The Benefits of being truly 'incapable'

So as most of you know I had struggled through patellar tendonitis in both of my knees (and some still to this day but only when pressure is applied to my knees) a year ago.

For someone who struggled with not having a gym membership at all and trying to find OTHER ways to do exercise and still eating how I normally ate, to add any kind of tendonitis on top of that? That is an immediate 'hi! I'd like to gain some weight, please!' invitation.

This isn't to say I haven't tried to do something, because I do: My mother-in-law and I walk together, twice a week around this HUGE lake at this park called Mt. Trashmore (I call it Mt. TrashCAN, all the locals laugh when I say this...) so it was something, however because I LOVE food and I love trying new foods all the time and I love chocolate, I need MUCH more exercise than what I have been getting. I need your standard 30-45m/ day type of exercise regime and THIS can just be cardio and I will be doing great! However, like I said 30-45m/day was not possible this past year- and since I have not felt safe in the neighborhood we live in, I have no ventured out much on my own at all (hopefully this circumstance will change).

Anyway... as some of you know, last week I was trying to sit-up in my bed and as I pushed back onto the bed with my fists (vs. my flat-hands) my left wrist rolled up and down really fast in a snap-like action and before I knew it, 2 hours later it was swollen. Within the next few days a knot formed and this knot still has not gone away (the Doc said if it didn't I have to go back in this Friday *sigh* awesome) When I walked in, the took all my information, my weight, blood pressure, etc etc etc. I heard everything they said, but I only remember my weight. It is the heaviest I have ever been in my life and I KNEW that this was the cause of my wrist's weakness. The numbers 1-8-8 rang SO loudly in my ears, I knew at that point that IF THIS wasn't good enough to FINALLY convince my husband that I really needed that gym-membership I had been talking about all year, NOTHING would be. However, I had NO clue what I would do if I this situation still did not convince him. I immediately started thinking of manual exercises I could do and decided that my poor mini-cycle would get worn down (it's a bicycle, with no seat, just the pedals-I actually sit on it and read for the book club while I read!).

So there it is, out in the open, 188. You know what I weighed when I moved here? (I was also single and a gym-junkie, but STILL) I weighed 160. 188 is so dangerous-sounding a number to me, I have officially committed to my previous lifestyle, and it has to be no matter what time of night it is, it has to happen that I go to the gym.

So, good old 30-45m/day at the gym, how are you doing? It's been a long time since I've seen you, I am pleased to make your acquaintance again :)

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alright, Here is the main reason I am sharing this so openly with everybody. When I was FIRST told about the patellar tendonitis, I was told that I would never be able to run again, when I broke (actually fractured, but that is still a break) my ankle when I was younger, I was told I would never be able to run again---BOTH times, I have gotten up and build myself up to running 5mi/day and have a 'marathon-training-mindset' sure, someday I would LOVE to do one of those marathons, but right now, I am just glad that there is a gym in my life, a place of accountability.


And I went alone..... THIS is the best part, the whole year I have been far too shy to go on my own and somehow, for some strange reason, God gave me confidence to go yesterday! And now? I feel quite at home here in my own little space, at the gym. :) So get out there and claim YOU'RE very own piece of space at your local gym!
Be encouraged ya'll! I hope this post made somebody feel encouraged.

-Keren