They tried to make me go to Rehab...

And I'm gonna go, go go.

Not that kind of rehab.  It's a place called Rehab Arizona, and I will be started the program this week for my stupid knee.  I tried to start Couch to 5k a few months ago but I didn't even make it through the first week of the program due to my knee starting to hurt again.  I was in so much pain for a few weeks after that I finally decided to see my doctor about it.  

She said that I will probably need an MRI but that my insurance company wouldn't even consider covering one until I had received at least four weeks of physical therapy.  She referred me to this place that includes metabolic counseling and a nutritionist with the physical therapy.  You know what that means, right?

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I'm starting a diet right before Christmas.  AWWW YEAH.

(and this mama needs a pedi.  OY)

I had my consultation yesterday.  We covered the basics of the program, the diet, and I had my measurements taken.  My therapist told me that my body fat percentage was estimated at about 34%.  Not so great, but about what I expected.  I've had it measured before and that's pretty much the number that comes up on a regular basis.

Here's what I didn't expect:  he said that he estimated my lean muscle mass to be about 125 lbs.  Now see, I went in there thinking I was about fifty pounds overweight.  Every BMI chart I've ever seen says that for my height, the most I should weigh is between 135 and 140 pounds.  They also say that at my current weight, I'm clinically obese.

My nutritionist/therapist said no way.  He said based on my lean mass, it would be practically physically impossible for me to get to 135 without losing a lot of lean muscle.  He said if I were to get to that weight, I'd only have about ten pounds worth of fat total on me and I'd look, in his words, "skeletal."

Blew.  My.  Mind.

I mean, like I said, I've had my body fat measured before, lots of times in fact.  This was the very first time that anyone ever mentioned my lean mass.  The focus has always been the fat.  Interesting, huh?  He told me he wouldn't want me to get any lower than 145, and 150 would be ideal for my frame. So, instead of having fifty pounds to lose I only have to lose about 35.  Kick butt.

He also said that my metabolism has to be working like crazy based on what I'm eating and the fact that my weight has stayed the same.  As one of his "thinner" (HA!) clients and coupled with the fact that I'm relatively young (HA HA!) and healthy, he estimates that I shouldn't have too much trouble losing that 35 pounds.

At that point he said I looked shocked, and I admitted I was.  I told him I had this idea in my head of what my "healthy" weight should be for all these years, and to hear that I should weigh 15 pounds more than that just seemed crazy.  He said, "Well, you have a lot of lean muscle under there."  I was like, "But that much?"

He laughed and said "Girl, look at your legs!!!  You are strong!"

Huh.  So there's that.

I started the diet today and have been tracking my food on My Fitness Pal.  (ooh, wanna be my friend?  I'm splendidmissm)  I have to eat FIVE TIMES A DAY and the first meal has to be within 30 minutes of when I get up.  This is going to be tricky since most days I don't eat until I've been up for at least two hours!  I pump first thing (20 minutes) then feed the baby (an hour) and then there's prep time (15 - 30 minutes depending on what I have) so that goes by quickly.  Solution?

Protein shakes.  I killed two blenders in the past year so I bought one of these:

That's what my trainer uses and he said he's had his for two years, so that's promising!  Also, if it does break, I'm only out sixteen bucks!  Much better than $100.  :)  It's so easy to toss some frozen berries, a scoop of protein powder and a little almond milk (very little dairy allowed on this diet, which is fine since I haven't really had much dairy since I started the failure that was TED) in there first thing and just sip that while I pump and feed the baby.  After I take care of all that it's pretty much time for my second meal and I'll have time then to concentrate on something more involved.

I start the actual physical therapy part of the program on Thursday.  Not only will they be working on my knee issues, but will also address my tailbone, which I did NOT break by spending too much time on my butt.  Turns out, it's probably giant baby pregnancy related.  Praise the Lord, because seriously?  Wouldn't breaking one's ass by sitting on it too much be the ultimate fat kid move?