Exercise and Getting Fit » Background Information

Joust-The Beginning

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:00:22 +0000

Joust class schedule

I found there was a similar type exercise facility in the area and stopped by on my lunch hour to observe a session and meet with the co-owner/instructor, Jen. Jen has a wonderfully bright smile, twinkling eyes and a cheery disposition, as I soon found out the smile, eyes and disposition did not transfer to her workouts, she is ruthless. She gave me the low down and mentioned that the instructors were all female and would that present a problem-growing up with five sisters I was used to being ordered around by “girls”, so I assured her I was housebroken and well-trained and had no problem with "girl" instructors. I liked the facility immediately, it was smaller, more intimate, has a wonderful positive energy and just feels homey--the place I needed to be. I established August 3^rd, 2009 as my start date.

The Joust experience

Joust Strength and Fitness is the gym I have been working out at since August 3^rd, 2009. They are a member of the CrossFit family and employ the CrossFit training methods. The staff is very knowledgeable and are sticklers for fundamentals which works out fine for me. I have seen too many injuries due to improper form, myself included.

After explaining my knee situation to the various instructors they have been very accommodating with providing modifications and alternatives to exercises I can not or am limited in performing. Everything is in place, now the onus is all on me-I have to show up and do it. After working all day problem solving and dealing with corporate minutiae it is so nice to just show up, not have to think and bust your ass.

Finally, the numbers when I started at Joust:

Age-45

Height-6'2"

Weight-315

Tags:crossfit training,exercise facility,exercises,joust,strength and fitness,workouts

Even More Background

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:05:19 +0000

In the spring of 2007 I participated in a 13 week medically supervised weight loss program in which I lost 48 lbs., going from a personal high of 328 to 280. I felt very good and noticed less stress on my knees—I’ve read that for every pound lost it is equivalent to four pounds less stress on your joints, according to those figures there was 192 lbs. less stress on my knees. After completing the 13 week program the weight promptly started climbing upwards and I put on 35 lbs to 315.

Of all the pre-packaged “diet” food and shakes these were by far the best I have tasted however, one limiting factor was the lack of selection in the entrees and after 13 weeks of eating the same thing my taste buds wanted diversity. Who am I to disagree with my taste buds, so I made sure they were happy.

On a monthly basis I would still see one of the nurse’s associated with the program and was able to consistently maintain my weight between 312-318 for the next year.

When I went through boot camp in the early 80’s I loved it so late in 2007 I decided to get back to basics and started searching for boot camp type gyms. Even though during this period I was going to the local community center and doing a lot of cardiovascular type stuff, I needed and wanted more.

The facility I joined offered a 10 session introductory period where I worked one on one with a trainer and they taught me the fundamentals of the exercises they used in the classes. I found these sessions invaluable as fundamental, sound mechanics were stressed in weight lifting maneuvers providing a strong base to build upon.

Not being up to the level of classes, I tried several and as common with me I tried to do too much too soon and ended up hurting myself, so I would come in early and workout by myself. This lacked an important element for me-the camaraderie of experiencing a workout with peers.

Tags:boot camp,exercises,weight loss program

More Background

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:28:35 +0000

In 1999 I met with my orthopedic surgeon, the first time since my knee surgery 15 years earlier. He took x-rays of both knees and stated that my left knee looked normal and his following words still ring in my ears: "this is the worst looking knee of any 35 year old I’ve ever seen.” There was also a noticeable difference in the size of my calves, I had no idea how much I favored my right leg but this was quite evident when he pointed out my atrophied right calf. This fact, would come into play later in my life.

The Dr. laid out the course of treatment, NSAIDS, injections and eventually total knee replacement (TKR). At 35, surgery did not seem like a viable option since all my research indicated that knee replacements would only last between 10-20 years, risk factors rise when replacing a replacement and I was overweight—6’2” and between 260-270 pounds. Also, I wanted to wait in hopes that technological advances would take place and offer better solutions. I read about cloning or growing cartilage in the lab and being the eternal optimist I hoped that I would be a candidate. From what I gathered aside from the astronomical cost these procedures would only work with small tears in the cartilage and my knee had decayed way past that point, the medial (inside) part of my knee was just about bone on bone. Needless to say I was bummed out.

Several days after the appointment he did call me and said he was recently at a conference and heard of an Unloader brace and I was a prime candidate for this type of brace. The prescription was written and went to the orthotist for the measuring and fitting. I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new brace. Once I learned how to properly wear the brace it provided me with a sense of security, it wasn’t too bulky, mostly comfortable and allowed me to walk the longer distances I had refrained from doing. Wearing the brace always reminded me of the old Jane Russell bra commercials—lifts and divides giving me the support I need and deserve.

The Unloader has a strap that crosses diagonally over the front of the knee and as you pull it tight it "pushes" the knee inward from the lateral (outside) side of the knee creating a gap. This "gap" is where the cartilage is in a healthy knee. In addition to the Unloader strap there are three additional straps, 1 above the knee and 2 below keeping the brace in place. The Unloader has served me well for the past 10 years and if you suffer from osteoarthritis I would definitely consider an unloading type of brace.

Tags:knee surgery

A Little Background

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:16:40 +0000

After suffering a knee injury and subsequent surgery in 1984 to remove bone chips and damaged cartilage, at the time this seems to have been the surgery du jour, the doctor told me to avoid sports and activities involving quick, lateral movements i.e. basketball and racquet sports, and pounding type sports like running and skiing. This was not a big deal since I rarely participated in these activities, swimming and biking have always been the sports I enjoyed, it did not really affect me at the time. I did find that I was limited in standing for extended periods of time and walking long distances without pain.

The subsequent years were uneventful in regard to my knees and as is common after having this surgery osteoarthritis set in and I gained a “few” pounds further exacerbating the wear and tear on my knees. Favoring my right knee which had the surgery; developed a slight limp as was evidenced; by my calves-the right calf was atrophied and noticeably smaller than the left.

Tags:knee injury,knees,osteoarthritis

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Joust-The Beginning

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