Guest Post: The Blessing in Disguise Injury
Hello Carrots ‘N’ Cake readers! I’m Dori from Dori’s Shiny Blog. Back in March, Tina put out a call for guest posters and I emailed her right away (I am a big fan!) told her I would love to do a guest post. And then 6 months went by, life got in the way, my blog got a makeover, and now here I am.
At that time, I planned to do this post on everything I knew about spinning – attire, clip in shoes, heart rate monitors, instructors, music and how I went from despising it from being addicted to it. But my focus has since changed. Back in March, I was spinning ALL the time, 4 or 5 times a week. I would run out of work, rush home, change my clothes, wipe off my makeup and dash next door to my very expensive yet convenient gym to make it to 6:30 spin class.
After spin? I rushed back home, showered, dried my hair, put on my outfit for the next day, threw some stuff in a bag, got in a cab and went to my boyfriend’s for the night. I got there late and had dinner late.
This arrangement clearly sucked. It was hectic and frustrating and annoying. But I wouldn’t change anything because I got it in my mind that I needed to do an intense, sweaty, calorie-burning, heart-pounding workout every day in order to remain thin. I thought I needed to burn a minimum of 400 calories in each spin session and if I didn’t make it to that number by the end of the class, I would spin right through the stretching part to reach that goal. On the days I went far past 400, I was extra thrilled. The sweatier I got, the happier I was. If I didn’t think the workout worked up a good sweat, I was not a happy girl.
But I wasn’t miserable. I did love spinning. When I wasn’t there, I craved it. I looked forward to it each night and if I had other plans I would be upset that I was missing it. I purposely made plans on certain nights depending on who the instructor was and whose class I would be missing. If I missed one teacher one week, I would try to make sure I got to his/her class the next.
Needless to say, this was exhausting. Physically, mentally and emotionally. But I did not consider making any schedule adjustments. How could I? How else could I burn 400+ calories in 45 minutes?
Spin consumed my thoughts. I would think hard about my weekends and whether or not I could fit in a class. If I could, I did. There was one day where I went to spin in the evening. The next morning at 6:30am I went to spin again. Then I went back that evening. Twice in one day. Three times in 24 hours.
One day my knee started hurting during spin. At first I ignored it. The pain became more intense and lasted longer through class. I started wearing my knee sleeves that I use for running but they were very uncomfortable during spin and didn’t seem to help anyway. I kept spinning until I became so worried about the pain (which I started feeling even when I wasn’t at spin) that I decided to see an orthopedist.
I went to the doctor, he sent me for an MRI and the diagnosis was bursitis. The treatment was physical therapy and rest – no spinning. I put my gym membership on hold and dreaded all the weight I was going to gain.
As Physical Therapy went on and I worked out less than I had in months, I began to feel happier. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. After work, I was free to go straight to my boyfriend’s. No packing needed. If I wanted to work out, he had a gym in his building. But the most noticeable difference – if I didn’t want to workout, I didn’t.
I was surprised to see as the weeks went by that not only was I not gaining weight, I was actually losing a few pounds. Around this time I was also learning more about eating real, whole foods and not fat-free this and low-cal that, which surely contributed. But food aside, I was not burning 400 calories a day, not getting sweaty until I was dripping, not pushing my heart rate up to 200 BPM – and rather than gain weight, I lost a few pounds, stabilizing to my body’s natural weight. I was relaxed and free and finally enjoying life. When I wanted to work out, I did. When I didn’t, I didn’t. I tried to fit exercise into my life in some way every day, such as taking a walk outside at lunch time. But I stopped feeling pressure. Making plans after work became no big deal because I didn’t have to stress about which spin class I was missing. Pushing myself to the limit every day was a horrible thing to do to not only my body but to myself.
My bursitis has healed. I’ve been back to spin a few times and I had fun and felt great, but I did not feel any need to take it back to my old level. I have, however, fallen in love with other workouts. Workouts that, for me, are far more rewarding. I started running outside and what I most appreciate about this is that becoming the runner I want to be is a slow process. Improving takes time and if you want to avoid injury you have to take it slowly – but there is always more to improve. I recently ran in not one but two 5K races and was so happy with my race times – and I’ve got to say, being happy with my time felt a million times better than being happy that I burned a lot of calories. The sense of accomplishment cannot compare!
I also take a class that combines strength and stretching called Core Fusion. The movements in that class cause a painful burn, but when it is done, I feel amazing. I feel stronger and stretchier and peaceful. It feels like I did something wonderful for myself. These workouts are rewarding for me in a way I never could have experienced with spinning.
When my knee started improving, I made a decision that I am so proud of – I quit my gym membership. It took an injury for me to learn the following, which I hope will help some of you stuck in the same situation:
- You don’t need to kill yourself in the gym every day to be thin. Exercise and food choices are important. Forcing yourself to burn X number of calories a day and not stopping until you do, not as important. Do you really want to spend your workout obsessing about calories? I used to watch that number on my HRM throughout my workout. Not fun! Now I don’t even let it show me that number until after the workout is over, and I don’t even care what it says. Speaking of calories . . .
- Unless you are counting calories, having a calorie burning goal is BS – a real goal should be achieving something you didn’t think was possible, pushing yourself to (and surpassing) your limit without going overboard. My goal was to run a 5K in less than 30 minutes. I never thought I’d be able to run a mile, and then I finished 5K in 28:46. My next goals? A 1 mile and a 5 mile race in October! But, keep the next point in mind:
- Know when enough is enough. As Tina often says, it is important to prioritize workouts. I completely agree. But it is also important to know when to prioritize friends, family, socialization and relaxation!
- Treat yourself well. Treat your body well. Part of treating yourself and your body well is creating a balance between exercise, food, friends, family, work, free time, hobbies – a balance that works for you. Which reminds me, when it comes to exercise –
- Do the exercise you want, when you want it, for the right reasons. The right reasons are different for everyone. What is right for me might not be right for you. Spinning 5 days a week might be right for you! If you love it, do it. But stop and think about if what you are doing is right for you. Which brings me to my last point:
As important as exercise is – and believe me, I know it is crucial for so many reasons – sometimes you have to take a step back and ask yourself if you are happy. Hopefully it doesn’t take an injury for you to realize what I did.
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries — September 17, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
Great post. I’ve had several injuries that have prevented me from doing anything high-impact like running, and they’ve really helped me appreciate exercise for how it makes you feel rather than how it makes you look.
emily - eatventures — September 17, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Great guest post, I loved this Dori!
emily - eatventures — September 17, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Great guest post, I loved this Dori!
Guest Post at Carrots ‘N’ Cake | — September 17, 2009 @ 9:45 pm
[...] September 17, 2009 at 9:45 pm Read my guest post at one of my favorite blogs, Carrots ‘N’ [...]
Lizzy — September 17, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
Great post Dori!
Its so weird how somethings have to happen to us in order for us to realize certain things in our lives!!!!! glad you are feeling awesome again!
Carlota — September 17, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
It was a really good guest post and I really agree with the 4 points of view that she introduced.
Laura — September 17, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Thank you SO much for this post. It reminds me of how terrible my life was last semester when I was addicted to the gym.
megan @ megzz wins at life — September 17, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Yeahhh dori!! Great post!! I had not known this about you before! Can’t wait till we can run another race together!
Sarah — September 17, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
What a great post! I am so glad that Dori has achieved a healthy balance in her life now
I remember when I thought I had to work out every single day for at least an hour. I’m glad those days seem to be behind me but I still struggle with those thoughts sometimes. Thanks for the great points!
Kelly — September 17, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
I really liked this post..I skipped my workout tonight to take care of some things that I needed to take care of..the guilt is gone! Thanks!
Maggie — September 17, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
Great post Dori!!
Rachel — September 17, 2009 @ 11:05 pm
I went through something very similar earlier this year! I LOVE Spinning too and would go twice a day if I could…I was training for a half-marathon and would go run 7 miles in the morning and spin after work. Terrible pain, MRIs, physical therapy, and the dreaded “rest”….it was awful!! But I do think pain is your body’s way of telling you to LISTEN! Congrats on your recovery and your 5K!!
lina40 — September 17, 2009 @ 11:05 pm
Im glad you learned before the injury became more serious – overtraining is a serious issue that many trainers and PTs deal with among their clients. It can evolve into an addiction of sorts, affecting mood and general adherence to ANY exercise! I am so glad you were able to make a comeback in a more balanced way! awesome!
ps — i am pursuing my PHD in exercise psychology hence the brief diatribe at the beginning of my comment.. hope I dont sound like an old mom
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — September 17, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
Ah, what a great post, and something I can truly relate to. Thanks!
Julia — September 18, 2009 @ 6:25 am
I think you are so right! I’m recovering from an ED and recognize some of your thoughts and they are not healthy and not worth it! It’s great that you realized this yourself and that your opinion has changed. Thanks for sharing!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
MizFit — September 18, 2009 @ 6:30 am
love this post.
and my discovering the iron was SO A BLESSING IN DISGUISE as well…
Shannon — September 18, 2009 @ 6:40 am
Great post, Dori. Very important reminders. It’s very easy to let a love for exercise become an addiction.
Rebecca — September 18, 2009 @ 7:36 am
This is a great post!! I love spinning but I do a lot of other workouts too! I go to spinning 2 or 3 times a week but I also do pilates, yoga, and regular gym workouts. It’s a nice balance.
Dori — September 18, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Thank you everyone for all your supportive comments! Glad this resonates with some of you and hopefully you’ll think of this post next time you might be in a situattion where you need to. It was a little hard for me to be so open publicly, and I am relieved this is being well received. Your support will help me as well!
Emily @ The Experimentarian — September 18, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Wow Dori, what an inspiring and insightful post! Your level of comfort with working out and balancing all the demands of your life is where I would love to be! I’ve recently cut back my exercising, but still feel the compulsion to work out for a minimum number of minutes or calories. I think, as you said, the key is finding different types of exercise that you adore and that make you feel good about yourself regardless. thank you so much for sharing! I’ll definitely be checking out your blog
erin — September 18, 2009 @ 8:13 am
this is really a great post. i remember how upset i got when I had surgery last december & the doctor told me I absolutely could not work out for a month. I understood no running or anything, but no weight lifting. he told me to not to do it! I was upset, but you know, it did teach me that working out isn’t my whole life. I don’t guilt myself if i skip a work out as much as i used to. and I definitely listen to my body.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — September 18, 2009 @ 8:17 am
So true! Sometimes less IS better.
Whitney @ Lettuce Love — September 18, 2009 @ 8:21 am
This was a wonderful guest post! I felt this way all though college. I thought that if I missed one day at the gym I would suddenly gain 10 pounds. It has taken time for me to learn that it is about having fun while exercising, it shouldn’t be a chore.
Thanks for posting this!
A@ Please Don't Eat Me! — September 18, 2009 @ 8:24 am
yay!!! dori this was a great post!!! i know all about your injury since ive been stalking you for a while- i love how you have changed your thinking about working out.. i get that guilty nudge when im too busy to workout too.. but i have let those guilty feelings.. GO!
Tamara — September 18, 2009 @ 8:33 am
I just started getting back onto my treadmill after this, that and the other thing, and I have to admit it’s been difficult finding the balance between pushing myself to get back in shape and knowing when enough is enough. As a teenager I was really crazy about exercise and calories, so now I have to constantly remind myself, “It’s time to stop now. You’re tired. Burning another 50 calories isn’t worth feeling like a log tomorrow.”
Meg C. — September 18, 2009 @ 8:59 am
What a great perspective and amazing guest post. It is so easy to get caught up in what you think you “have to do” in terms of workouts. There is so much internal and external pressure that builds up and convinces us that if we don’t do certain things we’ll get fat or weak or fail somewhow. I really struggled when I had to stop running because of an injury – it was amazing to realize how stubborn I’d been about “having to” do it. Now that I can run again I can approach it from a healthier angle.
Lori — September 18, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Wow, that post really spoke to me. I love working out and all the workouts I do, but I always feel like I HAVE to do them. If there is something else going on that will conflict with a workout I worry about how I will get the workout in. Or I get up and run earlier than normal, even if it is darker than I am comfortable running in. And I watch the calories burnt on the HR monitor. I know that number does not signify a good workout, but for some reason it motivates me. I know rest/recovery is just as important (if not more so) than the exercise, but I will go run 6 miles if it was planned, no matter how sore I am from something else… I don’t know why I do this. I am not trying to lose weight.
I guess it is time to step back and think about some things… Thanks for a great post!
Stacey — September 18, 2009 @ 9:03 am
I loved your post, Dori. This was the perfect morning for me to read it. Sounds like you’ve found a great balance. I’m looking forward to checking out your blog.
Amy — September 18, 2009 @ 9:14 am
I LOVE this post! I’m reading “Intuitive Eating” right now and it goes along perfectly with this whole way of thinking. Also, one word- YOGA!
TGIF everyone!
Lauren — September 18, 2009 @ 9:16 am
What an excellent and knowledgeable post! This couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m dealing with a recurring injury from running, and have been feeling really down on myself for not being able to run the distances I used to run pre-injury. Ironically, I find spinning/cycling to be great alternatives to running for me–and they don’t stress me out in the way running does right now!
Thank you, Dori, for your very astute post. All the best to you!
Anne P — September 18, 2009 @ 9:44 am
What a fantastic post! I don’t normally read the guest posts, but this one sucked me right in. Very interesting and well written. Glad to see you are happier and doing what’s right for you!
macduff — September 18, 2009 @ 9:55 am
Ok, I loved this post because I feel like I was this girl. I was addicted to my treadmill – an hour every day, every single lunch hour. And now that I’m not the treadmill girl, I’m much happier. Thank you, Dori!
Laura — September 18, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Great tips!!! =) Laura
http://carrotsncake.com/
Laura — September 18, 2009 @ 9:59 am
Great tips!!! =) Laura
http://findingahealthybalance.wordpress.com/
Jenna — September 18, 2009 @ 10:02 am
such a wonderful helpful post! thanks so much dori
jenna
Missy Maintains — September 18, 2009 @ 10:30 am
This is exciting! Great post and defintely something I think everyone needs to hear every now and then! I love how there is a mirror image of me lol.
Julie @savvyeats — September 18, 2009 @ 11:21 am
This post is excellent, and I think everyone who has ever tried to lose weight or get healthy can identify with at least a part of your story, if not most of it. Thanks for the post, Dori, and I’ll be adding your blog to my reader!
JessicaR — September 18, 2009 @ 11:42 am
Thank you so much for posting this! I am “former spinning addict” as well. I used to do 5 to 7 classes a week, including at least one set of back-to-back classes a week (sometimes two). Just like you, it became physically and emotionally exhausting. My knees held up okay, but I never took time to stretch so I ended up in physical therapy to fix overall body alignment issues (such as extremely tight hip flexors).
I agree that it’s so nice not to be running to spinning classes all of the time. I actually bought a spin bike so I can enjoy it at home (my new gym doesn’t offer spin) without feeling like I have to push myself to the max in a 60-minute class every time. My main focus now is on weight training, but it’s nice to still be able to hop on a spin bike every once in awhile
JessicaR — September 18, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
Thank you so much for posting this! I am “former spinning addict” as well. I used to do 5 to 7 classes a week, including at least one set of back-to-back classes a week (sometimes two). Just like you, it became physically and emotionally exhausting. My knees held up okay, but I never took time to stretch so I ended up in physical therapy to fix overall body alignment issues (such as extremely tight hip flexors).
I agree that it’s so nice not to be running to spinning classes all of the time. I actually bought a spin bike so I can enjoy it at home (my new gym doesn’t offer spin) without feeling like I have to push myself to the max in a 60-minute class every time. My main focus now is on weight training, but it’s nice to still be able to hop on a spin bike every once in awhile
BTW I love your blog!
Melissa — September 18, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
Thank you so much for this post!!! It really brings things in perspective!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing — September 18, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
I have found just the same thing! When I was killing myself to work out as hard as I could as much as I could I felt like crap and wasn’t loosing any weight! Since I have taken a more balanced approach I feel better and have even lost weight. Great guest post!!
Sassy Molassy — September 18, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
Loved this post. It’s so true that sometimes we get sucked into believing we must do X workout for XX minutes in order to burn XXX calories and remain at XXX desired weight. When in reality, we can make lifestyle changes that help us for the better both mentally and physically. Who knows, maybe you were getting more rest/sleep and relaxation that your body didn’t need to hang on to those few extra pounds. Crazy stuff.
Learning the Funny | — September 18, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
[...] September 18, 2009 at 3:24 pm Wow. I have to say, I was nervous about my guest post at Carrots ‘N’ Cake, but I am so happy with how well received it was. The topic seemed to resonate with a lot of people [...]
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