$1,400 a month to get in shape

crazylikefox

Here's the story:

Right now I'm 5' 6.5in, 160lbs, and an E5 in the military - the Air National Guard to be specific. I used my GI Bill, went to college all online, and earned my Bachelors degree. Before the ink was even dry on my diploma I interviewed for and was accepted into an officer position at a new squadron. They picked me even though I was on crutches and they would have to wait for me to heal before I could go to training. They picked me even though my PT history was weak. This is a dream come true, an end game goal I have been working towards ever since my hubby planted the seed that I could make the daydream a reality.

The academics of becoming an officer I can handle. I can handle constant stress, high responsibility, and I really want to learn from, listen to, and be able to be there for the enlisted. The biggest obstacle between now and officer school is my fitness. This January I broke my ankle on the ice and had to get surgery to put a plate in to fix it. Before that I was never a fast runner, and my PT scores have always been marginal when I was young, and as I got older they would yo-yo from pass to fail to pass. Recently they've made the test more run based, which made it harder for me personally. I busted my butt and my personal best was an 83.9% before my accident.

I didn't gain weight with my injury. I am lucky enough to have the right body shape to pass the waist measurement - even with my 160lbs bordering the top of my BMI. With everything else on waiver I came it at 30.5 inches, which earned me a perfect 100% score. I am a Coke bottle!

I figured that if I can get in good enough shape to pass the PT test when I get off of my injury waiver in October, I can earn my Lt bars and I will start out earning $1,400 more every month. This last two weeks I have started really getting serious - logging my food more often on MFP, and doing no-impact workouts. I can ride my bike to work and back (14miles total, mostly flat) on good weather days, and we have a new gym on base with an amazing total body eliptical. I also own a Treadclimber and a kettlebell. Once my ankle heals more, I can start "Couch to 5k" to begin running again. I know if I blink my time to get in shape will have run out, and what matters is right now!!

So, any positive juju you guys can send my way would be awesome. My diary is open and I do not mind constructive criticsm.

blakerb29

Very interesting read.
Swimming is your friend! Use it!


-Blake

TheRealParisLove

Use the elliptical to do HIIT for about 20+/- minutes 5-6 times a week. This will improve your cardio fitness rapidly, so that when you do get the ok to run from your Dr. your body will be able to handle it.

meeper123

Talk to your doc see what he/she has to tell you thats a huge accomplishment way to go!! You can do this just follow the orders of your doc so you can keep doing what you love and wear your yak tracks lol

FromHereOnOut

Why do c25k? You were already running before and you are doing other things like cycling & elliptical. I never ran before, but I skipped c25k and just started running in April, because I had been doing other cardio workouts and I thought the walking breaks would break my momentum. To try to gain speed, I'm running about 5d/wk with every other day I run at a pace that I can do without stopping and the other day running at the pace I want to advance to for a mile before taking a walk break. There is also a hill where I run that accounts for about 1/3 of the lap and I find that training with that uphill, makes non-hilly running much easier & my pace faster. Good luck.

FromHereOnOut

I also second the HIIT suggestion. It's a great way to train. Cross-training also has an amazing impact. Plenty of side lunges, squats, even push-ups and the like can make running seem easier to you.

crazylikefox

Thanks for the support!

We recently moved (I watched, they did the heavy lifting) and I am definitely going to check out the local pool. Swimming feels amazing and gently works my ankle. When I was first transitioning away from the crutches and orthopedic boot, my physical therapist had me doing sessions in their pool, which had a treadmill built into it. It was a nice, warm and safe environment

Now that I can do a slow walk without a limp I am done with physical therapy, but I do have a lot of homework. It mostly involves stretches and gentle workouts. Until I can raise up on the injured leg, with the heel of my foot off the groound and do raises for at least 40 seconds I'm not supposed to run for fear of messing up my form. After that the physical therapist said to start running slowly with the C25K in order to help build up bone density. Otherwise I might cause stress fractures in the new growth.

During my work week it is pretty easy to stay within my calories. I can pop a shake before work, and only eat what I pack. It's the weekends that are the biggest challenge! The hubby and I go out to eat way too often. I'm going to fix that!

crazylikefox

Agreed! I have a heart rate monitor and HIIT is a butt kicker, in a good way.

alpine1994

First and foremost, thank you for your service!!

Second, clearly getting in shape means a lot for your career and your wallet, so that's a fantastic motivator that we all wish we could have! Yes, the injury definitely complicates things but you clearly have a good grip on your recovery so you know to take it slow, etc. That's great that you are logging more on MFP. I know that if I don't log 100% of whatever passes through my lips, it's a lot easier to fall off the wagon. Honest logging and coming in at my calorie goal consistently has always led to results. I really feel that exercising regularly (whatever you can do given your ankle) leads to a better diet only because you don't want to cancel out all that hard work! Eating out less definitely helps. I plan meals for my bf and I every Sunday for the whole week (and he cooks it, muahaha). We go out maybe once a week but I usually get something healthy and it really helps me stay on track. Once in a while a girl needs a big old bowl of pasta or an ice cream though.

You are doing great and you have a great attitude so keep on keeping on! We are here for you!