I know … it’s been a while….

To be completely honest I’ve been putting off writing this blog. We were just getting to know each other … you were so keen for me to succeed … your emails, messages and best wishes really meant a lot to me.

OK, so I’m just going to say it … I haven’t been going to the gym, ballet or in fact doing any exercise. Why? I managed to give myself a complex tear of my knee’s medial meniscus and consequently I’m having an arthroscopy this morning to fix it all up.

So the knee started to get a little sore and I thought with modified workouts I’d be able to let it settle and then after a bit get back into the swing of things. How do you know when to rest with an injury and when to take it easy and adapt the process so you can continue to exercise? I didn’t want to lose the progress I’d made including regular exercise in my week. Gym sessions were going well, I was really enjoying them, the exercise physiologist was sorted … he had my back giving me modified exercises to work on with my dodgy joints and I felt like I really was working towards turning back the clock on me getting diabetes in the future.

Ouch! The pain increased and I was off to the GP for a check. MRI ordered and before I know it, I’m propelled feet first into the big circular, noisy magnet, leg trapped in a wire structure that places my leg in the exact position in which it hurts the most … and then of course there was the rising panic of claustrophobia. My best intentions had come to a grinding halt.

Injury stops you in your tracks, making it difficult to regain the previous momentum. Once again I regretted not staying active … why didn’t I put more effort into keeping my weight under control? It’s not that hard fitting in a walk or getting to the gym if you really want to get there. Retrospect is a marvellous thing. It creates a fantasy world, impervious to all of life’s little realities like working, caring for three children, sorting out the unknown of a child with significant disability, fighting for policy change to create a life for her and running a home. No there is no sense in jumping into retrospect.

So here I am, getting ready for surgery. My resolve is strengthened to jump back onto the metaphorical ‘horse’ post rehab. A new reality has hit along with a sense of timliness about my decision reinforced. It is these very injuries that I need to protect myself from in the future if I want to be able to have an active and exciting future ahead. Wish me luck and see you on the other side!