Damn these Knees! ~ 61 days ~

[Qivalon]

Hello All,

Just sticking my nose in to let everyone know I am doing the 61 day challenge.

When I get back from work I will post my nutritional, fitness, and personal goals.

Onward and forward!

Jim~

[lance02]

Good luck in the challenge Jim!

[Qivalon]

Originally Posted by lance02

Good luck in the challenge Jim!

Well thank you kindly!

Jim~

[Qivalon]

Originally Posted by Qivalon

Hello All,

Just sticking my nose in to let everyone know I am doing the 61 day challenge.

When I get back from work I will post my nutritional, fitness, and personal goals.

Onward and forward!

Jim~

I am home from work so I figured I would post my information (by the way never ever work in an office where the AC is broken):

Background information:

41 years old
200 pounds in weight
5'7'' tall
Bad knees, good arms

Nutrition Goals: At the present time I will be following the food recommendation of the ABS Diet. I make the food as the book requests (measuring everything) in an effort to loose this bowling ball I have a stomach. Basically I have to stop eating large quantities of food and replace them good tasting quality food.

Fitness Goals: I will also be following a slightly hybrid version of the ABS Diet workout for the next 61 days, and if I like the results at the end this challenge I will continue on till the end of the year.

Some specific goals:
I want to be able to do at least one set of 10 traveling lunges without the help of something to prop me up such as the wall.

At least one set of 10 reps at 120 pounds for squats.

10 widegrip pullups

120 pound bench press (one set of 10)

Personal Goals: I tend to get distracted from my goals by real life so I am using this journal to visually remind me to get my backside to the gym.

Note: Today is usually my off day from the gym.

Jim~

Snapshot: Never ever work with computers in an office with no AC! I left early when the room hit 90 degrees.

[onlybetternow]

Hi Jim

I´m also in the challenge, good luck!!

[James Newman]

Welcome Jim. What sort of problem is it you have with your knees? Travelling lunges can be quite difficult and the goal you set seems reasonable perhaps, I just want to make sure we are not looking at exacerbating an injury....

Newman

[Qivalon]

Originally Posted by onlybetternow

Hi Jim

I´m also in the challenge, good luck!!

Thanks!

Jim~

[Qivalon]

Originally Posted by James Newman

Welcome Jim. What sort of problem is it you have with your knees? Travelling lunges can be quite difficult and the goal you set seems reasonable perhaps, I just want to make sure we are not looking at exacerbating an injury....

Newman

Hello James

Sadly the problem with my knees is that both patella float. The kneecaps tend to lag behind when my legs bend and then the kneecaps have to literally snap back into place whenever the leg straightens. Add into this bone-on-bone collision and arthritis and you can understand my frustrations with my knees.

I read on one of the blogs on menshealth.com that a better way to work the legs is start with split squats, then move to lunges and then to Bulgarian split squats. The split squats I will be incorporating into my workout although I have found that I can do traveling lunges if I hold hand against something such as a railing or wall. My goal at present is to master one set of 10 traveling lunges using my own bodyweight without having to hold onto dear life.

One major frustration of mine is that because my knees are so bad I can not compete in any competitive sports such as softball or baseball; I could hit the ball but how could I get to first base? I love competition sports of all kinds and this 61 day competition/challenge has made my week.

Jim~

[marmact]

Hi, Jim!

I'm so sorry to hear about the knees! Is that an accumulative stress injury? Or is it something that can be fixed surgically? Regardless, I hope you can work around it.

Good luck!!
Marie

[Qivalon]

Originally Posted by marmact

Hi, Jim!

I'm so sorry to hear about the knees! Is that an accumulative stress injury? Or is it something that can be fixed surgically? Regardless, I hope you can work around it.

Good luck!!
Marie

Hello Marie,

My knees were always bad even when I was a child, but I kept pushing myself physically; eventually my knees screamed "Enough!" and they gave up the ghost.

So now I have had a total of three surgeries; two on my left leg and one on my right, all were major reconstructions.

Since my knees stop me from competing in any sport, the only sport I have left is bodybuilding. What I would give to be able to run and play baseball!

Jim~

[Victoria]

Jim, good luck with the challenge. Sorry to hear about the knees, though. I have a bad back and have to be careful with everything I do. So, instead of feeling badly about what I can't do, I try to focus on what I can and see that as the opportunity. With the right support (PT, program design, etc.) you should be well on your way to having plenty of opportunity with this challenge! Sounds like you are on the right track.

Best of luck!

[Qivalon]

June 2, 2007

Hello All,

Abdomen work:

Standing crunch – 40 pounds, one set for 12 reps
Pulse up – one set for 12 reps
Saxon side bends – 10 pounds, 10 reps per side
Side Bridge – 1 set each side held for 30 seconds
Back extension – one set of 12 reps

No rest in between the abdomen sets

Incline bench press – 3 sets, 10 reps at 90 pounds
Cable row – 3 sets, 10 reps at 110 pounds
Split squats – 2 sets out of 3, 10 reps using just body weight
Lateral raise – 3 sets, 12 reps at 5 pounds
DB upright row and Shrug – 3 sets, 12 reps at 20 pounds
Dead lifts – 3 sets, 10 reps at 90 pounds
DB incline curl – 3 sets, 10 reps at 25 pounds
Triceps extension – 3 sets, 10 reps at 40 pounds

Note: I played very conservative with the weights just to see how my body will react

Nutrition:

Breakfast – 1 slice whole grain bread with some natural PB, 1 small glass of V8 Fusion (nice find by the way), 1 cup of shredded wheat with a handful of raisins and ½ cup of fat free milk.

Snack – 1 slice of whole grain bread and peanut butter

Lunch – 2 eggs scrambled, with 1 chopped up red pepper and again bread (hmmm, I am starting to see a bad pattern forming).

From this point on I have no idea what I am eating (what ever it will be there will be no bread!) as I am taking the misses out to dinner for her birthday. From there I will be taking her out to see our local Triple A affiliates play baseball.

Snapshot: This is where I am taking the misses tonight: www.liducks.com

Jim~

[Qivalon]

Hello All,

Today was cardio day.

I have found that the recumbent bicycle is easier on my knees to which I managed a pain-free half hour session.

The bicycle was set on a random setting (to simulate hills) at a level 4 and I managed 10.8 miles.

No real complaints although my toes did get a little numb which was strange.

Jim~

[lance02]

Keep up the great work Jim!

[Qivalon]

Hello All,

Hit the gym very early this morning:

Abdomen work out with no rest in between sets

Traditional crunch -- 1 set, 12 reps, no weight
Bent leg knee raise -- 1 set, 12 reps, no weight
Oblique V-up -- 1 set, 10 per side, no weight
Bridge -- 1 set, holding for 30 seconds
Back extensions -- 1 set, 15 reps, no weight (but will increase next time)

Squat -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 90 pounds
Bench press -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 100 pounds
Wide grip pull ups -- 3 sets, suppose to be 10 reps but only got 4/4/5
Military press -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 70 pounds
Upright rows -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 70 pounds
EZ bar bench press (very similiar to close grip bench press) 3 sets of 10 at 60 pounds
Ski squats -- 3 sets, no weight holding for 30 seconds
Biceps curl -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 70 pounds
Seated leg curl -- 3 sets, 10 reps at 85 pounds.

Jim~

[onlybetternow]

Originally Posted by Qivalon

Hello All,

Today was cardio day.

I have found that the recumbent bicycle is easier on my knees to which I managed a pain-free half hour session.

The bicycle was set on a random setting (to simulate hills) at a level 4 and I managed 10.8 miles.

No real complaints although my toes did get a little numb which was strange.

Jim~

Hi Jim

My toes somethimes get a little numb when I´m on the stairmaster, usually when I´we been there for a long time.... don´t know why it is

[Qivalon]

Hello All,

Simple cardio day, although I had to go to the little gym my condo has --

15 minutes on an upright stationary bike; this hurt the side of my knee in a new type of soft pain.

Got off that bike and did a moderate (for me anyways) walk on a treadmill for another 15 minutes.

A good cardio day with very little pain.

Jim~

[James Newman]

Little pain is good. I have found the recumbant bike to be quite enjoyable, but when several other were talking about biking the other day, I aired up my mtn bike tires and went for a spin. It was nice. Now if I can just find some sweet single track in this area.

Newman