I thought I'd do a little update on how my fitness has developed over the last few years. One of the key factors for me losing weight was how I felt, probably more so than how I looked to be honest. If you know me or you've been reading this blog, you will most likely know that I have a chronic joint pain disorder. Due to the pains and several mis-diagnosis over the years I became very sedentary. I took expert advice that I should refrain from "high impact" exercise, particularly with regards to my knees (the worst affected joints). I was told to avoid; running, jumping, squats and lunges amongst other things. I was advised to keep exercise non weight bareing, such as cycling and smimming. I didn't realise at the time but that was actually making the condition worse as my joints became weaker and less stable. My knees became so weak and painfull that I was unable to step up on to something knee height without holding on to something or someone, and getting back down was worse. Jumping of any kind was out of the question.
Dont get me wrong, this is no miracle story, I'm still in pain. I'm still on full time pain management medication. But the pain is less frequent and less severe now. I can not claim this to be purely down to my fitness, as my medication is better now, and also I have learn't over the years how to limit and manage the pains better. But what I want to talk about here is what I am physically capable of doing now compared to three or four years ago when I started this blog. And so I am just going to give you examples of what I used to do (or not do) and what I do now.
Then: 5km run/walk (pains in hips & knees for a week)
Now: 10km run (Pains for 2-3 days)
Then: Squats holding on to something for support (2 sets of 5)
Now: Squats with over 20kg on a barbell (20 sets of 20) OR squat to press with 2x 3kg dumbells on a Bosu ball (unstable platform)
Then: 5 lunges (each leg)
Now: 2 sets of 15 lunges (each leg) with 2x 5kg dumbells OR 2 sets of 10 jumping split lunges
Then: Need assistance to step on/off box
Now: 2 sets of 10x jumping OVER the box
Then: 20 second plank (because shoulders hurt too much)
Now: 1 minute plank on upturned Bosu ball (unstable platform)
Then: 5 Girly press ups (because wrists and shoulders hurt too much)
Now: 2 sets of 10 Men press ups
Then: Unable to run at 6mph on treadmill
Now: Able to do sprints of over 9mph
Then: Unable to wear healed shoes for more than an hour or so due to knee pains. Take a week to recover
Now: Able to stand all night in heels (not 6 inch though!) Able to make short walks in heels. Able to repeat two or three nights in a row before needing recovery.
All of these acheivements, I never thought possible. I believed I was destined to be in pain and discomfort for the rest of my life. I honestly believed there was a fair chance I could be wheelchair bound by the time I was 50 and that scared the Hell out of me!
Whilst reading stuff on the internet about joint pains and arthritis (which a was told I had) I happened across a couple of articles about building joint strength. There was stuff about jogging, about how, contrary to all the hype about it being "high impact" and bad for the knees, if it was done right, the benefits of building joint strength and bone density far outweighed the effects of wear and tear. There was stuff dismissing the historic claims that squats are bad for you and actually saying that weight bareing exercise can help ward off bone degeneration (osteoarthritis). To cut a long story short, I thought it was worth a go! So here I am, hitting the big 40 this year and I can honestly say I feel younger and fitter than I did five years ago and maybe even ten years ago. This year I am Running the Race For Life, yes RUNNING! Not jogging, not run a bit/walk a bit. Running, you know, like a fit person! I'm also doing a mud obstacle race and I sure as Hell dont see myself in a wheelchair anytime soon!
I am so proud of myself, I can't begin to tell you! But what I want to say to you is that if you can identify with my story even a little bit, if you can empathise on any level, you don't have to have the medical condition but maybe you have pains or old injuries? Maybe the future is not already written for you? Maybe you can take control and be who you want to be?
Faster Higher Stronger!
