Monday, March 29, 2010

Knee Troubles

Happy Monday! 

I hope it was happy for you. 

Today, started off a little rocky, but the day got progressively better and better. 

So, the knee still isn't good.  It's actually getting worse I think.  I haven't been running and have been trying to keep up with the elevating and icing, but it's still not healed.  It actually feels inflamed and puffy and now it's starting to hurt when I walk on it.  Ugh, I must have really put a strain on it with that last race.  

I've been sticking with cross training and lifting but I'm really getting frustrated because I am so anxious to run again.  Does anyone have any advice on knee injuries?  The pain is coming mainly on the left side of my left knee.  And as I said, it feels inflamed and immediately hurts when I run or jump on it.  Sometimes, even when I walk.  Has anyone had a similar issue? Any advice or help would be so much appreciated! 

Anyways, I started my morning with a good workout despite not being able to run.  I did 30 min intervals on my ET and then Level 2 of the Jillian Michael's Shred.  (Now I'm thinking that all that jumping is the cause of my knee pain today) Note to self: Skip the jumps tomorrow! 

Breakfast was all ready for me and I was so ready for it….

I heated up a portion of my Irish Steel Cut Oats by adding some Almond Milk.  The oats came out great.  This method of cooking them ahead of time and reheating definitely works! 



I added 1/2 banana, TJ's Almond Butter, Crofters Jam, and some TJ's Trek Mix Granola.



Along with a few juicy strawberries. 

Work was good today.  I am doing interviews all week for our Education Scholarship.  It's quite fun to actually be the interviewer as these college students are on the hot seat.  Just a few years ago it was me who was applying for these things and I was in their seat and now I am the one who picks the recipients.  I love my job! 

I did break for lunch no later than noon because I was particularly starving today. 

Just as promised, I heated the last slice of my leftover pizza as well as a cup of my leftover soup from last night.  Along with more veggies and hummus and some melon.  Told you I was hungry! 


As good as this all was, I finished it all and didn't even feel stuffed.  Man, I just can't get over how out of whack my appetite is these days.  No worries, I just roll with it. 

After work, I went to the gym and did some upper body work.  Since my knee was still hurting, I figured I could take advantage of the part of my body that didn't hurt….my arms.  It was a decent 40 min workout and I felt like it sufficed. 

I was very excited to come home and make dinner after this because I had another new Trader Joe's product to try.


Even though I am not really a big pasta fan, if you stuff it with a veggie I love, chances are I will enjoy it. 

I cooked the ravioli and made a sauce using artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, and olive oil.  I also added a touch of cream (Laughing Cow) and paired this all with steamed broccoli. A touch of goat cheese for finishing touches. 


I also made a quick bruchetta and garlic bread.


The ravioli was awesome!!!  I loved the full bites of artichokes stuffed in each soft pillow of pasta. And the sauce I made to go with it went perfect! 


But what I even loved more was my knew Ikea Bowls that I served this in.  You all know how I feel about eating out of bowls.  These make the ideal placement for pasta or a big salad! 




And that about sums it all up for today. Just planning on relaxing and enjoying the rest of the night. 

PS- Be sure to check out Anne P.'s new store for her line of T-Shirts!  They are super cute!  I am having such a hard time deciding on which one to get. :) 

Enjoy your evening everyone! 

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10 comments:

  1. Hey girl! I'd say it might be your IT band, but that usually doesn't involve swelling (I think). I have been wanting to try that TJs pasta- it looks so good! I love how you cooked it too. Hope the knee feels better fast

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  2. The thing I miss the most is Ravioli. I wish someone would make and distribute fresh GF/DF ravioli... sigh...
    I hope your knee feels better!

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  3. Ugh, I'm so sorry to hear about your knee! I dislocated my patella a few years ago, so I'm no stranger to knee pain. I'd go the safe route and get it checked out by a doctor ASAP, in case it's something serious and morphs into something worse!! Not to scare you, but better safe than sorry. In the meantime, take plenty of Aleve for pain- my dad is an orthopedic surgeon and swears by it!!

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  4. Mine was a good Monday, thanks for asking:)

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  5. I don't really know much abt knees...but I do think perhaps you should take a rest, Lauren. Hopefully it'll recover soon...if not, do see a doctor about it.

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  6. I am actually recovering from similar knee pain on my right knee. It's funny you mention the 30 Day Shred because my pain developed a month after I started doing it. I'm also a runner, but my dr thinks it was from too much jumping around. This weekend will be 8 weeks of no running, just cross training, and it's starting to feel like I may be able to run again soon. I'm so ready to run again, but my leg definitely needed the break!

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  7. i am so sorry about the knee troubles! hopefully you get some good advice from the bloggies. the ravioli looks and sounds incredible. i hope your tuesday is going well!! xoxo

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  8. Thanks for the mention! :) Did you order a shirt yet?? I want all of them, haha. I love how I'm going broke on my own shirts!!

    See you soon!

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  9. i'm glad that tj's makes a good ravioli. i've never bought their brand.

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  10. Hi Lauren! I am a big fan of your blog!! Sorry to hear about your knee. I can't believe you have to deal with that on top of everything else. I have never commented before (on any blog!) but I wanted to write since I thought I had some information that could help.

    I agree with oneof the commenters above - it sounds like an iliotibial (IT) band problem, given that it is on the outside of your knee. I'm a runner and I had problems with my IT band on and off for years until I started using a foam roller. You can get them pretty cheaply - I bought mine for $10.

    Here is some more info about IT band problems:
    http://wiki.runnersworld.com/index.php/Iliotibial_Band_Syndrome

    And foam rolling:
    http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/ss/FoamRoller_5.htm

    Hope you get well soon!

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