotions were running through my head....I was sad, hurt, upset, in pain, emotional, scared, and the list goes on. I stood for a moment looked for my mom & who we can with, when I found them it was a sigh of relief & I just broke down in tears.
Made a doctors appointment, wrote me a script for an MRI- which it came back for Illiotibal Band Syndrome, but wanted me to see an orthopedic because it could have been something more. Started to rest & ice til then. But if you've ever had a injury you know it can be painful & IT WAS! It was a struggle to walk at work, up & down steps, get in & out of the car, & push the pedals while driving. I never felt like I could relax it at all. It always felt tight & tense. And sleeping on my back was the only way I could get "comfortable" ....NOT. Worst way to sleep ever.
So here we are and I had my first physical therapy appointment :
Nervous and butterflies in my stomach is the best way to put it. My evaluation was surprisingly awful. I had very little strength when he was telling me to push against his hand. I was uncomfortable and uneasy, super sore from just the evaluation. Something just wasn't right & that is because my strength in my muscles & flexibility is slim to none. WHY? I had to ask, I mean I highly active & I stretch and I take care of me. BUT he said it is common in athletes and people who workout daily. When running your hips should be even and sometimes you aren't always, which causes you to put more pressure and shift your hip out, and strain your gluetes, it band, everything else....which in return causes the inflammation I have been having.
I have been given some exercises to do at home twice a day, plus I have to go back to physical therapy twice a week for at least two weeks and if I feel better after that I can knock it down to one. They don't want me to push myself too hard where it starts to hurt like running that 5K, but I have to push myself to where I see results. I haven't ran or worked out since the beginning of June and I just feel lost. I can't relax my knee, I always feel like I'm flexing, and when standing you can tell a difference because my left leg is perfectly straight and the right is bent so I feel lopsided. I feel like it could also be something else, because the other night we were sitting outside just talking and I was getting a tingle feeling & I noticed my knee down to my toes were swollen. I wanted to burst into tears, but I held them back, I got to a point where I couldn't bare the pain anymore. I told them and they are unsure, so I have to monitor it, in case it could be something more serious. When you are starting to workout, whatever you do, make sure you get a good stretch before & after. They don't just tell you that for your health, it is so important to get a stretch in so your muscles are loose and you don't strain or pull something.
I know nothing more than what they are telling me, but I have started to do research. I plan on keeping everyone in the loop, how physical therapy is going, when I am in pain, what stretches are truly working and which aren't, plus I will answer any questions you may have. Feel free to ask me anything & share with anyone who is going through the same thing. It is never easy when you have to slow down and give up something you love, but to go through it alone is a bit hard as well. Having someone there, knowing how you are feeling, gives you a little comfort.
I am keeping a positive attitude even though I am uncomfortable. I can move a little better than before, but still uncomfortable. Sometimes we have to go through setbacks to get where we need to be. And this is just the beginning of my journey.
