Jocelyn Martin's Blog

My physical therapist told me this past week that I should start getting twice a month massages to help in the treatment of my pes anserine bursitis.  My first thought..."Yay!  I can't wait to tell my husband that for medical reasons I "need" to get that massage and he has to watch the kids!"  My second thought...."Ouch!" 

 

A sports massage is meant to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body's soft tissues. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Sports massage can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.  While you'll get the benefits of stress relief, when working on areas that have been injured, a bit of pain can be involved.

 

Many athletes use weekly massage to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and relieve pain. Each sport and athletic event uses muscle groups in a different way. Sports Massage can include pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time.

 

I was hoping my massage would do just that, improve my flexibility, reduce tension and improve my area of injury.  I must say, my massage felt great!  I was certainly more relaxed after and felt as though my muscles were more pliable than when we started.  Today, I'm a bit sore.  How much that is from the massage vs. the workout I completed yesterday, is hard to tell.  I'm trying to reserve judgement after a few more massages to see how my body reacts.  

 

I'm hopeful that between the ongoing physical therapy and massages, that I'll be back to running by December 1st! 

 

 

What would you do if your daughter told you she was ugly? Or if your best friend told you she was dumb? Or even if someone you just met told you that they couldn't participate in a certain sport because they weren't strong or competent enough? You'd probably tell them how wrong they were and go on to list the reasons why they were beautiful, smart or strong. You'd try to lift their spirits, their self-confidence and tell them how incredible they are just being them. So then why do we tell these lies to ourselves?
 
I know you've been there. Staring at your reflection in the mirror wishing for someone else's arms, legs, abs, buns. Criticizing the body staring back at you. Or maybe, you're crying behind closed doors over something someone else said about how dumb your idea is or how you could never do "xyz". And you wonder if maybe, just maybe, they're right. 
 
If you wouldn't let your daughter, your best friend or even perfect strangers think that terribly of themselves, why would you let yourself think those things about YOU?!  The world, TV and magazines, are so quick to knock you down and make you feel inadequate.  Choose not to let it be that way!  Celebrate the strong, smart, beautiful, kind, loving woman you are and celebrate those women and girls around you who are that way! 
 
Truth is your mind is incredibly powerful. It can make you think, believe and act on the most incredible things. You've heard the stories before of the mom who changes things at her child's school because things were not "right". Or the woman who presses for legislative change because she knows she's just as talented and smart as her peers.  Or the woman who couldn’t lose the weight for years and now competes in triathlons or fitness competitions.  By repeating positive or negative statements about ourselves, over time, we start to believe them as truths. 

 

Think about the woman who walks into a party or store and immediately exudes self-confidence.  We all know of someone like that.  They stand tall, facing the world head on.  They’re comfortable in their bodies, speak intelligently, and seem capable of achieving anything.  Do you really think they’re like that ALL the time?!  Of course not!  They have their moments of doubt, of self-judgment.  They see flaws in themselves.  The difference, they don’t dwell on them.  They decide, they make the choice, to celebrate the beauty, intelligence and strength they see in themselves.  Sometimes it’s harder to see than other times, but that doesn’t mean its not there!  They press on.  They tell themselves they can do it!  Then they chart a path forward, sometimes a different path, with difficult choices.  They refuse to let anyone else, or worse themselves, hold them back from being the beautiful, strong, smart woman God made them to be! 

 

I saw a woman running this week with arms and shoulders that were toned and defined.  I wanted to roll down my window and yell to her, “You go girl!”  I wish I had.  I also saw another woman swimming laps with the most perfect freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly that I’ve seen in a long time.  She cut through the water with such ease.  I couldn’t help but stand back and marvel at how easy she made swimming look.  I made it a point to tell her what a great swimmer she was afterward.  How just watching her swim, made me elevate my swim.  I could have chosen to wish after the bodies and technique these women had.  I could have degraded my body for not looking like theirs or told myself that I’d never be able to swim with such skill.  Instead, I chose to celebrate the effort those women put into what they did, thank them for inspiring me to put more effort into my workouts and toward becoming a better swimmer. 

 

My favorite quote from the movie The Help is when the maid is talking to the little girl she had been looking after and she tells her to repeat after her “You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important.”  It was such a telling moment.  That little girl didn’t understand what she was repeating.  But the maid did.  She knew that if that little girl told herself those things over and over, even if she didn’t believe it or someone else told her something different, with time, she would act and carry herself as though they were true, eventually making them so. 

 

My hope, for all my clients and especially for my daughters, is that they would look at the reflection they see in the mirror and tell themselves, “I am strong.  I am smart.  I am beautiful.”  And then eventually that they would believe it!   

I didn't want to go.  I was tired.  The kids were cranky.  I had so many things to get done.  My knee had been bothering me again and I was frustrated with my rehab progress.  I knew I had a long workout planned for the day and honestly, I just didn't want to do it! 

 

But I also knew I'd feel guilty about not getting it in all day if I didn't at least try.  So I broke it up into segments.  I completed my strength training before the girls got up.  Then I did my physical therapy exercises for my knee while the girls ate their breakfast.  I threw my stuff for the pool into my bag as I headed out the door.  But to be honest, I didn't think I'd make it there.  The excuses were already lining up in my head "The attendent didn't show up to open the pool.  I had other things to do.  I ran late with a client and couldn't make it to the pool."  But the day went as scheduled!  I pulled into the pool parking lot and still didn't want to be there.  But heck, I was there, I might as well get it in.  So I made it into a game.  I threw out the workout I had planned.  I came up with a game.  Swim a mile...any way I could....any stroke I wanted,...breaking it up into as many consecutive laps as I chose.  No set plan.  I had so much fun!  It was a great swim!  I wasn't worried about times or drills, I just swam a mile.  At the end (40minutes later), I was smiling and happy that I had gotten it in!  I finished off the day with some yoga and foam roller while the girls napped to round out the workout. 

 

While it wasn't a stellar day, I was proud of having broken through all the excuses and getting in my workout.  I didn't feel guilty at the end of the day that I hadn't gotten it in.  Because even if I had skipped it, I still would have been tired, the kids still would have been cranky and I would still have to many things to accomplish in one day on my to-do list!  Those things wouldn't have changed even if I had missed my workout.  But this way, even chopped up the way it was, I got in my whole workout.

 

The lesson learned, break it up, change it up.  We have such hard, fast rules about what we have to do for our workouts.  But that doesn't always work with our schedules or our moods.  Sometimes you have to change things up.  I've done this in the past when training for marathons.  Broken my milage up into more manageable segments.  The thought of going out for a 2+ hour run could be enough to send you back to the couch!  So I'd tell myself, I was just going to run for half an hour or to a certain landmark.  Most of the time, I was enjoying myself so much (the day, the scenery, feeling great!), that I kept running for the whole workout and was thrilled with that I had done it afterward. 

 

When I find that my motivation for my workouts is waning, I change it up.  I may add in a challenging exercise, sports drill, try a new class, or make it a game.  Completing a workout, especially when I've struggled with "wanting" to do it, is motivating.  You strengthen your resolve, your self-motivation, your ability to find inner-strength for your next workout.  You also have past experiences to draw upon when you don't want to complete that next workout.  The little voice that tells you that you'll feel good once you get it done, because you did the last time. 

 

I know I'll draw upon that little voice the next time my motivation to workout starts to drop.  I'll change things up.  Compete against myself.  Challenge myself to go just a little while.  I'll try something new.  Before I know it that workout will be in the history books and I'll be smiling through my day, knowing I achieved something. 

Vacation....White, sandy beaches.  Snow skiing.  Family.  Friends.  Free time.  Ice cream.  Desserts.  Fruity drinks with little umbrellas.  Exotic, foreign locals.  Everyone has their own idea of what makes up vacation bliss.  It usually always includes lots of good eats, dessert, drinks and free schedules. Which also usually means that your exercise and healthy eating habits go out the window!  But, does it have to be that way?

 

You work so hard during your workouts and then making healthy food choices year round to supply you with the energy needed to power through your day, a vacation doesn’t have to mean forgetting all of that or depriving yourself of some much needed frivolity.  But it does mean making some healthy choices and choosing where you’ll indulge.

 

When it comes to exercise, why not explore the different options your vacation location offers.  It may be a morning/evening walk on the beach (walking in the sand really tones those legs and buns!), skiing, mountain bike riding, a new exercise class, surfing, etc.  Check out the options your location offers.  Many local gyms and even hotel gyms these days, offer group classes that you can checkout.  Try a new activity.  Not only will you discover new muscles you haven’t used in a while, but you’ll also engage your mind, thus lowering your stress level (hey, vacations are all about relaxing right!) and maybe even discover a hidden talent!  Look into ways you can work some exercise into your vacation before you leave.  You can always bring some bands or a jump rope with you to get in a quick interval or circuit workout in your hotel room or anywhere!!!  Exercising during your vacation will not only keep you looking and feeling good, but when you do splurge on those local food delicacies, you won’t feel so guilty. 

 

So go ahead and eat those foods you’ve been looking forward to eating.  Enjoy an ice cream sundae with your children, a lobster roll in Maine, paella in Spain, etc.  One meal, one dessert, one drink, doesn’t mean that your whole day is ruined with poor food choices.  Make sure that your next meal gets you right back on track.  Eat your fruits and veggies, lean proteins and drink plenty of water.  Think of your day like a passing grade.  If you’re eating right 80-90% of the time, you’re a B – A student, easily passing the grade!  Rather than beating yourself up over the splurge, enjoy it!  You don’t eat that way all the time.  Besides, the moment you say, “No, I won’t eat any more….”, you know you’ll only want it more, setting yourself up for failure.  Rather, give yourself permission to eat those local, vacation delicacies.  You may even find, that by giving yourself permission to eat them, you don’t feel the need to eat ALL of it! 

 

This summer, my family and I went home to visit family in the states for 6 weeks.  We enjoyed ice cream sundaes at the Music Man ice cream shop in Lavallette, NJ (a local favorite), a clam boil in MA with my family, linquica pizza (a Portuguese favorite), fish and chips (a new England must have) and drinks with the family as we all got caught up.  I made sure to keep up with my daily workouts, incorporating beach walks, swims and circuit style workouts to keep things interesting and to enjoy the beauty of MA and NJ. 

In the end, I lost 3 pounds, enjoyed my vacation and came back thrilled to get back to my old routine. 

 

Enjoy your vacation!!!  You’ve worked hard for it!  Making balanced choices regarding exercise and food will help you keep your healthy lifestyle on track without feeling deprived! 

As a certified personal trainer, I need to complete several continuing education courses each year. I always look to acquire new information that will benefit my clients, my knowledge base and my business. Then the challenge becomes taking that knowledge and utilizing it. Many times that means changing forms, programing or offering new options to my clients. Sure, that can be time consuming and frustrating. But my overall goal is to enhance the health of my clients and if changing the way I gather information, perform assessments and programing or offering different classes allows me to fulfill that goal, then I'm willing to overcome the mid-term frustrations. Continuing education is based on the adage, if you continue to do the same thing, you'll get the same response. We've all see this happen at some time in our lives. We try a new diet, are excited by the hope of losing weight at the beginning, but then find trouble maintaining that enthusiasm and eventually go off the diet, regain the weight and start the process all over again. Think about your New Years resolutions. It's now August...have you completed them yet? What progress have you made? Do you still remember them?! When setting a goal, especially one like weight loss, it's great to set the goal, but then think through how you're going to complete it. That takes having some answers from your past attempts. What will make this time different? What kept you from achieving this goal last time? What do you need to know or do to make this goal achievable? What worked last time? Just as an athlete examines their performance and training to see what they need to do differently or what worked, so they can reach their goals, you need to do the same. Right now I'm studying for a third certification. This one will enhance my nutritional knowledge base, allowing me to assist clients more with their weight loss and weight management goals. What are you willing to do differently to achieve your goals?

Everyone's been there at some point. You know you need to workout, but you have no motivation to do so. Your excuses are endless...I don't have the time. I don't have anyone to watch the kids. I can't workout with the kids. Its too late. It's too early. I want to watch this show....the list goes on! When I get in a funk like that, I look for some motivational inspiration. These days you don't have to look far for such inspiration. The Olympics have plenty to spare. From watching the underdog win the race, to back stories on the athletes and what it took for them to reach their dreams, to the workouts and nutritional plans they follow. There is inspiration in each race, each story. For me, I've always found inspiration at the finish line. Watching athletes and ordinary people alike do incredible things in the name of sport. The tears and joy found at the finish line as people achieve their goals, pushing themselves beyond what they thought capable and reaching new milestones, always moves me to action. Whether it's the person who finishes first or last, there is inspiration to be found in each effort. I'm always moved to get up and take my workout to the next level, to try harder than I was before. So where will you find your inspiration for your next workout? To achieve your next goal? Try turning on the Olympics. You won't be disappointed!

I love my physical therapist!  Our sessions are a true cooperative effort.  We both participate in the sessions.  I tell her where I'm still feeling pain, what efforts seem to be relieving the pain, what makes the pain worse, what new areas seem to be involved and my thoughts of possible causes.  She evaluates the areas, assesses any new new areas of pain and puts me through various tests to see where areas of weakness, inadequate flexibility or misalignments may occur.  Together we discuss treatment options, when we'll re-evaluate and what our next course of action will be.  We both actively participate in my treatment, hopefully affording me the best care. Active participation in my medical care is something I learned many years ago.  At the time I was a pharmaceutical representative and met with doctors on a daily basis.  I also was a new mom.  My oldest daughter at the time started to have blood in her stools at 6weeks old.  As an exclusively breastfed baby, this sudden change was frightening.  After more than 8 hours in the hospital, undergoing every non-invasive test possible, I found myself in an examination room with my baby, a nurse, my personal physician, the head of internal medicine and the chief of pediatrics for the hospital.  No one had any answers and all the tests were inconclusive.  They were trying to decide if my daughter should be admitted (she was not exhibiting any signs of being in pain or any discomfort.  In fact, she was a happy, giggling six week old, except for the bloody poopy diapers.). At this point the chief of pediatrics turns to me, a new mom with no medical degree and says, "Ma'am, my thirty plus years as a pediatrician has shown me that in situations like this, where the mom is completely capable of caring for her child, it's the mom who knows best how we should proceed.". At this point all eyes were on me.  I took my daughter home that night with a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist for several weeks later.  My daughter was fine and later diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux which had caused ulcerations in her stomach.     But I learned something even more important that day, you are in charge of your medical care.  You know your body best.  You know when something works or doesn't.  You know what will work with your current lifestyle.  You also know what you are capable of doing.   A visit to the doctor should not be a one way conversation.  It should be a collaboration.  A discussion of treatment options.  The pros and cons of a situation.  You need to be honest about all your symptoms and provide as much information as possible.  Your doctor should inform you about all your choices.  This is where a notebook of any questions you may have, the answers you receive, any changes you've noted and any tests or results you receive is helpful, especially if you need to see multiple doctors.   Remember that it's your life, your body and you know it best.  Actively participate in your medical care, be it a routine physical, treatment for an injury or treatment for a disease.  You'll feel like you have more control, enhancing your health both psychologically and physically.  After all, who knows you better, than you!

Being on vacation, moving or traveling for work, can put a real kink in your training plans. You don't always have the equipment or environment to complete the workout you have planned. You could skip the workout all together....or you could get a little creative and use what you have around you. Stairs can be used in place of any cardio equipment or hill workouts. So can any plyometric intervals, like jumping jacks, hops, lateral or long jumps, jumping rope, etc. they'll get your heart pumping just as well as any run, treadmill, bike or other favorite piece of equipment. You can use books, a heavy backpack/suitcase, cans, water bottles, stones, basket of magazines, or anything else that has weight, for a set of dumbbells, kettle bells or a barbell. Pillows, balancing on one leg or completing a workout in the pool, can add a balance or instability challenge to your workout. Chairs, ledges, playgrounds or various tables can provide you with inclines/declines, pull-up or dip bars, etc, to change up or complete some of your favorite bodyweight exercises. So far this vacation I've used many of these tricks to get my workouts in as we travel to see family. A set of bricks were used as dumbbells the other day, as was a huge dictionary to add a one arm push-up variation and a basket full of magazines made for great squats to overhead presses. I've done some stability work in the pool and enjoyed a few peaceful walks along the beach (walking in loose sand is a great workout for your whole lower body!), all while enjoying my vacation. So no excuses! You can get a workout in anywhere! And it will make indulging in those favorite vacation treats (hello ice cream shop!), business trip dinners or eat-out move meals, that much less guilt ridden!

I have spent the last 4 days traveling and visiting with family. Just because I am on vacation doesn't mean the workouts stop. I continue to do my physical therapy for my knee and my daily strength/cardio/flexibility workouts. My parents have a great personal gym in their basement and a pool. It's been wonderful to change up my workouts with the equipment and different environment available to me here. I feel reinvigorated, stronger, faster and able to take my workouts to the next level. Surprisingly, the only thing that's changed is my environment! It's amazing how just one little change, can make your old workout seem like new! So change things up! If you always do your workout in the gym, take it outside! Try a new class. A pool class is a great way to challenge your body during the summer and the workouts aren't just for the elderly anymore! Grab a few friends for a hike, bike ride or beach workout. There are lots of ways to change up your workout! The possibilities are endless! And the benefits even greater! You may find a new workout you love, make a new friend or challenge your body to do things you didn't think you could! Just imagine what a huge smile and optimism you'd have to face the day or week, after a workout like that!

To say that I'm frustrated by how slow I seem to be recovering from this injury is an understatement.  I haven't run in 6 weeks and I haven't had a hard bike ride in over two weeks.  I've consistently gone to PT and still my recovery seems to be slow.  I can still feel the pull of my adductors as they cross the knee.  I still have pain at the pes anserine.  Although the pain has disipated when I perform squats or lunges, I can still feel it when I walk at times or when applying pressure along the insertion points of the adductors. 

 

I'm anxious to get back to training at full speed and am wondering how much longer till I can compete again.  Not only is my body taking a hit, but my pysche as well now.  Workouts are not as much fun as I'm always on the lookout for any pulling through my knee and I can't give an all out effort.  I feel like a caged tiger or a racehorse in the corral.  I want to get out there and run, but my body says no...not yet! 

 

At first I looked at this period of rest as a opportunity to rebuild mid-season.  Now that its taking longer than I thought it would (or think it should!), I'm just angry and frustrated.  I keep wondering why the PT doesn't seem to be working.  Is there something else wrong?  Is this the end of running and triathlon for me?  Why do I feel great some days and struggle with the pain and pulling others? 

 

Honestly, I don't like the possible answers to any of these questions.  I've spent all of my adult life competing in road races, duathlons and triathlons.  To think that this injury could side-line that for an extended period or possibly forever, is a reality I'm not willing to face.  I'm not sure I know who I am as a person without the competition.  Who I am without running, where I think through lifes challenges and explore possibilities, coming back with a new perspective on things.  Who I am without the rush of cycling, feeling the wind and excitement of going fast and taking risks.  A lot of "who" I am is wrapped up in training and competing.  I've never thought of myself as someone who exercises, but as an athlete who trains.  I now wonder where that person is as I recover from this injury. 

 

This is not the first injury I've suffered, nor will it be my last (endurance athletes experience their share of injuries over a lifetime and I've had few in comparison so far), but it certainly is the most challenging.  I have a new appreciation for those suffering long-term injuries or diseases that alter their lifestyles.  So much of who we are is wrapped up in what we do.  Injuries and diagnosis are not just a physical challenge, but a psychological one as well.  They test our spirit as well as our bodies. 

 

I have good days and bad days depending on the pain.  I continue to believe that this is just a temporary set back.  An opportunity to learn more about the function of the body, new rehabilitation techniques and how to psychologically deal with setbacks.  In the end, hopefully, this will make me a better person and a better trainer.  Afterall, some good has to come out of this injury!!!!