So, today is week 17, and yesterday I started up at the gym again. They have been closed due to Covid-19.
I did some walking on the treadmill, and 10 km bike. Not a lot, but the walking was with high intensity intervals. Then I did some exercises from my pt.
As you can see in the picture, I can not do very deep squats yet, and even though I try to put equal weight on both feet, it is clear that most of the weight is on the leg with the good knee.
I will use mirrors more, to make sure that i push with good weight distribution. I believe it's just old habit that causes me to put most weight on the good leg.
You can also see, that the muscles in my operated leg are weak. They are clearly more defined in the right leg.
It's all okay though. I just keep on working, healing and strengthening my knee, in my own pace.
I did not experience more pain or swelling, after my training. So thats good!
Now I will talk a bit about running.
Last week I joined a new running community, in the city we are planning to move to in Fall.
Yes, I am planning to start running again, when my knee tells me it's okay. I do not for real believe that I can run my old pace and distances, but at my age (54), less i totally fine. I am a runner at heart, but clearly not if you asks my joints
But I still believe that I can run again some day. Just not as far, and not very fast. Most runners are not very good at taking body signals serious, because - well... as we runners say in Denmark, about pain : "
Det skal løbes væk". Google translate: "
It must be run away". Probably NOT the correct translation but maybe you get the point. When you are a runner at heart, and do long distances, you are use to pain in some ways, at some levels. And when you love it so much, you are prepared to keep on running, until the pain stops you completely. And then it is often too late. That is
not the runner I want to be again. In this process, with my TKR, I got - and still get - better at listening to my body. But I do believe, that I CAN run again, with patience and training. My weight has to go down more (5-7 kilo more down), and my muscles in my new knee has to be stronger. Otherwise my knee will not last very long.
I have always loved long distances. Run, walk, bike. Especially trailrunning. I love the feeling of accomplishment I get. It confirms me in, that I'm no longer the chronic depressed, very obese, woman, I was 7-8 years ago.
Running and walking turned my life around, healthy diet too, I lost about 30 kilo and was able to kick away all my antidepressiv drugs. Never used it since. Exercise is my drug now, and I am not known to give up.
So, when people say; "
you can not do that", I can feel a fire inside me, getting lid:
You do not get to decide what I can and can not do!
In my mind, everything is possible. You just have to do it your way. You can accomplish anything.
Believe that you CAN do it, and then you are already halfway there.
Take care everyone, hope you are all okay, and I wish you a good recovery.
Portugal
I haven't tried cycling outdoors yet, but am managing to do cross country hiking, I started water cycling in the pool too to help strengthen the knees.
You won't regret an e-bike. Just the feeling of freedom, and the feeling of almost normality...it's so amazing. 
