If you have been an avid reader of my fitness articles over the years, you’ll have noticed that I often talk about nutrition, fitness goals and how to improve. What I haven’t really talked about is how to recover after an injury.
Recently, I had multiple injuries, one self-inflicted and another an accident. The problem when you get hurt, is how to recover. I have long been promoting walking as a way to keep fat levels low and to keep cardio fitness levels up. I have been doing this low-impact version of fitness with the addition of a weighted vest to increase/ramp-up my heart rate.
One day, I put on the vest and cinched it down, probably a little tighter than normal. Since the
weather is starting to break where I live, I had a good opportunity to get outside and take advantage of the warm sunshine. I felt good and repeated it the next day. The problem arose two days later when I realized I must have pulled something on my side. Not to let it get the better of me, I naturally kept up my workout routine, which kept aggravating the muscles across my upper abs and rib cage. After enduring ten days, I went to the emergency room because I could barely breathe. It’s never a pleasant experience when you’re not sure what is happening to your body. We even had to rule out the possibility of a clot! I am fine now, and the final assessment was that I likely pulled some muscles and was having severe muscle spasms.
Two days later, I was injured when I was hit on the head by a falling, full Yeti water bottle. A small laceration on the side of my head required yet another visit to the doctor. Again, no long-lasting effect, just a small cut, but it decidedly took me out of the workout mode for another week.
Why am I telling you this? So you can learn from my mistakes, of course. First, take care of yourself. Listen to what your body is telling you and don’t be afraid to seek medical help when it’s warranted. Second, if you do hurt yourself, slow down and take time to recover. I was so focused on the fitness side of my routine that the pulled muscle worsened because I kept pushing myself. Third, if you are in any type of accident/incident, the most important thing is to heal yourself. The weights and the gym will still be there when you recover. Expect it to be a process to get back into the routine. Fourth, when you are finally able to get back to your routine, take it slowly. You will do more damage if you hit it too hard to fast.
Our goals are always to prolong our lives, to live a healthier lifestyle, and to enjoy the time we have here! Remember, sometimes it helps if you have a partner or coach to support you in your journey as they will help hold you accountable to YOUR goals.
