It’s been a really long time since I talked to you all about my fitness journey. So, with no other subject in mind, but knowing that I should get a blog out, I decided that this was a good time to give you all a fitness update. So, let me tell you what’s been going on with my journey.
The Fitness Update
For most of the year I have been really good at being consistent with getting in one or two workouts. I’m trying to still call them workouts, but sometimes it’s hard to think of going for a walk, or moving furniture for work, a workout. But, I was trying to stay consistent with having some active time throughout the week. Then the first deadline, if you can call it that, arrived and I realised that I had been gaining, not losing.
The Wake up Call
Every year my family gets together at the beginning of July for a big weekend long gathering that consists of BBQ, bonfires, boating, swimming, yard games, and sitting around in the sun. It’s a really fun time. My goal, as well as that of many in my family, was to lose weight before that weekend. Some of my family were successful. They looked fantastic. I barely recognised them. I, however, didn’t look like I had lost any weight. And when I went swimming, I got tired really early on. That’s when I knew that things had to change.
A Fitness Plan
Now, a few days before this I decided to get serious and buckle down. I downloaded a free 10 week program to help me out. The workouts were going to be intense, that was a given. The trainer had muscles. Plus I had done her workout videos before and I knew that they were going to be tough. But, I was determined. So, I started on July 1st. Day 1 was brutal and my legs only recovered fully around the 5th. That was also the day I went to spend time with my family. I was feeling good about it. The plan started off strong. And then my first obstacle hit me.
Was it Too Much?
After day 2, which was upper body, I noticed some pain in my shoulder. At first I shrugged it off because of course my upper body was sore. I had just done a workout that consisted of more push ups than you could shake a stick at, and lifting weights. However, as time went on I noticed that the pain, while not getting worse, was not getting better. And it was in just one shoulder. While at work on the 6th, it suddenly became clear why my shoulder was in discomfort. It had dropped significantly from where it should be. To be clear, I’m talking about misalignment, not dislocation. I saw a chiropractor the next day and got readjusted and was told to maybe hold off on the weights. With some stretches and instructions to take it easy on that arm, I left and realised that I couldn’t continue the program now.
A Fitness Next
Now, I’m going to try really hard to not let this completely ruin my fitness journey. For this week I’m going to take it easy with some stretching and light yoga. I’ll be choosing yoga workouts that don’t involve me putting too much pressure on the arm. No downward dog for me right now, thank you. And I’ve pulled out my wii fit again, so playing some of those games that don’t involve me putting stress on that arm. And at the end of the week I have a followup appointment to see how things are going.
Honestly, incorporating more yoga and stretching into my weekly routine is probably better than jumping into weight lifting. I need to protect my body from getting injured. Yes I want to get in better shape, but not at risk to myself. So, I will try to do better with that. And I do have some time before my next deadline.
Next Deadline
My wedding, obviously. But a little before that. I’ll need to get my dress altered anyway, so I would like to lose a bit of extra weight before that. On top of that, there are certain areas that I would like to tone up a bit. Like my arms and back. So, I might have to rethink how that is all going to go. No point in injuring myself before the wedding. Now, more importantly I do want the workouts to provide me with more energy. Losing weight, while part of the goal, is secondary. There’s going to be a dance and I want to be able to dance at my wedding with my family and friends and not get tired after one song. So, I will hope and pray for a quick shoulder recovery so that I can at least do some cardio workouts. I believe that I can do this. And I know that anything can happen, if I try.
