Unable to Work Out

[rootzdawta]

And feeling really bummed. I don't *think* I'm addicted to exercise but I feel really disappointed that I haven't been able to get it in. I had two wisdom teeth pulled last Thursday and I thought it wouldn't be a big deal but one was really impacted and is causing me a lot of pain. I tried strength training on Monday figuring that would be low impact but as soon as the blood started pumping, my mouth started throbbing!

It's been almost a week of no exercise! And in my head I'm telling myself, "well once you heal you have to really go hard to catch up". But catch up to what? I know that I won't lose all the gains I've made in just a week but I'm still very worried about it. I know how much work I had to put in to get into shape and I don't want to go back!

And to add to all this, my LO has been waking up at 6:00 consistently this past week. I wake up at 5:00/5:30 to meditate and journal then work out. I really need him to stay down till 7! I'm nervous that my working out will be totally screwed when I'm ready to get back in the game!

Anyway, how have you coped at times when you had to take a break from exercise due to injury, surgery or other life circumstance?

[BelovedK]

I recently got back inti exercising after a long hiatus from cardio, weights, etc. I had been moving through bellydancing, but not in a strenuous way. I was basically out of shape, and unmotivated.

It was hard, but I started out with DVDs that were 10 or 20 minutes, it is easy to get through a short one. I was/am being consistent. Then (now) I am moving up to longer ones. I don't know if that helps, but it is what is working for me... short workouts. Oh, I should mention that I am sleep deprived, but that is my fault, my kids are older. I am just in the habit of automatically waking early in the morning.

You can do it!

[nola79]

I feel ya! I have to skip a workout class one day (only one!) next week and I am freaking. I am kinda OCD, though, and I hate when my routine gets interrupted. I would be very disappointed if I had to miss an entire week
I hope you're feeling better!

[Mel38]

I'm on an injury-related break from running. It was pretty hard for me to re-think my fitness routine, but maybe it wasn't such a bad thing for me. It's gotten me to try things that I just did not make any time for before the injury.

Remember to be easy on yourself!

A break from strenuous exercise (like cardio or weights) for one week, or two weeks, IMHO can be a good thing sometimes. Think of it as healing for your whole body, not just the jaw from getting the wisdom teeth removed. Try easy stretching, maybe some yoga poses that feel good.

Good luck and heal well!

[425lisamarie]

The mental unleashing I get from working out is hard to define, but I feel the same way. I don't workout every day, but the days I do plan to I feel I need it, and if something happens and I can't ge tto the gym, I don't feel right.

I think it's just a good outlet in so many ways, but so is healing your body from trauma. Just try to tell yourself you won't "lose" anything, you're just taking a rest to heal