Dawn Melanie’s BodyBlog

Why Not?  Why don’t we stick with our plan to accomplish whatever goals we may have in life?  Perhaps financial obligations are of utmost importance?  Or maybe other family matters need to be resolved immediately?  Maybe we are just weary and beat by the woes of everyday life.

Nonetheless, it seems that a means to succeed exists in every situation.  Hopefully, my story today is not unexpected.  My story today depicts how I was reminded to never say, “I could’ve, I would’ve, I should’ve but I didn’t.  Today, I DID.  I did as much as I could physically and mentally to make certain my full recovery after fall ‘06 ACL surgery.

Routines are named so for good reason.  They are just that … “routines.  Often monotonous in nature these scheduled tasks become habitual.  Although tedious as the repetition allows for little or no spontaneity, the everyday performance of such tasks often leads to goal accomplishment. 

At 5:00 am, I woke to re-start a “routine once temporarily set aside. I speak of my ritual like 5x/week gym program.  I use the word “ritual as I set out to perform a series of actions and procedures in a set, ordered, just shy of ceremonial way.  From the already prepared breakfast, needing only brief exposure to some microwave heating, to the 2 gym bags meticulously packed with at gym, ready to leave gym and post gym gear, my day began.

Training revolved around strengthening my knee for complete rehabilitation.  I rarely do much cardio exercises, but today I started and finished with cardio activities.  I began with the recumbent bicycle for 25 minutes and concluded with 20 minutes of elliptical training.  Both were at a moderate to hard intensity, although limited hard intensity.  This gave me an opportunity to exercise the supporting knee muscles for strength.  As for weight training, I did 4 sets of moderately heavy (35 lbs) dead lifts, stiff legged dead lifts:then 4 sets of hip abductor and adductor work:and 4 sets of straight leg quad extension (2.5 lbs for 25 reps), straight leg hip flexor (5lbs. for 25 reps).

The amount of weight I moved today is a far cry from my past “norm.  But, with a continued following to my “routine in a ritual-like manner, I’m sure to see increasing gains in knee strength.  In 3 months:in  6 months:in 7 months (’07 IFBB NPC North American Figure Competition) months later:I do not want to be able to say, “I Could’ve, I Would’ve, I Should’ve, but I didn’t.  Because today, I DID:and I will do again tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that:

Whether influenced by Norse mythology, urban legend, or biblical stories, western culture has perennially been fascinated with triskaidekaphobia, a phenomenon more commonly known as the “fear of 13.  Why do so many suffer from this often considered unfounded fear?  As I conclude today’s activities and reflect, I am inclined to say that the number 13 should be associated more with that of good and positive effects.  My healing surgically replaced ACL is the root of my conviction.

Today, January 19, 2007, marks 13 weeks post Reconstructive ACL surgery for me.  13 weeks of often failed attempts to discount any feelings that would reveal my endured anguish … both physically and mentally.  13 weeks embarked on a journey for which I preferred to never go.   13 weeks of being patient.

Yes, I am assuming the title “Humpty Dumpty yet again.  I’ve fallen and I WILL get up.
The fall I mention this time is a more subtle one in comparison to the one that led to my recently torn ACL.  This one was calculated.  I mathematically figured that I could wreck any semblance of a healthy meal day and still be “ok in the morning.  This warped thinking initiates the demise of healthy success.  

No, I am not indulging in the wonderful culinary delectable dishes which so many competitors are partaking.  (Chicken breast, protein powder, egg whites) But this should not give me a “free pass everyday, all day long.  I used the inclement weather as an excuse to consumewhatever was in the house.  Shopping was not a viable option with the accumulation and far from ephemeral ice on the roadways.

Well, I ate an entire bag of Oreo cookies (I don’t even like chocolate, but they were sweet and satisfied my sweet tooth).  To balance the Oreo’s with something savory, I devoured a bag of Flavor Blasted Goldfish.  Both were started and finished after I finished a half bag of Teddy Grahms this afternoon.  [Note: these were NOT individual serving bags.  These were full, multi-serving items.]

My calculations were skewed nonetheless.  Usually, I don’t let this type of erratic behavior bother me.  Today it has.  Today marks 5 consecutive days in which I did not work out.  Worse, I made no attempt.  I even failed to do my knee re-hab exercises today.  (I did do a lot of indoor walking … room to room)  Tomorrow, I will do better. Anything is better than nothing.  Rain, sleet and/or snow:I AM getting Physical tomorrow!!!

My inquiry is, "To those out there, in "Bodyspace" land, who have had a torn ACL and perhaps subsequent surgery, what has been your experiences thus far?" 

Just today, I have haphazardly come across a few members here with knee surgical tratment - past, present and, or future.   When I say, "future", I mean planned or scheduled.  By no means am I claiming to be a clairvoyant. 

Anyway, I am 3 months post Reconstructive ACL surgery and have significant hopes for competition years 2007/2008.  It has been a challenging,ongoing struggle.  However, each passing day yields healing progress.  Negative, I am not sulking or giving up on competing again.  I am just curious to hear YOUR stories. 

Cheers!

So, today is the first day of the year 2007, and we are all calculating our New Year’s resolutions, right?  Well, I’ll share mine with you all…but, please share yours too.

My 2007 New Year’s Resolution is probably not a surprise to most.  I plan to Re-Hab, Re-Hab, Re-Hab my left, 10/15/06, reconstructed ACL.  During this time (Jan. -Mar. ‘07), I’ll be methodically eating and lifting to gain 10-15 lbs., mostly lean muscle. This will be a challenge (I’m so used to these) as I have never weighed this much in my thirty-four years of life. 

Then, I will chisel and sculpt a strong, lean body with a total mass of 122-125 lbs., perhaps in time to enter the 2007 IFBB Qualifier North American Figure Competition. Nonetheless, I will not rush results of my rehabilitation efforts.  I want to perform the best as I can with the time allotted. 

And hey, no worries…I’ll be 35 years young at the end of 2007…thus qualifying me for the Master’s category in Figure competitions.   Although this was not previously anticipated, I am excited to seriously contemplate continuing my Figure career/adventure well beyond a time frame ever imagined.   I am sure to return to the stage as soon as I am phyically ready.  I’m not out yet…nor do I plan on it.   ~Dawn Melanie~