Looking Up From The Bench

I finally had the opportunity to purchase a new computer. I am so excited because it is going to make blogging so much easier and more enjoyable. However, I have proceeded to have no idea what to blog about. One public service announcement I feel inclined to make is that Target already has pumpkin flavored everything! Waffles, oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, granola, etc. I’m not sure how they arranged to get all the pumpkin stuff prior to the other stores, but they must be pretty powerful. So, if you love pumpkin like me, you can go and get some stuff! I guess the reason I’ve been hesitant to blog is because I’ve been in kind of a funk. I want the blog to be real, but still positive. So, I’m not quite sure what to say. I am kind of in waiting mode. My body is healing from my injury so in the meantime I’m just doing what I can. My favorite thing to do (training) isn’t really all that exciting. It’s not helping me become a better physical athlete. It’s kind of just me trying to maintain w...

It's times like these I wish I could have a computer in the shower. I wrote this whole post in my head while in the shower and now I just hope I can remember it! Ha. Personally it's been a rough week. I had surgery on my knee which went well and was the best possible outcome. This week has just been a whirlwind. I also think I physically just feel depressed because I'm not able to train a whole lot. It feels like I've gone off an antidepressant. Anyway, I really wanted to make this post a little light hearted. I thought I'd start with a story. My friend since age 3 My first athlete- Katie  A few months ago I was catching-up with a longtime dear friend. We were talking about our childhood and what we are doing now. She shared with me that when we were around 10 I told her I wanted to be a personal trainer and proceeded to make up a workout and force her to do it. I found this so telling. Even at that age I knew what I wanted. It wasn't until ...

I didn’t think I wanted/had anything to say in a blog post this week. Then I started to write a short little Facebook status that I wanted to make longer and longer and realized that perhaps I do have something to write about after all. I guess part of my hesitation with writing a post this week is that I honestly haven’t really had a very good couple of days. I wish I could say I was handling being injured again with tons of light and positivity but that hasn’t exactly been the case. I’ve kind of been all over the place. I realize that doesn’t help, and it’s kind of out of my control at this point, but I guess I’m only human and I have emotions. In trying to identify the hardest part of this, it’s not really my drive to train that’s the issue. I don’t suddenly not want to go to the gym or just want to take it easy. It’s not the fact that I feel like I can’t back to where I was, because I’ve been through this before so I know I can and will. I think the hardest part is this ti...

Well, I'm sad to report I've had another injury creep up this past month. I was in denial for quite awhile... And it's weird when I finally started to rest it, my discomfort and pain actually increased. Which is when I realized it was probably more than the muscle strain I was hoping for. So back in for a second knee surgery in a couple weeks!! Anyway, I didn't really want this post to focus too much on the injury itself. I have three things I hope to address. My feelings about the injury, what I've learned so far, and how I plan on getting through it with gains as an athlete.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling discouraged. This is my fourth significant injury in four years. I was really determined this year to stay healthy and was so excited to see what I could accomplish not spending so much time rebuilding to pre-injury levels of fitness. I felt like these last couple months I was making significant progress. And not just in the physical sens...

I had a pretty rough day today. Just dealing with things I really shouldn't have to necessarily deal with and prove. I felt pretty attacked almost as if I did something wrong even though I did nothing of the sort. It's related to "proving" I have a disability. And I just hate having to do that. For a long time I felt like I was completely damaged because I was born with this abnormality. I tried to hide it and any struggles I had because of it to compensate. Now I know better. It seems everyone has something. Even if it's just that they're really weird :). So I just appreciate the unique perspective it gives me.  I also hate using it to essentially get what I want or need. It makes me feel weak and incapable. And considering my love of lifting heavy weights I prefer feeling strong and capable. Anyway, I guess for logistics sake it's sometimes just necessary.  As I've been sitting here though, in an empty house as I just moved and don't hav...

I've been a little uninspired about what to write lately, hence my three week absence from the blog. I'm hoping as I start to write, something good will come together.  A picture from the best lifting day ever last week. No missed lifts! Sometimes with all that I see going on in the world it's hard to want to share about my seemingly insignificant personal struggles or successes. But, I think we have to remember it's those personal connections and stories that show how much good there is in the world, and how much we can positively impact and support one another. Besides some injury flair ups which have been a little troubling I have been loving training the past few weeks. And the reason for this ties into what I said above. I have a training partner now and it has completely changed the entire course of my training and frankly brightened my life since I consider training my priority.  When I was struggling so much with my mental game the last few mon...

I haven't felt much like writing lately. Partially because I keep talking about how I need to work on my mental game and continue to struggle with it. This has caused me to feel a little blue as I try and figure out how to overcome those thoughts that are making training a bit rough. So I don't really feel like I have much new stuff to report. Just battling those mental deficits holding me back still! However, something came to mind today at work that I felt like sharing. My work is interesting. Most of the mental health appeals I write are specifically for teens in residential treatment with pretty significant mental health issues. Due to my struggles in this area I often get cases that remind me of my past. This can be tough as I'm generally much more interested in the present and future and don't like to think about the past too much.  Today for whatever reason my case got me thinking of my brother who passed away during the height of my mental health strugg...