Update: almost bought some crisps this morning then remembered the nascent streak. Glad I'm being held (somewhat) accountable by this thread again.

06/09:

Kcal: 1897
Protein: 102g

Virus I had is 99% out, shoulder still hurts. Might go to the doctor next week if it's not better, don't think they'll say much other than rest up. Foam roller tonight hopefully helps.

Days without crisps: 3.

Don't have Kcal count for today (will post tomorrow) but comfortably over 3k. Want to say it's post-vomit refuelling but really need to start eating a large low calorie salad for lunch every day.

Days without crisps: 7.

New gym that opened near me is now 24/7. Might join tomorrow, weather is still nice but having the membership will make me work out more & I want to do some light weight work while I rehab my shoulder (it feels much better).

Noone at the gym let me in to sign up. Did some bicep curls, lateral raises and rows at home. Probably tennising with someone new tomorrow.

Days without crisps: eight.

Days without crisps: 11

Back at tennis this a.m. Match arranged with a new guy on Tuesday who was turning up at 18:00, then 18:15 because of traffic, then 18:30 because of traffic, then stops replying to my texts & doesn't turn up. ****. Says his phone died & he got there at 18:55. Whatever.

Tennis this a.m ... wish I'd recorded it. Forehand felt 'off' even though I'd looked at video of previous play & knew a bunch of improvements ... I'm sure I was doing some really bad stuff but not sure what! It was really hot & my fitness was noticeably worse than a couple of weeks ago - the only exercise I've done in the interim is walking. The Professor isn't available next week so I'll try to find some other people to play while the weather is still good. Hopefully can get some tennis in over the winter too (was injured last year), last year I finally started winning multiple games in each set v. The Professor then took six months off and went back to getting bagelled despite much improved fitness!

Diet is better (less trash) but I really need to log, 'guessing' calories is not optimal.

Gym yesterday, dumbbell bench press 20, 22, 22 KG, final set was 15 reps, also some 20 KG farmer's walks & 60, 55 * 12 squat. First time squatting in a while & my upper legs are feeling it! It's my favourite exercise, 60 * 12 was a little rough (used to do 85 * 12 np), will ease my way back.

Had some crisps on Thursday. Well, technically they weren't crisps but they were close enough to count.

Going to hit the Concept 2 once my legs are steadier. Used to own one ... curious what my 1k time is. Happy with anything 4:15 or below, disappointed with anything above 4:20.

Thighs are still insanely tight, stairs are painful, can't even air squat. This happens every time I squat after a long break - does anyone else have this? After three times squatting I get no ill effect the next day.

Just did 7 minutes spinning, then 15 minutes interval on seated bike (spinning too tough on thighs). Also bench press, 12 * 40KG, 50KG, 10 * 55 KG. Had 12 * 55KG but no spotter so played it safe. Really glad to be back gymming, regret cancelling membership for five months.

I was ridiculously sore after squatting the first time. Haven't taken a long break yet though

Got a headache on the way to the gym. Was hungry, so I bought a banana and waited things out at the gym for about 45 minutes with no improvement. Headed home picking up food along the way, 5 metres from my front door I feel over and twisted my ankle pretty bad. Nothing is broken & I was able to ice it immediately but it's very painful & I expect it to get worse. Was planning to head back to the gym after food and rest but that's out for now. Tennis match scheduled for Friday now looks doubtful. Boo.

No matter how light you think you should take it after a prolonged skwat break you should go lighter, ime.

30 minutes seated bike yesterday, Bicep Curls 10KG * 15, 15, 12, Bench Press 40KG, 50KG, 55KG, 55KG * 12. Ankle/leg is getting better, tennis scheduled for Tuesday which I think will work out just about perfect. Want to get some more exercise in today but somewhat limited. Thighs are loose now so I want to squat but until my peroneus muscles full recovered (really more of a problem than my ankle) that doesn't seem wise.

Will start logging every calorie against from tomorrow. England v. Scotland in 6 weeks & I won't get into any of my England shirts unless I get going.

26/09 - Bench Press, Bicep Curls
27/09 - 30 minutes non-recumbent bike interval training ("7.77 miles"), lateral raises.

Ate well both days. Had to cancel tennis today because ankle is still swollen. Feels great now but I popped a diclofenac a few hours ago...

so will you post them?

Yeah, I didn't log those day, am doing so today.

28/09

Kcal: 2562
Protein: 131g

3 sets of bench press, 1* 72s plank, 12 min bike, 12 min ellipictal, 3 sets of bicep curls.

Calorie count was high but on good side I'm back logging, working out regularly & haven't had crisps in two weeks (also cut out other high kcal stuff like chocolate, nuts).

Ankle still hurts, neck too. Doctor's appointment tomorrow, told her I'd be 90KG next time ... that didn't happen.

Will see what I do re. exercise today. Feel like taking it easy. Miss tennis

Doctor says

i) I shouldn't even bike until my ankle is better which she estimates will be two weeks. Anti-inflammatories.
ii) I had a neck spasm. Should use an anti-inflammatory gel.

i) is frustrating because my old gym had an arm bike machine and my new gym does not. I really want something that can make me sweat for half an hour. Any suggestions? I was thinking of doing some sort of circuit training but there's a limited amount I can do. Bicep curls, lateral raises, triceps ... maybe upright rows (bent over rows strain my neck), hammer curls ... weighted planks I think would be OK but Farmer's Walk not (doctor said I can walk np but with weights?). I can also do isolation machine exercises on my left leg but is that sensible without doing it on my right leg either?

Swimming?

And lol at the general level of advice you get on musculoskeletal issues from doctors. Ankle's hurting? Doesn't matter what you've actually done and how you're going to get it back to full functional fitness, just take anti-inflammatories. You had a neck spasm? Who gives a **** how it happened and what you can do to prevent it from happening again, use anti-inflammatories.

This isn't remotely accurate nor are you talking to the proper professional. The idea that someone should be able to treat all illness/dysfunction because they have the title Doctor is as idiotic as your post. Furthermore, the idea that rest/NSAID isn't a good frontline treatment is even more ****ing absurd.

Sigghhhhhhh I shouldn't even rise to this.....

I don't know what this bit means. I'm not talking to anybody. Do you mean PG isn't talking to the proper professional? If so, that's the case I'm trying to make.

I never said they should. However if a medical professional is giving advice/treatment, they should be fully trained to treat that illness/dysfunction. If they don't have the knowledge to treat, they should be referring to someone who has. There's nothing wrong with giving basic, general advice (such as rest/anti-inflammatories) as long as the patient is made aware that it is only basic guidance that has been issued without thorough assessment and examination.


I didn't say, or suggest this.

Sigh.

Other than massive equivocation (Reread what you wrote.) that post isn't much better. A doctor shouldn't add a ****ing disclaimer to their treatment, nor do they need to be able to FULLY TREAT whatever sickness someone has. No one would get ****ing treatment in that case. You don't understand the most basic ****ing concepts of modern medicine, nor why they exist (and make a ****ton of sense to do so).

Everything you have written has either been absurd hyperbole. Or when drilling down to ideas you think are viable, are just simplistic and woefully naive. Your doctor is (your GP) far more educated and prepared to provide medical advice on muscoskeletal issues than any sort of bull**** pseudo-doctor who took a few weekend seminars. The idea that this isn't the case, and their advice is "lol" is dangerous and ****ing stupid.

I'm able to lead an almost fully functional physical life & in fact it would be fully functional if I was willing to take a little pain/push back recovery. Seeing a specialist at this point seems silly. If my ankle isn't better in two weeks I'll go to the GP again & expect to get referred for scans/physio/specialist. Is this weird? Do you guys go for MRIs every time you have a muscle strain?

That sounds like exactly what you should do.

I think his view of "lol doctors" is dangerous and stupid. Many people like to advocate various forms of ineffective bull****. Some people advocate outright dangerous bull****.

Most doctors who aren't attempting to scam the **** out of you will get an x-ray done btw. lol private doctors.

I wasn't advocating scans, or any kinds of ineffective/dangerous bull****. In this case I was talking about maybe a basic, movement based rehab routine and other basic measures for the ankle to facilitate faster healing, and a basic assessment of the neck spasm to determine the cause and rule out any more serious or sinister issues. In general I was talking about the overall lack of knowledge in GPs of musculoskeletal pain/sports injury. I was going to write a post justifying my opinion on that because I think it's an interesting subject and could make for some good discussion, but you're such an insufferable douchebag that I'm not going to darken my day by engaging with you any more.

There's a guy at my local practice who specialises in his muscoskeletal stuff (he's a G.P but did like the equivalent of a Masters degree in sports injuries), could have requested to see him but i) made appointment on short notice ii) He diagnosed last year's groin strain as a flare up of my herniated disc so...

GPs are GPs. I'm sure she wouldn't claim to be an expert in ankle strains. Was surprised to get advice not to do bike (my general philosophy is do anything unless it hurts too much) but I'll stick to for a week & if it's not better I'll make other plans. What do you guys think about elliptical machines? Didn't ask her about that. Am keen for a prolonged sweat. New gym doesn't have a pool or arm bike so it's either elliptical or ski erg which I've never done. Video suggests perfect form includes ankle flexion but I think I could easily extemporise something flat footed?



Important point: I've gone over on my ankle once before. Playing basketball in 2013 I took a jump shot and came down on a friend's foot. Turned my ankle bad. Iced it. A few hours later it was swollen really really bad & I couldn't put any weight on it. Was improved enough by the next month to cancel doctor's appointment. It took a while to fully improve (can't remember exactly how long, a couple of weeks?) but immediately after that I got a herniated disc which after a few months of pain required surgery. Why did I get the herniated disc? Noone knows but I was walking with a different gait in the ~two week convalescence period and that might be something to do with it. So I want to make sure the same thing doesn't happen this time. Any suggestions for some two to three times daily exercises/stretches to make sure I don't mess up my back again? Thanks.

^^ Sounds like questions for your GP