The Turtle Always Wins...

That's what I'm telling myself as I sit here one week post-op not able to do much of a "workout."  Here's what my current allotment is:

• Bridges 3 sets of 10
• Clamshells 3 sets of 15
• Standing side leg lifts 3 sets of 10
• Standing front leg lifts 3 sets of 10
• Wall squats with stability ball 3 sets of 10

Of course there are caveats to that...front leg lifts are only about 1 inch (maybe 2 inches) off the ground with my knee bent and the wall squats are only to about 80 degrees of flexion.  Thus is the beginning of my recovery.  I see the surgeon tomorrow so maybe he will let me do something crazy like planks!  Oh wait...I know better than that.  Planks are not going to happen for a long, long time.  And burpees or mountain climbers?  Yeah, you can forget those until at least March. 

BUT...enough of the crying.  It's a slow journey to get back to full strength but I have done it before and will get there again.  I will tell you that this time around I am at a different clinic than last time and my PT is a hard-core runner as well.  That has been super refreshing since I no longer hear "well if you stopped running you wouldn't have these issues."  In fact, on the first day there he guaranteed me I would never hear that from his staff.  And the rehab plan is geared to get me back to running not
just recovering from surgery.  I am very excited about that!

I use my current situation as a way to encourage you to start the new year off right.  If you have been reluctant to start (or re-start) healthy habits because it's been too long or you just don't think you can do it because you are so out of shape or you don't have time, STOP THAT NON-SENSE.  It's never too late to start healthy habits!  I've talked about that before on this blog and I bring it up again because I want everyone to know that it really isn't too late.  The only time it's too late is when they are giving your eulogy.

So here's my challenge...those of you who are interested I am going to do a little challenge for you.  There will be prizes at the end of the challenge so it's a little incentive for you.  Every day, I am going to post an exercise on www.beckleyfitness.com for you to do that day.  It may be as simple as walking for 5 minutes or more difficult like doing 5 pushups.  The point is, it will be something to start you off right for the new year.  When you complete your exercise, you can post a comment here on the blog, on the webpage or you can send me an email at info@beckleyfitness.com.  I will be keeping track of how many days you complete the specified exercise and you get a point for every day of completion.  Periodically, I will throw in a "bonus point" challenge which may include a new recipe for you to try, another exercise or something else. 

This will run for 30 days from January 7 through February 5th.  It takes 12 days to make something a habit so if you are consistent with your exercises, you will have developed a healthy habit by February 5th. 

You don't need to let me know in advance if you are going to participate.  Just post a comment here on the blog, on the website or via email each day that you complete the challenge.  REMEMBER...this is completely on the honor system.  The only person you hurt if you are not honest is YOURSELF. 

I wish you all good health in the new year (and hopefully no more surgeries for me!)

BE BOLD.  BE YOU!