Quitting Isn\’t an Option

So, this is a topic I\’ve talked about before, but I heard something this week that made me want to talk about it again. I overheard someone say that they had a partial tear in one of their muscles in their foot, and because of that, they just altogether stopped working out for the last two weeks. They were then complaining about all the weight they had gained in just that short amount of time. There were a couple of things that bothered me a little bit about what she was saying. First of all, foot pain sucks, I get it; but that does not mean you have to put your workouts on hold. There are other ways to continue working out and getting exercise that don\’t require using your feet! And if for whatever reason you do have to stop working out, you can\’t keep eating like you\’re still burning the same amount of calories. Because SURPRISE! You\’re going to gain weight. 

I am going to use myself as an example, because I am going through something pretty similar to what this lady is. I\’ve been having foot problems again, and I went back to the foot doctor and he told me that I have chronic sesamoiditis and a slight stress fracture in the medial sesamoid bone. He said I have to quit running again for a little while, so that cuts out some of my workouts. On top of that, I used to swim three or four times a week, but this week they altered the practice schedule to the summer hours, and I can no longer make it to them – that cuts out another big part of my workout routine. Does that mean I am going to quit working out though? Heck no!! I\’ve been using this time to work on my upper body strength and use the ellyptical or the bike so that I can take the pressure off of my foot. They would literally have to put me in a full body cast to prevent me from doing some kind of work out routine. No matter what kind of injuries you are going through, there is always some way to work out while still allowing yourself to heal. Quitting altogether is just an excuse.

I\’ll admit that my workout routine for the last week has been pretty boring. Not only because it has been very repetitive, but because I am missing out on the socializing part from not being able to go to swim practice. It sucks, and it\’s harder to get myself out there and do it sometimes. But I like how my body looks, and I don\’t want that to change anytime soon, so I\’m going to keep putting the work in to keep it that way. In a month, I\’m going to start swimming with another Master\’s team that swims outdoors in the mornings so I will have time to get to the pool. This will break up the repetitviness and allow me to work out with other people again. My foot doctor also made me get orthotics for my shoes, so I\’ve been getting used to those and I\’m hoping to be back running again before too long. This little slump I\’m in is temporary, and I\’ll be back to myself before I know it. I just have to suck it up for now and power through.

While I don\’t struggle too much with getting out there to workout regularly, I do however, have to sympathize with the lady about gaining weight. It is definitely hard to remember to cut back sometimes. I\’m still working out everyday, but trust me, riding the bike and using the ellyptical do not burn nearly as many calories as a 90 minute swim practice does. I have to keep reminding myself to cut back on the portion sizes, or I could start gaining weight as well. It is hard to do, but necessary if you aren\’t trying to gain a bunch of weight. Keep that in mind if you are making changes to your routine!

Now don\’t get me wrong, I do understand how important it is to rest if you are hurt or sick, and I do think it is important to take a day off every now and again if you really feel like you need to. However, if you are using this as an excuse for an extended period of time, then don\’t expect any positive changes. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to stay healthy, and you can\’t expect the results you want if you aren\’t willing to put the work in. Like my dad always says: The only thing stopping you is that thing between your ears! If your health is important to you (which it should be!) then you will find a way to keep at it. Good luck and keep moving!

Until Next Time!

Megan Reiffenberger