Diary of a wanna be :)

yop

This is a log with a difference possibly, I am a cyclist who will be curtailed for a while, the while been the unknown.

Background - 2009 Car crash left me with no car, bought heap of an MTB, cycled to work and home on a daily basis (16km) thought I was king of the hill
Took up running and adventure races and was at the time 16.5 st.
Did all the various buzz adventure races at the time but was a plodder. Was encouraged to join my local club in 2010 and rarely missed a Wedn or Sun training spin and then bought an entry level Giant. Was getting stronger and eventually bought a carbon Merida off a boardsie, the bike was a 2004 Merida but a high spec and I still have it.
Did a few local club races and charity spins including Mizen to Malin in 2011. Avg probably 200-250km per week during 2011. Late 2011 I was doing a lot of hill running and something didn't feel right in my right hip.
Got my self down to circa 14.5 stone at this stage.

2012 was a disaster as I slipped a disc in Feb 2012, spent 12 weeks either not able to walk or on crutches, was one of the organisers for our 1LifeCycle 500km over 2 days spin in Sept so HAD to do that.
Got myself back on the bike and with a lot of help from my mates got in good solid training and weekly physio sessions and managed to complete the spin.
Took a toll on me and my hip was in a lot of pain.

Did a good bit of core work then winter 2012 including yoga and pilates, squats and weights but it wasn't going away.

Did a lot of turbo including the SufferFest tour in Jan and Tour of California in March but the niggling wasn't going and was finding my saddle time was reducing before I had to get off and stretch.

Eventually got an MRI there in June and they have noticed a lump on my spinal cord, seemingly it was there also back in Feb 2012 but no one spotted it. Disc isn't too healthy either.

So appointment now on 17th July with consultant.

From someone who cycled nearly 7000 kms over the last 2.5 years to 0kms now for the last 2 months it tough going.


Aim is though to be doing 100km a week by the end of the year, could all be on the PS3 yet though

In the meantime I am going to see if I can "spin" lightly, maybe 5km at a session twice per week.
Weight was down to a good level of 13.6 st in March though that is gone up to 14.6st now.

I suppose I am starting this log with the intention of been back on the bike by .....
17th July will tell a lot about those dots.

Ryder

good luck with the log and with your treatment. maybe consider some weights if okayed by your medical team......most cyclists could do with some upper body work, and for the price of an excersise ball and some adjustable dumbells, you could get a good program going in your 'off season'

yop

Ryder wrote: »

good luck with the log and with your treatment. maybe consider some weights if okayed by your medical team......most cyclists could do with some upper body work, and for the price of an excersise ball and some adjustable dumbells, you could get a good program going in your 'off season'

Thanks v much
Was doing a lot of weights up to this for the core but have been told to leave every bit of exercise off until they have a look at the lump and the disc.
Used to do a lot of weights in a previous life so have around 150kg of weights and few benches waving at me now, they are enjoying the sun

Feeling the weight creep up on a daily basis now, its a dog as when I can't train I get well fupped off and don't watch what I eat as well as I should.

8 days to the appointment!! Can't come quick enough.

yop

After a weekend with the christening I think, as the TDF commentator said the other day, that I will fit into the "Guys with higher BMI" category!
The bike will bend in 2 at this rate.

Was v bad Sunday with headaches after about 18 hours continually on my feet Saturday getting the house ready and the power went totally around 8, so I had to go to bed.
This really can't come fast enough

They went and cancelled it for another 2 weeks with a letter this morning, but I lost ze plot with them on the phone, as this was the 3rd cancellation and they will now see me earlier than my original appointment tomorrow... by 1 hour

smacl

yop wrote: »

Eventually got an MRI there in June and they have noticed a lump on my spinal cord, seemingly it was there also back in Feb 2012 but no one spotted it. Disc isn't too healthy either.

My wife had something very similar a few years back, ruptured disc with leaked inner disc goo* putting pressure on the spinal chord and all the associated horrors. A reasonably small op in the Mater private and she was bouncing around again, after us wasting a small fortune on chiropractors, osteopaths, not to mention a truck load of Solpadene. Every case is different of course, but for this type of injury you really need to heed your consultant IMO.

Best of luck in your recovery, and FWIW my wife's recovery was 100% with no recurring pain in the intervening years.

(* I suspect there is a better technical term here)

yop

smacl wrote: »

My wife had something very similar a few years back, ruptured disc with leaked inner disc goo* putting pressure on the spinal chord and all the associated horrors. A reasonably small op in the Mater private and she was bouncing around again, after us wasting a small fortune on chiropractors, osteopaths, not to mention a truck load of Solpadene. Every case is different of course, but for this type of injury you really need to heed your consultant IMO.

Best of luck in your recovery, and FWIW my wife's recovery was 100% with no recurring pain in the intervening years.

(* I suspect there is a better technical term here)

Sounds similar enough, especially sponsoring all the physios in town

yop

Ok, put away the black suits !

The lump is a cyst they aren't worried about, saying its there and hasn't grown since the last scan 2 years ago and she has no concerns with it. So thats something!

2 lower discs L4 and L5 are very close together and catching the nerves, that hasn't changed since the last scan and the debris that was there is no longer there.
I'm having an injection onto the discs on Friday next to shield the nerves and HOPEFULLY help, if not then another injection.

If all that doesn't work then they will need to fuse the discs.

pgibbo

I hope it does work, because I'd hate to see you snapping the frame on that lovely bike :pac::pac::pac::pac:

yop

pgibbo wrote: »

I hope it does work, because I'd hate to see you snapping the frame on that lovely bike :pac::pac::pac::pac:

The bike told me it loves have a "real" cyclist using it now.

pgibbo

Who did you loan it to?

yop

pgibbo wrote: »

Who did you loan it to?

Slaps will be administered

yop

So injection had on Friday afternoon, epidural into the L4/L5 area. The doc froze the hell out the area and inserted the needle, was a little apprehensive as I read a few reports on what these were like
It was A1, in at 2.25, was out the door 25 mins later.

So 2 days later and it seems "ok", they are saying that it will take 4 days. So i will try some spinning to see what it does, also the lunchtime 20 min walk will tell a tale!!

yop

Ok, looks like this hasn't worked. Gutted.
Maybe a 1 or 2% improvement but not the magic bullet.

Out of frustration I went on the turbo for 20 mins, just to spin the legs, clear the head and burn some calories. Learnt that a highly insulated upstairs of an office now hits 29 degrees c when using a turbo, even with the windows open

I did some googling and found some "how to do herniated disc exercises" also, so I will start that process.

Don't know what I will do now, another injection might yield the same result.

I have contacted a very good physio here in Mayo to speak to him, a physio with herniated disc experience and correct exercises can get the disc into a better position.
I have decided to learn to swim (for the 5th time!) and do some yoga to see if that aides things

I REALLY don't want to do an op. I think I am too young for it.

yop

30 mins on the turbo late last night, was VERY warm again. Shocking that I struggled badly to hold 35/36kmph for 4 minutes, having to break off at 3 mins to reduce it to 30kmph.
That program I used to have no bother, all these weeks out and the fact my legs fell EXTREMELY tired aided to this.

Someone mentioned Phyical Therapy as oppossed to physio... have to look into this.

yop

Ok have done 2 small turbo session, both only 10km's, both circa late 20kmph avg but my legs cramped on one and just ran out of juice on the other, so things aren't good with it still.
Have decided to return to the physio who fixed my disc the first time and got me from zero ability to walk to 5 mins of walking after a few weeks to see what she thinks.
Epidural, I am not sure, people have said that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Have to wonder whats the point then!

yop

Least the weight is coming off again. Looking v closely at what I am eating on a daily basis and haven't eaten after 7pm any day now for 2 weeks. Sitting at 14st 1lbs. See if I can get another 1/2 stone off for the "big return"

Beasty

yop wrote: »

I REALLY don't want to do an op. I think I am too young for it.

How old are you?

I've had back problems throughout my adult life - it bacame really bad in my early 30s and I had an epidural that didn't work. I ended up having surgery - first time aged 33 which sorted one disc out then had to have another less than a year later to sort the next one up. I managed to cope for the next 6 years (although put weight on and did have several bad spells). Then I had 2 further ops in my early 40s again one each on the lower two discs. Since then I've discovered cycling and lost a lot of weight. The discs harden as you get older and I think having the core strength means they are less likely to protrude (they are more jelly-like when you are younger meaning they can "escape" a bit easier)

The guy who operated was the Man U orthapaedic surgeon (he sorted out Pallister and Schmeicel's backs also) - he only ever took out the minimum amount of disc which is probably why I ended up with recurrences. However for the past 11 years I've been generally OK (my only major problem being coming back from the ECL Final in Moscow on a cramped plane in 2008)

Now I am happy with my overall fitness - still get sciatica but it doesn't really bother me. It's unfortunate that I ended up with 4 operations, but looking back I don't regret it given the condition I'm now in.

yop

Thanks Beasty, 37 but still look 22 (I'm kidding)

Interesting that I went to the physio this morning, the Orhtopedic doc in Galway clinic recommended here when the disc was in a bad way back in Feb 2012, at that stage I couldn't walk or bend, wash or dress myself. I got a shed load of drugs from the clinic and I went to the Physio, 6 sessions over 12 days and I finally got to walk again.
I wasn't able to drive for 8 weeks with it and eventually got back to fully walking after 12 weeks.

Anyway, went to her with the MRI discs and MRI report. She looked at my symptoms, week front right leg, numbness and loss of power in the right leg, spasms in the front of the right leg and she has concluded that with the herniation on the L4/5 that any issues would be down the back of the leg.
She also reckons that its nerve issues and not the disc that is causing all the symptoms

She is going to buzz my doc to get me referred to a neurologist as its something "nervy" which is causing it.

To get me back to normality, she spent an hour working on the groin, front of the leg and lower back and initially when I went to her at 9am I did a right leg strenght test, I was only about to hold out for .5 of a second, an hour later after her work I was doing 5 seconds, still not massive, but a big improvement.

So back to her next week and will get something done with the neurologist. Also she urged that i go to pilates/yoga during the week and the pool.

So I am wee bit more positive, I feel less "floppy" now in the hips even which is gas and the spasms haven't occurred since I came to work.

We will see, small acorns and all that

smacl

yop wrote: »

Also she urged that i go to pilates/yoga during the week and the pool.

Lots of very different types of yoga out there, some of which could exacerbate your condition. I'd talk to your physio and any yoga / pilates instructor about of specific regime of exercise to suit your needs.

Anyway, went to her with the MRI discs and MRI report. She looked at my symptoms, week front right leg, numbness and loss of power in the right leg, spasms in the front of the right leg and she has concluded that with the herniation on the L4/5 that any issues would be down the back of the leg.
She also reckons that its nerve issues and not the disc that is causing all the symptoms

Possibly worth talking to a neurosurgeon in addition to a physio if the problems persist, IMHO, it is much more their area of expertise. The specialist who treated my wife was Padraic O'Neill, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Every case is different, but he could be worth calling.

yop

smacl wrote: »

Lots of very different types of yoga out there, some of which could exacerbate your condition. I'd talk to your physio and any yoga / pilates instructor about of specific regime of exercise to suit your needs.



Possibly worth talking to a neurosurgeon in addition to a physio if the problems persist, IMHO, it is much more their area of expertise. The specialist who treated my wife was Padraic O'Neill, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Every case is different, but he could be worth calling.

Thanks very much for that. I presume I need a doctors referral.
My doc is acting silly buggers, physio rang yesterday and told her that she looked at my symptoms and condition and suggested she referred me to a neurologist.
Doc says "no, think he should go back to the ortho consultant and let her refer him".
Fk sake, so I have to pay 150 euro to her to refer me to a neurologist!!!

:mad::mad:

yop

smacl I presume that your wife needed your doc to refer you? Letter from my physio would hardly do?

smacl

yop wrote: »

smacl I presume that your wife needed your doc to refer you? Letter from my physio would hardly do?

Yes, should have mentioned that, all after a massive amount of pain killers and various other courses of treatment that seemed to have more to do with treating the symptoms than underlying problem. Don't know how to circumvent the referral thing; maybe a frank and open discussion with your doctor regarding mounting costs and lost time due to ineffectual treatment. Alternatively, you could also contact the Mater directly, and ask what referral is required and how to go about getting it. For us, the Mater private was covered by VHI, but all the other bits and bobs of doctors visits, drugs, osteopaths, neurologists, etc... cost a small fortune, which was still less important than the amount of pain herself went through in he intervening period. Things went much faster after that, with the operation three days after the first visit and then back home the following day.

n.b. not giving any medical advice here, just recounting personal, anecdotal experience. YMMV. May contain nuts.

yop

Rang the consultant as my Doc told me to.
Spoke to reception and told me Consultant away for a few weeks, explained the situation and she said that I should go back and tell the Dr that she has to refer me to a neurologist and that the Consultant doesn't need to do it.

yop

Doc still hasn't come back to me on this now, not sure what the fook she is playing at.

Did 2 spins on the turbo, at 11.55pm on Sat night watching the soccer! I know, I have a sad life!

Then returned to this pilates/yoga class at 6.30 am. Plank was a no no, balancing on the gym ball was a no no. Anything which needed very stable hips didn't work.
Then had physio this morning, again she did the same routine as last week. I currently feel v good and very very little soreness.
Plan this week is 2 turbos. Maybe like 20km spin on the bike and MAYBE a couple of laps of the track. VERY slow jog. Have to stop any potential weight gain coming back.

yop

ok, doc came back.

Dr rang Consultant and spoke to her PA, not they are saying that in fact they are not finished with me and had told me to make another appointment, Dr has made an appointment for 21st Aug
Dr won't make an appointment with a neurologist until Consultant is "finished with me", that it will probably take up to 6 months anyway.
I explained to the receptionist that it stated on the letter that they should refer me to a neurologist and that you had also suggested that.
Dr has a prescription for pain killers..... told them I wasn't in pain, so no point in them, that the issues are nerve/spasms in the legs and shoulders and that the epidural made no difference to me.
I told her I wasn't happy with it at all, that going back to Consultant was as far as I was concerned a waste of time and money, they asked me to drop in for a chat tomorrow, I am away with work tomorrow.

I don't know to be honest, I am peed off and thats an understatement.

yop

Ok, update.
Another session of Extreme stretching this 6.30am. Was TOUGH as fook, but my physio does it also so she knows what i can and can't do.
Then a physio session with acupuncture.

Getting a 2nd opinion now tomorrow AM so fingers crossed that I a referral.

Fallen off the wagon a bit last weekend with regards bad food, when I can't train I find it hard to avoid Sh*!*! food.!!

yop

Halleluia!

Ok, met with new doc. He spent 30 minutes doing a shed load of tests and took 6 viles of blood to be sent off to the lab.
He has also booked me into a neurologist and neurosurgeon. Dates to be confirmed.

He doesn't think I have MS, though the signs aren't great. Definite nerve issue and muscle wastage but some of the more prominent MS signs aren't there. But he needs me to see a specialist before they can rule it out and see what is causing all the problems.

So at least there is progress, though the mention of MS or an neurological conditions are a concern.

yop

Waiting for the doc with the appointment, hope he comes back this week as he said it would be "days and not weeks".
I will hear back about the bloods sometime this week also, so that will tell a tale I am sure.

Decided to get back into the training, or as much as I could.
Saturday was all stretching and core work.
Sunday I decided to take the bike off the wall, was nearly 3 months since I was on the road and I had bought the Garmin 510 since then, so was looking forward to the new toy!
My missus was worried in case anything happened so been ubber techie i setup the Live Tracking on the Garmin via my phone and then she could watch me live on her tablet in the kitchen. Turned out the 2.5 year old spent all the time sitting in front of it watching the blue dot!

Weather was windy, a SW I think. So I headed off on my usual route, said I would love to do the hour. Wind was in my side face for first 5k, then swung a left and had it more on my back.
Once the blood started pumping it was super, sat around mid to late 30's kmph for the 18km trek to the turn I intended to take.
When I got there I was feeling good so went a little further, then realised that I would be bang on into the wind I said I would detour to try and avoid the wind. After the hour I felt good, very little pain in the hips.
So when I got to the next turn for home I kept going and did this another 4 times, eventually having to face into the wind and the pisnning rain with it.
Was delighted that I clocked just over 50km at an avg of 28kmph. I was sore getting off the bike, for the final 10km the hip and back were tight and I dropped down the avg big time.

Young lad was at the window as he could see my coming down our road on the tablet Technology is great.

Last night was squat, Romanian dead-lifts, press-ups, curls and a bridges as per physio instructions.

Tonight will be stretching and tomorrow is the 6.30am yoga/Pilates class and then physio at 8am.

yop

Okily Tues night did my now usual "free session", its just a 25 min spin on the turbo, I learnt my lesson last week doing a shed load of weights and suffered for it in the 6.30am class
Class was tough again, variation on star pressups, one arm pressups, side pressup, normal press up, the spider man pressup. Must have cleared over 100 press-ups during the class but felt might.
Straight into the physio again for a session.
Then buzzed the doc on Wednesday about the bloods, thank God nothing returned on the neurological issues, so MS is looking less and less likely.
I rested on Wed night as I was tired.
Tonight I did a loop around near my house, 40km and was good. Hip played up a little as on the return I tried to push it as much as I could. But delighted to get out.
Doc and physio have told me to continue with the training. But pain will dictate that, the minute I go to push it above comfort level I feel the legs starting to cramp, even at the start of a session! Mental, but I have to live with it for now.

yop

Friday night I was butchered so just did 30 mins of press-up and stretches that the physio outlined.

Saturday I was working for most of the day putting on a roof but did 90 mins on the turbo late on Sat night.
Sunday was in Dublin so only got stretches. Sitting on bus was a dog!

Last night was 40 mins of core.
Tonight was off as I didn't get home from work til 8.30.

For some reason I have signed up to the team 40k TT on Thurs night in Ballinrobe!!!! Don't ask me why I did it, 7 start in my team and 5 of us have to finish, I told them I would push it for 20k and then slide off so it will mean I will be doing 2 mins at a time and the boys 1 min. Thats ok though, just delighted to be able to get out... shud be interesting to see how the legs will hold out!!! Fitness will be rubbish but if it helps the lads get points then its worth it.

yop

Well I did the TT. Turned out that we had a headwind for the first 17km, so that just broke me. Clicked up at 35.9kmph avg for that section and it just blew me away, lost the wheel and couldn't get it back.
Ended up on my own for the rest, came home avg 34kmph which wasn't bad, started calf cramps at 29k so was a struggle the rest of the way.
Great to do it, no after affects today except for an awful lot of violent spasms, but they are gone now to reduced spasms.

SamBrugha

Man you are a bit of an inspiration!

yop

SamBrugha wrote: »

Man you are a bit of an inspiration!

Ah no, not an inspiration at all, but thanks for the comment. More a lunatic!

Had a wedding on Saturday, so was on the bike for 7am, got in 42k in 90 mins which was grand, spun the legs as they were still sore after Thurs.
A LOT of standing up on Saturday and now have a full on numbness on the outside of the right leg, from 1/2 way down the thigh to just below the knee, numb to the touch which is a worry.
Will buzz the doc and see what he says.

Must get on the bike for 30 mins tonight and get in some stretches. Last week was poor for core, need to get back at it.

yop

Appointment in Beaumont for 23rd Oct. Fingers crossed now that it will show some cause of the issues.

yop

Wednesday I did an hour on the turbo, was late as had to bath the kids and get them to bed. Was an ok session, did it from TrainerRoad 10 min warmup with three 10 min 95% FTP blocks with 30 second breaks in between. My cadence sensor is playing up on the bike so not recorded right distance.
Yesterday evening went out to do a quick session as it was late and running out of light.
5km warmup and then 25k as quick as I could go, roads weren't ideal and stuck behind a frickin tractor on a really narrow road, but averaged out at 31kmph on the 25k section which was ok for me based on the last few months of spins.
Phyiso sent me online training videos, a new thing she has. Have to get onto them now.

Oddly I seem to have developed weird shakes in both my arms, not all the time but it might last for a few mins at a time.
The spasms were quite bad in bed last night, so very tired and sore today.
47 days til the appointment.

yop

Went out Sunday for a spin, didn't intend to go and brought the young lad to mass, but weather was too nice to sit at home Went into the wind for 25k and then had a belter on the way home. Was a good 53k spin.
Mon and Tues were totally core, only 20 min sessions.
Wed @6.30am was the stretching/yoga class. New sessions so new people and wasn't as intense.
Went out then after work, managed just under 44k and a good 30kmph. Hip was roaring at me for the last 3 or 4 km.

yop

So 16 days til the appointment! Can't wait to see if I can get a cause of this.
Training hasn't been good, just lacking energy and interest, seem to be tired all the time and weight if flaking on now.
Been back to physio who said she couldn't see the point in continuing until I got reviewed as I wasn't sore.
Did a back to back over the weekend just to use up the georgous weather here, did 28k on Sat morning and 66k (slow) on Sunday morning. So it was mighty just to get out. Oddly no pain in the hip but every time I tried to stay over 33kmph for more than say 30 seconds I felt my calves cramping so had to ease off.

Haven't gone back to pilates/yoga/stretching class now in about 3 weeks, too much to get out of bed at 5.50am been so tired, might try it this week.
Physio told me to go onto a multi-mineral and a multi-vitamin and to be honest even after 1 week I feel a lot better and more positive.

Still a wannabe

yop

Tomorrow is D-Day. It will be interesting!

yop

Ok, so had the visit, Prof Bolger is a very nice person.

Talked through the conditions, checks the scans, read the MRI and physio and doc reports.
A number of things came out of it, a crash back in 2009 where I was hit side impact at 80mph looks like it has done a lot of damage to the spine, not really noticed before.
The cyst on the cord is in a place which is impacting 2 discs, he is going to get that out, probably not cancerous but he wants to check to be 100% sure.
The fasciculations are odd, they are occurring around the calve and thigh on the right hand side, he said that one nerve would cause say the thigh issue, but the fact that I have it in 2 areas is unusual. Also the 100% numbness on 2 sections of the right leg is odd. He is referring me to a guy who specializes in this area.
Have to have a CT scan, 2 of the disc are in very bad shape and one is dropping downwards, he said this could be highlighting a crack in the disc.
IF that is the case then it will require a fusion, he doesn't like doing it on someone young, but he is afraid that this disc will pop out totally and even the one above it could pop out also. He labelled it as major surgery, requiring screws/bolts!

The main Q I wanted answered was the MS or similar conditions and he said its looking totally mechanical.

So sín é. More appointments anyway and no MS which is great relief!

yop

Well another appointment due. Going to Bon Secours for a EMG/Nerve Conduction to Dr Moorhouse on Wednesday week so thats great.
Power has been steadily reducing in that leg, ONLY after walking though if that makes sense.

Training wise hasn't been great, I have started doing "Insanity" workouts, just to keep me sane and to try and fight the fat. Bike wise its been realitively quite. I went out Sunday week, did just over 50k but had to get off at 35km as the tightness in the hip had spread to the knee. Haven't been on it since.

pprendeville

Man you have some serious health issues by the sounds of it. I hope you get them sorted out. What kind of core work are you doing. I recommend Tom Danielson's book. It's called core advantage and it's written especially for cyclists. Deals a lot with posture correction which may be an issue for you giving your accident. Also what's your 95% FTP? Always cool to compare numbers. Anything at that level on a turbo is hard.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Man you have some serious health issues by the sounds of it. I hope you get them sorted out. What kind of core work are you doing. I recommend Tom Danielson's book. It's called core advantage and it's written especially for cyclists. Deals a lot with posture correction which may be an issue for you giving your accident. Also what's your 95% FTP? Always cool to compare numbers. Anything at that level on a turbo is hard.

Wouldn't call them serious to be honest, if I was dying with cancer or something then that would be serious, its an annoyance I need to sort out

I read the earlier post about "choral work" , at this rate all I might be able to do it sing at this rate

Core work, at the minute I am doing the insanity program or as much of it as I can, some exercises like "superman pose" are impossible and leave me in too much pain. The plank also is another of those which I find nigh impossible.
I have had physios and a PT do up programs to help but all have conceded that any core programs aren't going to cure this program.

I will though have a look at any books, but I know myself its outside of what I can do myself now and need them to sort out the issues first.

My 95% FTP is 196, it was higher last year but I just fall off badly.

Just bought that book online there for 14 dollars

Will keep me quite for a few nights.

pprendeville

Siri for those with a strong Wesht Limerick accent is due out soon so there should be no more speakos.

Is 196 your HR or power? 1st 60 pages of the book are mainly medical speak and I could only read 2 pages at a time before my brain switched off but it's interesting reading all the same.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Siri for those with a strong Wesht Limerick accent is due out soon so there should be no more speakos.

Is 196 your HR or power? 1st 60 pages of the book are mainly medical speak and I could only read 2 pages at a time before my brain switched off but it's interesting reading all the same.

LOL, ah I am well used to the Limerick accent, spent over 6 years there, my 2nd home.

Its my power. AVG heart rate over say whats now "my normal" Sunday spin is over the last 5 rides is 156bpm, maxing at 186. You'd be talking around 60-65km per spin. All done on my own as I cant push it too long on the power without cramping so I can't go out with the club group I should be in and the other lower groups would be a little too slow.

yop

Weekend was poor, minding the kids and was totally wiped out, so ZERO training.
Had to have a chat with myself on Sunday night as the weight is now 14st 6, probably heaviest I have been in 2 years.

Decided to really do a job on the food and have set a 1500cal max for each day for the next 2 weeks, I should be able to shift 4 or 5 lbs.
Of course thats the base, when I am exercise I will adjust according.
Gone is bread, cereals, sh!IT food, very very little pasta, no bread. Smaller portions and having 5 sittings per day.
Whats making it harder is that I am having to training during the week around 9pm as I can only get out when the kids go to bed and I can't manage to get out before 6am before I head to work.

Monday night was Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit - 41 mins long, mapmyrun has it at 900 cals or so, seems like a lot of cals for that workout though.
Tues night was Cardio Power & Resistance - 40 mins long, marked as 540 cals.
My glutes are killing me today and my calves feel like they will cramp at any minute.

Them workouts I find very tough as I am like an earthquake once the pressure goes on.
Won't do a weigh in until Saturday.
Tonight is Cardio Recovery, haven't done this before so we will see what its like.

Physio and doc have said that they can't see that the training I am doing is doing any more damage to keep it up, good for body and head.

yop

Decided to the Insanity Cardio Recovery, 33 minutes, suggesting 469 calories burnt. A lot of stretching and core, feel great after it have to say, really helped my ass and legs recover.

yop

Week hasn't been bad. Have been really watching all I eat and also I have done an Insanity workout each day except last Friday.
I am finding the sessions very good, always reach a stage in each workout where I am "broke" for 10 seconds and have to take a break.
They mix has been:

Mon - 35 min walk - 170 cals (roughly)
- Insanity Plyometric - 41 mins - 947 cals (seems high but thats the official reading)
Tues - 35 min walk - 170 cals (roughly)
- Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance - 40 mins - 569 cals
Wed - Insanity Cardio Recovery - 33 mins - 469 cals
Thurs - Insanity Pure Cardio - 39 mins - 693 cals
Saturday - Insanity Plyometric - 41 mins - 947 cals
Sunday - Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance - 40 mins - 569 cals

Scales reading 2lbs less, but I feel much much better, don't feel as bloated which is great. Measuresments are slightly better, not a lot.
But over 14st is still too heavy, will hope to get sub 14 before the xmas and then enjoy my xmas and go back at it again.

Back has been stiff and hips a little tight, but I notice that only in the mornings, after the workouts I feel great.

Trying to eat the right things after a 9pm workout is a balls, using recovery drink and then a cracker and either peanut butter or tuna to bring up the cals.
According to the myfitnesspal recording, and I am measuring everything with a scales, I only averaged 1,000 cals per day intake AFTER the exercise was taken into consideration, think thats wrong though.
The goal was 1300 before exercise, so I am running off 1300 less, need to correct that though in case I am only at that level, because that isnt the right way to do it.
I haven't been on the bike/turbo at all, just think that for now I will do these sessions to see if I can strip poundage and help the core. The bike will come in time.

With the trip to Dublin on Wednesday for these tests it will interferre now with the training a little, don't think my legs will be up to it after 6+ hrs of driving and those tests.
I might get in a big of the Insanity "abs work" on Wed morning.
So tonight and tomorrow its more insanity.

yop

Well tests done and outcome for those tests are good, totally ruled out nerve damage and any muscle diseases like MS and motor neuron. He said the tests didn't show up a thing which is causing the leg issues.
He stuck a few needles into the things and calves and shot a few currents down them, had to do some pressure tests on the legs and he was happy with those also. He did though send me for an Xray on my hips as he thinks there could be an alignment issue or some damage from the crash in 2009.
Dr Woodhouse and Prof Bolger both agree that the cyst has to come out and they think that the fact is pushing against the L5 so this could be the cause of my problems.
So they have suggested to get it out before xmas, I won't hold my breath on that!

Training has been ok, just feeling a bit tired. Insanity workouts on Tues, missed Wednesday due to the travelling, Thurs was Plyometric Cardio and today was Cardio resistance.
Diet was good, Wednesday I did have "cheat" to kinda celebrate the results, but for some reason I haven't shifted a pound this week.

Frustrating, but will keep going. Sub 14 before the xmas is still the goal!

pprendeville

Good to hear. Did you make up the names for your workouts yourself or are they Sufferfest workouts? They sound mad.

yop

pprendeville wrote: »

Good to hear. Did you make up the names for your workouts yourself or are they Sufferfest workouts? They sound mad.

lol no, they are the Insanity workouts.

Ryder

have been following your log - great news about the tests. Is insanity worse or better than the turbo in terms of boredom? Is it the kind of thing that you can keep doing or do you get to the end and thats it for the season?