April 27, 2010

Limitations

I've been thinking about limitations lately. And, what the difference is between being able to do whatever we set our mind to and being stupid and not knowing/accepting our own limitations. I haven't reached any genius conclusions, except that limitations only speak to time frames....sometimes. 

There is nothing in the world, NOTHING IN THE WORLD that I want to do more right now than to run every day. NOTHING. Unfortunately the muscles in my feet are tighter than Alcatraz back in the day and it appears that the key has been thrown away. This not only makes running VERY painful but really impossible more than 1-2 days/week if I want to use my feet for anything else in life.

I've been to physical therapy, and now I stretch out my calves like a mad woman. My calves are more flexible than Gumby, seriously. I've been to the chiropractor, and now press a baseball into the bottom of my feet at key pressure points by stepping on it to break those muscles down and MAKE them do what they're told.

So, now I have really loose calves and baseball indented feet! Have to say, though, there has been a small improvement, but we're probably talking another couple of months AT MINIMUM before I get my regular feet back. And, of course, losing weight would help which is easier to do when you run. 

I figure I'll be ready to run right around the time that winter returns.

Grrrrrrr.


I admit, I'm tempted to ignore doctors orders, ignore the pain and just run. Ice. Baseball torture. Stretch. Ice. Baseball torture. Stretch. Run.

So far I've kept my rebellious, I-can-do-whatever-I-want-set-my-mind-to self in check. And, accepting that other forms of exercise are my lot right now. But, I am not a happy camper. Or runner. Or non-runner.

What limitations do you have, and how have you handled these annoying rascals?

Running on the inside,
Cheryl

Photos sources:  Limitations, Gumby, Grrr

10 comments:

  1. Well right now I have a broken bone at the top of my arm. So for the past almost 6 weeks, I have not been able to bike, do yoga or pilates, jogging intervals. I have two more weeks before the doctor clears me. On my vacation recently, at a destination chosen for the bike paths, I was very tempted to just hop on and ride. But better safe than sorry. I could not imagine if I set myself back again. So like you, I am hanging in there anxiously waiting. And I know it will be a very gradual road back for me since my arm's mobility is still very limited. Sigh.

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  2. Ah, don't do it. Listem to your doc and let your body heal.
    Limitations I think of more as challenges to be overcome. I just need to keep looking for solutions. Right now, they might be holding me back but not forever. For example as Type 1 diabetic, correct insulin dosing can be challenging as I explore new ways of training. But I keep working to find ways to get past it. I won't let diabetes ever stop me from doing what I want to do.

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  3. Hey girl! First of all you are the best cheerleader I have! So thanks. I have limitations...You know you are not in your twenties any more and marching steadily toward forties WHEN, you get up from the couch and injure your knee! Yup. I didn't do anything but stand up...and my knee had a fit...
    So I am trying to deal with while getting back on track. I did do P90X yesterday and intend on doing it again today. So I am refusing my limitations right now, with care. I am not going to hurt my knee, but I refuse to sit it out.
    Hugs and love! Heidi M

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  4. Oh boy do I relate to that "I can do whatever I want" attitude... I've been kettlebelling since January and I absolutely LOVE and ADORE my kettlebells. Love. Them.

    But, a few weeks ago, I twisted my elbow in a funny way while doing a row and YOW. I was sore for a week.

    I was madder than a bat trapped in a suitcase... at myself for hurting myself, and at the fact that I may have to take it easy for a little while.

    Well, don't ya know... I pushed too hard too soon and did the same darn thing! Poor elbow.

    Needless to say, I learned my lesson and have been much kinder to myself as a result.

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  5. I'm counting my blessings, because so far :::knock on wood::: I haven't had to deal with any physical injury limitations yet.

    But I'm glad to hear that you are dealing with yours, and doing as the doctors say. I've heard about people who ignore the doctors and end up worse for wear than they were before. Hang in there, and I'm rooting for you.

    P.S. Try spinning.SO FUN.

    Hope

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  6. Great post! Limitations....I have had several since the beginning of the year...but it has allowed me (more like forced me) to look at other areas that I was avoiding. They became freeing instead of limiting....but it took awhile to get there.... Taking care of ourselves instead of rebelling is a BIG lesson to learn!

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  7. I struggle with this. Sometimes I feel like any limitations is a full FAIL and not part of the truth of where I am at. I am slowly learning that I have to do what I can and push further a bit but not too hard. I have not mastered this lesson.

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  8. i love what jules said...i'm grateful for limitations when i'm in my right mind. they let me know that i'm human and teach me to lean closer into jesus. they keep me humble and invite me to notice things that need my attention. but when i ignore them (which i have a long history of doing) and beat my head against them, all it gets me is a bloody head. i'd like to get to the point where i accept my limitations with grace and live within their loving borders.

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  9. I love the idea of learning something while our limitations have us waiting and healing. And I also love how so many physical aspects of life offer us spiritual insights if we'll just listen. Sometimes I am in such a hurry to live that I miss the life-expanding opportunities right in front of me.

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  10. My one foot/ankle has been sore for a while now...honestly I think it is because of some pretty bad varicose veins I have in that foot. But once I get them moving the pain gets much less. But if I try to run 5 days a week (which I've been trying to do in order to make up for missed time on my C25K schedule) then my ankle becomes MORE sore, not less. So I need to keep the walk/run workouts to 2-3 times a week...though with this weather I'd love to do more!

    PS - about vegetarian meals, here is an easy one to start with...Chili Bean Burgers. I got the recipe here: http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/whole-grains/spicy-chili-bean-burgers.aspx

    But of course I modified it. Instead of doing the Fiber One cereal, I simply add 1/4 c. ground flaxseed, 1/4 c. wheat germ and 1/2 c. oat bran to the bean mixture instead. It is really yummy and we get mild chili beans, so it really isn't spicy. We put them on the Arnold's Sandwich Thins and an entire burger is less than 250 calories (unless you add cheese, which I usually do...yum!)

    Let me know if you try it! It is easy & yummy vegetarian option!

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