The Midlife Reframe

Category: physicalfitness

  • Runalicious Contest EXTENDED!!!

    RUNALICIOUS CONTEST EXTENDED!!!  

     

    HI FIVE!!  WOOOOOOO!

     

    In partnership with Runalicious we are extending this awesome contest. How exciting is that? Now those of you who are not familiar with Runalicious they are a boutique company specializing in running inspired women’s apparel. Their website is www.runalicious.ca, their facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Runalicious

    its a hill get over it Long Sleeve
    They make cool, super awesome shirts like this!

    Runalicious recently held a contest to find a new phrase to adorn their shirts. That contest was hosted by http://girlgoesrunning.blogspot.ca The phrase that won was “the road is my gym”. 

    the road is my gym
    You too could be shirt famous!!!

    Now I thought we could do even better. So after speaking with the Runalicious crew. Here we are. But our contest will be a little different. So whats the deal? Runalicious are looking for a unique phrase or slogan that’s not already used or branded by anyone else. (google is your friend when checking this). In return runalicious will send you the VERY first shirt off their presses in your size!! Yes they will ensure that the first shirt is in your size. How cool is that. They will also send to this blog a series of photos actually showing the creation of YOUR shirt. Uber cool.

    So our phrase with be very slightly different, and a first for Runalicious, ours will be “mom-centric”. “Are you a mom? Do you love to run? Would you love a shirt with the unique phrase “YOU” came up with to be on other Mom runners’ bods?” Who wouldn’t, lol.

    Ok this is how it works easy peasy.
    1, LIKE the Runalicious fb page https://www.facebook.com/Runalicious 
    2, In the comments below this leave your name, your “unique phrase” pertaining to being a mom and running.
    3, Include your shirt size in your comment.

    The contest will conclude Sunday the 7th of September. The winner will be announced both here and on Runalicious facebook page.

    Good luck to you all!

  • How Hot IS Hot Yoga???

    HOT! HOT! HOT!

    Tonight was my first class at Moksha Yoga in Bedford, NS 🙂 I signed up on Saturday as they had their “Summer Special” on.  $60 for 60 days.

    I have taken yoga before, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I figured with the deal on it was a great time to try it out and see if it was something I would be into. 

    So, how does this hot yoga thing work?

    I arrived well before the 15 mins they ask for, as I needed to change.  Melissa greeted me at the desk and we had a quick chat.  She made sure I was armed with water, mat and towels (they rent them if you don’t have any) and sent me on my way to the change room. (No late people here.  You’re late, you are out of luck.  NO YOGA FOR YOU!)

    This studio is wonderful.  Clean, quiet and welcoming.

    I changed and walked into the “Brazil” room….and the wall hit me.  IT’S HOT.  

    I walked to what I thought was the back of the class and set up my mat, beach towel over the mat and grabbed some blocks and a strap.  With my water and little face towel beside me, I settled into Savasana.  I figured this would help me acclimatize.  I laid there and sweat BIG TIME, like someone had turned on a sweat faucet.  But eventually that did slow down…until class started…

    Because you’ll be full of it!

    Tonight’s class was Yin Yoga (90 minutes).  Melissa was our instructor.

    Yin Yoga is a little different as you hold your poses anywhere from 3-10 minutes.  It is all about relaxing and letting gravity do the work.  The focus is on the breath and the stretch.  No activating muscles.  Release.

    Upon Melissa’s arrival into the class, she advised today we would be focusing on legs!  (AND that the back of the room…..was actually the front…no looking at the mirror and so much for hiding…lol) 

    I though “wooooohooooo!”….because today, I ran 5kms!!!!!  (Go ME!) My legs were a little tight as this is the most I’ve run since the discovery of my OCD knee.

    I am just a little excited in this photo…lol


    We got started and at first I was struggling to get into a pose, until Melissa said to go with my body and when I felt the edge to stop and breathe.  At first I thought “How am I going to stay in these positions for 3-5-10 minutes??”.  The trick is (for me anyway) to close your eyes and focus on your breathing.  I found that once I did that (like in meditation) I let go.  I stopped worrying about where I was in the moment and let my body guide me.  There was a moment of “Ummm, I am kind of hot…am I going to puke….”, but that passed once I got control of my breathing 🙂

    I was dripping sweat everywhere!  And thankfully, so was the rest of the room…lol.

    At the end, while in Savasana (yay!) the lovely Melissa came around with cold facecloths and placed them over our eyes – BEST EVER!

    Afterwards, she congratulated me.  Not only on my first class, but for doing so well in a 90 minute class 🙂  I told her it was probably one of the best classes I have taken.

    So, guess where I am going tomorrow night???

    Next time…tank top!  Holy sweat 🙂

  • Osteochondritis Dissecans……Yep, That’s Right

    Actually, I guess it started out as Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans…

    My Soxy Feet waiting to see Dr. S 🙂

    When I was 15 I had to go in for a scope on my knees.  They told my mother that I had “some loose cartilage” floating around and they were going to remove it.

    Little did I know that it would haunt me later in life!  

    So, no meniscal tear! (But, it mimics a lot of the same symptoms as a meniscal tear.)

    So what the heck is it?  It’s like little stress fractures in my joint cartilage.  A piece of the cartilage and bone has broken off and is floating around in my knee (FUN!). 
     
    So, a scope is in my future for removal of the floatie cartilage and they will fill in the space where it once was with a new product called CarGel.  The surgery will be in the Fall, as Dr. Stanish wants to wait for the release of CarGel in Canada.  This is going to “fill in” the space where the bone/cartilage has broken off.

    But Can I Run??

    Yes Amy, you can run 🙂  Not crazy run, and not long.  Use pain as my guide.  Run/walk is probably the best bet for now.

    Now comes the controlling my reckless abandon and not lacing up to run my legs off…

    OH HAPPY DAY 🙂
     

  • I Survived the Move!

    Did I have a major anxiety attack??

    Boy did I ever!  Happened on Saturday when my now “old” apartment was full of boxes and chaos.

    Too much stress and too much chaos.  Amy crashed and burned.  Much thanks to “my Greg”, mom and daughter for being there to put ol’ Humpty Amy back together again!

    My muscles were feeling the good kind of sore yesterday.  So the functional fitness was a success!  Was careful with my knee (thanks to “my Greg”…again), even though it is sore, it is still together 😉  

    So needless to say, I am now living in chaos, but it is one I can handle over time, so we are all good.  I really miss running…

    But the best part is — Thursday!!! 

    Thursday. The day I see the specialist and my game plan will be on the table.  So so soooooooooooooooo happy!
      
    Next post will be the update.  Just wanted to let you all know I did survive, with only one meltdown 🙂

    So stay tuned – I will mobile blog after my appointment!

    Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

  • Energybits, My Soxy Feet and The MRI

    A lot of exciting things this week!

    My Energybits Prize Pack arrived!

    And because I like trying things out right away, I opened those puppies up at work and took a serving before my walk at lunch.

    I am a girl that crashes just about every day at 3:00pm.  Never fails.  I would like to curl up and have a “horizontal life pause” at this time.  NOT THIS DAY.  I need to say, I was good to go.  I had no problems at 3:00.  It was like…3:00pm?  WHATEVS 3:00pm.  I had two sample packs in my land of Bitdom.  I am saving the other for now  as we are moving soon and will need the extra zip for then.  I am seriously considering these during training (once my knee is better of course) because I did not have any stomach issues.  No heaviness, no nausea, no fullness.  I felt great!

    Love the Inspiration on the back 🙂

    Also, My Soxy Feet arrived!!!!!!  As an Ambassador this made me SUPER EXCITED as now I could tell folks just how awesome these socks are!  I put them on as soon as I opened the package and wore them until bedtime.  I ran errands and everything with these socks on.  My feel were cozy and they were NOT HOT.

    They came all wrapped up with the super cute logo and my rescue kitten Jax loved them too!

    Oh I am so getting some more of these babies!  I love being a Soxy Mama!

     And as for the MRI…

    Well I went and spent part of my evening on Wednesday in “the tube”.  The first scan came and went and then they had to come and get me out….my knee wasn’t where they needed it to be.  And here I thought I was done!  LOL

    Once repositioned, back into “the tube” I went.  Earphones on with a local radio station playing and “The Voice from The Void” telling me the next scan, how long it was going to be, and the cursed words “and try not to move”.  EEEEP!  Of course then everything itched and I felt restless.  GAH!

    I made it through. Was in there for half an hour.  Hopefully I hear something early next week and we can get this show on the road….because I need to get on the road!

    So tomorrow we beach and then we pack.  I received the keys to my new apartment today, so we are on a mission.

    And now that well all made it to Friday…..get out there and enjoy the weekend!!!  

  • Dr. Bill Stanish, The Knee and OMG My Teenager is Graduating from Grade 9!!!

    Today was the day!!

    I arrived at Dr. Stanish’s Office at almost 8:10 (traffic/construction/etc held me up) for my 8:15 appointment.  I registered and sat in the waiting room for my name to be called.

    A guy two seats over was slurping his hot beverage….and I mean slurping.  I gave him the “REALLY?!??!?!” look.  It was like nails on a chalkboard, lol.

    I didn’t wait long, it was like 10 minutes and then I heard my name….YAY!

    Went into a little curtained room and waited.

    Dr. Stanish arrived shortly after and we went through how I injured myself and my whole physio treatment.  We also discussed the lovely click and snap of me knee.  Joy.  He was impressed with my quad strength, as that usually dies with a meniscus tear.  I told him I have been rockin it with my exercises!

    He is setting me up to have an urgent MRI (which means I am on the cancellation list here in Halifax, NS), so I am hoping sooner rather than later.  I told him that not running is KILLING me.  He told me not to worry, he’s going to get me fixed up.  Once we have the MRI we can get the ball rolling 🙂 Happy happy happy!!

    I was in and out in 20 minutes.  He is a wonderful Specialist and super easy to talk to.

    That being said, my knee hurts like hell today.  It’s getting grumpy more often than not….jerk…lol.

    OFF TOPIC – MOMMY POST 😉

    Tomorrow is my daughter’s Grade 9 Graduation…..holy crap!  How did this little person get to be 15 and getting ready for HIGH SCHOOL!

    We’ve had our moments most recently, but I love her to pieces and hope to help her through the next 3 years….instilling that these years ARE important, that you can have fun and buckle down, and to enjoy them as much as possible.

    She is thinking about trying out for the Rugby Team, so we’ll be getting her body in tune over the summer.  Good thing Mom was a personal trainer for a short while….it will come in handy!!

    So, stay tuned for more knee fun…and I am hoping to get more cycling in, so this may take precedence in my posts, along with SUMMA FUN!!  So hang on tight…it going to be an AWESOME RIDE!!!!!!!



     

  • Defeat Depression Day!!!

    Move for Mental Health

    So while my running tweeples and peoples were racing or attacking their long runs today, my daughter and I went to the local Defeat Depression Event 🙂

    This is a 1/3/5km run or walk.  Since I am gimpy, we walked.

    This event means alot to me, having the “fraternal twins” of mental illness (anxiety and depression). 

    The weather was 50/50, the threat of showers hanging over, but what a great group of people to walk around Downtown Halifax with! 


    Earlier this week I cycled with the man in my life.  Well he ran, I cycled 😉 

    We went around the beautiful Lake Banook in Dartmouth.  It has a run/bike train around it which is great.  It is also the home of many canoe clubs.  They also have the Dragon Boat Festival here every year!

    I caught this beautiful shot once we hit the other side of the Lake.  It felt great to be out and speedy…even if it was on two wheels.  lol

    I finally see the ortho specialist Wednesday morning and I can’t wait!!  I am surgical, of that I am certain.  So it’s just a matter of when and where.  I’ll go anywhere in this Province to get it done!

    Hoping to get out to the Public Gardens later for some relaxation and maybe some awesome pics 🙂

    Tonight is the regular #RunAtChat on Twitter.  Awesome runners and fun chats.  A good way to end a Sunday Night.

    Until next time….

  • Physio and the "Franken-Knee"

    Yesterday was my last maintenance visit…

    with my Physiotherapist and I was manipulated, I spinned (like spin class spinned to a hot sweaty mess) and was then poked.

    Behold, the Franken-Knee:

    We did acupuncture to bring down the swelling – it felt really weird (as usual) and part of me wanted to vomit when she manipulated them…..lol.  Good thing I had not eaten lunch yet!!!

    I see the Ortho Specialist one week from today.  By this time, I will know when my surgery is and can plan out recovery and eventually my return to RUNNING!!!  I cannot tell you how happy I am now that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.  I last ran exactly two months ago today, hours before my injury.

    IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

    But what I am still amazed at, how runners are in tune with their bodies.  I have always been aware of my body mechanics since my IT band injury which occurred before my first half.  Muscle activation, foot strike, knee position, core activation.  You can say what you want about us crazy runners – we KNOW our bodies.  It’s one of things that makes me focus inwards.

    Although, even though we are in tune with our bodies, we don’t always listen!!  It’s the stubborn “I can get it looked at after I finish running *insert distance/race here*”…or “I can run through it…it’s not that bad”.  Until we see someone…and it IS that bad.  Double edged sword.  Ha ha ha ha.

    I can’t wait to get back out there.  That being said I have gone through my gear and realized that I need a few things….like shorts, tops, My Soxy Feet and will be getting some BioSkin to support the ol’ knee when I return to running.

    So….what is your favourite running gear and why?  Feel free to comment below!  I love getting suggestions for new gear 🙂

  • New Month….What Will it Bring?

    Hopefully Some Good News!

    Like, the date of my referral???  Please?  I miss running with my peeps!

    Like this peep – my running bud! (I am smiling but in soooooo much pain in this picture!! My IT band was DONE.)

    Finding new ways to keep it all together physically (and mentally) is a lesson in patience.  And I have none…lol.  So, some days are really hard to get motivated.  Just taking that first step is the toughest part.  I just want to flop and be schlumpy.  Especially since my knee went all lateral meniscus tear on me.

    (I curse my knee daily.  It’s like Jekyll and Hyde.  Just when I think maybe it’s feeling good….*pop*…*cringe*…AAARRRRGHHHH!)

    To torture myself (but really to keep myself motivated), I check out other running blogs (it’s good to see other runners come through their injuries and get back at it!) and search out races that I would love to do once I’m back and running again. For example: PEI Marathon, Beer Run in Fredericton, NB, The Johnny Miles Weekend, The Bluenose (of course), The Valley Harvest, Mud Hero, etc etc….lol.

    And who knows, I may get adventurous.  A duathlon perhaps?

    I plan on being one busy lady 😉

     

  • What Am I Doing With Myself Since I Can’t Run??

    The Itch That Can’t Be Scratched

    It’s not that I am not being active. I have a recumbent bike in my bedroom, a bosu ball, a swiss ball, hand weights, yoga mat, etc.

    It’s the fact that I cannot run.  My main outlet for stress, my time to think, my “me” time.  GONE.

    I have been meditating to keep my focus.  It is helping a lot.

    I have always been an avid reader.  Right now I am reading 12 Years A Slave.  I am a huge Stephen King fan as well (even though he has turned me against clowns FOREVER).  I crochet which helps me not eat myself into oblivion.

    Being a mom to a teen daughter keeps me busy as well.  And my day job totally keeps me busy!  But still, I CAN’T RUN.  No races, no training, no BLT runs, no swag, no camaraderie, no new running gear…

    So, to keep myself moving and raise awareness for a great cause, I am participating in the Defeat Depression Event next month.  Because physical fitness rocks!  I wonder if wearing my hydration belt would be out of line…. 😉

    Next blog post…Runners and their “stuff”!