I had a minor setback last Wednesday–I pulled a muscle during a workout. There is an official name for the muscle that I pulled but I can’t remember it…I’ll make it easy and just say it is in the groin area…and the discomfort is not very fun. It’s the first time I have had an injury related to exercise.

What’s kind of ridiculous is that my first thought as the injury was actually happening and I felt the first pains shooting down my leg was not about anything to do with my health…it was an immediate recognition and disappointment that I would no doubt have a hiatus for lower body activity…my guess is a week. I can still work out my upper body and plan to do so, but I am now in fear of not burning as many calories or keeping my metabolism as high due to this injury. I have to be bullet-proof on the eating…no room for error!

It would be so easy to get depressed and resort to an old habit of zero activity while I heal…but I will definitely be staying on the Phase II plan and working out what body parts I can work out–even if only my pinkie were able to exercise. I have to treat this as if it were a mere annoyance, and not let it get me down. Our (women’s) mental states regarding exercise are so fragile…it takes only a pin prick to pop the enthusiasm surrounding exercise…to get someone to change their mind or not leave the house. Why is that the case? I have to mentally muster up so much strength to get myself to move, and s___ happens and I’m sabotaged. But that is life. Get over it, right?

I and some of the girls have already signed up for an 8K run near the end of the first 3 months of the program (in late March) as a celebration of our new fitness levels…so I’ve got to make sure I heal correctly. The trainer I’m working with is fantastic and his quick handling of my injury with ice and stretching has mitigated some severe pain today…I am actually functioning pretty well.

This week I will be all about the upper-body workouts, and hopefully I’ll be back on the treadmill by this coming Wednesday. If not, I’ll survive….think about people who have real physical disabilities who manage to keep themselves in shape. I’m no one to even complain. Chin up and bring on the bicep curls!