Hugs Mandalinn :hug: :hug:

PINK...I hear ya about the heat, ugh! It's actually cooled down today...supposed to be a cool 97, lol!

GARY...thank you! And...congrats on your 10th anniversaries! I've never been a smoker but knowing people close to me who have tried to quit...it is hard, so kudos to you!

Thursday...mowed the back yard in this heat, ugh. Took a full hour and that is with a self propelled mower.

Today...3 mile walk thru the neighborhood early this morning and did my 2 mile WATP video. Still feel like doing more for some reason but I think I will call it good for the day.

I have a diagnosis! Shockingly (not!), its the same one I had at 16 (but that took me 4 years to get, rather than 2 weeks, because I was heavy).

Heres what happens. I have these bands of connective tissue in my knees that, for about 50% of people, go away during fetal development. For me, they didn't go away, but hey, they don't for most people. Problem is, mine are much larger than those of the general population (I have on the sound of my videotape of the first knee surgery my surgeon, cutting out the first, saying "damn! Thats a huge plica!).

When I was younger, I did karate. About a year or so after doing it, I noticed I was in some serious knee pain, and I had to quit. The doctor said it was ultimately the karate that did it, but what happens with a symptomatic plica is that it starts out larger than average, and as you get more active, it gets caught up in things and swells and forms scar tissue.
Then, since its swollen, it catches on more things, swells, hurts, and forms scar tissue. Thus it hurts, pops, clicks, and otherwise does dramatically painful things.

After starting karate, it took about a year for this process. This time...yep, about a year after I started doing impact exercise.

Except this time I'll go to surgery quicker, because primary management includes NSAIDS (which I've been doing consistently for 6 weeks), rest (2 weeks) and quad strengthening (and ya'll ought to see how strong my quads are). So hopefully the doc will listen to me and not have me doing mild quad exercises (ball squats with no weight) etc. and trying to treat me like a patient that doesn't already work out, and will just do the damned surgery to fix the problem. I also know the surgery is not a huge deal and recovery time is quick, because I've done this before. So...mostly good news, and better than "normal" because it sucks to be in pain and have people say "well, its normal, don't know what to tell you".

Still on rest, though, and since the injury is hurt by bending (which explains why the swimming hurt), I can't do ANYTHING involving my leg until I go see the ortho.

AMANDA ~ Glad it isn't worse news :hug:

3.25 treadmill

That's great, Amanda. Or rather, it's awful, but at least you have a plan of attack! I'm sure the physical therapist, if not your doctor, will be able to see how strong your legs are. Be pushy and you'll get what you want :)

Today: 32 mins elliptical (300)
LBWO (150)

I'm thinking that I'll be able to go back to running tomorrow. My knee is feeling a lot better. I'm getting health insurance starting Sept 1 (after 2 years without!) and I'm going to get myself to an orthopedist, if I can. Does it have to be actively playing up for the doc/orthopedist to take you seriously, or can you just complain of general and recurrent knee problems?

Mandalinn, I hope you start feeling better soon. I can't imagine!

Did 20 min. Turbo Jam and 10 min ab jam (standing) this am.

I'm leaving for the beach in about an hour! We'll be gone for two weeks. I'm bringing my videos and 2 sets of dumbbells. I hope to walk the beach the days I don't work out. I will continue my exercising, I'm so determined!!!

We won't have internet. Two weeks away from my beloved computer! :o So I won't be checking in for the rest of the month. I will document everything and hopefully will have lost inches and lbs. upon my return.

Have a wonderful rest of the summer. I'll see you in September!

FeelingGroovy (love the name by the way, lol makes me think of that song) walking on the beach is a great workout! Have fun!

You ladies with your hurting knees, ouch...lots of hugs to you an dhope you get some relief soon. :hug: :hug:

Today...3 mile walk and 2 mile WATP video, woohoo! Feeling good!

Thanks!! Yes, it's an awesome workout and fun! Funny you mention the song. It's on my MySpace page. That's my name.....feelingroovy. ;) That song is always in my head! LOL One of my favorites!!!

Quick 9 mile bike ride for 350 cals. (Quick is an overstatement: it took just under 50 minutes. I really need a better bike!)

Took yesterday off since I had a 9 hour day at work plus a 3 hour round trip to get there and back.

24.5k bike ride ... 1h15min...

Yup. I need a better bike :)

Hiked today - a first for me! Not sure how far, but took about 2.5 hours - amazing! Who am I turning into, and when is the mother ship coming back for me?? :joker:

Heather :D

Onya, Heather!

31 mins treadmill (300)
I crapped out during my UBWO today. I couldn't lift anything as heavy as I did last week (why?!) so I got discouraged and gave up halfway through...

YUP makes alllllll the difference in the world... I had a good mountain bike and I wasn't able to go as far as fast as I do now and I have a hybrid, not even a street racer type bike... and I love it!!