Knees Please

My oldest and I completed a 15 mile bike ride in Chicago...pain free!

Moving my body more has been critical! These knees are not 20-something anymore.

In March, I put on my back brace provided by my chiropractor and started with walking. Weight bearing movement using proper posture helped keep my hips balanced with equal pressure on both legs. By April, I was back at the gym, I gradually increased the incline of the treadmill over the weeks. The husband added weight training to my routine and those squats and lunges were all torture. I complained about the pain but I did what I could. He would remind me to not focus on it otherwise I would give up or not take the chance of pushing a little over the pain threshold. Over time, I added the elliptical and the Stairmaster in small doses.

I was feeling fine for a long time with just the changes in physical activity until we went on vacation in July. We were taking the stairs A LOT because there were either mechanical issues with elevators or a super long wait. My knees were taking a beating and I was moving like an old lady. Giving myself grace on vacation was NOT the move. The occasional alcoholic beverage, the dirty chai lattes, fish and chips, and sodas were quickly wreaking havoc on my joints. I realized that I had some metabolic dysfunction. All of these things were causing inflammation and pain.

The jump start upon our return home was the kick in my pants on making PERMANENT changes in my diet. YOU CANNOT OUTRUN A POOR DIET. If you want long term wellness, you have to seriously make adjustments to the things you put in your mouth CONSISTENTLY. After fasting and a 14 day sugar detox, I returned back to pain-free living.

Currently, I am able to increase both the height and duration of my steps. I have improved my ability to squat lower and deeper. My husband advises me to stretch regularly to release tension in my tight hamstrings and hip flexors. Twice a week, I dedicate one of my two workouts to a thorough stretching session. I have noticed visible improvements in my body composition and strength, evident from my daily 75Hard photos and the challenging workouts with my former personal trainer husband. Despite the progress I have made, I acknowledge that there is more work ahead of me. Recently, I underwent a Dexa scan to assess my body fat, lean muscle mass, and bone density, providing me with precise data on my body composition. As I drove back home, I set new goals for myself as a person in their fifties.

First on my list, eat more protein. Coming close behind, get more sleep. I have a list of other things to accomplish for the rest of the year, but I will leave a little mystery out there in the universe.

HUGS AND LOVE!

Ms. April Danielle