To run or not to run?

I finally got in to see De Omotola yesterday.  He is the Orthopedic Surgeon that I wish I had seen prior to my knee surgery.  But his calendar was packed and I was a new patient (technically.  I did see him several years ago for something else but it's been too long.) 

My knee is better.  I ran 2 1/2 miles this past Saurday and 2 1/2 Monday evening.  There was some pain during the run and minimal swelling after the runs.  SOOOOO much better than 6 weeks ago!!!  But swelling is swelling and it shouldn't be happening at this stage, 4 1/2 months post op.

Dr Omotola is honest.  And upfront.  And brutal, to be honest.  But those are qualities that I value highly so I will take his advice, weigh it, add in my need for a competitive but solo sport and decide if and how much I will run in the future.  But he is absolutely right.  I am 44 so no spring chicken - although I still feel young, I know that I am aging.  I am overweight, but working on it.  (Always working on it!! I will never be one of those skinny little twigs - it's just not in my genes!)  But running at my current weight is hard on all my joints.  Add in the fact that one of my meniscus has been removed so there is no shock absorber left.  And the fact that I have a bone spur in each knee and the beginnings of arthritis (both of these were identified yesterday.)  NOOOOO!!!!  I am NOT OLD ENOUGH to have arthritis!  I don't seem to notice the arthritis that is starting to set in.  But if I keep running, it will get worse.  If I keep running at this weight, it will get worse faster.  Dr Omotola recommends that I "find a new love".  Swim, bike, elliptical.  Blah, blah, blah. 

If I am stuck working out in a gym, I will stop working out.  That's just inevitable.  I am not now nor will I ever be a gym rat.  I hate working out on a machine, watching myself in a mirror, in a row of people that look like hamsters on a wheel.  Smelling other peoples sweat - breathing in the musty, nasty smell that is a compilation of years of people taking turns in the hamster wheel.  I want to be outside in the sunshine, fresh air, looking around, seeing different scenery on each run!

Of course, the doctor did say that I can run as much as I want - because that is job security for him!  Ouch!  But he recommends that I only run for races and take on the shorter distances.  And that I lose weight.  ALOT of weight.  And so the journey begins again!  Weight Watchers works but the new program is a lot harder than the old pointsplus system.  They used to say that you could eat whatever you want as long as you have points for it and have it in moderation.  But under the new system, anything with sugar or carbs is SO HIGH in points, it's prohibitive.  But it's healthy and will help in more ways than just weight loss.

So the bottom line is that if I want to run, I HAVE to lose the weight.  OK, here goes nothin'!!