Tag Archives: comeback

Dec 20 2014
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My Story, Ramblings, Trots

The Next Four Minutes

At what point does a comeback just evolve back into life?

I was running on the treadmill yesterday- doing my four minute run interval absolutely overwhelmed with excitement at the idea of my four minute run interval- wondering to myself at what point my comeback morphs into the daily grind of a gym goer.

Every day of work that I put in feels like another brick and mortar of recovery and it motivates me to keep pushing further from the day I caught my leg in my pants, fell down, and couldn’t get up. Maybe I am back to regular workout status once people stop interrupting my workouts to ask me, “How is your (enter any mixture of injured body parts here)?”

Now that I am running again (on a treadmill, for four minutes at a time) I am in a permanent state of runner’s high. My body was in withdrawal for almost two years, and now that I have had a reminder of how it feels, I’m in a constant state of awaiting my next four minutes.

Maybe we would all benefit from the comeback mindset. The mental setting that we have much progress ahead of us, and each step forward is a milestone worth telling the world about. Every time we finish a workout there is a crowded arena screaming our name. Every time we lift heavier, our name is in the paper for setting new records. And every single rep we complete, we can remind ourselves, “I couldn’t do this before”.

With the mental, physical, real, and imagined highs of the comeback journey, there must be the moments that bring our feet and faces back down to the ground; the universe giving us a friendly reminder that we aren’t as invincible as we briefly consider ourselves to be. Considering yourself to be in a “safe” place usually means that your face is about to hit the ground, so maybe embracing the comeback status is protective.

As long as progress continues, combined with the awareness there is much ground to cover, I suppose it doesn’t need any label other than that.

 

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Nov 21 2013
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My Story, Ramblings

Whack A Mole

Oh hey there. Things have gotten crazy on my end so thanks for sticking with me. This has been a time of re-evaluation and analyzing for me. I have had to temporarily refocus myself which meant about a week without exercise but thankfully I have some big goals on the horizon to scare me back to work.

I blogged a few months ago about choosing a direction for ourselves and the importance of making a conscious decision where to place each step. Right now, I feel like one foot is mid- step and I am standing on a single foot sized island. There are many islands around me, and there are boats that can carry me. Most importantly, I can swim. I just don’t know where my compass is pointing me.

We all feel defeated at some point, but with time and effort, we all make a comeback in some form or permutation. If we were never knocked down then how could we know how to stand? If we never felt defeat then how could we appreciate success? If we never left our island, how could we learn to swim? How can we discount negative experiences so quickly and neglect to see that we have gained experience after all? These self taught lessons always teach us best, like the first day of school in big colorful block letters.

There is a saying that things always work out in the end, and if things haven’t worked out yet, it isn’t the end. Eventually the feeling of being the rodent in “Whack A Mole” ends in an unpredictable dimming of lights and sounds, and your head pops up somewhere bright and new. No one really knows when the whacking stops or where the mole ends… but we all agree that those are both inevitable.

Last week I hit some obstacles that I couldn’t see until they blinded me. Even a little stumble is movement and it will only add to my momentum whichever direction I propel myself. Here is to the comeback.

Sounds like this girl needs to go for a trot.

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Nov 06 2013
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In The Gym, Squats

Squat a Lot

Back to the weights today!

It is a rainy day in Toronto and nothing cures the blues like squats. My bony post-surgery shoulder isn’t a big fan of the barbell but somehow the blasting dance music and the adrenaline of pushing weight rules that out.

I worked out today in the middle of the afternoon; that awkward lull when lunch is past, the trophy wives are done their parade, and the 9 to 5’ers aren’t out yet. This is my favourite part of my job. Actually, this is not part of my job. This is the time when the trainers come out to play. We almost all have breaks here so our overlapping workouts are a chance for us to hang out, but more importantly, show off. I weigh much less, and I am substantially not as strong (I am up against men let’s be serious), but trust me I promote my gains more than anyone. I let everyone know how much I was squatting as I moon walked through the gym floor, shouting out my stats, and giving them all the wink and the gun.

Today I did German volume training… which probably means I need to hang out females more often. 10 sets of 10 barbell squats, then walking lunges, hamstring curls, and knee extensions. Terrible facial expressions and weird sound effects included. By the time I finished, my excitement and shameless self promotion was reduced to bending over and panting with a  little bit of walking like a cowboy. It was all worth it though because today was another first! The first day I have added weight to a barbell squat in over a year. Not necessarily my best decision to combine it with so many reps but things were feeling good. If I am problem- free tomorrow then that means that it is time to squat! A lot!

This seems to be what happens to me when I work out with the guys. I forget about my limitations, and for the most part, that is a good thing.

K is three weeks out from a figure competition and more concerned with caloric intake than anyone I have ever met. I had never seen anyone use a calculator to decide if he could eat an almond or not, but he is 4% body fat so I will let it go. When we workout together I am the official Instagram photographer (you’re welcome ladies) but it is worth it because the high intensity is contagious. It was almost too good of a workout considering that it is 7pm and I can barely stay awake. As a bonus, seeing him practise his poses and giving himself seducing smiles in the mirror makes me laugh so hard that is the only ab workout I will ever need.

Depending on if I can walk tomorrow, I think this may have been leaps and bounds for my progress in the gym!

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