So if you've been following my blogs over the last 6 months you will have seen that I suffered a back injury at the beginning of the year. While I didn't do anything massive like slipping (herniating) a disc; which surgery is needed for, I did have two bulging ones.
Side note: I'm going to try and include a heap of photos in this blog to better explain/show what I actually did to myself. If you're a visual learner it'll definitely help!
I did it while training with my PT doing weighted single leg exercises and whoa damn did it suck! I woke up the next morning, after not being able to lay comfortably all night only to find that I couldn't raise my legs. I couldn't twist or walk without limping and had to get my sister to help me to bend down just to get into a car.
I had an MRI and scans and started seeing a physio straight away. For someone who was used to training nearly 5 days a week, to then not even being able to walk long distances without pain was devastating. I lost all motivation in so many things and my engagement in the site definitely dropped over those months.
Over the last few months I've learnt so much about my own body because I've had to alter my posture and change how I engage in every day activities. Not only did I have two bulging discs, but I also have an anterior pelvic tilt; which basically means this booty be trying to pop 24/7. My hips and upper glutes hurt constantly! And as a result of everything I started suffering from muscle spasms, piriformis pain (a pain in the butt literally) and tightness.
BUT.... this story has a pretty amazing ending (it's stilling ongoing tbh) BECAUSE guess who just got cleared for training with her PT again.....
THIS LADY!!
I mean, I still had dry needling done today and I have to go back in a few months for another check in, BUT I can finally start lifting weights again! I started going back to the gym and lifting a few weeks ago, but have only just begun upping my deadlift weights to 25kg (I used to be able to dead nearly 70kg)
Slow and steady wins the race ya'll!
Strengthening the muscles around the bones is so important and making sure I didn't put myself in a position of further risk of injury meant that I had to take things one week at a time. I've put on so much weight over the last few months, but I finally feel like my head is back in the game.
This blog was prompted not only by @rambo who posted in the Blog Homework for the week, but also by @traegen who recently wrote a blog about missing the old days of SG where people tended to have more engagement with the models, members and tog's back when chatroom's were still a big part of this community.
I spent today cleaning my house, doing all the super fun adult things like meal prepping and loads of washing, but more importantly; taking some down time just for me. I'm an introverted extrovert, so I know how to socialize when I'm in a group of people, BUT I very much like to recharge on my own.
@rambo asked the question: What never fails to make you happy when you’re feeling low?
If you've read down this far you'll know that training is a pretty big part of my weekly routine. There's nothing quite like putting in your headphones, turning on your favorite tunes and just hitting the gym or going for a run. I work in retail, so my engagement with people is pretty high on a daily basis, which can be quite energy draining. There's nothing I like more than coming home and losing myself in a good book or a movie.
It's going to be no surprise to y'all when I say that the one thing that never fails to make me happy is watching the Lord Of the Rings films. The extended editions of course because there is absolutely no other way to watch them!
I mean, come on!
Not only is the universe and characters so rich; thanks to J.R.R Tolkien's fabulous writing, but with Peter Jackson at the helm in directing and the visual effects of the time... I can't even. These movies hold such a special place in my heart. I also think we can all relate to the hobbits and their never ending need for snack time! If I don't eat nearly every 2 hours on days that I'm training I get a serious case of the hangry's.
As a teenager going through the standard teenager feels, watching movies and reading books offered me the best kind of escapism. For those few precious hours you're transported somewhere else and locked into the characters as they all go on their separate journeys.
I also just love the budding relationships/friendships that develop across these films. Who doesn't love Legolas and Gimli?
I had the amazing opportunity a few years ago to attend a con here in Sydney where Sean Astin and John Noble were both in attendance. They had separate photo session times, but I really wanted a photo with them together so I went up to a staff member to ask if she could make it happen. Sure enough a few minutes later she came back with a smile and said that they had agreed and would let me through shortly. John Noble gave me such a warm welcome when I walked through the curtain, even giving me a hug and commenting on my smile. BUT, the best part was when I returned to the con the next day to have the photo signed and he remembered me! I was the only person to have asked for a photo with them together! He proceeded to poke Sean Astin in the arm (they were sitting next to each other) at the signing table and made a few comments about the photo of us all.
Not to mention Aragorn and Arwen #myfavs
What never fails to make you happy? Is it a movie or a book? Is it an activity or a place? Let me know in the comments below OR write up a blog of your own and share it with everyone!
Kettle
Xx
@rambo @missy @sean
