I enjoyed quite a tasty midday meal that started with a bed of delicious fettuccine noodles.
Add a bunch of broccoli slaw and a heaping helping of Newman’s Own Sockarooni pasta sauce to the mix and you’ve got yourself one heck of a yummy noodle bowl!
I inhaled that bad boy! I love pasta and red sauce oh-so-much. 😀
Staying Positive Through an Exercise Setback or Injury
Time for another reader’s request!
If you’ve been working out for a significant amount of time, chances are something has occurred in your life to cause you to experience an exercise set back. Maybe you sprained an ankle. Perhaps you pulled your hamstring. Whatever it is, experiencing a setback can make it hard to keep your head up while adjusting to the adversity you’re facing.
As someone who has overcome a setback or two (hip bursitis and most recently a bruised heel), here are my tips for maintaining a positive attitude through an injury or other setback:
- See a Professional Doctor: If that little voice in your head is telling you to go see a doctor, listen. You know if you’re experiencing a small injury or a serious one that warrants the opinion and advice of an expert. Seeing a doctor soon after you experience an injury can help you understand what’s going on and begin the healing process with the help of a professional. They may provide you with a plan for recovery which will help you feel like you’re tackling your setback head on.
- Seek a Second Opinion: When I had bursitis in my hip a couple of years ago, I found it very hard to remain positive. It hurt to run and it hurt to walk. I literally couldn’t even walk a quarter of a mile without experiencing severe pain in my hip. When I first visited the on-campus doctor at my college, they gave me steroids and basically told me to avoid anything physical. It wasn’t until I got a second opinion from a doctor much more familiar with sports-related injuries (he actually worked with the Tampa Bay Bucs), that I learned that my injury was completely treatable with lots and lots of stretching… no medication needed! He showed me various stretches I could do but also gave me the okay to do low-impact exercise (like the elliptical), which made me so happy.
- Focus on What You Can Do: It’s so easy to harp on what we cannot do, but don’t forget how lucky you are to be able to do the things you can do. Though I was not allowed to run or take group exercise classes that required a lot of jumping when I was injured, I was able to swim, ride a bike, do the elliptical and also engage in some light strength training. All of these options are still wonderful ways to get your heart rate up. Some time away from your favorite activities will only make you love and appreciate them more once you are healed.
- Look for Fitness in Everyday Life: Sometimes injuries prevent us from hitting the gym or pounding the pavement, but many times we’re still capable of enjoying every day athletic activities like biking around the neighborhood, swimming at the pool with friends or hittin’ the dance floor at a club (<– do this with caution 😉 ). Don’t discount these as great workouts.
- Vent and Be Angry: I can honestly tell you I cried to Ryan numerous times when I had bursitis in my hip and couldn’t even walk without pain. I was beyond frustrated and annoyed that my everyday routine was flipped upside down. It’s only natural to be upset and angry when adversity smacks you in the face. Be angry and be annoyed. Accept these feelings, but don’t dwell on them. Even though you may not be able to run, you are still able to enjoy other things in life, like your family and friends.
- Use it as an Opportunity to Eat Better: If you can’t expend lots of energy in the gym, try putting some extra effort into your healthy eating. Use the time away from exercise as an excuse to get more creative in the kitchen and concentrate on creating delicious, healthy meals like French toast strips with raspberry filling.
Have you ever experienced an injury or setback that prevented you from enjoying your normal exercise routine? How did you handle it?
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