I was very nervous about riding my “real” bike, since the last time I went out I ended up limping around for days, swollen, and in a great deal of pain.  But I’ve been riding the exercise bike this week and hadn’t had any bad consequences, so today I got the guts to give real bike-riding another try.

It was a PERFECT day for being out in the sun - the sky was clear, the temperature was in the 70’s, and the breeze was soft.  My husband and my son and I left the house this afternoon at about 3:30 pm and headed south on the paved bike trail nearby.  They were being very patient with me as I was being very careful with my knee.  At about the 3-mile mark, we turned north and decided to stop in one of our favorite restaurants for an early dinner. 

I’m getting really good at this whole eat-out-without-blowing-it-thing.  My dinner was an awesome salad topped with blackened chicken strips (about 400 calories!), and my son (who is trying to lose weight with me) skipped the big burger and fries (about 900 calories!) and ordered a blackened chicken sandwich and rice (about 500).  Awesome!

By the time we got home, we’d clocked 6.3 miles on our bikes.  SO FAR SO GOOD - I haven’t had any BAD knee pain yet.  But I played it safe and sat with icepacks on both knees for about an hour after we got home.  If I can keep the swelling down, it won’t hurt as bad.  Oh, and I’m praying.  I really really need my knee to heal and be okay because I really really need to get out and move!!!

I feel great!  :D  

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