I was very brave today and went to work out at the gym on campus. I had to fight my way through a maze (of hallways) and brave the stares of the gorgon disinterested gazes of fellow gymfolk! Okay okay, it was totally fine and if I keep my heart rate right in the “cardio” zone (it’s super easy for me to go really fast and get into overdrive burnout mode, oops), then I don’t sweat too horribly and can cool down in time to get back to my desk and not feel like a sweaty freak. Success! Now I can exercise even when it’s rainy!
In other news, this past weekend I took care of myself by getting a pedicure on Saturday and then a spa massage and facial on Sunday! Oh my, it was incredibly relaxing and I came out simply glowing. Aside from the beautifying fun, my masseuse was able to help me with some shoulder pain I’ve been having recently, too. She helped loosen up my right shoulder, and then at my regular chiropractor appointment today I received a more detailed diagnosis: it seems I have some tendonitis and inflammation in my shoulder, and one of the major rotator cuff muscles is weakened and unable to hold my shoulder in the right position. I was so glad to finally figure out what is going on — and now I have some specific exercises to help regain strength and proper alignment. Since I never had any particular shoulder injury, this pain and weakness is simply the result of a lifetime of bad posture and some recent gait changes from my ankle injuries. Bad posture kills, guys! No joke. This pain is pretty bad and I am going to have to do some serious work to undo all my slouching.
From now on, I’m supposed to avoid overhead presses, or really any overhead stuff. I’ll be focusing still on core strength (to support better posture from the inside out) and a few rotator cuff strengthening moves. I also have to ice my shoulder at lunch and in the evenings, and take ibuprofen for a little while to help with the acute pain. But I’m clear to do pushups, planks, and downward dog in Yoga class!
The funny thing is that as soon as I came home, I realized why my shoulder could be aggravated even worse — every time I open the front door of our house, I slam my shoulder into it gently to get past an unevenness in the frame. Ha! So I need to find a new way to get in the front door now, too.
This past weekend, Memorial Day weekend, I didn’t get in any exercise at all. I have many reasons why not, but I won’t bother — it’s over, I had fun, the end! Excuses are useless, action is what counts! This is partly why I was so excited to finally get over my suspicion of the campus gym. I can’t depend on my evening moods and the variable Spring weather to get me moving, I’ll just be whiny and tired forever. Now I can keep a bag at work and go whenever I need to! I know that this is not a great revelation, but at least half of fitness is convenience, and now I have even less of an excuse!
