Injury
Well this has been a tough week. I pulled a muscle in my neck after doing a set of dumbbell bench presses almost a week ago. I jerked my head up off the bench attempting to sit up after my set to put the dumbells (which weighed more than I do) down. I immediately felt it in the back of my neck, upper back area. I actually managed to finish my workout although in a bit of discomfort. The next morning, my neck was pretty stiff and I couldn’t move my head too much without some pain. I continued working out in the gym over the next few days as my neck felt a little better each day and felt best after a workout when I had the blood flowing. Then it was time to work chest again. I elected not to do flat bench dumbbell presses so I wouldn’t have to sit up or just drop the weights. Instead I did barbell bench presses but in doing so put alot of stress on the back of my neck each time I lifted the bar off the rack (I don’t use a spotter). I felt it but thought I would be alright. I was wrong! I woke up the next morning around 5:30 am in so much pain that I could barely move, roll over, or sit up. That day was horrible and I was obviously forced to finally skip a workout. I haven’t lifted any weights in the gym in three days now which is more days in a row off than in the past couple months. I did run yesterday in the hotel which was the first time in four days and actually would have gone to the gym today but by the time I got back to my crashpad after flying in the morning, the gym was closed for Thanksgiving.
It’s been about 7 months now since I started working out and getting back in shape. This is already longer than I’ve stuck to any workout program in the past. I’ve been here so many times in the past where I’m doing good working out on a regular basis and then something throws me off my routine. My biggest fear right now is falling off the wagon so to speak. In the past, an interuption in my workout routine like this would have been enough to throw me off and cause me to stop going period. Not this time, though! I am determined to get back into my routine as soon as possible and can’t wait to hit the gym first thing tomorrow morning. The neck’s feeling alot better, btw. I’ve been so happy with the progress that I’ve already made that I can’t imagine falling out of shape again. I think once I do start hitting the gym hard again, it’s going to be additional motivation to know that I overcame my first obstacle and have it in me to continue doing this for years to come. I feel like I’m close to the point where there really is no turning back with my healthy lifestyle. It won’t even be an option.
I am going to be a little smarter with the weights I lift in the future. I think I was starting to go a little too heavy…weights I could only do 2-4 reps with on my last set or two. I’m just going to concentrate on using good form with slightly lighter weights at least for the time being. I’ll make sure I’m really ready before increasing the weights from now on.
