Skinnier Shins

I'm in my fifth week of physical therapy for my shin splints. They are getting better, but my therapist says the progress is slow. He tried a new taping method last night, and my legs feel pain-free for the first time in about two months, so that's awesome!

I should probably back up a little bit. When I went to Texas, I didn't work out at all. Bad Kelly! We walked a lot and I ate surprisingly well, and managed to lose half a pound. But when I got back, I did one Jillian Michaels Body Revolution workout and haven't done one since. I rode the bike once (10 miles, go me) but then exhaustion set in. I ended up feeling quite sick this past weekend and decided to listen to my body. I still ate really well and managed to walk a few miles every day with Rags, but did no weight lifting or real working out. But then something magical happened–I realized my shins felt better. So I decided to continue letting them heal, knowing that I was basically sabotaging my weight loss efforts. But at some point, you have to choose between losing weight and healing an injury. I still kept to my healthy diet and walked, and as of this morning I am down a total of 8.6 pounds–1.6 pounds since I left for Texas. So the plan is to continue to do only walking and stretching until we start seeing some major improvement in my shins.

This is what Treavor's new taping method looks like. It's on both shins. I'm also wearing these new Zensah compression sleeves almost 24 hours a day, which are helping immensely. I felt so good after leaving physical therapy last night that I went gentle yoga. It was exactly what my body, mind, and spirit needed. I'm going again tonight (as long as classes aren't canceled due to the snow), Friday, and Saturday...and hopefully every day until I can get back to my regular exercise regimen.

I signed up for a 5K this past Saturday, not realizing A. it was the day Mom and I had tickets for a gymnastics competition in Worcester and B. that I would still be forbidden from running. So I'm really hoping these babies hurry up and heal because I want to sign up for this 5K instead. It's actually being held in memory of the former and late athletic trainer from Longmeadow High School–Pete Krasnor–who taped me every single day for four years, and helped me through at least three major injuries (a broken finger, a broken ankle, and a horribly sprained ankle). He was special to me, but I know that there are hundreds of high school athletes around western Massachusetts who would say the same thing. So it's a personal goal but it's also a personal mission.