TURBO FIRE 8/22: The Holiday Countdown!!!!

Hi guys! This will be long because I am copy and pasting from my blog... It's about my injury and the way I overcame it.

I did Tfire 55 today and while I was a bit nervous, I knew I could do it low impact. Guess what, burned 20 more calories than when I do it bouncing around, jumping off the ground etc. So don't feel like you CAN'T do a workout because you are injured.

For those of you who are my friends, I apologize for the double posting!

Hello all, so I wanted to stop in quick to talk about injuries and how they impact our lives.



A quick background:

I have been a dancer and yes, a breakdancer! Some 9 years ago, I was walking out of a gig, holding my dj mixer and all of a sudden could feel my knee go FJKDSLJFKDLJFKDLSJKFLS. Basically, I fell, my friend caught my mixer and the day of Thanksgiving Eve I am in the emergency room.

I was in pain.

I had to be cut out of my pants.

My knee was the size of a red dogeball.

I was scared.

I had torn every ligment in me knee but one.

I had torn my ACL.

I had torn my meniscus.

I was told the only way I would walk was to have an operation.

I didn't have insurance.

I felt screwed and depressed.

Not only was dancing and my livlihood taken out of the picture, but I was in a wheelchair for 9 months and crutches for 3. I practiced physical therapy by myself and well I ate well (or tried) and attempted to stay active.

The problem is that I could feeeeeeel my knee. I was afraid that it would "Slip" out and I would fall and be in a wheelchair again. The operative word is that I lived in fear.

As this fear took over, so did the numbers on the scale. I was gaining weight quickly and jumped up some 20 pounds. No longer did I have my 120 body, but now seemed to be at a permanent 140. Over time, I realized as a "growing, agining woman," I would be that size because... WAIT FOR IT.

"MY KNEE PREVENTED ME FROM WORKING OUT."



Why do i say all this? Because I hear you, I see where you are coming from. BUT- you can't give up with your weight, your injuries or anything else in life. How you handle yourself in the yoga studio, or during a workout, or with your eating plan is more than likely how you act in other areas of your life!

What do I mean by that? Well for example, when I started Bikram yoga I wanted to be the best. I didn't sit out of anything and I never gave up. That is my personality.

On the other side of the room, my friend would go every day with me, but stop because she wanted water, would take a knee and look around and then complain about how "she didnt' feel anything."



So... Let's fast forward. Here I am, 9 years later. Almost 30. I did gain more weight and was at 160 (the highest I have ever been) and I freaked out and started to workout... Slowly. Accurately. And LOW IMPACT.

I listen to my body and know when it says to take a break. I listen to it and know when I an jump. I listen to it to know when it wants more nutrients. You have to know your body in order to know how to overcome injuries or any other challenges you endure.

Last week, I slipped on my own sweat and fell ON MY BAD KNEE CAP! I was in pain, I panicked for a mere 10 seconds, stopped myself and started to breathe. I picked myself up off the floor and stretched and STOPPED my workout. For the next two days, I modified workouts and did walking to burn the same amount of calories.

Today, I did my scheduled workout BUT I did everything LOW impact. My feet were GLUED to the ground... and guess what? I BURNED 540 calories! Usually, I burn 520. So somehow, I was determined to workout, I didn't jump and I still burned calories!

So don't tell me you "can't do it." or that you are "under the weather." If you are, then you know what to do. But if you say this to yourself more than once a week, than I suggest looking at yourself in the mirror, saying you love yourself and that YOU WILL OVERCOME your injury!

Losing weight when you have knee, back or joint problems is SO IMPORTANT because for every pound you lose, that is 7 pounds of stress off your joints. So while in the last month I have lost 12 pounds, I have actualy reduced the pressure off my knee by 84 pounds! This is huge! And you better believe, I feel the difference!

Let's recap. I am not supposed to walk. I have been told by more than one doctors who have seen my MRI reports tell me, "it's a miracle you walk and in heels nonetheless." I baffle them and let me tell you- I'm not suprised by my knee somewhat healing on its own. Why?



BECAUSE I WORKED HARD AND I BELIEVED IN MYSELF.

EVERYTHING YOU DO ALWAYS COME FROM A CHOICE. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE NEGATIVE AND TALK YOURSELF OUT OF BEING IN BETTER SHAPE OR LOSING 5 POUNDS.... OR YOU CAN TELL YOURSELF YOU ROCK, YOU'RE AMAZING AND THAT YOU. WILL. SUCCEED.



If I can, you can!

Hey Kim

I just read your post. Thanks for sharing it with us. That is so inspiring.
Have a great nite!

You're welcome Pretty~ I just wanted to add it because I too, even with my 12 pound weight loss, have STRUGGLED and STRUGGLES! We can do this!!!! Thanks for reading!

Wow!! Its been awhile since I posted on here. Anyway, I did TFire 45 today, man it was fun!! I definitly like it way better than TFire 30. I love how many calories these workouts burn. I have been doing the new to class to learn the moves and they are becoming easier, but I have a ways to go. I think I hurt my knee and my ankle while I was doing it, my 1 year old was playing around me while I was doing all this and I was trying not to kick her or knock her over. Hopefully resting it tonight will help so I can get back at it tomorrow.

I love reading all of your posts!! They inspire me to keep going!

Great job Tara! All your hard work will pay off! And yes, good for you for doing the workouts! I hope your knee and ankle feels better! Just take it easy!


Just got back from a walk. An unexpected walk, but it was SO nice out, had to do it! Good night MFP!!!!

Love the positive energy in here! Glad you are all doing it and ROCKIN IT! I am off to the store to get some veggies and I'm going to make a fabulous veggie and couscous dinner tonight! When I get home i will be doing my Tfire 30 and also Tfire Sculpt 30 and also some extra stretching. The extra stretching has been really really nice! I don't do the stretch 10, but my own...

Oh and I used hand weights yesterday with my Tfire55- HOLY COW I'm feeling it today! In a good way, but dang! LOL Glad you are all being inspired! It inspires me to know that we are all doing this together! I can HONESTLY Say I have never been part of an online community or thread AS ACTIVE as this one! SO THANKS FOR PUSHING ME! YOU ROCK!

BECKA- keep pushing through that pain. I do the same thing. We can do this! The biggest thing I learned to do was differentiate between muscle soreness, real knee pain, and... laziness. LOL Good for us!

I am getting more flexible which feels great!.. I love coming in here and reading how everyone is doing. I have been doing alot of walking which feels great. The weather has been cool nice walking weather. well I work for the next 2 days so I am am off to plan my meals!

Great job, keep it up! I agree that reading the posts, posting and just feeling "connected' I think, is really working for all of us! WOOOO! Off to dance my booty off and then do my reguar workouts!

Hi everyone! Just stoppin' in to say hello!

I just did my tfire workouts! Did Tfire Hiit 30 as opposed to Tfire30! The only reason, I want to switch it up! I burn roughly the same calories so not a big deal! Also did Tone 30 AND I did some zumba as I will be going to an actual Zumba class this Saturday! I will be meeting my first MFP friend in real life and am pretty excited about it! Zumba and lunch?!?!? FUN DAYS!

Hope you are all doing well! Want to remind you that while we are all busy and we can't always read the posts or post or whatever, that his is free forum to motivate and inspire our group and also others! The view are up to 1600+ so people are reading!

LET'S CONTINUE TO ROCK THIS THREAD AND OUR BODIES!

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ONLY:

63 days until Thanksgiving? (again at only 5 pounds lost a month that is still 10 pounds lighter by Potato Day!)
93 days until Christmas? (again, at only 5 pounds lost a month that is 15 pounds lighter!!!!)

WE GOT THIS!!! Have a great night!!!!

Good Good Morning!

How is everyone doing?!!? You know what today is, the last day before a new week!!!

I am with becka, I'm excited to start the new week and the new schedule!!!

Weigh ins, measurements?!?!? HOw are you guys doing it? Feeling it? Loving it? Fitting into your clothes better?!?!?

Well, after my zumba class yesterday I AM SORE! All sorts of sore. In a good way. It will be much better tomorrow, but dang-it's like the FIRST time i ever did Turbo Jams and couldn't move! It's nice to know that I have been working different muscles than with my Tfire cardio

Anyway, SO grateful for my core20 and Yoga/Stretch 45 today! I need it! I'm about to start in the next 5 minutes or so!

Just had my ww toast slice and wrapping up the green smoothie!

Hope all is well!

Anyone going through any challenges?