I’ve been sort of procrastinating writing this post all weekend. I’m not exactly sure why; it’s not like there is anything bad to report. It just seemed like a rather uneventful week. I did attempt a short run/walk, and I felt just “ok”. It’s always so weird to run again after more than a few days off. I honestly didn’t know if I felt better or worse than a couple of weeks ago.
The good news is we had amazing weather this weekend. Other than the run/walk, I spent time outside on the deck and Rob and I walked to and from church on Sunday morning which was about 3 miles total. Is this an early spring, or are we going to pay for it in a few weeks?
An Uneventful Week of Workouts + Dry Needling
Monday: Spinning and core work
40 minutes on the spin bike followed by this core workout once again. Foam rolling in the evening.
Tuesday: Spinning and lower body workout
20 minutes on the bike, and then lower body exercises using the kettlebell
Wednesday: Upper body workout
Warmed up on the bike for 10 minutes, then did an upper body workout. I threw in some hip and glute exercises, and ended with some time on the Rumble Roller.
Thursday: Spinning and hip/glute workout
I did a longer ride of about 50 minutes, and finished up with hip and glute exercises….and some back stretches!
Friday: Pure Barre Mile High Series 2 and core work
This was the first time in about a year that I have done a Pure Barre DVD. I had used the Tone in 10 videos every once in a while, but in my opinion this workout was more intense. My thighs were screaming, but I didn’t feel it in my abs as much, so I did some core work on my own afterwards.
Saturday: 30 minute run/walk and core/hips/glutes
I started my workout with hip and glute exercises to get those muscles activated, and also did a planking video from jasyoga. Then I headed outside for 30 minutes. Running felt…weird. I am hoping if I can get back out there a few times a week it will start to feel normal again.
Sunday: 50 minute walk and yoga
Our car was in the shop all weekend so we ended up walking to and from church. It took about 25 minutes each way. When we got home I spent a little over an hour doing yoga. I started with the comprehensive hip/hamstring reset and then did the following “5 minute reset” videos: quads, neck, shoulders, and chest.
On Wednesday I went to my chiropractor and had dry needling on my post tib and calf. I think it definitely released some of those tight spots based on how I almost fell off the table from some of the needles. It didn’t hurt, it just made my muscles twitch like crazy. So far, it hasn’t bothered me, so hopefully that will continue.
I think that’s all I have to report for this week! Stay tuned for the return to running and to see if this dry needling really helped.
How were your workouts last week?
Have you ever had dry needling? (I think this is my 5th time)
Did you have spring-like weather this weekend?
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Dry needling looks so intense – it’s definitely not for me! I can barely look at the pic of you getting it done, I can’t imagine doing it myself! I wonder why it doesn’t hurt, is it because the needles are tiny?
We did have spring weather in the sense that it was in the mid-80s all weekend which is our spring-like weather – it’s way too hot!
The way they put the needles in isn’t what you would expect. Its more like a flick, and yes the needles are really tiny. The only part thats uncomfortable is when your muscles are twitching!
I always think I would never try dry needling, but in the end I know if I got desperate I would try just about anything to get back to running. Rumble rollers are the aren’t they?! Love mine. Looks like a great week and hooray for this weather!
I know what you mean about dry needling. I too would try just about anything to heal an injury!
loving the weather right now! and you know I love the mile high series too! I think the tone in 10 workouts can feel a little more intense sometimes because they cram in a lot of stuff in 10 minutes but it depends on which 10 min workout. I do think mile high works the thighs the best though – that 35 minute workout from pure barre is really perfect. not too long and just the right intensity each time. and not feeling the ab section means have gotten really strong!
I felt like the ab section was so much shorter than the other parts! I actually felt it more in the warm up than in the actual workout part. I don’t think its because Im getting stronger since I haven’t done those exercises in forever…maybe Im not doing them correctly!
Big fan of dry needling. It helped me a lot with my ligament pain!
Ive never thought about how it could help ligament pain but thats great! My chiro was telling my all the different ailments he treats with it and its just amazing.
I know what you mean about running feeling weird after time off… I’ve been feeling that way this last week too. I think it’s because I’m hyper sensitive, looking for any signs of aches or pains, and don’t want to push the pace. Hoping, like you, that it will feel normal with a few more runs!
Yes, exactly! It feels so weird to come back after time off and I also think I am hyper sensitive.
I’ve been wondering how dry needling would be! I thought about it for my Plantar Fasciitis but was not sure if it would hurt or help or what. Keep us posted! Have a great week
I was really nervous to have it on my foot/ankle area because it seems like it would be really sensitive. He did do the bottom of my foot a little and it wasn’t too bad. The biggest twitches I got were from my upper calf though…so could have been trigger points a little higher up the chain that were causing issues.
I’ve never tried dry needling but I’m considering it for my RA pains. I hope you’re back on the road soon!
It really does seem to help with so many different problems! I think its worth a try to see if it could help you.
Such a great variety. A planking workout sounds like just what I need. When I go through running slumps or don’t run often, it definitely feels “weird”
A day or two off from running leaves me feeling fresh, but any more than that and its so hard to get back into it!
I can totally feel myself slip off the running grid the minute I skip a run. I wonder if it’s the fear of “what if” I never ran again?? Solid exercise week for you nonetheless! I’ve not tried dry needling but I would…
It is definitely strange to not run for a week or two when its such a part of our routine. And yes, its hard not to have that thought of “what if I never run again”!
I have never had dry needling done, but I heard that it does really help. We had a beautiful weekend here as well with temps in the 70s but I think it was only a tease because it is only February.
Agreed, it seems to early for spring to be here for good!
Sometimes uneventful is the best time of week to have! The dry needling looks pretty intense. I hear it works wonders!
Ive definitely had a lot of success with it in the past!
I actually mentioned today I want to make an appointment with my new place. I haven’t done dry needling since July, and I do think it helped keep things looser. I don’t know how tense my muscles are, because they feel fine, but after some twinging this weekend, there’s a spot on my quad, near my knee, that feels really tender.
I hope that the dry needling helps you if you decide to do it!
Yes to spring-like temps, but a big NO to dry needling…..I have heard it’s very effective, but I’d probably have to be completely unconscious to endure it LOL
Ha! Its not bad at all. A bit strange, but not painful. I guess its good there are plenty of other treatment options for people who dont like needles:)
I have never heard of dry needling… is it the same as accupuncture? I have a rumble roller too… I call it the BEAST! 🙂
Its very similar to acupuncture, but more focused on trigger points. The needles are only in for about 15 minutes or so.
Yes, the rumble roller is really intense!
OMG – keep me far away from dry needling! 🙂 People swear by it, but it scares the heck out of me! I feel you on the post this week – I felt like I struggled a bit for info too! But sometimes that’s not a bad thing 🙂
The dry needling really isn’t that bad! But its not for everyone. And yes, usually an uneventful week is a good thing:)
Haha you almost fell off the table?! I’ve heard about the twitching muscle effect from dry needling but never knew it was that intense! I hope it works for you.
And I dunno about this early spring thing… I’m hopeful (but also not because #globalwarming) but I’m hesitant because we’ve been known to get snowstorms in April and May so… 😉
He said that I bent one of the needles! I guess that meant my muscle was realllly tight.
And I am with ya on the weather, I doubt that spring is really here for good.
I’ve never tried dry needling. What does it feel like?
Its really kind of a weird feeling…you barely feel the needle going in, but when it hits the muscle it makes it twitch. Some of the twitches can be pretty intense if that muscle is really tight!
Nice variety of exercise! Looks like you had some nice sun for your time outside. I hope the dry needling helps!
Thanks!
Great job mixing things up this week. I’ve had acupuncture before and it’s helped. I wonder how it differs from dry needling?
Thanks! My understanding is that dry needling more directly releases the trigger points. I do think they are similar though.
A friend of mine just tried dry needling. I had not heard of that! Looks like you had great workouts and walks! I’ve always wanted to try Pure Barre workouts. Hope you have a great week!
The Pure Barre is a fun way to change things up. I took a couple classes in a studio a few years ago but now I like using the DVD every once in awhile.
I remember the really weird feeling of coming back to running after having a baby. It feels really disjointed, uncoordinated. Like Frankenstein. And for SOME REASON my skin itches for the first few times I return to running. Does anyone else get that? It’s crazy!
Haha I have never had my skin itch when I was returning to running! That’s interesting. The run definitely felt disjointed and uncoordinated though.
Eek! That dry needling looks crazy! I hope it helped! I’ve never done it but I bet it can be really effective!
Its worked for me in the past so hopefully I was also see results this time around!
Hmm. Maybe dry needling could help my chronically tight calves? Although if the way my knee reacts to that little rubber hammer is any clue, the twitches could send me off the table for sure!
If you have a lot of big knots in your calves then I bet you would get some intense twitches! I think its worth it though, especially if its something you have been dealing with for a long time.
How did you end up trying dry needling? Was it recommended to you? I’m not sure if it would help my glute pains or not… seems like it’s the one thing I haven’t tried already! 🙂
Every time I have done dry needling its been with a chiro or PT who I was already working with and getting ART and adjustments. When a certain spot just won’t loosen up sometimes needling can really get in there. My current chiro just got certified in dry needling recently so once he was trained we decided to give it a try.
You had a solid week of exercise! I could not do pure barre by watching a video I have to cheat and look at the person next to me in class! LOL! I love that you walked back and forth to church- very nice! I hope that dry needling works for you- looks a little intense!
Thanks! I hope it works too.
I’ve never heard of dry needling before. Something that I’ll have to look more into.
It really works well!
I haven’t tried dry needling, although I’m not opposed to anything that would help rehab an injury. It was suggested to me by a Physical Therapist if I didn’t improve when going for a hip/glute issue. But, I did improve. It’s hard to believe you twitch so much than you almost fall of the table. That’s so weird. I hope running will soon feel normal again for you. I’ll soon be taking those first few steps after a rest period. Thanks for linking, Lisa!
I hope that your return to running went well! I would also try just about anything to recover from a running injury.
I’ve been known to pass out after seeing needles go into the skin so just the idea I’m not sure I could do it. Which is weird cause I want another tattoo… Go figure.
That is weird! I do pretty well with needles but I still dont think I would be able to handle a tattoo.