I didn’t write my earlier post to illicit any type of ‘poor girl’ thought process from anyone. (although I do appreciate the gestures and kind words.) The main point is that I wanted those of you, who are passionate about health and fitness as am I, to know that other people get injured too. The extent of all of our injuries may not be the same and the treatment and length of time being injured is also not the same, but never the less, the pink elephant in the room is the injury.

For me, exercise is a part of my everyday life.
I believe in exercise as a natural stress reducer.
I believe in the mental toughness that is gained through challenging workouts.
I believe in the empowerment that is achieved by gaining physical strength.

I still believe in these things, but it’s been 55 days since I was able to tap in to these things that are so important to me. I’ve been forced to find a way to deal without them or find something to replace them.

As Erica mentioned in the comment section of my previous post, my main goal now is taking care of myself, working through the injury and resting. She’s right, and she knows. Not to mention that because of her focus on doing what she needed to do, she is back on the path to being even stronger than she was before her injury. Yet, much like you would probably feel…It’s killing me. Will I live? Sure. If you’re in the same place as I am, you’ll live too.

It’s far better to rest and rehab it now then it is to over-do-it and have to sit out longer later on because you can’t physically move. That’s the part I have to remember.

So, it’s been a long and grueling 55 days since I’ve done a workout. I messed around with a few lunges about 3-4 weeks ago and it sent me back to pain central, so I’ve completely taken everything off the table except for walking. Walking!! Ugh.

Today though, I’m going to do a few small sets of push ups, rows, and the only exercise I’m “allowed” to do, side planks. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

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Yep, I’m another year older today, but to be brutally honest, it really isn’t phasing me a whole lot. I turned 32 today, and I’ve worked for myself since I was 25, pretty spectacular in my opinion. I’ve gone through some major ups and downs, both physically and mentally, yet it looks like I’ve come out on top.

I’m coming off a shoulder injury, where for the longest time I couldn’t do a push up without pain or a simple 20lbs overhead press. I’m back on the push ups and up to 45lbs presses. There’s no doubt I have some work ahead of me to get back to where I once was but I didn’t give up!

Do I feel older, or am I just working harder?

Who has the answer to that one? Am I a little still in the morning? Sure! Did I deadlift the day before? Probably. Point taken.

Am I ever going to give up this workout thing?

I highly doubt it. It keeps me going. I’m one of those people who actually gets cranky if I haven’t done a workout in several days.

So the truth is, it’s my birthday. I had a great day…it started with a leisurely cup of coffee, and nice strength workout, lunch with a dear friend, an adjustment at the chiro, a nap, and dinner with friends and family. Any other better day, not really, I was with the ones I love.

Age creeps on us when we aren’t looking but if we stare it dead in the face every day, it’ll never get a hold of us.

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I’ve heard the phrase a few times, in different contexts, but anyway you look at it, it makes sense.

If you surround your self with people who are smarter than you, you will become smarter if you learn from them.

If you surround your self with people who are more successful than you, you will gain a working knowledge of what contributes to their success and be able to implement similar practices toward your own success.

If you surround your self with people who are conscience about nutrition and exercise, you will be encouraged to exercise and make healthy food choices.

The statement holds true to a great many things, including the bad, but I’ll stick to the positive spin here.

It may be hard to evaluate some relationships to see if they are helping you or harming you, but after you have and after you make some changes, you’ll see a difference in the things you’re looking to stop doing and an increase in the things you’re trying to start.

Try it out… Pick something bold and positive that you’d like to use to influence your life for the better.  Start spending time with people who possess that quality and who have mastered it.  See if you pick up and implement anything they do.

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As it turns out kettlebell training isn’t supposed to hurt.  (Hopefully you can hear my sarcasm.) The reality is that if kettlebell training hurts you aren’t doing something right, much like other exercises.

All that wrist banging, bruises, and contusions…yep, they shouldn’t exist.  So what’s up?

First, just with anything else you do, both in and out of the exercise world; there’s the wrong way to do an exercise, there are a variety of acceptable ways to do exercises, and then there’s the right way or the preferred way to do an exercise.

This is where you have to take the time to learn.  Take the time to learn how to do kettlebell exercises the right way with someone who actually knows what they are doing, and who has used them for a significant period of time.

It all unfolds from here…if you learn the right way to do kettlebell exercises then it isn’t going to hurt you, even snatches.

Here’s the stipulation.  Most of us have only done exercises that require the implement; either dumbbell, medicine ball, or barbell, among others all sit within our grip and the weight is distributed throughout our hands.

In some kettlebell training exercises such as snatches, cleans, presses, windmills, and Turkish get-ups, the majority of the weight rests on the outer part of your forearm.  Since our forearms are not used to this pressure from our other forms of exercise it takes some conditioning to get used to having weight rest on your forearm.

As you learn kettlebell training you will soon see that with proper instruction and technique that you will not bang your wrists, you won’t have bruises, and you won’t be in pain (except for maybe your glutes and hamstrings).

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