Always have a goal

3 weeks post surgery and everything seems to be on course. I'm able get back to the gym, up to 23 minutes on the bike, plus my actual PT starts next week. Frustrating as it is, the challenge motivates me because I have another goal to reach. The picture of the Tommy's burger may be a bit contradicting but it was my last bad meal. No cardio means less calories being burned.

                     

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.

The title is a quote taken from Albert Einstein. It's something that struck me and found it so fitting to what I'm going through.

On February 27th I played my normal Monday league game and during the scond half I experienced an odd pain on my right knee. I've always had soreness on my knees but never quite like this so I was a bit worried. I tried shaking it off and continued to finish the game, I even played an extra hour because the team that played after us needed a player to fill in. That was probably a bad idea. A week later, the pain was still evident so I decided to make an appointment with my doctor. X-rays were taken and it didn't show anything but she speculates that it might be a meniscus tear. Bad news right? Well, It was suggested that I take some time off and see if the pain subsides. Perfect timing I guess, since I was headed to Boston for my annual business trip. No physical activity for about a week, nothing but eating and drinking. Here are a few pictures to break it up a bit.

 

Fast forward to two weeks...I must say that my knee feels a lot better but It's definitely not at a 100%. An MRI was finally requested and results show I have some cartilage damage that which will require surgery. What makes it worst,that it's not your normal scope clean up but microfracture surgery. Ouch! Check out this video to get an idea on what was done (not the actual video of my procedure) The surgery was done last Friday 05/18/12

                                
  So basically what's going to happen here is that a lot of my future entries will be related to my recovery. I'll still post my normal every day stuff but this way it will keep me motivated to post more often. Wish me luck!

Is your jar full?

A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front
of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and
empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then
asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas
between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was
full. They agreed it was.

The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes."

The Professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the Professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your
health, your friends, your favorite passions - things that if everything
else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,
your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first", he continued, "there is no room
for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all
your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the
things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are
critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There
will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of
the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand."

When he had finished, there was a profound silence. Then one of the
students raised her hand and with a puzzled expression, inquired what the
beer represented.

The Professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no
matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of
beers."

Bigger and better things

The holidays were great and all but all the consumption of what is not good for you has to end. I'll be back on my grid this coming Monday and hopefully stick to my 8 week strict regiment. I'm also putting a few habits aside for three months. Let's see how I do...