Why is this such a big deal? Before I moved to Arizona, I had been working with a freakin fantastic trainer for about a year (shameless plug for Lance Pimentel at TNT Top Notch Training in Stockton, CA). I was in the gym nearly every day and I felt phenomenal. Lance kicked my butt once or twice a week and I kicked my own butt the rest of the week. I was slimming down, toning up, and had a ton more energy. I continued the training and the gym in Tucson, but not as enthusiastically.
Then I lost feeling in my right arm. It would swing back and forth from numbness to pins and needles. My hand would swell to the size of a grapefruit and the whole arm and hand were useless. After weeks of tests, an MRI, and who knows what else (you know my memory sucks), the diagnosis was a severely pinched nerve. What did the doctor do? He prescribed me a nerve blocking pill. Um, how exactly does that unpinch the nerve??? Exactly.
This was when I decided to try chiropractic treatment. After watching how much it helped my mom, I figured the least I could do was try it. After just one treatment, I had general feeling back in my arm and hand. Turns out it was a rib out of place that was pinching that nerve. After a few weeks, I could grip things again and stopped taking the nerve pills. After a month or two, I was able to get back in the gym, but I no longer had the motivation and endurance because of the weeks I was banned for doing anything strenuous with that arm. I was frustrated, and rather than push through like I should have, I quit.
I have learned a lot since then. I have learned that taking the easy way out is rarely the best way. I have learned that physical activity is something my body craves. I have learned that an overweight person who exercises regularly is still healthier than a person at the "proper" weight who doesn't exercise. I have learned that physical activity is absolutely VITAL for maintaining functionality with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I stop moving, so do my joints. So I am starting again.
Today I took that first step. Last night as I lay in bed, I planned out my workout. I caught myself thinking "I will try to workout tomorrow" and realized I was thinking the same way I had been for the last two years. I then changed that phrase in my head to "No. I will not try. I will perform. I WILL workout tomorrow." That change in thinking made all the difference. Now, I know how easy it is to quit. It is harder to get started than to quit. And now we are to the point of this post.
I would love if someone out there would be willing to be my accountability coach. Because I don't want to spam this blog with my workout regime and I don't want to spam my Facebook wall with my workouts, I am going to start a new blog to track my progress and help me stay accountable. I want to be able to track my increased endurance and strength. What better way than a blog! So, if you are willing to be my accountability coach, or if you want to be my workout partner, come check out my NEW blog at Butt Busting Diva! I look forward to seeing you there!
