The mystery has been solved.
I think.
Since mid-January I haven’t been able to run due to a strange knee pain.  After seeing a PT and seeing no improvement, I paid a visit to my old chiropractor.  This is the guy that fixed my right knee a couple of years ago.  Why did I wait so long to see him for my left knee?
The theory is that I have Patellofemoral Syndrome.  In English, I have Runner’s Knee.  Damaged cartilage under my knee cap (patella) from years of abuse.  I didn’t realize your knee cap wasn’t supposed to crunch when you push down on it…
The plan is for me to see the Doc regularly and do some daily “homework.” Â I have one exercise to strengthen my inner quad, a quad stretch, a way to push on my knee cap to break up scar tissue, and then I end with 10 mins of ice. Â In one week I try running again and see what happens.
Speaking of afflictions… in Georgia we have had record pollen counts.  Thank god I don’t have allergies.  A stuffy nose would certainly affect my taste, which would make Jenn’s What I Ate Wednesday less fun!  Who wants to eat when they can’t taste?
The green theme continues… and is especially appropriate since I ate lunch outside and fell victim to the yellow-green pollen film.
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Breakfast:
I pre-gamed my workout with this Raspberry Barked Oatmeal To-Go. Â Delicious from the freezer and zapped in the micro for 30 seconds.
My post workout protein smoothie was a lovely red and green.  Translation: brown.Â
It was this Beet-Citrus creation from Valentine’s Day; however, I added more spinach this time.  Hence the brown.
Lunch:
Like any good American, I love Mexican.
Today’s lunch featured a couple of tacos made from collard greens.
In my tacos:
- Pinto bean dip
- Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Burger
- Carrots
- Avocado
- Tomato
- Salsa verde
- Cumin
- Nutritional Yeast
Best new lunch idea in recent memory. Â These are going into regular rotation!
Snacks:
It was a carb-y snack day. Â Mostly brought to you by Trader Joe’s: Rice and Bean Chips, Sweet Potato Chip Rounds, Popcorn, and a Cherry-Dark Chocolate KIND bar.
Un-pictured: kombucha and mixed nuts.
Dinner:
A Â night out with mama at a new -to-us place called Three Sheets. Â Cute name, right?
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I wish I could type what I’m thinking right now… la-la-la-la-la….
Weekly vote-begging time! I was honored with a nomination as a “Best Healthy Eating Blog” for the 2012 Fitterati Blog Awards on FitnessMagazine.com.  I know I’m never going to reach the 1000+vote mark, but I’d be flattered if you felt inclined to click here and vote for me. 🙂
Are you getting dumped on by pollen too?
What is your favorite Trader Joe’s treat?
Those tacos are a great idea!!! I HAVE to try them asap!
Yes! Those tacos sound awesome! (Sorry, I am a chronic-overuser of that word.) And ah, Trader Joe, how I love him. I just visited him today and got my favorite treat–kettle corn. I hope the knee rehab works for you!
That’s funny – I was just thinking the same thing about my use of the word “awesome.” It is an awesome word though.
Oh my gosh, Trader Joe’s. I think my one can’t-live-without is the one pound bars of 70% dark chocolate 🙂 So in love with that place, if they didn’t use so much extra packaging I’d love it even more.
Those chocolates are the best! I agree on the packaging… weird since more companies are reducing in that area.
Thanks for helping me decide to put Mexican on the menu tonite- those tacos look great! What was your take on that flavor Kind bar? I had high hopes for it but thought it tasted meh- much more of a fan of the plain fruit & nut varieties!
That is my all-time favorite. I wasn’t a KIND fan until I tried it.
Fav TJ’s treat? That’s a hard question, but the ginger thin cookies come to mind first.
Sorry about the knee, but at least now you’ve got something to work with. I have that too. It forced me to quit running in high school, but I’ve gotten it a bit more under control know. I think my knee/hip pain stems from general alignment issues, but at least it won’t get “worse.”
Thanks! It’s so weird since I’ve always had problem with my other knee. Now that knee is fine and my “good” knee is the problem child.
So glad you got some idea of what to do now for your knee. Hope this heals it up!
Hey I’ve been struggling with the same knee problem since January as well, and I was wondering in what way are you pushing down on your knee cap?
Thanks!
I sit with my leg stretched out in front of my and push just above the knee cap toward the tibia. He said it’s important to follow that tibia line because you can mis-align yourself easily doing this, Id advise going to a Dr. before trying it yourself!
I had runners knee a few years ago. So freaking painful. The thing that helped me the most was strengthening.
How long did it take you to recover? I’m so ready for this thing to be cured!
Love tacos and Kind bars!
I just found out I have a strained abductor. Thankfully it wasn’t a stress fracture and will only take a bit of PT to fix it. And I’m cleared to return to running with a wrapped quad 🙂
I’ve heard that runners knee is painful. Pushing on the knee cap to break up scar tissue doesn’t sound fun. Hope you’re back to running soon.
[Fitness, Health and Happiness]
A strained abductor sounds really painful! I hope you have a speedy recovery!
Trader Joe’s= love 🙂 I am having some ahi tuna from there for lunch! I hope you get the knee issue figured out for sure… I mean if it is Runner’s knee then you can get it healing faster 🙂
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who ended up with something a little more brown than beautiful recently. [See “pistachio poo” ;)]
Favorite Trader Joe’s treat? Hard to say….now that he’s back in my life, I don’t have such longings anymore. Current obsession would be raw almond butter, though…on rice cakes of all things.
Glad you might be solving the mystery of your knee!
Is it immature of me to giggle every time I see the word “poo”?
I love so many things at TJs – I feel like I’d be way less excited by it if there was one closer than 2 hours away.
P.S. I love that you “pre-game” your workout 🙂
Hopefully this will fix your knee! Did you register for the Peachtree lottery?
This pollen is killing me and it’s not even the type of pollen that I’m normally allergic to (which is hickory, I had some tests doen when I was a kid is how I know that.)
I did register! If I’m not better by July I’ll be pissed!
My fingers are crossed for you and your knee!! Here’s to hoping your next run is pain free!
And I love your take on tacos – really creative…kind of like a Mexican lettuce wrap.
I’m not a runner but I do get knee pain. I can only imagine how bad it would hurt if I was trying to run. Hope you’re feeling back to your old self soon!
Thank you! My knees are chronic problems, so I feel your pain!
ooh love the idea of using collard greens for wraps. i’ve been seeing a lot of that lately!
WOWee!! Love the taco idea! Definitely makin those soon!
Love falafel too!
Hope the knee feels better quickly =)
Wowza! Those tacos look great – I’m a definite Mexican lover too 🙂 can’t go wrong with it!
Thanks! I wonder if there’s ever been a study done of the most-loved food in America. I have to believe that Mexican would be #1.
Yum!! I also love the taco idea!! And I am so thankful you have a plan for your knee! I really hope it works.
My black car is entirely yellow now from all the pollen. So glad I don’t have allergies, I can just see the pollen hanging in the air. Hope your chiro is able to get your knee back in shape, I know mine just helped me with a pulled muscle in my lower back that is all better now.
Mine is too. Good thing I just washed it…. *sigh*
Glad your back is better! I swear by chiropractic. It’s the miracle practice.
Oh man, I hope the knee issue improves! What a bummer! I have something going on with my ankle right now. It’s not affected by cycling, but Zumba probably isn’t going to help it at all (or running!).
Those muffins… man. I have too many things on the “to make” list right now, but that photo today might make me move them up on the list!
I LOVE Mexican food- it’s probably my favorite (if I HAD to choose).
And fave TJ’s treat… I am a little obsessed with the new coconut thins, and the cookie butter chocolate bars. And pretty much every candy that comes in the square plastic boxes. I could probably list about 100 more things if you let me.
I haven’t see the coconut thins! Sounds like another trip is in order… 🙂
I love your collard greens tacos!! Bummer about the knee, but I’m glad you got a diagnosis. I had runner’s knee when I trained for my first marathon (one I didn’t end up running) about 5 years ago, but recovered in a month or so and have had no problems since. Adding in squats and other leg strengthening exercises helped a lot (once there was no pain in the knee doing so) and I’ve had no knee pain since… hope it’s a quick recovery!
That’s encouraging to hear! I have been dong lots of squats, but maybe this scar tissue breaking up thing will do the trick.
crunchy knee cap… ew Ew EW! as someone with 3 knee surgeries and … all that … that made me cringe 🙂 glad you figured it out, hope it is all good soon!
those are my favorite kind of tacos… talk about crunchy. 😀
Ew is right! When he did it the first time I thought I was going to barf. *shudder*
oh I hear ya on that… SO many things about my knees and what they have been through make me queasy. ew! 🙂
Your tacos look awesome! I have an obsession with wrapping everything in lettuce, so this is right up my alley!
The baked oatmeal to go looks great! I will have to try them. Hubby hates having to cook oatmeal in the morning.
You husband make your oatmeal in the morning?! Lucky!
wow, everything looks so appetizing Laura… particularly like that oatmeal to go; how versatile and handy to bring along – not to mention delicious looking! Happy your knee mystery seems to solved.
Thank you! I’m loving having a quick snack to go. 🙂
Those taco’s look amazing. So delicious and so healthy. I would usually feel bad eating taco’s but not with these!
I’m the same way… now if we could just “healthify” the restaurant tortilla chips. 🙂
I think I either have that or IT band syndrome – I’m curious to see how your homework works out!
He said with where the pain wouldn’t be my IT band, which shocked me! I’ll let you know if it works.
All your meals look lovely. I am going to have to try that baked oatmeal. Your tacos remind me of the raw tacos I made last week. I love using greens for the shell.
Raw tacos sound awesome. I’m trying to eat more raw lately.
Girl, I am SO glad you got a diagnosis and *fingers crossed* that this works! I want to run a marathon in GA, but it wouldn’t be the same without you!
That would be so much fun! There are some great courses through the city.
I love KIND bars! Next to Luna bars, they are my faves.
Lunas are great too. Have you tried the macadamia flavor? It’s my fav.
I must be an All-American gal cause I love me some Mexican food! haha
I actually don’t have a Trader Joe’s so I don’t get to go very often at all- One thing I like from there are the salt and pepper rice chips- those are really tasty! 🙂
Those chips are the best! Have you ever had salt and pepper pistachios? So. Good.
Glad to hear that your a few steps closer to fixing that knee of yours. I’m finally back to running myself, but am hesitant about breaking the 5-6 mile zone due to what happened last time.
Good for you! I completely understand that hesitation. I’m scared to test mine at all.
Glad you found out more about your knee pain. Stick to your homework and hopefully you’ll be feeling better soon. 🙂
I can’t believe this pollen in Atlanta! It is so hard not to have the windows down or our porch door open! Oh well!
I know! I’m hoping it rains soon and washes it away.
Ouch, I’ve had knee problems as a result from years of cheer and dance. Sucks!
My favorite Trader Joe’s treat is the peanut butter filled pretzels. So addicting!
Those pretzels are so addicting! I often keep them in my afternoon snack drawer at work.
I love the idea of collard greens tacos. I have used butter lettuce in the past but may need to try collard greens now.
Gosh, favorite Trader Joe’s treat, that’s hard. I love their buffalo jerky. Yum!
Bummer about your knee!! Hope it heals up quickly!
Annnnd I’m loving your baked oatmeal 🙂
Thanks a lot! Those oats are pretty tasty… I’m actually eating one now. 🙂
Awesome eats! I hope you knee gets better soon and isn’t too painful for you.
Uff… now I’m hungry for tacos… and it’s only breakfast…! We don’t have TJ here in Europe, so sadly can’t say much about it.
I can’t feel too bad for your lack of TJs… I’d take the food in Europe over America any day. 🙂
Your breakfast looks absolutely delicious! 🙂
Great idea of using greens as tacos. I do a similar thing with romaine lettuce, but I’d love to try it with greens instead.
So sorry to hear that you’ve been having knee problems. It’s so frustrating to be injured, but even more so when they can’t work out what’s wrong. I really hope your lovely chiropractor has cracked is this time and that you’re back on the road to full recovery xx
Thank you so much! The collards work really well because they are so sturdy. I have been using them for wraps a lot lately.
Yummm. What a delish day. I’ve been wrapping stuff up in greens lately too. And I really love those gluten free Dr. P veggie burgers. A regular dinner lately is two of those baked in the over with baked eggs and siracha. NOMMMM.
I can’t believe it took me so long to try Dr. P’s! Have you done them in the microwave? I’ve only used the oven so far.
I love beets just plain, but will have to try them in a smoothie soon! Collard green taco shells are a great idea! I thought of using butter lettuce before, but collards might hold more….a good thing!
Thanks for tips and good luck with your healing!
I love beets any way – plain, on salads, in smoothies… today I posted a beet socca pizza. 🙂
Those tacos look scrumptious. Great way to get in some raw collards.