Morning, until 4 months ago I used to train at least three times a week. Running (9 km) and HITT.
I’m 50, and I began to feel a lack of motivation toward both running and training. Then I’ve injured my shoulder, there’s an hole on my tendon, thus I should use the elastic fitness band, but I don’t.
I became flaccid and I don’t like my body, I’m still skinny, but I’ve lost all my muscles, I have to start from zero again (sore muscles, lactic acidosis and all that). And here comes the reason why I am posting here. I need a sponosr or someone who gives me some motivation and advice to begain all over again.
Right now I feel sadly at ease (depressed but I don’t kind of care, but I care at the same time, difficult to explain) with my body loosing shape, strength and agility. I also note that in the last month I’ve catched on of the most virulent bronchitis ever; I tend to think this is one of the fallout of my interrupting physical activity.
Does someone want to help and old man with advice and motivation?
(I’m Italian, thus forgive me English)
Yes, I Went to the physiotherapist who told me to exercise with the elastic band.
As someone a little older than you, who’s dealt with chronic pain for 30+ years and despises the gym, I’m giving you some “tough love”: you’re just gonna have to do it. The trick I’ve found is to focus on what tomorrow will look like because of what I’m doing right now (those tedious physiotherapy exercises).
But, ease up on your self-criticism, you’re clearly not able to do much right now, again, having “been there” for 30+ years, you simply can’t force it, you must be patient and wait until you’re recovered enough from the current thing.
A couple other things that have provided tremendous improvement:
Massage from a therapist that approaches it like physiotherapy. I’ve had a few therapists where it was challenging to get through a session (because it’s painful, just like working out or physical therapy), but each visit I’d reach a new level of flexibility/mobility and reduced pain. Which I can then maintain with my own exercise.
Yoga. Because yoga provides both flexibility and strength training simultaneously, it can be very effective. You use one set of muscles to stabilize, while stretching their complement. It has an isometric element using your own bodyweight. This guy’s story has been my inspritation for years now.. As bad off as I am, he started off way worse. He gives me hope. DDP’s own story of coming to yoga is also inspirational, and most of his stuff is on YouTube.
Just remember that so much in life is about doing a little bit, repeatedly and regularly, not doing a lot at once. It’s better to do 15 minutes of yoga once a day than going to the gym sporadically.
You got this, you can do it.
Thanks a lot for your extensive message, good insight and kind words. I appreciate your advice. I’ve gave a look to theragun, but it’s rather expansive, at least here in Europe. I’ll check out also the channel.