> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://lisaromerodugal.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pushing Through - URL: https://lisaromerodugal.com/blog/pushing-through/ - Published: 2020-03-19T18:26:40.000Z - Updated: 2020-03-19T18:26:40.000Z - Author: Lisa Romero Dugal - Tags: arthroscopic surgery, catholic faith, family, grateful, gratitude, health and fitness, imagine believe achieve, life with lisa, mind body and soul, physical therapy, recovery, self care, thankful thursday, ww lifetimer, #wordpress Greetings!!! Thank you for stopping by to read my blog. I appreciate YOU 😊 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f8/03/f803cc65-7efe-420c-aa7f-01e7478e45d0/content/images/2026/09/img_3792.jpg) Number One on my gratitude list Today is thankful Thursday, and I’ve had a huge breakthrough with my mindset and filled with gratitude. But first, let me rewind and catch you up. I began my health & fitness journey in 2015 and discovered my passion for it in the process. I’ve lost and maintained over 50 lbs through WW (Weight Watchers reimagined), and have worked hard in achieving my fitness and stamina - always looking for ways to challenge myself. On March 3rd, I had arthroscopic knee surgery to clean up my knee (I had ACL reconstruction in 2011 and arthroscopic in 2012). Since I’m literally in the best shape of my life and at my healthiest (as opposed to prior knee surgeries), I t*hought* this would be easy. I *thought* I would bounce back so easily. Was I wrong!!! Yes, I was properly informed about the surgery & post op, BUT I guess I thought I was superwoman ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f8/03/f803cc65-7efe-420c-aa7f-01e7478e45d0/content/images/2026/09/img_3788.jpg) The first week of surgery was a VERY long week. I forgot how limited I would be. Fortunately I was able to ditch the crutches on post op day 6\. In the meantime, I was struggling mentally. **This was so much harder than I anticipated - the physical and emotional.** While I continued to progress with physical therapy, my mindset wasn’t there yet. And in the midst of this, enter the corona virus. I originally was thinking that the virus was overblown by the media to cause a panic. The virus came to life when a wonderful well respected, well loved man, whom I’ve known my entire life was hospitalized with the virus. Thankfully, he is stable now. 🙏🏻❤️ The virus, and the freedoms it has taken away from us with business closures, took my mindset down another notch. The outlets that have been my therapy in the past have been taken away since I’m rehabbing my knee. I would LOVE to be able to go out for a nice long walk. It’s still too early, and I’m limited to 5 minutes - 10 minutes top. I must listen so that I don’t over do it and hinder my progress... but its also SO HARD!!! All of this has wreaked havoc on my nutrition for the past several days. I’m talking behaviors that I haven’t engaged in in years. Overindulgence. And guess what? There was **NO** joy in it. It brought me **NO** satisfaction. And it definitely didn’t solve any problems!!! So, why did I do this??? Trying to fill a void. **What I DO NEED right now**, more than ever is proper nutrition for my emotional health and recovery. Sugar is an inflammatory. Inflammation has the ability to affect my recovery by causing muscle pain and weakness, interference with my body’s natural ability to repair bone mass, compromise the liver & kidney’s, depression - to name a few. No, I don’t need to eliminate anything. **Balance & Moderation** has been one of the many keys to my success. I may have lost it for a few days, but I’m back on track. My long list of gratitude on this Thankful Thursday includes: my son is HOME; my daughter’s pregnancy is healthy; family & friends; continued progress with physical therapy; my stitches were removed yesterday; reconnecting with family & friends; increased prayer life; still sober; the birds are singing. I will try to practice more patience with myself and others along with self-compassion I will close with one of my favorite quotes: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f8/03/f803cc65-7efe-420c-aa7f-01e7478e45d0/content/images/2026/09/img_3790.jpg) ***Imagine*** with all your mind \~ ***Believe*** with all your heart \~ ***Achieve*** with all your might *Life With Lisa* 💕 ## From the Life With Lisa years 8 comments, as they were left on lifewithlisa.org. 1. **Alice DeForest** March 19, 2020 You're not alone with the over indulging. Sitting in front of the tv triggers a craving for junk food. But anyways good luck with the recovery 1. **lifewithlisa9**Lisa March 19, 2020 Thank you 😊 2. **beth** March 19, 2020 best of luck with your recovery, look how far you've come, you can do this too - 1. **lifewithlisa9**Lisa March 19, 2020 Thank you for your encouragement 😊 3. **thesunshinethagain** March 20, 2020 You’re doing amazing, please take it easy with yourself. You have my best wishes with recovery. Glad to know he’s recovering well. Take care. 1. **lifewithlisa9**Lisa March 20, 2020 Thank you so much!!! I appreciate it 😊 4. **bigskybuckeye** March 23, 2020 Great quote at the end! You are motivating me with your discussion. Here's to healthy living. God's peace to our incredible, unselfish health care professionals. 1. **lifewithlisa9**Lisa March 23, 2020 We CAN do this 🙌🏼