Thursday, October 11, 2012

Peak 313 Living and Active Challenge pt 2

So I began the 5 week challenge on a great foot.  I was living.  I was active.  I did everything required of me and then some for the first 6 days and then...injury.

I've been sick with the flu.  I've had scrapes, cuts, and bruises.  I've had menstral cramps that would make lesser mortals faint.  But I have never experienced anything like this.

It happened on a Saturday, which is normally my day off from my day job.  I had been forwarded a set of photos taken at once of my husband's shows (he sings, dances, acts, whatever), and included were about 5 of the most unflattering pictures of me ever taken.  I was in a funk after seeing them, so I went into work and used my frustration to arrange and re-arrange some of the merchandise with vigor. I moved a couch alongside a customer, and I felt a slight pinch.  After the couch was placed, I walked over and picked up a box of books and then I couldn't sit it down.  I couldn't bend over at all.  I had to drop the box.

I didn't realize the severity of my injury.  Never having serious back problems before, I thought I'd be fine with an hour or two of rest. Haha.  How naive.

Over the next 12 hours the pain crescendoed into unbelievable torture.  I had call into my night job.  I could not stand, walk, or go to the bathroom unassisted.  I slept in the kitchen floor because I literally could not take another step.

Seven days and 4 chiropractor appointments later I was able to stand for short periods of time.  My body shook with the effort of it.  I could walk, but it was a slow, sad shuffle, nothing compared to my normally fast clip.  Even now, 26 days later, I am only back to about 80% of my former abilities.  I am terrified of lifting anything over 10 lbs.

Obviously I wasn't able to be active for the Peak 313 Challenge.  I barely qualified as living.  If one good thing came out of my injury it was that I had a lot of time to think, and here is the conclusion I reached:

I may not have liked the body I saw in those hideous photographs, but that body was strong and capable.

Never in my life did I feel like such a brat.  I was only focused on what I looked like.  I completely overlooked the wonderful things my body could do.

I have decided to start the challenge again.  This time there won't be hundreds of other people doing it alongside me.  I don't have to check in, and I won't win a prize.  I'm doing it because I can.  I'm also changing my mindset.  The first go-around I had only 1 goal - to finish.  This time I have 2 goals - finish and maintain a positive, grateful attitude.

I'm not sure if negative reinforcement works for others trying to improve their bodies, but it didn't work for me.

The challenge consists of exercising 25 mins a day/4 days a week.  It also incorporates memorizing Bible verses to feed you spiritually, and checking in with others for accountablilty.  Since the official challenge ends 10/5, I'll use this blog to check in.

Better late than never, right?

Peak313.com

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