With the closures of the gyms, parks, and general exercise that I'm used to, I have become less active. I usually go to the gym between 3 to 5 days a week and ride a stationary bicycle or swim in the pool for at least 25 minutes on top of doing yoga for at least 20 minutes every day. However, with the current COVID-19 Pandemic, my usual ways of exercising have gone away. It's too cold to swim in the local waters and I am not ready to ride my bicycle because it needs a tune up and I don't want to risk it breaking down if I just jump on it after not riding it for over a year. And it's generally scary to go outside. It's full of folks that are not trying to cover their faces or congregating in groups. There are also more criminals since the jails are letting people out early. People scare me.
The immobility caught up with me and after working in my yard, not doing much other than mowing my lawn and pruning trees from the ground, my knee started swelling. Out of nowhere it just started swelling up. It didn't seem to stop and it became so painful I couldn't walk properly. I spent about 3 days elevating and icing. I spent 5 days in a compression sock. Finally my leg works again but I wouldn't call it normal.
I have turned to eating foods that help with inflammation. Salmon, olives, muscles, and shiitake mushrooms. I probably need to omit more things like bread that I really have a hard time not eating those things. It is giving me the comfort I need while I'm isolated. I rather think it's my sugar addiction that is telling me that bread makes me feel better.
I've tried to find more ways to stay active and most of all, move my knee. I have considered buying a mechanism to turn my bicycle into a stationary bike at home but the expense can't be justified since it's springtime. I'm also not excited about riding in the rain, I have not ventured out to ride until it stops raining. I'm a wimp about the weather. So, instead I am trying to stretch my knee more with my yoga poses and I have taken up the hula hoop.
