So, as promised, the story behind my inability to walk further than 50 feet at a time.
When I moved back into my parents' house I decided to use my ample time wisely by trying to get back in shape. The drastic diet change has already made a difference (I haven't eaten out in WEEKS; that's like years for a college kid) but I knew that if I really wanted to get healthy it would have to be the old fashioned way; by sweating.
My first step was to start walking around the neighborhood community center every evening. The center is situated on a hilly piece of land that features a walking trail. I started off walking with my parents, and a slow and steady mile per night was all they could take. I decided I had to step it up a notch. After slowly walking a mile with one of my parents I wasn't worn out from physical exertion, I was amped up from a warm-up. So I went to my local Wal-Mart and bought a mountain bike. From there I started riding a couple of miles per night and added an extra mile to my walk (sans parents). After keeping up this routine for about 3 weeks, I was ready for more. One day on the track a girl jogged by me and it sparked something in me. I suddenly wanted to run. So I did. Not very far and not very fast, but it was a start. For the whole next week I ran and walked intermittently during my time on the trail, and I was beginning to really like it, aside from one thing: my body did not agree. I had crazy shin splints and could feel tendonitis aching at my knees.
Now I was an athletic trainer in high school so I could basically diagnose myself on this (though I did email the head trainer on staff at the school for confirmation and help fixing the problem). I went to the drug store, bought some not so cheap tendonitis knee straps, iced before and after my run/walk, and thought that would be enough to solve my problems. I. Was. Wrong. And ouch did it hurt. By the end of my week of running I couldn't run fifty feet without stopping. My knees were weak and my right foot had started aching as well. Figuring this was not a good sign, I stopped running and walking (to my surprising dismay) and just did some biking. Apparently that was not enough to stop the pain. By Sunday I could barely walk across the room without stopping every two seconds for a break or feeling my left knee buckle under the pain and stress.
So although after a month of good progress the last thing I wanted to do was stop my momentum, I decided that was exactly what I had to do. I discovered that a healthy dose of ibuprofen and lots of ice made the pain almost entirely go away, so for the last 3 days that's all I've been doing. Sitting, icing, popping pills, and watching LOTS of TV. As it turns out, stopping was the best thing I've done so far. I woke up this morning and my knees didn't ache for the first time in over a week, so I think I'm on the right track. I'll probably give this regimen until the end of this weekend, and then try to ease back into my workout routine. However, as much as I enjoyed it, I think I'll hold off on the running for a while. I'll let my muscles strengthen and my body get in better shape before I pound my knees like that again. Yayyyy for boring low impact workouts till winter!
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