This blog is in continuation of my blog "My Fitness Journey which I planned and chiseled on the way" written mainly during 2019-2020 time period where I followed my diet and kept up with my exercises.
I was happy with what I could achieve until July 2020 and what I could maintain until Feb 2021. But after Feb 2021 I lost track of my weight at my conscience level because I was regularly measuring my weight. I let my other stresses take over me.
In July 2020, I had an injury in my left leg. It is called IT Band syndrome. I got it when I was running for some 10km one day. There was some difficulty and a kind of noise or uncomfortableness around the left side of the left knee. I still wanted to continue my running. But the pain forced me to stop after 1km. After that I could not even walk for 3 days.
I tried to study about it. Yes, I went to Dr.Google. I self diagnosed it as IT band syndrome. I gave it some rest and was doing some strengthening exercises using massage balls, foam rollers etc. But all those things helped only a little bit. I could only manage walking. Whenever I tried running I can run only for 1 km.
Once November 2020 hit, Regina's winter (-20 to -50deg celcius) didn't even let me to walk. However, I was running my 1 year old daughter inside the home and I could easily manage achieve 7000 steps per day in my FitBit. This let me maintain weight around 66kg. However, in Feb 2021, my family went to India for a quick vacation and I also got into a sedentary workstyle job which means I hardly did 1000 steps per day. This led to increase in weight by almost 1.5kg per month. By Jan 2022, I am now at approximately 80kg. This is unpardonable actually.
I did follow exercises that were recommended by physiotherapists, yoga masters etc. But I wasn't very disciplined. I was expecting quick results. But, it wasn't coming. Moreover, I got demotivated with the 6-7 exercises that they gave me.
One day I spoke very sadly to my yoga master. My yoga master Piyush suggested me to take help of Chiropractor. I went to the Chiropractor and he did helped me. He started with two simple exercises initially. But I have to do that 5 min exercises 3-5 times a day. That really helped me. Because it was taking only 5minutes. And also only 2 exercises. I was glad that I could finish a task quickly. Also, he prescribed me to keep hot water or ice pack therapy at the affected area. This therapy helps to improve the blood flow in that region by dilating the blood vessels. More blood flow helps in healing of the inflammation in that region.
Right from session 1, my Chiropractor performed a massage with a steel knife (meant for massages). I think the steel knife massages helps to unblock the blockages in the micro capillaries in blood vessels and helps to heal the inflammation around the knee area soon.
I think hot water / ice pack therapy, exercises and massages helped to heal better.
Slowly, my chiropractor increased the number of exercises and intensity of exercises. I would say that it helped me. However, one must be more disciplined in order to see results soon and come out of the treatment and save money.
Also, my chiropractor told that it is not just a IT band issue. It is also a knee problem.
Main learnings
1) Find the right therapist as early as possible. Take it upon yourself. Understand why you are been asked to something. Because it will motivate you. A hot water/cold water therapy might sound not used for a muscle problem. But we will understand the problem is mainly due to inflammation in the muscles. So, in order to get rid of inflammation it is important that blood flows are at best.
Have a disciplined approach. Have goals. 3 months should be enough to heal. 6 months is max to get back on track.
2) Have the right shoes. Change your shoes frequently
3) Manage your running load. If you over do running, it will hurt you knees. By overloading yourself or your knees, you might be able to burn more calories. However, if you injure your knees or muscle groups, you will not be able to do any exercise and that will make you gain lot of weight. Have no hurry in losing weight.
4) Do not change your running position on your own or by friend's suggestion. Change your running position (i.e. angle of landing, place of landing etc) only with the help of professional certified athlete. Because change of these angle in running has the potential to manifest a runners knee problem.
My weight as on 15-Jan-2022 is 79.9 kg
