Day 1 of Lifting....after auto accident on December 19th

[Bettie]

End of last year sucked. Had a minor surgery in the first week of November, then, just as I was going to start lifting again after that, had a car accident.

I am now mostly better and decided to start lifting again.

Last night I tried to move the bar with my old bench press weight on it. Only 105 pound and I couldn't even move it. Could not lift it.

Back to the very beginning, with just the bar.

Wish me luck, but hey, two months ago, I could barely walk (got t-boned, direct hit at about 55 mph on the door I was sitting next to). My 17 year old son, who was driving wasn't hurt at all.

So, we'll see how this goes. Hopefully, it will get me my strength and mobility back and I'll progress relatively quickly.

Wish me luck. I think I might need it.

[cachukis]

1. First steps lead to more.

[magicarpet]

2. Be patient and pace yourself,...

.... don't over do it as you try and get back in the game. Atrophy of muscle tissue is no joke - highly susceptible to injury if you rush back into things.

Good luck to you as you navigate the healing process.

[Scrivener7]

3. If you were previously up to 105, you know how this goes. Start where you are. You'll get there.

Good luck. You can do this.

Personally, I despise lifting, but I love the effects it has on me. I am religious about it, but nowhere near where you were weight-wise.

[Bettie]

4. When I was recovering

I was able to move myself around without too much trouble, the pain was holding me back, but I was strong enough to move.

Exercise bike loosened my lower back, planned 5 minutes, did 10 before I even noticed (was watching The Pitt...so distracted)....now off to lift. Am fortunate to have cage and free weights in my home, so I don't have to go anywhere. Fat lady at the gym gets lots of rude commentary, so we bought the stuff (years ago) and I gave up my dining room.

[Scrivener7]

6. I bought it too. I went to check out Planet Fitness and they

were nice, but not for me. I'm a retired PT and the little gym staff kept running over to tell the old lady what to do. 90% of the time were wrong and I had to explain what I was doing and ask them to leave me to it. Such a waste of time.

[Bettie]

8. When I first started lifting I got a few training sessions

at a lifting gym. I went in there where there were a bunch of very muscular men and told them I was going to be lifting at home and wanted to do it safely.

I was surprised at how supportive and not-dickish the guy helping me was (and really, everyone who was there). He enforced form and made sure that I can feel what the movements are supposed to feel like. Since I'm alone when I lift, I'm cautious about that.

Nearest actual place to work out near me is 40 minutes away and costs a fortune. Plus, I'm much less likely to do it if I have to go somewhere.

OMG! It would be so annoying to have someone run over and, unasked, tell you what to do!

[Bettie]

5. Done with day one

I feel good....I know I'll be slightly sore later today, but I did my first day back to it and that is a milestone.

In the first days after the accident, I thought I was broken, that I'd never feel normal again.

I still am not back to feeling normal, but It's a lot better. Mentally, doing this was really good for me.

And at the end of May the local pool opens, so I can get a lap swim pass and swim for an hour every day until August.

[Scrivener7]

7. You're back! Well done!