WHAT'S UP IN THE GARDEN?

So here I sit trying to figure out what to do with my day.  My left leg is now doing what my right leg did....swelling, pain and difficulty walking.  On Friday, the physical therapist said to ice it and take NSAIDS to get the swelling down.  He said to work out as long as it is pain free.  It was better than Friday but no where near 100%.  I need to sit more than I would like.

Saturday and Monday a did a couple very modified work outs.  The lower body is getting limited work which makes me very sad. 

Because movement is limited, I bring you this blog posting.  Of course it is one that doesn't require much thought.  Yes, a synopsis of the certification weekend is long over due.  Hope to do one soon because there are many kudos to share.

Here is the status of my garden...

My grape vine is rocking!

Some of the tomatoes including some green tomatoes.  There are an amazing number of green tomatoes...I smile every time I look at them.

Some are in pots and some are in the ground.

Broccoli...

Broccoli Rabe...waiting for transfer

 Every year we grow corn.  Believe it or not it usually does well.  What's the problem?  The squirrels know exactly when the corn is ready.  Sometimes they end up with more delicious corn than we do.  Me?  I would prefer not to grow corn, but the boy insists on it.

Lettuce was bountiful...

I started my baby zucchini from seed in small pots.  They have since been transplanted.  They are doing well.  The small plants behind the squash are tomatoes grown from seeds from tomatoes from Maine.  The boy is always experimenting. 

I found this link on growing squash so they don't run wild which does become a problems.  

http://growagoodlife.com/growing-summer-squash-vertically/

Much more is going on but that is the only pictures I took.  The eggplant is flowering.  The herbs are flourishing (and frequently being used.).  The peppers other than the cubanelles don't look particularly happy out there.  Both butternut squash plants look good. 

And the fig tree...not looking so good.  Okay it is looking dead but I am not yet prepared to admit it. 

That is all I've got for now.

Pick a tomato from the garden...add a little bit of salt, some good quality extra virgin olive oil, garlic and let it all marinade for awhile.  Heaven on earth!

SO I GUESS IT IS NOT THE SUMMER OF CHIN UPS

Follow me on the journey!!!

Yes, bear with me everyone.  I will be pretty obsessive until this weekend is over.  I am trying to mentally get my head in the game.  Until Tuesday it will be blah, blah, blah barbell, blah blah blah StrongFirst, and blah blah blah certification.  Hang in there with me please.   

When I am training at the gym or at a certification, I really like to push my limits.  I want people to respect the amount of weight I can lift.  I think when people look at me they realize my strength.  I've worked hard.  I have been dedicated.  I like showing that off...so to speak.

Skill of Strength - home base for the weekend.

I also did a barbell user course here.  Find me in the picture

if you can.

The SFL this weekend will be different.  My injury really does limit what I can do at the moment.  I won't be squatting.  Goblet squats with an 8 kg kettlebell are a challenge at the moment.  I didn't train my press or bench because I was in a funk nor did I want to hurt myself.  I am not sure what weight I can bench or press.

Anyway, as the excitement builds, let me share some videos and words from Strong First (not necessarily barbell).  

The following video does bring tears to my eyes.  First, because it is so exciting.  StrongFirst weekends are amazing.  Second because I will not be able to fully participate in the weekend as I had planned.

 

I am an introvert who willing does the StrongFirst experience.  Go figure!

 

IT IS ON!

Yes...despite my lack of substantial training, I am doing the StrongFirst Barbell Certification next weekend.  Dr. Hartle, Chief SFL, convinced me to attend the weekend.  The plus is I will have the opportunity after the weekend to video the technique, send it to Dr. Hartle and pass.  So it is on. Wish me luck and yes I am crazy!

Dr. Michael Hartle

According the StrongFirst website the requirements are:

THE STRENGTH TEST

Deadlift
Student must complete 1 repetition (conventional or sumo) with a weight that is equivalent to:

Men—2 x bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg, not to exceed 450lbs/205kg
 Women—1.5 x bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg

Bench Press
Student must complete 1 repetition with a weight that is equivalent to:

Men—1 ¼ bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg
Females—3/4 bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg

THE TECHNIQUE TEST

The following skills are tested for 5 reps with the specified weights:

• Back Squat

Men—bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg.
Women—3/4 bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg.

• Deadlift (conventional or sumo)

Men—1.5x bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg.
Women—bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg.

• Military Press

Men—2/3 bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg.
Women—1/2 bodyweight, rounded up to the nearest 5lbs/2.5kg

Want to check out what happens?  It is only 5 minutes long.

LIMBO

For some reason I am having a difficult time writing this post.  I planned to do it Thursday night and then on Friday.  It just never happened.  Maybe the difficulty stems from the fact is that I don't really have a decision on whether or not I can participate in the SFL or maybe I think it just gets tiring hearing me talk about me.

LIMBO...a state of uncertainty. 

It had been a very difficul two weeks...my knee was huge, I couldn't sit without pain down the leg into the ankle, I was taking the elevator to the second floor at work (say what) and it took an act of God to get my right leg into the car.  There were days that the leg felt not so bad but that was rare.

Of course I wasn't sitting still... I drove this sorry ass leg to New York City and back and Jamestown, RI and back.  I walked NYC dragging my right leg behind me.  I even danced a couple dances at the Narraganset Café.  Hey, when this song is being sung by DD Bastos who can resist.




Finally, Thursday afternoon was the orthopedic appointment.  X-rays showed osteoarthritis in both knees, left worse than right.  No shit.  Does anyone over 50 not have osteoarthritis in their knees?  Problem was that the osteoarthritis in my right knee, which had been dormant, decided to cause trouble.  The result was huge swelling and lots of pain.  No way could I bend that knee.

The ortho doc drained 40 CCs of fluid from the right knee...said it didn't look like an infection but was going to test it anyway.  He was also testing for gout.  A discussion about a cortisone injection ensued but I said I don't mind having something taken out of my knee but I didn't want anything put in...at least at this point.  The MD did say to make sure to treat with Kevin and keep the other stuff going on in the right leg under control.  Appointment made.  Monday 9:00 AM. 

Ortho doc told me to rest it for 24-48 hours.  Of course, the question becomes...please define rest.  I just spend the past weekend walking and dancing with a bum leg.  After the third request to define what rest meant, he asked what I did for a work out...he said no squats or deadlifts for a couple weeks. 

All the medical professions (MD, PAC and student) leave the room, I hope off the table and I could walk...like a normal person.  I was so excited I proceeded to tell everyone who crossed my path.  Oh this was after announcing it in the hall.  I would say I was about 75% improved.  Friday I felt 90% better.

THE CERTIFICATION WAS A GO, AT THIS POINT, IN MY WARPED MIND.

Yo, Patti, not so fast.  I am walking, resting and working out.  Something still feels a little off.  There are definitely no squats in my future right now.  I am not sure what my next steps should be. 

I do need thank you to everyone who reached out to see how I was.  It was much appreciated. 

I didn't realize how terrible I felt until I felt better.  Caring and concern from other people helped.  My sense of satisfaction and gratitude returned Friday.  I was working on gratitude those two weeks and it did help but I wasn't 100% in.  (How could I not have been grateful to see Jordan Calixto perform at Juilliard?  How could I have not been grateful to see Kat and Rick, watch D.D. perform, and eat eggs?)

In case you are wondering how I defined rest today, here is the work out I did...

Four rounds of the following

Bicep curls 6 reps with 25 pound weight.

Some triceps 8 reps with 25 pound weight

Overhead presses 6 reps with 12 kg KB

Some band stuff that I don't know what it is called 20 reps

KB rows  reps with 14 kg KB

One legged RDLs 8 reps with 16 kg KB (left leg only)

One leg seated squats on the left only,

I did do some KB deadlifts with a 16 kg KB.

Because I love carries, I had to try some out...Farmer's carries with 35 pounds didn't cause any pain on either side.  I tried racked carries on the left and it was painful so I stopped those.  Overhead carries caused no pain on the left but did on the right.

At this point, I did one handed swings on the left side with a 12kg KB which was pain free.  Didn't even attempt the right.  I did 5 rounds of 10.

I had planned to see if I could snatch on one side but then forgot.  Really...I forgot. 

So I am doing some work outs but none that will help me pass the certification.  Hanging in limbo. 

FIT, FAB, OVER 50 AND FUNCTIONAL

You're fit, fab and over 50 but you need to be functional too.  Injury or pain limit can limit your movement, your independence and your mental health.  The older you get the more important limiting pain and injury becomes.  When you do develop pain it is important to keep moving and to seek treatment...the treatment I am talking about is not pills but movement.

As we age, movement can become more difficult and we are more prone to injury.  Keeping mobile is so very important for a long, functional, happy older life.  Walking, biking, running, strength training and even housework can cause injury and pain but they also keep us healthy and help us maintain balance.     


When I train for events or train with a specific goal in mind, I do sometimes find myself with some serious limiting pain.  That is where I found myself this weekend.  Walking was difficult.  Movement was difficult.  Workouts were non-existent. 

What I decided I needed to do was make an appointment with my massage therapist, but not just any massage therapist.  He is a fitness coach extraordinaire.  He is committed to keeping people functional.  He was my coach and for a long period of time he was trainer to a group of older fitness enthusiasts.  He understands.

I started seeing Kevin Carr of Movement as Medicine even before he was fully licensed.  I had long standing problems with my feet, developed some shoulder mobility issues and had some hand issues.  Not only did Kevin treat my issues but he provided me with exercises and strategies to keep the pain at bay.  If I do my exercises regularly, I am pretty much pain free.  Before today, it has been almost a physical pain free year. 

Kevin Carr

But there is always something...This current leg issue seemed more complex.  Of course, it isn't.  One session with Kevin and I am about 50% improved.  He provided great exercises.  This weekend through today I had my sad desperate face on...I was concerned. 

Today, that frown is turned upside down.  Soon I will be me again.  Most importantly, Kevin said to keep training (if it doesn't hurt). 

My message to my older friends is to please keep moving and please take advantage of therapeutic massage therapy when those joints feel painful and when you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other.  I would also recommend Kevin...I promise he will understand your pain and speaking from personal experience, he can solve any problem. 

Also, what I decided to do is to get myself a Varidesk....an adjustable height desk.  I really need to sit and stand during the course of the day at work.  Desk jobs do a number on the body and while I've employed a number of strategies to help keep my sedentary day a little more active, the ability to sit and stand will help with aching hips, tight IT bands and trigger points in the butt.

Arriving on Monday

     
Get out there and move!

And kudos to my co-blog author...Girlie!