Tiny Freak

George, I credit ongoing ART with finally solving my patellar tendonitis problem. I had struggled with that for years, and its been good since ART started. Indeed, no patellar tendonitis showed up on my MRI at all, so that actually made me really happy. I can’t really comment on ART’s effectiveness for my current problem since that hasn’t completely resolved yet.

Nikki, I am already planning for shorts season, don’t you worry! The food restrictions will be worth it if laying off the dairy will help my various inflammation problems. I’m willing to try anything once.

Cal, I’ve been rolling my feet on a frozen water bottle. Although I’ve rolled my feet on a tennis ball in the past, its really painful to do so right now so I’m laying off for the moment. I take fish oils, but I’m probably not taking enough to be helpful. Do you know the suggested dosage?

I went to last night’s training with taped up feet and wearing my cushiest, most supportive cross-trainers. I had my chucks in my backpack, though, because I can’t imagine deadlifting in those shoes. My goal was to see if I could deadlift without making my niggly aches and pains any worse.

Military Press (5’s week)
45# 1 x 5
46.5# 1 x 5
53# 1 x 6 <–money set

I was happy with the money set and am calling it a rep PR, only because I’ve gone and crossed out all my previous military press PRs due to having used a light oly bar for them. The squat rack vacated at this time, so I did my deadlifts before coming back to the BBB.

BBB with light oly bar: 10/10/6/7/6

Not better than last attempt, except I got 2 sets of 10 to start with. However, last time I did not try doing all 5 sets at the same time, so the comparison isn’t apples-to-apples.

Sumo Deadlifts
from risers
85# 1 x 5 - ok
105# 1 x 5 - ok
from floor:
135# 2 x 5

Although the pulling itself didn’t hurt anything, my feet weren’t comfortable in the chucks and I found myself stepping around kind of gingerly. This threw me off, and the first set @ 135 (a fucking WARMUP WEIGHT for me) had a crappy back and more back pulling than I’d like. The second set was slow off the floor but I was doing a better job of using my butt and legs to get the weight up. I really wanted to do more sets, but I stopped because I didn’t want to mess with my sore feet.

Live to fight another day. My feet felt better when I pulled the trainers back on.

Dips
BW +10 on dip belt 3 x 10

Pretty easy. I always do dips when I need some confidence.

Glute kickback machine
70# 1 x 10

Tested this out, felt OK. So I’ll supplement glutes with this machine for awhile until deadlifting gets back to normal.

Seated front and side raises
5#s 3 x 10

Did I ever feel like a pussy picking up the 5#s for this one! I was inspired by veggie to try lateral raises with the 20s, but as I suspected I couldn’t get them up for even one rep. So, I went for volume. And you know what? The last few reps of the last set were a struggle! Damn it.

Sorry about your feet. Hope that resolves quickly. But, good news with the MP–a pr!

Try resting more btw your BBB sets. When I’m adding volume, I’m shameless with my rest times. Of course, I’m at home so it’s easier for me. Yesterday, I supersetted laundry duty with my BBB sets.

Just catching up on your log. Great news on your knee. You’ll be back to doing everything in no time. Sounds like a round of PT is in order. The impression that you posted from your report doesn’t appear to indicate anything that’s operable. Awesome! That doesn’t mean that your not injured though. I agree w/your chiro/ART about doing everything you can to reduce inflammation. Cal brings up an excellent point regarding the curcumin. Sometimes I take a supplement called Pro-Enz by Anabolic Labs (no they don’t make steroids, long story). You can buy it through professional offices. Very high quality stuff IMO. It has standardized extracts of turmeric (curcuminiods), ginger (gingerols), boswellia (boswellic acid), rosemary (ursolic acid), lemon bioflavinoids, and bromelain.

I’m so happy to have inspired your attempt w/20’s on the lateral raise. Someday. Keep reaching for the stars, Kimba!

Nadia, laundry between sets is an inspired use of time! If I rest enough between sets, I definitely can crank out more reps. That leads me to the question: it is more beneficial to be able to do less reps but train “endurance” of the muscles? Or it is more beneficial to just get in the reps however long it takes?

veggie, that Pro-Enz sounds very interesting. I’m off to google it.

Today was/is a rest day, if you count hours of errand-running as “rest”. I’m patiently waiting for the snow to melt and the roads to clear up nicely, so that I can pull out the bicycle and start up yet another great cycling season!

The snow melt comment makes me have to share that I took my little girl to the pool this afternoon. 78 Degrees her in Socal today. I hope your feet get better. I’m lifting in chucks too. I keep noticing the Nike Free line and wondering if some of them might be good.

Powerpuff, I have the Nike Free Runs and like them for running and lifting and general wear around. However, I generally squat in my stocking feet (I take off the Frees) and deadlift in the chucks (wear the chucks to the gym on deadlift day). The Frees still have some heel lift which I find bothersome for squatting and deadlifting.

I love the appearance of the Frees, and frankly, don’t like the look of the chucks on me. Definitely try the Free models on at a store to see how you like them. As soon as my feet improve, I’m getting right back into my Frees and ditching this block-like pair of cross-trainers.

If it hadn’t been a pretty nice day today (low 50’s) I’d be crying and sad to hear about your 78 degree pool fest. This displaced NoCal girl is just jealous.

Awesome news on the MRI results!

The more I read about your success with ART the more I think I should go see and ART practitioner for the tendonitis in my elbow myself.

[quote]kimbakimba wrote:
I love the appearance of the Frees, and frankly, don’t like the look of the chucks on me.[/quote]
Blasphemy!

I have three pairs myself and would have more if I could justify it.

are you a heel striker when you run?

i’ll try really hard not to be evangelical… but i’ve just recently discovered a whole bunch of stuff on forefoot striking and barefoot running since i got my vibrams. forefeet (and muscularly supported arches) as shock absorbers rather than ankles and knees and hips. i’ll try really hard not to be evangelical…

Re: Fish Oils, I think it depends a lot on your size, the brand, and so forth. Two caps per meal is usually a good guide.

Sorry the feet are painful. Like Alexus I also changed my running style to forefoot striking a few years ago and it has made quite a lot of difference to my joints. Initially it can be hard on the achilles, and your calves will get heinously tight, but my knees are a lot happier for it. I run in Nike Frees, btw.

Hey, just checking in and getting caught up.

Hi Kimba!

I would be a very sad Betty if I had to give up my cottage cheese… :frowning:

Glad your knee issue wasn’t too scary!!

Kimba I am impatiently waiting for the snow to go too!! Hope your feet feel better soon :frowning:

funny you mentioned plantar fasciitis…thats what I was put on medical hold for while in the military. I think it’s flared up again. :mad:

I am a big believer in total load lifted so if a bit more rest ups that amount its all good.

I’m with Joe. For me, it’s all about getting the work in.

I’m Back!

and cycling season is just around the corner Kimba - we had massive amounts of rain to wash away the white stuff in polar country yesterday.

And I’m with Nikki - looking forward to the running shorts.

LastStand, my husband has recurring tendonitis in his elbow. He went to my ART, got worked on and religiously practiced the stretches my ART lady gave to him. His elbow feels great now. I’d say go for it!

Snapper, we have previously determined that the evil twins have vastly divergent taste in footwear. This is how people can tell us apart. And by the fact that you are a way stronger squatter than I am.

alexus, I don’t think I’m a heel striker. I’ve only ever run in my Nike Frees which are closer to being “barefoot” than regular running shoes. But the next time that I’m able to run, I’ll try and answer your question.

Cal, I’d only been taking 2 capsules of the fish oil total per day. I think I’ll up it. Actually, you encouraged me to get the Nike Frees for running, and I can hardly wait to get back to it!

git, nice to see you 'round here!

Betty, I hope its not plantar fasciitis for you again! That is a seriously, nagging, shitty injury. I have some delicious unopened cottage cheese in my fridge that I’d like to send you. It will probably get thrown out. :frowning: And I love it so, just as you do.

Coyote, its raining hard outside. All I can think about is “DIE, SNOW DIE!!!” I think I’m sick of winter.

Joe and Nadia, thanks for your thoughts. I will rest as much as I need to in order to lift the load.

Frenchie is back! YAY! It was hard staying off the bicycle today, but the roads were still too dangerous. Maybe next week.

Finally I had a training where nothing much was hurting me. Knee felt alright. My feet are in reasonable shape (only one taped) and I didn’t limp into the gym like I did on Friday night. What a treat after the couple of months that I’ve had!

Box squats to 5 risers/step (paused on step)
45# 1 x 5
65# 1 x 5
75# 1 x 5
85# 1 x 5
95# 1 x 5
65# 1 x 10

Its been over a month since I squatted a weight that I couldn’t bench. Maybe I’m on the road back with these and can start adding some weight again.

Barbell hip thrusts (shoulders on bench)
135# 3 x 10

I am out of shape on these, but happy to finally feel knee and feet are up for this exercise.

Bench Press (5s week)
Bar 1 x 5
62# 1 x 5
72# 1 x 5
81.5 1 x 5 <–money set, rep PR +1

You’d think I’d just won an Olympic gold medal by how happy I was with a rep PR on the bench. I am pathetically easy to make happy in the gym.

BBB 55# 5 x 10
Did these with little rest and not much difficulty. I’ll try 60# next time.

Glad to here everythings feeling good, congrats on the PR.