Athlete Without a Sport

    Lately I have been feeling like an athlete without a sport. That may sound a bit dramatic since I obviously am always training. Yes, I want to do long distance swimming, but the available events are few and far between, and also contingent on water health and weather. I want to train for triathlon, but that is contingent on my own joint health and managing to stay injury free for an entire season.
    My younger son has been participating in Historical European Martial Arts, aka HEMA. It is sword fighting, with real swords. Not the heavy armored combat I used to do, where weapons were rattan, and heavy and cumbersome. HEMA has less armor, and the weapons, though steel, are lighter, hence, easier on my joints (maybe). I admit, I am sorely tempted. I like the idea of getting back into an intensely physical sport that is pared down to its essentials. No energy and emotion spent on the trappings, the politics, the cliques. Just fighting, plain and simple.
    I don't know if I will pursue it any further than sparring with my son and daughter-in-law. It is not like I really have a lot of spare time to add in another training regiment. But I will say, my shoulders and core strength are a lot better today then they ever have been.
    I dunno, just pondering possibilities. Like I said, I am feeling like an athlete without a sport, which is leaving me feel like I am floundering a bit. I will keep casting about, looking for that certain something that will keep the spark kindling bright. For now, that may be steel.

Four Weeks In

    I have now had four weeks of no grains, no baked goods, no dairy, minimal added sugar. I admit, when I started this I was hoping to shed a few pounds, and I did, a few. I also feel somehow a bit "cleaner," less bloat, and I feel somehow lighter. One thing I did not expect was that I have a lot less overall chronic pain. Honestly. This last year I have been fretting about how stiff and painful my major joints have felt, especially in my hips. Not so much the joints themselves, but the surrounding tendons and ligaments. The last few weeks I have been feeling considerably more fluid and flexible. I love this, and hate it at the same time. I don't know that my recent food restrictions are to credit/blame for this, or if it is a coincidence. I am loving not hurting all the damned time, I have even done a bit of running recently with no ill effects. I am hating the thought that in order to have my body feel as functional as possible I need to avoid grains, baked goods, and cheese (cheese being my last dairy hold out... because, Cheese). Is it worth it? I am asking seriously. Life without grains, baked goods and cheese? No bread? No rice? No pizza? No, I can't say my recent diet has been all that restrictive, I eat well, and make delicious foods. But g'damn it, I just want to be able to eat like a normal person.
    On the flip side, once you get past my whining about cheese and bread, my body is feeling hella better. Again, I don't know if this is a coincidence, or cause and effect. It could be that we are finally getting out of such cold damned weather, and the days are longer. it could be that I finally caved and started taking naproxin sodium before bed, so that might be reducing my overall inflammation. It could just be my body keeping me guessing. I think I will keep going with limited use of grains, and no cheese for a bit longer. Like I said, it's not like I am suffering deprivations.
    I had hoped to get to the end of the four weeks and seen a more noticeable shift on the scale. But it's not like I really have much weight to lose, just a few pound added on this last year, since I haven't been able to train quite as rigorously. Maybe, with less joint pain, I can get my training back up a notch, which is a reward all of its own.
    So, after four weeks, I can't say the change in my eating habits wasn't worth the effort. My body feels better, my brain a little clearer (again, this could be as much due to the shift in weather, and increasing daylight). I am going to start increasing my running and leg work slowly, see if the pain stays away. I may add in a bit of wild rice blend now and then, see what happens. I might bake some of my whole grain, gluten free bread, and see how it makes me feel. Just dip my toes in a bit. I have been missing cheese sandwiches on my warm, fresh baked bread though.