by Beks
It seems like there are two camps during this pandemic. The ‘curl up in a comfy blanket and binge watch Netflix while eating a giant bag of Cheetos until everything passes’ crowd and the ‘workout, workout, workout, eat a kale salad, workout until you feel normal again’ crowd.
I certainly enjoyed those Cheetos.
My husband and I had gym memberships so I am used to working out but I worked out less since I had to do it at home and I loved those Cheetos a little more. Like I mentioned a few weeks back, I had to change my diet when my yoga pants started feeling a bit snug.
I started running and it turns out, I love it. Really. Truly. Love it. I know it’s terrible for every single bone and joint in my body (my mother, my neighbor, and anyone with sense loves to tell me how bad it is for me) but at this particular moment, I don’t care. I’ve been running 60 – 70 miles a week…until now. I don’t know what on earth I did, but I messed up my knee. My running days are taking a hiatus.
Unwilling to hang up my running shoes, I decided I’d buy an elliptical machine. Those aren’t expensive right???
Yes. I’ll wait until you stop laughing.
Done?
Holy cow those things are outrageously expensive! Naturally I head over to looking at ads for used ones in my area. There’s got to be plenty right?!? Maybe I can find a free one?
Yes, again, I’ll wait until you stop laughing.
I called my brother, a notorious lover of garage sales, and shared my desire to find a piece of exercise equipment. When he stopped laughing (and he laughed a LONG time), he shared that the pandemic has made everyone exercise at home and equipment is being picked up for way more than it’s actually worth. He recommended I wait until this all blows over. Apparently, if you want exercise equipment, DON’T BUY NOW! If you are looking to sell equipment, SELL NOW!
In the meantime, I switched over to free workouts from Youtube and *sigh* walking. This week, I found myself thinking more on my walks. Taking in the slower pace. It gave me a moment to consider that I was trying to create normalcy in this mess and I wasn’t going about it the right way. Our house is too tiny for an exercise machine and I have no business spending money right now. I was looking for an easy button.
I’m guessing there are lots of you out there in the same boat. Maybe it’s not exercise equipment. Maybe it’s something else. Take a breath. Take a moment. Pause. Are you spending money because you think it will make you feel better?
It won’t.
This will pass. Let’s wait for the storm to be over.
We will run again.
Beks is a full-time government employee who enjoys blogging late into the night after her four kids have gone to sleep. She’s been married to Chris, her college sweetheart, for 15 years. In 2017, after 3 long years working the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps, they paid off more than $70K and became debt free. When she’s not working or blogging, she’s exploring the great outdoors.
Running feels great but your mom is right! I was an avid runner for years and years and 2 years ago had a total knee replacement. I literally had bone on bone in my right knee. Turns out all those pounding steps on hard pavement did its job. It is MUCH better to walk or do weight bearing exercises. Even my orthopedic surgeon made his wife give up running. Your future self will thank you!
I know! It’s terrible! I figure I’ll keep it up during quarantine and find a long term solution later.
We pulled out our jump rope and I caved this morning and bought two simply fit boards for our daughters. We’re determined to start walking more. For us, it’s crazy how we’ve always said if it wasn’t for work commuting hours, we’d have more time to exercise—and yet here we are *eyeroll*
Right?!!? I’ve been blaming my commute for years! Turns out, it was just me.
As my doctor said when I had some unrelated problems, don’t run when you feel pain. In other words, listen to your body. I haven’t had a knee problem in 10 years. I don’t take advil to mask pain and I take days off to allow my body to heal if I feel a twinge from working hard.
https://www.livescience.com/36241-5-experts-answer-running-bad-knees.html
That’s super interesting!
There’s an app called Vipon that gives you discount codes for things listed in amazon. This morning there’s a code for an exercise bike. It’s not elliptical but it’s exercise equipment.
I’ve never heard of that! I’ll have to check it out!
I feel this so much. I really miss the gym and I already enjoyed running outside but mostly once a week long runs and the rest were indoors on a comfy treadmill. I went too hard a couple weeks ago and feel it every morning.
My husband hates running and decided he’d rather take up spinning so he spent the last six weeks tracking down a used spin bike, we got it yesterday. We’ll see how that works out.
I am almost willing to let myself be pricegouged just to get some heavier dumbbells.
I looked at dumbbell pricing too! Holy moly!! It’s bad out there! But yeah, crossed my mind to cave and pay it. I’m holding strong but we’ll see!
I love your posts, very inspirational. I am an active runner and have been for 20 years, but I take breaks when life takes over and I can’t commit. Or something weird happens with my body.
Take a break from running for at least 2 weeks and regularly ice your knee. Consider a different shoe, possibly inserts. When you return to running, do no more than 2 miles every other day. If you don’t return to running, remember walking
I
burns almost
as many miles.
Great advice! I thought it might have been my shoes so I replaced them. That helped a lot! I’m still taking a bit of a break from the running part and walking more.