ACL Again: Four Weeks Out, Stronger Than Ever

I’m about a month out from my next appointment with the surgeon—and for the first time in a long time, that timeline feels exciting instead of heavy.

I switched physical therapy offices recently. Translation: I voluntarily signed up to be tortured by blood flow restriction therapy. If you know, you know. It’s uncomfortable, humbling, and wildly effective. The kind of work that reminds you progress isn’t always pretty—but it’s always earned.

What’s different this time is my mindset.

Momentum Feels Good on Me

I’ve finally wrapped my head around exercising regularly again. Not perfectly. Not obsessively. Just consistently. Showing up even when I don’t feel like it. Especially when I don’t feel like it.

On top of that, I recently cut wheat out of my diet. No dramatic announcement. No “never again.” Just a choice that felt right for my body right now.

The result?

I’m down another five pounds.

I feel stronger than I’ve felt in the last two years.

I’m lighter than I’ve been in five.

That alone would be enough to celebrate—but the real win is how I feel inside my body. Capable. Grounded. Awake.

Life Is Still… Life

Let’s be clear: nothing else magically stopped being hard.

The kids still make me absolutely crazy some days.

Work is full and demanding.

Winter blues are real.

Life is loud and messy and nonstop.

But here’s the difference—I refuse to let any of it knock me off track.

Not because I’m immune to stress.

Not because I’ve figured it all out.

But because I’ve decided I’m worth the effort even when things are hard.

I’m Coming Back Stronger

I’m proud of myself.

That’s not something I’ve said out loud—or even thought—very often over the years. But it’s true. I’m proud of the discipline. Proud of the consistency. Proud of choosing progress over excuses.

The next four weeks of physical therapy matter. I’m hopeful for a full release at my next appointment—but I also know this:

A release doesn’t mean the work stops.

It means the work changes.

I’ll keep pushing forward.

I’ll keep showing up.

I’ll keep building strength—physically and mentally—so I can be the strongest, toughest version of myself moving forward.

Here’s to four more weeks of effort.

Here’s to trusting the process.

And here’s to becoming someone I’m damn proud to be.