This morning when the alarm went off at 6 a.m. so I could get to my rowing workout, I felt some stiffness and ache in my right leg from that weird pop that I experienced last week. It didn’t really hurt, as in sharp or throbbing pain, so I figured it would work out and loosen up.
I found out within five strokes on the rowing machine that I was wrong. It is the strangest sensation of discomfort but I knew I couldn’t and shouldn’t push it. The trainer had asked me before we started how I was feeling and he then saw my face after I tried rowing and promptly told me to pay attention to my body. Defeated, I stopped and unstrapped my feet, positive that my working out was over. Then Chris (the trainer) told me he could write me up a routine of exercises to work my upper body, including core, but wouldn’t affect my legs. Did I want to do that instead?
Oh hell yeah I did. I could feel my energy light up inside. I grabbed a set of 10 pound dumbbells and a 10 pound ball while he jotted down a list of exercises on the white board. 15 bicep curls into presses; 10 tricep dips on the suspended rings; 15 ball sling sit ups; 20 penguins.
He set the rings for my height and showed me how to do the dips on them and then I got started. While simultaneously running the time, checking the form of the rest of the class and encouraging them as they were rowing and doing their floor exercises, he’d stop by to coach me on my form on the unfamiliar exercises or have me do an adjustment to get more out of the work. Mid-way through he added a “row” that had me hold onto rings and lean back with my feet flat on the floor, then use my back and arms to lift myself back to standing straight up.
I worked with all the strength I could muster — no slacking off or going easy. I only recently moved up to 10 pound dumbbells from 8s and I really feel the difference, particularly with my left arm on the pressing up, but I kept at it.
By the end of the workout, I’d done five sets or, when I do the math, 75 curls/presses, 50 dips, 75 sit ups, 100 penguins (great oblique/core work) and 45 rows. Oh, I almost forgot. He added I-Y-Ts with lighter dumbbells for the last two sets.
Although I didn’t achieve the same cardio level that I do with rowing, I got into the high 70%-low 80%. Moreover, I felt the endorphins kick in about half way through the workout. I was so freaking happy to be exercising this morning, despite the leg injury. I was also proud of myself that, when offered the option, I jumped at it.
This reinforces a lot of the positive mindset that I’ve developed and reaffirms my commitment to improving the strength of my body while replacing fat pounds with lean, powerful muscle. It felt great!
I need to give a shout out to the trainer for giving me the option and designing the workout for me on the spot. He also told me that if I come on Wednesday and am still not up for rowing, he’ll design another workout for me to do. If he isn’t there, whatever trainer is there will do it for me.
Honestly, I have high hopes that my condition will continue to improve each day. To be on the safe side, I’ve scheduled another acupuncture appointment for Thursday. In the meantime, it’s only part of my body that’s affected. There’s a lot more of me that I can still work on. No matter what, I’m powering through!
Weighty Matters 
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