ZachPSU

Win: Generated some new creative exercises for a post-op ACL that had a failed hamstring graft from too-aggressive PT at a prior location. NAW: Have not been communicating well at home, maybe had my head in the sand with the new job and sponging up everything at work.

Win: Did some IASTM (scraping tendons with what looks like a wicked butterknife) for the first time, didn't kill anyone and didn't get cussed at. NAW: Got the different approaches for hip replacements mixed up with my boss just as I was going through someones second visit after their THA. I was doing the right things, just couldn't identify the right approach. He wasn't quizzing me like a jerk or anything, but it was just something that came up and then I wished I had known them better given I was currently working with someone with their new hip.

Welp, I've been busy! First check-in after missing a few days. Win for the day: Made great connections with both of my evals today on a level that should bring them back to therapy when we can do more fun stuff. Not-a-win (NAW): Felt totally deer-in-the-headlights chasing a shoulder impingement on the first eval. There is a whole lot of rust getting knocked off right now, but I'm going to get my head around it. Here's to doing better!

Following along - Didn't know you are a dietician! Very cool, my new job has one on-site.

Hello Druids: Well, I've been a First time challenger, a 2-time rebel, a warrior, and now a druid. The past 5 challenges have taken me from being a student on my final clinical rotation, that rotation being terminated prematurely due to COVID, boards being postponed due to COVID, being unable to work, ultimately fighting to get a seat for boards, passing boards, navigating a tumultuous healthcare job market, and finally (last week) landing a full time job. I feel like I have been tossed by an angry sea for months and have finally been heaved onto shore somewhere, the sun is shining, but my clothes dry with salt-water stiffness and I am weary. I'm thankful to have been washed to some sort of stability, and I am solemn for the majority of my classmates, friends, and former bosses in the clinical settings because most of them are still unemployed or furloughed. Still, I am exhausted. My patience is short at home, and I am not at my best. I want to cleanse and start my new profession off with my best foot forward. I start next Monday once my insurance credentialing pushes through for billing and whatever they have to do. I figure Druids is as good a place as any to go now as I continue my tour around the guilds. GOALS 1) Meditate, or otherwise chill-the-hell-out. By the end of the day with the 2 kids I have been at my wits end, and zone out with some blue-screen stimulation. Either a show, a sporting event, or my phone. That's okay, but I know I also need to just clear my mind. This is my best time to do it. I'm going to try to start with babysteps of being conscious of my phone use at night and limit it to no more than 5 minutes per hour, consolidated. 2) Journal. I've learned about something called Imposter Syndrome lately. It is apparently very common in the medical professional community where we just start to feel like we don't actually know the things we need to know, that we actually aren't qualified, etc. Maybe its first job jitters, but I think journaling to be honest with myself about these feelings will be good. I will try to score at least 5 days a week of a post here identifying a feeling I felt today. A win, and a not-win. "I felt great when I identified 2 special tests that were positive for this patient", or "I felt like a total noob when I couldn't generate more than one differential diagnosis for a case." 3) Workout/Nutrition. I've been steadily fitness pal'ing with my wife and lost about 12 pounds or so and I am nearing a happy point for me, so i can resume a clean bulk soon. Going to stick with the cut for another 2 weeks though, because technically this was to be my 10th week of the cut, we really went off the rails last weekend and I'm feeling it. So I want to work that back out. In addition to that, continue with my 3 day/week maintenance PPL program which is generally not a struggle for me, and then in 2 weeks switch to a 5 day/week PPL bulk. It's nice to meet all of you and I look forward to us all sharing our success and struggles.

Thank you both for checking in! Life was keeping me very busy, juggling the kids and coverage for random interviews. Finally landed a full time job! It is a little stressful because it is a physician owned group, which is some potentially sticky areas for physical therapy as PT fights to become more of an independent, direct-access point of healthcare, but options are very very limited and I need to do what is right for my family right now, and the clinic and group seems very nice and works with some really unique populations and has great stability even if COVID ramps back up here again, so those are all good things! I should get a start date from HR sometime this week after they credentialize my provider number for billing, which I have no idea how that works but thankfully they do. It's a big weight off my shoulders, and my family, so we did celebrate this weekend and had all of the delicious things in life. Sushi, blizzard from DQ, Denny's for breakfast, and I am feeling very... ready... to workout and get back on the wagon this morning! Going to move to a new challenge thread soon!

Yes, the above is correct, and the one or two CNAs that take their job seriously and are able to perform that caring patient care can make all the difference, they definitely get the most face-time with patients of most medical professionals. Today I ran for the first time since my tough mudder over a year ago. Did 2.5 miles in about 24 minutes, could have went further I think but I knew better and stopped myself because I knew I would be sore, and lo and behold, I am sore tonight!

Eating 1980 cal/day from a TDEE calc for a 0.5-1lb loss weekly. 40/40/20 prot/carb/fat split. That said I usually end up around 150-170g of prot and carbs per day. Sleep is definitely an issue. Baby still in our room for another month in bassinet so usually I am sleeping from around 11:30 (after wifes last pump for the night) then we migrate into bed with me carrying dog to not wake baby with her toenails on hardwood. Wake around 2-4 if baby wakes for a feed, then I go to the couch in the living room so I can use an audible alarm to get up to lift. Or, wake up around 6:30 or so naturally if baby sleeps thru and then scramble to try to get lifts in before kids get up. Program has wednesday and sat/sun as rest as stands. Thinking about pushing it into a low volume PPL 3 day deal and add in steady state cardio T/R to help trim a bit more. Weightloss has stagnated around 162 for a few weeks so would prefer to add more cardio rather than cut calories more to stoke the fire.

So sorry about dogdog Looks like he had such a good life you gave him though, very happy pup!

Well damn, it's been a busy few days. First day(s) of work went well, got three days last week, just one so far scheduled for this week. I've been at all 3 of this companys facilities. The first 2 are literally holes-in-the-wall and floor, nursing staff that don't care (because they get paid peanuts and are mostly CNAs doing tough work for less than they could make flipping burgers). Then the last one I went to for a full shift on Friday has been renovated, walked in to a 360 degree salt water aquarium with turtles and fish and everyone was pleasant and great to work with. Had a great phone interview with an ortho clinic last week, and have another phone screen tonight with a known orthopedic-mill, but they are both full time gigs which I desparately want. I can handle the grindstone for a few years doing 3-6 patients per hour to get some experience and then move on to a different job for sure. I have a high tolerance for BS and don't burn out easily. Warrior-related things, I've been struggling on my lifts, really tough. I'm just not having any energy, maxing out my rests between sets, and usually just hitting my big 2 lifts for the day MTRF. I'm thinking about reconsolidating and doing a MWF lift plan, just 2-3 lifts each day, and then add light cardio T/R, do my water rower one day and my treadmill the other. Posting my log from past week of lifts in spoiler tag (hopefully it loads?) Okay no idea I think its gonna be an attachment and not in the spoiler tag above Who knows. I will say on Thursday I tweaked my upper/mid trap overhead pressing. I have a spot I have to stand on the floor (marked with tape) in order for any plates bigger than 10s to go up in between the rafters at lockout. I was off a little and the left side slammed it pretty hard on my first working weight rep and knocked me sideways. Recovered, but got a 3-4 day spasm there. Mostly rested it Friday and took care at work with it and it's all better now. Fight on!

It could be done in between naps maybe, but would be rushed. My toddler would be entertained down there but the basement is a shared space with my tenants and his toddler curiosity would have him rummaging in all of their stuff. I look forward to a safer spot for the gym when we move eventually, so the kids can see us working out and get that positive messaging that it is fun and good for you.

The powerlifter in me says "Yes, get out of that cage so you can go get in another cage!" Hope you're feeling better.

Starting work at my per diem gig tomorrow, just orientation and then probably shadowing/checking out their EMR and seeing how it runs. I remember during the interview I asked, and it was one I hadn't heard of before so it might be pretty home-brew like and clunky, but what EMR isn't? Workout this morning was okay, but I was a bit slow and sluggish fitting the trend with the cut. Looking forward to reversing course soonish. Probably mid-october, I don't have a firm end date but I want to give it a solid 8 weeks or so and I think I'm at 4 right now. Spoiler for workout log (I'm trying to improve my handwriting, I thought of Harriet's short story she made of my last log :D) Lat raises definitely looks like "Lat Rakes" - which is probably a great workout to build your lats.

Thanks! Your handwriting skills are astute, thats exactly what I wrote Apple picking was really nice! We picked concord grapes too for a change, my wife is becoming quite the preserver/canner so she is planning some jelly with them. My son, all jacked up on about 7 apples, decided to socially distance himself from the fam for the picture. We stopped for some food at some new restaurant in the country-area we were, and it was delicious, but we all endulged on ice cream after lunch and holy shit is my body revolting. I can tell I have been tracking and being mindful of my food because it literally feels like I swallowed a lead ball.

DL day a good day, hit all of the lifts and felt like I could have done more. Apple picking with the fam today! Hello Fall, my favorite!