A LITTLE  TOO ENTHUSIASTIC TO WORKOUT

I was all stoked to start working out like a mad woman, when the scale made me cry. I even got my playlists ready, and was rocking a bodacious workout in the pool. What I didn’t account for was that I was doing too much too soon!

My not so little friend, Mr. Boot!

Meet my friend the boot. It weighs about a billion pounds and really doesn’t go with my favorite summer outfit, let alone the “gorgeous” tan line I am going to have by the end of the summer. Mr. Boot keeps me foot still and will be a part of my wardrobe thanks to my other friend Achilles Tendonitis.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Remember when I was telling you how I was rocking that elliptical? Well, I didn’t fess up that I wasn’t stretching before or after my workouts. (I am a busy mom, I had other thing to do)

About six weeks ago, I went to bed after a great workout not feeling a thing. The next morning was a completely different story. My foot was tight, it was swollen in the back and it hurt to push off with it.

Being the tough chick I am, I figured it would work itself out. To get it to settle down I iced it, skipped the gym, took some anti-inflammatories, but alas nothing seemed to make Mr. Tendonitis to go away!

ENTER MR. BOOT

Yesterday, I sucked it up and went to the orthapedist thinking he was going to tell me to do more of the same. Nope! He told me I had two choices: a cast with my foot pointed to the ground for 6 weeks or try a boot for 4 weeks first. Um, I think I will take the boot for $600 Alex.

So, here I sit writing this blog post with my foot in something that looks like it came straight out of Demolition Man, thinking how dumb I was not to stretch!

Now, I hope that I can pass on a few tips to you so you can avoid a visit from Mr. Tendonitis. He really cramps your workout style, and can really slow you down.

Crunchy’s Top 5 Ways to Avoid Mr. Tendonitis (and other workout injuries)

• Always Warm up for 5 Minutes
•  After you warm up, take 5 minutes to stretch (especially your achilles)
  Check out these great calf stretches from Spark People
  
• Stretch after each and every workout!
• Wear shoes that allow your heel to be slightly higher, and reduces the rubbing on the tendon. (Buy heel lifts to put in your shoes if necessary)

Bottom line, if you are new to working out again take it SLOOOOWWWW and stretch, stretch, stretch!!! That 15 minutes of stretching is worth keeping Mr. Boot away!

Have you ever had an injury due to working out? What did you do “wrong” and what wisdom would you share to help others?