Day 16 started off with a bang.  A loud and painful one.  As I was trying to get up and out of my computer chair, I slammed my knee right into the bottom corner of my desk.  Nothing quite like the sound of bone hitting wood.  Or the sight of the resulting multi-colored swollen bruise-y lump.  I thought I was okay at first and decided to go ahead with the Level 2 shred.  First circuit, fine.  Second circuit was a no-go.  The minute I started doing the side-to-side jump twists, I realized it was a bad idea.  So, I replaced that cardio with the first circuit cardio and omitted the double jump rope in the final circuit.

Whenever I have to ice an injury, I remember sitting in the trainer’s office before high school track practice each day.  I had my own stash of frozen Dixie cups in his freezer and every day, I’d ice my shins before heading out to run.  Didn’t care about the pain, I just wanted to be flying down that last 100 yard stretch.

These days, I still love the exercise euphoria, but I’ve traded in the Dixie cups for a Little Miss Sunshine gel ice pack.  And unlike my track days, if I feel pain, I do something light or skip my workout.  I heal quicker that way and can get right back into the routine.  So even after icing with Little Miss Sunshine on Thursday night, I knew I might have to do another modified shred on Day 17.   Not the end of the world.

As luck would have it, the lump went down considerably and I was able to do the full Level 2 on both Day 17 and Day 18.    The knee still looks ridiculous, but it’s pain-free.  I actually felt really good today.   Even considering day a few more days of Level 2, with a bump up to 8 lbs on the first strength set in each circuit.  Then I can start Level 3 next week with 3 lbs and it’ll seem much easier.  HA!  I know what’s coming, thanks to the “Ultimate Shredder.”  Weighted jumping jacks and weighted butt kickers.  JOY!