<p>arabrab, there is a band exercise that apparently works the same muscle group as monster walks - it is called “clamshells”. I find it much easier to do technically (butt still hurts afterwards :))</p>
<p>Ran 3 miles. Punched the clock. Phew. Is it Friday yet?</p>
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<p>Feeling them is a good thing! </p>
<p>I alternate. One day I do monster walks, forward and back. The next day, I do lateral walks, side to side. Before each workout, I do MOWC’s single leg miniband exercise: band around the thighs, just above the knees. Stand on one leg. Move the other leg forward and back. Out to the side and back. Out to the back, and back. That’s one rep. I do five on each leg. Works the hip and butt on the moving leg and works the balance of the standing leg as the center of balance is constantly changing.</p>
<p>No workout for me today. Kind of feelin’ it from yesterday’s workout, especially in the shoulders and upper body.</p>
<p>Took a rest day yesterday - lots of sleep. I finally feel fully rested. I have a tennis match today so we’ll see how the body is. My weight is stable but I’m more hungry than before - it might be the weather. My diet routine isn’t back yet - I think that I’ll be back at routine on Monday. First thing is to ask my wife to cook a pound of beans and then buy a few pounds of nuts at Trader Joes along with all of the other stuff.</p>
<p>It’s been used in the pro tennis world for a few years and my feeling is that it is on the way out. I first saw it being used on knees as a replacement for products like the Cho-Pat Strap and perhaps it works there but I’ve seen it used on shoulders where it more often falls off because there is too much skin movement and not enough adhesive strength to hold it in place. I think that it can work in some areas but I prefer buying something that I can reuse.</p>
<p>idad – thanks, I’ll try the MOWC single leg start. </p>
<p>What’s the current thinking about how often you should do this kind of training – iDad, it sounds like you’re doing them every day (or most days) – I’ve been following a three-times a week schedule, though I certainly could fit in one more day quite easily. Is the old “give the muscles a day to recuperate” thing no longer held to be true? Only for some muscles? </p>
<p>The kinesio tape lasted me about three days at a go, but it provided more immediate relief than anything else did. New orthotics helped in the longer run. (I had not realized that the orthotics flatten out over time even if you don’t visibly notice it. I was rather aghast when the podiatrist compared the orthotic with the cast of my foot from which they’d been made. Yikes.)</p>
<p>Which brings up a good point – Orthotics run about $450 from the doc, not covered by insurance. Anyone got suggestions as to less expensive routes to get good orthotics for someone who’s a strong pronator with a history of P.F.? I see lots of kits advertised, and one of the walking shoe stores has semi-custom orthotics, though I’m not completely sure what that means.</p>
<p>I’d try a few of the off-the shelf models such as New Balance (they have a line of aftermarket insoles) or SuperFeet. I had PF in the 1990s and made my own custom orthotics using insoles, leather and leather glue. I did that until New Balance came out with their line and I tried a few and settled on a particular model which I’ve been using for over ten years. They cost about $45 a pair so they are not inexpensive but they are a lot less than custom orthotics.</p>
<p>I tried one of the semi-custom orthotics (you apply heat to the plastic part and it softens and then rehardens after you shape it) and I didn’t care for them.</p>
<p>arabrab:</p>
<p>I do my mobility warmup including minibands and stuff three times a week – as warmup for my MON/WED/FRI workouts. However, this question came up on Mike Boyle’s forum recently and this sort of mobility/activation/flexibility stuff could be done every day. There’s no particular limit to it as there would be with weightlifting or running.</p>
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<p>As for orthotics, I’ve had great success with off-the-shelf SuperFeet. I use the ORANGE version in shoes with a removeable insole (like running shoes) and the BLUE version for shoes with less room (like dress shoes, Topsiders, etc.). Very similar product to the New Balance, but most running stores have pre-cut demos in all sizes so you can try the various models in your own shoes and walk around a little bit in the store.</p>
<p>I saw a recent study (darn if I can remember where) that showed no difference between these high-end off-the-shelf products and custom orthotics. Both performed the same.</p>
<p>Another pound today. I’ve now put on four pounds in three days eating under 2000 calories a day! Go figure.</p>
<p>Must be menopause, Idad. :)</p>
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<p>You may call a physical therapy office in your area. My boss fits patients for orthotics and it runs about $190 I think for fitting and making. He uses a box that has foam in it to get the impression. Many doctors that I have seen use plaster to create the impression.</p>
<p>I was actually talking with a patient yesterday about this. Her orthotics she had gotten from a podiatrist and been casted to do it. She hated them. Her husband’s were made using the foam and she said he loves them. </p>
<p>I’ve learned how to do it both ways, but I don’t use either skill very often…</p>
<p>I agree with the SuperFeet recommendation. I don’t like how they feel, but most everyone else does! I would go to a good running store and ask them what they recommend. I’ve had all sorts of expensive, custom orthotics in the past, as has H, and most of the runners we know have abandoned them.</p>
<p>iDad- I bet it’s the cooler weather catching up with you, but you will stabilize and those pounds will drop again. </p>
<p>I am not adjusting well to the climate change! Ran in winter clothes yesterday- 55 with a strong wind. This morning it was THIRTY SIX DEGREES. It was actually nice this morning- no wind and blue sky. I did 3 miles and then went to hot yoga, which killed me. There was a guest teacher from Austin and she was good but hard. I had to go directly to Sonic for a large iced tea.</p>
<p>1 hour walk in the pouring rain. Yuck!</p>
<p>90 minutes of tennis, 6-2, 6-3, 2-0 (retired). I felt like I was playing very well and moving very well - a break often sharpens your skills (counter-intuitive). It didn’t feel like enough of a workout though.</p>
<p>No sign of cramps. I took two packets of Emergen-C in the office this morning with tea.</p>
<p>I have some pretty tough doubles scheduled for Sunday which should be a good workout.</p>
<p>Well, y’all. I have a job! Not sure when I start, but I have at least one more week of freedom. I have been working, frustratingly, on getting this position for about 6 weeks. It’s a contract position to start, but the expectation is that it will go perm (unless they hate me). It’s a large, good company in a very healthy industry with a woefully small legal staff. I think I can make a big difference. It is not the level position I had, but I don’t care. It’s good enough and should be fun and interesting. I have COBRA paid from the last employer for another 4 months, so I have some breathing room there, and then I can pick it up if I need to. I feel very relieved. This has been stressful and frustrating and, frankly, terrifying. I think it will be good for me to get back to work and make new work-friends.</p>
<p>So- shortly it will be back to early morning or after work running! Good news is hours are only 40 per week while it’s contract, so I won’t be killing myself at the office!</p>
<p>MOfWC, that’s fantastic! Congratulations! As they say, a bird in hand… Enjoy your last week of “housewifing” (my DH’s term for when I was unemployed). Yay to 40 hr workweeks!</p>
<p>I decided to continue with the run analysis. We’ll see how it goes. I have a dancing session planned for tonight, but don’t know if I’m going to be able to handle it. I incorporated a bunch of new stuff into my routine last night, and my muscles are really sore in the places where they have not been sore for a loooong time.</p>
<p>Great news on the job front! You can probably improve the overall health of your department just as an example.</p>
<p>MOWC – Congratulations! That is a fantastic accomplishment in this era of unemployment, and I’m sure they’re lucky to get you. Enjoy the last week or so of freedom! (And a flat forty hours a week doesn’t sound too bad either.)</p>
<p>Dark and gloomy day, so MOWC’s news really brought some sunshine in. Congratulations, they are lucky to have you!</p>
<p>Congratulations MOWC! I’m really happy for you.</p>