Just a quick update that I've been meaning to do for a couple weeks now. My last post was about three months ago, I can say that not too much has changed since then but it's always nice to record my thoughts and accomplishments to look back on.
I'm still going to the gym somewhere between 4-5 times a week which has it's ups and downs. Sometimes I just do not feel like going but I know it'll put me in a better mood once I'm done. The only crappy thing is I don't usually get out of there before 7pm, get home about 7:15 and then have to eat dinner, shower and get ready for work the next day. It makes for a really long day and sometimes Kevin and I only have enough time to say good morning and goodnight!
So my daily workout consists of anywhere between 10-30 minutes on the treadmill between a 4.8-5.5 speed, the last minute is usually 5.5-6.0 and the total distance between 1-2.5 miles. I have also been alternating with jumping rope for my cardio 1-3 minutes of jumping with a few minutes rest in between. Running has been feeling fantastic, only my feet hurt sometimes which is a sneaker issue or just that I run weird. After I'm done I feel pumped and able to take on anything. At night I don't feel achy or sore. On days where I'm doing a lot of cardio, or leg exercises I'll do 15-20 mins on the treadmill then straight to 10minutes on the stair master starting at level 3-4 and working up to 7-8 every other minute or so and then I do another 10 minutes walking backwards on the stair master to help strengthen my legs in a different way...level 5 or so. At this point I am soaking wet and exhausted. So after cardio I do a series of 3 ab exercises, 3 sets each. Side "dips" with 10lb weight 25 reps, then "V" sit crunches, 30 reps and 40 on the last set followed by 15 sit ups on the incline bench. Now I literally feel like I'm dying.
Depending on the day I'll do arms or legs. I just started doing more lunches, squats and step ups holding weights or medicine balls and my legs were sore for 4 days!! We're really trying to strengthen my left leg/hip since that pesky inner thigh muscle is still missing. It's a much weaker leg so it's taking a long time to do this. Overall my strength has increased so much. Prior to getting back in shape I couldn't even do 10 "girl" pushups and now I am doing 3 sets of 12 "man" or "normal" pushups and have even graduated into doing them with my legs elevated on a bench. Now if we could get my legs just as strong we'd be great!
In other news, I had my "final" MRI on Saturday for my left hip and boy was that a miserable experience! I had a busy weekend in RI so I figured I would schedule my MRI for that day since I would be so close to Waltham it wouldn't be a long drive. My appointment was 10:30am, I ended up leaving from CT instead at 7:30am. I arrived about 10am which I thought was perfect! Inject me with the dye, let me walk around for 15 minutes and they can take me early hopefully. WRONG. Didn't call me in until 10:45! I'm already super pissed (and there was NO ONE there...) So when they finally called me in, she starts talking to me about having both hips done and how most people can't lay there for both, they don't know what they're getting themselves into...I said up, hold up, I'm only having the left one done. She's like well the request was for a bilateral. I said well then it's wrong. I've had all my other scans, this is the final one for my left. Of course she doesn't believe the 27 year old at a children's hospital. So now she leaves to figure it out...comes back with no resolution. I said well I have appointments and I'm already way behind so we're only doing the left. She injects me, tells me to take off my clothes and put on the scrubs and ALL my jewelry. OVERKILL! I wear certain clothes so I won't have to go through the hassle and they always let me keep on my gold and silver. Anyway...I'm super annoyed. I go do my 15 minute walk...come back and waited for about 20 minutes until the dumb nurse comes to tell me it'll be another 15 minutes or so because someone is in there. My ears are smoking at this point. Then 20 minutes later they say another 12 minute scan and the girl will be done. I was SO frustrated. I was supposed to pick up my brother from the T around 11:30, he ended up getting in and taking a taxi to the hospital since it was already noon time and they hadn't taken me yet. It was the worst MRI experience ever and I'm glad I am DONE!
Emailed Millis to make sure he really didn't want bilateral MRI's and he said he didn't. He said "MRI looks ok, how are you feeling" I wanted a reply from him like "MRI looks great" so we'll see what's going on when I see him in Oct. But I feel perfect so I don't think we need to rush the appointment anytime soon.
My scars look awesome...will post pictures soon. The only negatives are my missing muscle and the lack of flexibility - mostly with my legs going out to the side like a split or indian style. It is painful/sore and just not feasible right now. Minor things in the big picture.
