Back in the Boot

Well I guess I will shift gears from the last post, which dealt with my broken heart, and shift to my dang broken foot.

I haven't talked much about the progress with my foot because to be honest, there hasn't been much progress.  I transitioned to tennis shoes when I flew home for the CFA at the end of May and right away I felt some pain.  I thought maybe it was the muscles adapting to not having the support of the boot, so I pushed through.  I did the prescribed 2 weeks of tennis shoes only and then transitioned into wearing flats at work.

But I couldn't ignore the fact that my foot still hurt.  And co-workers were commented on the fact that I appeared to be sort of limping.  So back to the doctor I went for another set of x-rays.  At my appointment on Wednesday, I found out that the stress fracture has not healed.  So now, in addition to wearing the boot, I am in a soft cast which provides more support and will hopefully speed up the healing process.  I left the doctor's office with a firm order to stop pushing it and just basically do as little as possible.

I managed to hold in the tears until I got home (at past appointments I have cried in the doctors office, which isn't embarrassing at all). It's just another blow in the midst of a series of blows.  It would really help me mentally and physically to be out there logging miles, and it'd be another way for me to make some more friends here as I had a running club that I intended to join.  But my return to running is just not happening anytime soon.  And I've had to accept that I will not be running the Chicago marathon this year.  I will go, of course, as I have friends flying in to run it.  But instead of being out on the course with them, I'll be on the sidelines cheering.  Which I know will be fun, but it's just not the same as being out there running. :(

I'm so beyond frustrated right now.  But right now I have to focus on what is in my control.  So while my foot heals, this is what I plan on doing:

1.  Switch up my supplements.  I have been taking Vitamin D, D3, and Calcium for well over 6 months now, but the coach of a local club I was looking at joining recommended a different D3 supplement that has a higher absorption rate, so I am going to pick that up this week.

2.  Pilates.  A co-worker referred me to her pilates instructor as she has had a great experience with her, and her rate for one-on-one sessions is reasonable.  So I am doing a free trial session with her this week.  The instructor also had a stress fracture in the past, so she understand that I can't do any lower body work.  She has assured me that there is plenty of core and upper body work that we can do while my foot is healing.

3.  Weight Watchers.  Due to the lack of activity over the last 3 months, I have put on 6-7 pounds.  In an effort to reverse that trend and get back to my "happy weight" I have decided to go back on Weight Watchers.  This really depresses me as I have been off the program for 3+ years and have stayed in a 3-5 pound range, but now that I can't manage my weight through my activity level, it's time to get back to tracking what I am putting in my body.  I feel like I eat healthy and in moderation, but I am clearly doing something wrong.  I lost 35+ pounds on WW 4 years ago, so hopefully I can take off the weight I've gained recently.  My body image is at a multi-year low right now, so hopefully losing some weight will also help in that regard.

In a word, I feel defeated right now.  I am mentally preparing myself for 4 more weeks in the boot and soft cast, but am hoping it is 2 weeks.  I have all these trips planned over the next 2 months and if I am still in the boot, it's really going to limit my ability to enjoy the cities I plan to visit.

So please send some healing thoughts/prayers my way...