Encouraging Shift

Today's photo is a male Reed Bunting with a mouthful of seed from the reeds. I had a magical morning's birding on Thursday and got some photographs I was very happy with, this being one, I guess, lol.

It's been an encouraging week. I feel like something has shifted for the better and I'm learning how to cope with being more active. I've been staying out birding for longer (pushing it from 1 hr to 2 and to 3 hrs). It seems to be taking a special kind of mindset. I'm having to concentrate pretty hard on monitoring what's happening in my body (i.e. controlling breathing, heart-rate, panic etc) and regulating my stress levels but I'm hoping that in time, and with practice, this will become an unconscious process (as it should be). I guess that the extreme stress I experienced as a child and young adult has kinda blown all the circuits for regulation and I'm having to consciously reinstate them.

Anyway, I've had an active week. After pottery on Wednesday afternoon, I went to table tennis in the evening (staying for just the 1 hr cos I didn't want to have to miss Friday's gym session). I was careful to keep stretching out my right upper/inner thigh and that seemed to help prevent the usual pain afterwards. Thursday, I had a wonderful morning's birding. The light was perfect and I saw all manner of pretty birds, achieving photographs I've been after for ages.

Friday, I was very happy to discover I was ok to head to the gym. The session went well and I hadn't lost any significant strength during the 3.5 weeks that I'd not been. Of course, during those 3 weeks I had been careful to keep my muscles active and I think that helped. Again, I was careful to stretch out the right inner thigh to prevent the usual post-workout pain for which I normally take painkillers. Amazingly it worked. I went to bed last night and, for the first time, ever, I think, I didn't have to take paracetmol in order to sleep with the pain.

The main niggle this week has been the inside, rear of my knees. All the walking from the birding appears to be causing soreness through the tendons there, making it painful to walk. Both knees are affected. I've been icing them all week and will take it easy today to give them a chance to heal up. Thankfully, it didn't effect the gym work yesterday. I guess it's more of a repetitive injury, as I say, from all the walking.

In terms of recovering from being active, I think the time it takes is decreasing. I was pretty tired/sleepy yesterday afternoon, after the gym, but today, I don't feel nearly as drained/worn out/'rough' as I have in the past after a gym day. I really do hope that this is another solid step in the right direction. It's amazing how I can keep doing the same thing week after week, month after month and nothing seems to change. Then, suddenly, I can sense the shift and I realise that all the hard work was worth it and, although I didn't realise it, things were changing.

Edit: I should note that I'm consistently waking up very early (sometimes 4am) and it's difficult to get any more sleep past 6am. I think it's related to the very light mornings (and happened last year). I seem to be coping ok with it though, which is good.

Checking In Again

Two shots of a Blackcap in the local woods. There are lots about now, ready for breeding, and this little chap landed nicely in the sunlit branches, giving front and rear views.

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I've missed the gym twice now! I was just too tired yesterday after another packed week. Feeling kinda worn out today too so this might be a brief note rather than a detailed update. We'll see...

Essentially, the LHS lower back tightness/ache seems to be improving. I'm managing more walking and sitting without it being triggered so easily. I even had to run through town at one point last week and that didn't bother it at all. The right front of hip/upper thigh problem is a different matter. The running really aggravated it to the point where it was almost impossible to continue walking, it was so painful. I guess there's a shortened tendon in there somewhere which I need to lengthen and strengthen so that it doesn't catch or rub.

I was back at table tennis on Wednesday (they've changed the night, over the summer months, from Tues to Weds). I thoroughly enjoyed it, playing for a good 90+ minutes. Didn't have any pain or problems with my right shoulder, neck or arm. But, it did aggravated the right upper thigh/front of hip problem. My inner thighs have been stiff ever since as well (in a good way!).

I might do a short upper body work out at home this afternoon just to keep those muscles active. I plan to be back in the gym properly next Friday.

I've been getting out birding for longer stretches and hoping that increasing that time will also help build stamina. I think it helps too to not be sitting around all day! Having said that, I do seem to need a day off (or more, sometimes) in between being active, which is frustrating. I can't just have a good sleep and recover like a 'normal' person.

Will leave it there....

Checking In

The front and rear view of a Common Whitethroat. A pretty little warbler that arrives in the UK in Spring ready for breeding. The area where I took this is alive with these guys. The male performs a 'song flight' where he launches up into the air from his singing perch, flutters and sings and then comes back down to land. It really does look like a dance.

Ok, so I've neglected this blog for a few weeks and thought I'd check in. Essentially, I've just been carrying on with the gym work. Nothing much to report. I guess I've been testing out my stamina a bit, going for a few long walks (90 mins) and seeing how everything copes. The Left glute/hip and LHS lower back still get aggravated and ache/hurt, which is annoying. I'm missing the gym next week due to the fact that I'm going away for the weekend and need to preserve my resources.

The good weather is helping me to get out more and be more active (mostly bird watching). I'm hoping that it'll be one of those things where I suddenly realise that I've progressed without knowing it. We'll see....