January 25, 2009

90% Back

I went back to the gym tonight and met with my trainer again. I swear in the three weeks I've been out, he has been working out extra. It looked like someone inflated his arms. When I told him he was holding out on me and asked him what he's been doing, he jumped up, grabbed the pull-up bars and did 15 pull-ups easily.

"Hmm," I said, "and I can't even do one unless you're holding 90% of my body weight."

He laughed. "Let's go girl. Let's get you back." He spent the next 40 minutes annihilating my biceps and triceps. For the first exercise, he handed me one of those straight bars that you're supposed to put weights on. "Girl, can you curl this?" he asked as he gently handed it to me. As I was taking it from him, he said, "it's 40 lbs."

I really wanted to lift that bar, but it was next to impossible. My legs are strong but my arms are still lagging behind. I moved it a couple inches and looked at him with pleading eyes, "I'm thinking this isn't going to happen" I told him.

A woman who was working out nearby, with arms like a body builder started laughing out loud. "I had faith in you! I thought you were going to do it!" she yelled across the floor.

"Yeah, well that's because I still have my sweatshirt on," I told her. "Wait until you see my spaghetti arms."  She cracked up again and I announced that I'm happy my weakling arms can be of some amusement to someone.

My trainer handed me the 30 lb. curling bar for what he calls "21's." I call them pure hell. I was relieved I could do it with 30, but grateful when he handed me the 20 lb. bar after a couple sets.

It is absolutely amazing how much you lose in the way of progress when you take a couple weeks off. My trainer assured me that the longer I work out, the less I'll fall back when I take a break. I just need to keep putting more time in.

I pushed it as hard as I could tonight, avoiding anything where I would have to kneel and felt good when my arms felt like jello and I could barely straighten them at the end of our session. I didn't think about my knee once the entire time except for when I told him those kneeling dips were out.

We saved abs for last, as usual, and tonight my trainer had some new torture for me. He did it all with me and I kept up just fine with him. That's the one thing I haven't let slide these past few post-surgical weeks. It was only a few days after surgery and I was sitting on the floor with my medicine ball, working it out. He told me he was impressed and that even if my arms are lagging behind, my core is getting stronger every day.

He told me he's got an arsenal of new things for me in the weeks to come. I'm excited to get to them.

When I was exchanging some work-out clothes from Christmas the other day, I was looking for some new t-shirts for the gym. There was one Nike one, part of the Live Strong clothing line. It said on the front "100% back."

I was so tempted to get it. Even if I don't wear it right away, I could keep it aside until I am 100% back. I held off though. I don't want to jump the gun and get ahead of myself. I'm 90% back. I'll find that shirt again when I'm ready. I'm going to be ready soon.

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Posted by on January 25, 2009 in ACL Hell, Work it out | 12 Comments

Comments

12 Comments on 90% Back

  1. Ikigai 108 on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 1:07 am

    2. I recently got an iron gym. It’s that pull up bar that hangs in your doorway. Great little gadget – but it has also proven to me that I cannot do 15 pullups. I get about half that on a good day.

  2. Avitable on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 8:40 am

    3. I’m always so impressed by your determination!

  3. Black Belt Mama on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 10:36 am

    4. Half is still a major accomplishment! One of these days, maybe I’ll be able to do one!

  4. Black Belt Mama on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 10:37 am

    5. Thanks Avi. Although I must say that this morning I hurt so badly that the determination is a bit on hold.

  5. Finn on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 11:18 am

    6. So happy to hear this. When you’re 100% back, I’LL get you the t-shirt!

  6. RenovationGirl on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 1:02 pm

    7. Sitting here on my fat butt eating junk food…tired from reading about your workout. 😉

  7. Iron Fist on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 9:34 pm

    8. Listen, I know you’re all about the karate, but have you considered any of the internal martial arts, as well? I’ve recently thrown some qigong into my routine and am already noticing the difference in my joints and general disposition after a week.

  8. Karl on Mon, 26th Jan 2009 10:27 pm

    9. WTF? You had surgery again? Geez, I’m way out of the loop. Hope you’re okay? And when is your birthday?

  9. Black Belt Mama on Tue, 27th Jan 2009 12:20 pm

    10. Ooh, tell me more. Honestly though, if I start one more thing my husband will kill me. I don’t even know if we have something like that around here. But definitely tell me more.
    BBM

  10. Black Belt Mama on Tue, 27th Jan 2009 12:20 pm

    11. Clearly, you are lacking in your keeping up with my blog skills lately. Yes I did, but I’m on the mend and my b-day is 2/7.
    BBM

  11. Black Belt Mama on Tue, 27th Jan 2009 12:49 pm

    12. Clearly, you are lacking in your keeping up with my blog skills lately. Yes I did, but I’m on the mend and my b-day is 2/7.
    BBM

  12. Black Belt Mama on Tue, 27th Jan 2009 12:57 pm

    13. You crack me up woman! And for the 400th time, you do not have a bit butt!
    BBM

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