It’s been one week since I sprained my ankle and also one week since I started a self-challenge to eat 100% vegan, not touch alcohol and *gasp* not eat dessert! After a December full of chocolate, wine, booze, goat cheese, and pizza, Mike and I were both ready to turn a new leaf in the new year. As a person who loves a challenge, I kicked off my goal of eating healthy and drinking less leading up to the Phoenix Marathon with a 1 week 100% abstinence challenge. And I’m happy to say I made it! I’m sure that the healthy food, extra rest and reduced strain on my liver was also beneficial to my healing ankle.
All in all, I’ve only had 2 beers since the new year! That was about my 3 day drink average in December so I’ve made some significant progress! We even resisted beers at TWO Charger playoff parties (the first game was at 10 a.m. so we brought our own coffee and that definitely helped). Now that the one week cleanse is over, I’m still going to cut back on alcohol, dessert and cheese whenever possible. Exceptions will happen but as long as I’m consistent in abstaining then I’ll be happy with that. The cleanse also had an added benefit in that it saved Mike and I money! We ate in more and ended up saving money! We made a huge Costco and Trader Joe’s trip at the beginning and nearly ate all of it within the first two weeks of the year. I was adding it up in my head and it was pretty astounding how much produce we ate between us in two weeks:
- 5lbs bag of broccoli
- 4 lbs of brussels sprouts
- 2 lbs of fresh spinach
- 1 bag of kale, 1 bag of arugula
- 6 red bell peppers
- 12 lbs of oranges
- 10 apples
- 18 bananas (mostly Mike!)
- Countless lentils, beans, quinoa, and tempeh to tie it all together
No one would ever say we can’t eat!
Ankle Update
There is a lot of good news about my ankle. First, the swelling is WAY down – I can even see my ankle bone now! The bruising is still there but has faded a lot and is changing color – a good sign it’s healing. And the best part – there is almost NO pain anymore! I can turn my ankles in all directions and rotate it without pain. There is still a little pain when I push on one section but overall, the pain is way down.
Second, despite my injury I have continued to train. Although it’s not running and I wish it was, I have been pleased with the amount of exercise I have gotten despite a sprained ankle. I took Wednesday (day after the sprain) completely off, did an upper body and core workout Thursday and by Friday of last week I was able to get back on the trainer for a spin!
Saturday I headed to the pool for my first aqua jog, which wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. There was a Master’s Swim going on and the coach had the music pumped up so it felt like a party! The time went quickly because every lap took me so long that by the time I looked at the clock again several minutes had passed! Then the aqua aerobics women got in and that was great people watching as well. Sunday I had a 90 minute trainer ride with no pain followed by another 40 minutes of aqua jogging, which wasn’t quite as entertaining. Monday and Wednesday I got back on the trainer for an hour of spinning each time for a total of 4 rides within 6 days. Todays’ ride even included some training in zones 3-4. So far, so good.
And the best news – today I saw a Physical Therapist for a free injury screening at Rehab United in Carmel Valley and she told me that I’m cleared to try to run on Friday! She said that my ankle seems to be healing just fine and based on the way I’m walking, my pain level and my flexibility, that I should be able to try to run. Try is the key word because if I feel ANY pain, I’m supposed to stop. So, finger’s crossed for a successful run Friday – Maria said I can try 1 mile and if it feels ok, I can run a little longer on Saturday (followed by more aqua jogging).
Of course I talked to the PT about the marathon and she said that she thinks as long as I don’t injure myself again, I should be able to run. I asked about speed work and hill repeats and she said as long as I build up to it, it should be fine. But, before I get ahead of myself, I need to remind myself to take things one day at a time (Maria reminded me of this as well of course!). So for now, Phoenix is TBD but no decision made either way. It could happen – or it might not. We’ll have to see how far I get with the running and where I am at once I can start doing key workouts again.
So keep your fingers crossed for me and I’ll keep you updated!
Have you ever tried aqua jogging? Any tips for making it more fun?
I know exactly what you mean about the people watching and the aqua aerobics class. When I was sidelined a few years back, I purposefully timed my aquajogging with the class so I could “steal” their music – and the people watching was definitely a distraction.
This will all be a distant memory soon enough 🙂
I thought seriously about trying out aqua-jogging after a weird injury last summer, but I didn’t want to shell out for the belt. Also, I am way, way too ADHD to just pedal about with no distractions. Let me know if anyone comes up with any brilliant ideas! Glad that your ankle is better-sprains can be such b!tches. And the swelling is always scary!
The gym I went to had the belts luckily! My friend used to aqua jog without a belt at all so it can be done! Sounds harder!
YAY about the ankle! This update sounds super positive to not have pain rotating it! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you tomorrow for a pain-free run!
I actually didn’t mind aquajogging the few times I did it, but I think it’s because I was just so happy to be able to do it! My advice would be to incorporate intervals or something so your brain stays active. Or, make a friend go with you!
And impressive work on the eating healthier and avoiding liquor! You have incredible willpower! I must cut down on liquor. The chocolate- I’d like to say I will but I just don’t know if I can!
So glad you’re almost all healed. I was sidelined during the fall and it was so frustrating. Fingers crossed you’ll be ready to run fast in Phoenix!
Fingers crossed on that ankle! It sounds like a really good prognosis though. 🙂 SUPER impressed with your aqua jogging. I hate it so very much. More than I hate the trainer. Man, why do I do this stuff again? lol
I bizarrely enjoy the trainer. I watch tv and it goes by fast! I don’t like to ride outdoors a lot because its not that safe in San Diego.
On a separate note, I read blogs from my phone a lot and I can’t post comments to yours from it (believe it has to do with blogger), but i have been reading! I did the weekly training logs on blog going into IM too- it helps ! Looking forward to following your training.