they tried to make me go to rehab and I said...actually i'm just gonna do this video, thanks

In my last post I told you I'm interested in trying barre3 as a supplement to yoga. Well, I know I'm not healed enough for a class, AND everything on their site costs money. Eff that, I got enough billz. So I took it to YouTube and found THIS GEM.


Dudes, I'm telling you. There is no part of my legs/butt/low back that wasn't sore the next day. It raised my heart rate, it made me break a sweat. At 6 months post-op, it's a great thing to introduce into your workout/rehab/whatever it is you're doing. Especially for post-ankle breaks, the attention this workout pays to the feet and ankles and legs is so fantastic. And honestly, even if you're not recovering from ankle surgery, you'll probably like this too. Combined with yoga...well...I'm psyched.

6 months and a little bit...

Well, it's been about 6 months since my ankle surgery. 25 weeks and 3 days to be exact. When I was still bed-ridden and scouring the blogs and forums, I remember many folks said that 6 months post-op is when they began to feel normal. And I think that's key here - BEGAN.

I still don't feel anywhere close to normal, but I don't feel TERRIBLE. Sure, I can walk here, walk there, I can go out to dinner, the theatre, sporting events, whatever. But I'm keenly aware of my ankle every second of every day. Every second. Of every day. When I walk down steps, when I'm at my computer, when I get up to pee in the middle of the night, in meetings, in parking lots, in the shower, when I do yoga, when I don't do yoga, when I think about yoga, when I make dinner, when I make out with J and have to get on my tippy-toes, when I'm grocery shopping and that big cumbersome cart makes better sharp turns than I do...

I'm telling you. ALL. THE FUCKING. TIME.

As this cold weather rolls in, I'm also very aware of how cold my hardware gets. Cold hardware ankle isn't like having cold muscles - it doesn't just warm up by doing stuff anymore...I actually have to heat it up. I've been using a heating pad or hot water bottle, but I'm looking for some type of electric bootie that will do the trick (I don't have a microwave so I'm kind of limited). Saunas are also in my future.

My achilles is sore...pretty much all day every day. Stretching it basically does nothing. My calf is tight from my achilles being tight, and my shin is wound up too. Oh yeah, and my toes...ugh. I'm still seeing my massage therapist Ashley every other week and she helps me a lot. (By the way if you live in or around Portland, OR, you gotta check this chick out.). I've also - oddly - been integrating a lot of ballet moves into my workouts this past week, which makes me think maybe I should try barre3. Believe it or not, I actually used to be a ballerina, so the movements feel kind of natural. Would I be able to keep up in a class? Mostly likely not. Hm, DVD?

This isn't me complaining - but telling you what "beginning to feel normal" at 6 months post-op feels like for me. In my experience, the 6 month mark is more about being able to do normal things. But that isn't enough for me. I want to do awesome things, and feel awesome and look awesome. I still can't wear most of my shoes - all of my heeled/platform shoes are looking at me like C'MON BITCH HURRY UP. I'm trying guys, I'm trying. 

So...that's where I'm at now guys. No pictures or videos for this one - 6 months doesn't deserve it.

calf exercises for that puny excuse for a leg

I promise, you definitely won't care to watch this video unless you've had ankle surgery. Or you just really like watching me babble and do things. It's all about re-building your ankle and calf after a calf-atrophy. It's a slow slow process but it's gotta be done. Hopefully you're not as hard on your calf as I am on mine...a weak ugly calf needs love too :)