What NOT to do when injured

Guys, I have been a sulky baby. I’ll admit it even though it’s embarrassing. After I hurt my foot and was laid up for four weeks I spiralled. I did it behind closed doors and put on a brave face at work and for friends, but I was very upset. My foot is on the mend and the ultrasound showed that the tendon isn’t severed, it’s merely pushed off to the side in a weird way from the swelling. I have a pretty bad internal infection and that’s what was causing the pain so I’m on antibiotics now. But because of my negative habits when I was laid up I have to start my training almost all over again and I thought I would share my mistakes.

What Not To Do When Injured

Don’t Wallow

I was a crying baby! I am not a person who likes to sit and do nothing and at the time the doctors didn’t know if I would need surgery or not which meant I possibly had MONTHS of crutching/elevating my foot ahead of me. I cried a bit and felt sorry for myself. It was especially frustrating after I did all that work on the track this summer because I had a secret ambition. I was considering trying out for the University track team this fall and when I realized that goal was out because of this injury my mindset went negative.

I have a friend I met at the 2XU Training camp, Svein (visit his website), who was severely injured in a bicycle accident and he had the best mindset and was back in the gym (on a stationary) within a week. Mindset is everything people!

Don’t Pig Out

I am an emotional eater so can you guess what happened in those 4 weeks of wallowing? I ate- A LOT! I would ask Ryan to bring me back 3- THREE!!- chocolate bars and I would eat them all at once. I stopped eating healthy and stuffed my face. I ate foods with gluten and dairy and “took the stomach ache” which only added to my misery.

Do Any Type of Physical Activity You Can

Because I was sulky I did absolutely no physical activity. Though I was on crutches and couldn’t put weight on my foot, there are a number of things I could have done. I could have done crunches, I could have done some seated yoga, or gone to the gym for upper body. Working out would have also helped with my blues.

Look for Lessons Learned

In my case, I learned that I need to work on my temper, I need to always wear shoes when camping, and that I need to truly appreciate a healthy and able body.

I’m back on the mend now. My foot is still too swollen and sore to fit my foot into a shoe so I’m rocking sandals everywhere, even the gym. Turns out I not only dislocated my toe, I also fractured it, so the doctor said it could be months before I can run without pain so the bike is my new best friend for now.

My family is very into fitness (my brother is a D1 collegiate wrestler) and while they were here we hit the gym almost every day and I feel so good! I feel like myself again! And that’s why I wanted to share my mistakes made with my readers.