Setbacks, Self-Pity and a Plan


What is that saying about "the best laid plans ... ?"

 I had been sitting on a blog post for the past few days that reflected on my experience with the Whole30 eating plan (no dairy, sugar, gluten (or even gluten-free substitutes), legumes or alcohol for 30 days).  It was an interesting experience for a lot of reasons, but that post got sidelined last Saturday.

 We were attending a local CrossFit competition to support our gym's team of awesome athletes and I was having a blast.  I've been training hard over the past 5 weeks and seeing results so I was feeling pretty darn sparky, even joking about jumping into one of the WODs.  All was well until it came time to grab a group picture.  Getting the picture required us to climb up an embankment that had a fairly high, steep ledge.  I started the climb, lost my footing and came down with my right ankle actually underneath my body perpendicular to the ground.  Given the pain, I'm fairly certain the human body was not intended to bend at that particular angle.
Some of my CrossFit Thermal family -- they're a good looking bunch aren't they?!

The good news is that no bones were broken, nor was there any muscle or tendon damage.  The bad news is that I have been sentenced to four weeks on crutches with the ankle in a boot whenever I need to move around.  Because the injury was to my right ankle that means no driving in addition to no weight-bearing activity. (Cue the violins as the pity party gets underway.)

Part of my brain was already working on my plan to maintain as much fitness as possible, still getting workouts in and retaining my sanity during my banishment from the box.  Luckily we having a rowing machine, some dumbbells and a pull-up bar here at the house so I could get some work done with a focus on upper body strength -- no excuses there!

But, the other part of my brain slunk over to the "Land of Why Me?"  Why can't I get a break (pun intended)?  I just got back to training after my father-in-law's hospitalization and his passing so I was just starting to get a rhythm to my training and eating -- dammit, I was feeling GOOD!  This is so freaking unfair!!  

So, what's a girl to do with all that angst?  Hey, let's eat our feelings! Bring on the french fries and ice cream!! It's what I've always done in the past when life hasn't gone well and there is a lot to be said for spending time with my friends Ben and Jerry.  After all, they don't judge and they are always happy to see me.  But you and I both know hanging out with Ben and Jerry is not a long term solution, I need to get back in control and quick.

Now is the time to draw on all the work I've been doing around mindset.  I need to realize that feelings are not fact and that feelings do not define me.  If I put my feelings in the driver's seat I am guaranteeing a much harder recovery and a much more difficult return to training, which means, I have work to do.  So, here's my plan:

  1. Maintain my regular training schedule, there's lots of ways to use dumbbells, bands and one leg.  Time to get creative.
  2. Journal.  Use journaling to cope with the frustration, impatience and angst.
  3. Maintain my eating plan -- sorry B&J, but it's time to say good-bye.  Salad doesn't have quite the same appeal but at least I won't regret all that lettuce afterward!
  4. Get out of the house as much as I can, isolation is a bad thing.
  5. Do my homework.  I am blessed to have Megan Dupree in my life.  She does medical massage and other bodywork and has helped me tremendously as I get my core, hips, obliques, glutes, and hamstrings firing regularly.  Now, thanks to Megan, I can add drainage and applying magnesium cream to my list of daily to-do's.  Doing my homework means quicker recovery time and a quicker return to lifting so there's definitely incentive.  If you don't have a Megan in your life you need to get one. I recommend that everyone find and keep a Megan (you can't have mine though!)
  6. Get out of my head.  I will do myself no good (and potentially a lot of harm) focusing on my situation.  Self-pity is not attractive, not helpful and no fun.
  7. Ask for help when I need it.  This is probably the hardest part of the plan.  I suck at asking for help and hate it when I have to do it.  I'm guessing this is part of the whole "growth" thing that's supposed to happen when we face adversity.  I'll let you know how it goes.
That's the plan so far.  I suspect as I hit bumps in the road that the plan will shift a bit but it's a start.  I refuse to let this minor accident derail me.  Not this time. Not gonna happen.

Let's get this party started ...

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