I Could’ve, I Would’ve, I Should’ve, but I DIDN’T
Why Not? Why don’t we stick with our plan to accomplish whatever goals we may have in life? Perhaps financial obligations are of utmost importance? Or maybe other family matters need to be resolved immediately? Maybe we are just weary and beat by the woes of everyday life.
Nonetheless, it seems that a means to succeed exists in every situation. Hopefully, my story today is not unexpected. My story today depicts how I was reminded to never say, “I could’ve, I would’ve, I should’ve but I didn’t. Today, I DID. I did as much as I could physically and mentally to make certain my full recovery after fall ‘06 ACL surgery.
Routines are named so for good reason. They are just that … “routines. Often monotonous in nature these scheduled tasks become habitual. Although tedious as the repetition allows for little or no spontaneity, the everyday performance of such tasks often leads to goal accomplishment.
At 5:00 am, I woke to re-start a “routine once temporarily set aside. I speak of my ritual like 5x/week gym program. I use the word “ritual as I set out to perform a series of actions and procedures in a set, ordered, just shy of ceremonial way. From the already prepared breakfast, needing only brief exposure to some microwave heating, to the 2 gym bags meticulously packed with at gym, ready to leave gym and post gym gear, my day began.
Training revolved around strengthening my knee for complete rehabilitation. I rarely do much cardio exercises, but today I started and finished with cardio activities. I began with the recumbent bicycle for 25 minutes and concluded with 20 minutes of elliptical training. Both were at a moderate to hard intensity, although limited hard intensity. This gave me an opportunity to exercise the supporting knee muscles for strength. As for weight training, I did 4 sets of moderately heavy (35 lbs) dead lifts, stiff legged dead lifts:then 4 sets of hip abductor and adductor work:and 4 sets of straight leg quad extension (2.5 lbs for 25 reps), straight leg hip flexor (5lbs. for 25 reps).
The amount of weight I moved today is a far cry from my past “norm. But, with a continued following to my “routine in a ritual-like manner, I’m sure to see increasing gains in knee strength. In 3 months:in 6 months:in 7 months (’07 IFBB NPC North American Figure Competition) months later:I do not want to be able to say, “I Could’ve, I Would’ve, I Should’ve, but I didn’t. Because today, I DID:and I will do again tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that:
January 29, 2007 at 9:43 pm
What a great attitude. You can definately help those (me) with much less to complain about (althougth I do anyway) keep it in perspective
January 29, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Right, it could always be worse. Hmmmmmm.
January 29, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Don’t even think about worse. You have one of the best mindsets I have ever seen when it comes to exercise. Where the mind goes, the body will follow.
January 29, 2007 at 10:22 pm
That’s my plan.
January 30, 2007 at 6:44 am
What a great overcomming story this will make when your writing your how to book when you are pro!
January 30, 2007 at 2:56 pm
You probably are one of the mentally toughest people around. Hats off to you!!!
January 30, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Merci Beaucoup, Jarueba T!
January 30, 2007 at 9:52 pm
wow - you go girl. Stories like yours give the rest of us hpe as we struggle to overcome obstacles… most of them self-imposed! Keep up the corageous work.. a day at a time.. a rep at a time. You will get there..
blessings
maxine
January 31, 2007 at 12:30 am
Nice… I am inspired for at least a week now!
January 31, 2007 at 11:00 pm
i think it takes more discipline to work with lighter weights than you’re used to. It’s too easy to want to go all out but setting limits is sometimes necessary. awesome!
February 1, 2007 at 12:01 pm
that was beautiful
February 1, 2007 at 12:24 pm
That was very inspiring. I like your new profile pic too.
February 1, 2007 at 5:59 pm
in time girlfriend..in time
February 1, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Thanks Moirae.
(And sorry about the multiple "comments". I didn’t realize they had to be pre-approved before display. DOH!!!)
February 2, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I am always enticed by your tales back. When I need inspiration, this is where I come.
Still following your road to complete recovery.
D_
February 2, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I am again in awe….and also look forward to reading your posts.
February 2, 2007 at 7:46 pm
OK…it seems I’m due for a new post. Will be up by tomorrow…stay tuned.
Dawn Melanie