Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th

Three years ago I was recovering from rotator cuff surgery. I couldn’t lift a cup of water with my left arm! But last month I started lifting weights again.

My personal records before my injury were:
Squat – 100#
Bench – 100#
Deadlift – 135#
Assisted pull-ups – 100#

Last week I did my warm up – walk/jog half mile, then 2 sets of 15 each:
Push-ups
Back lifts (supermans on the padded thingy)
Sit-ups
Shoulder stretches
Inverted rows

Then I did one warmup set with just the bar, one set with lighter weight, followed 3 sets of 5 each:
Squat – 95#
Bench – 85#
Deadlift – 115#
Assisted pull-ups 140# (lighter is better)
Penlay lifts 75#
Overhead press 50#

I’m getting stronger. But I’m not where I want to be.

Today I’m thankful for…

  1. Healing
  2. Progress, not perfection
  3. Breath in my lungs
  4. Free weights
  5. The overhead press machine, without which my shoulder couldn’t do those lifts
  6. 45 pound bar
  7. My local YMCA
  8. Water bottle full of cool refreshment
  9. The men in the weight room who encourage me even though I’m lifting a third of what they do
  10. The ability to move and lift
  11. Target active wear (bras and tops)
  12. Sam’s Club yoga pants

These pictures are from last month. 70 pound bench press and 80 pound squat. My progress is slow; I’ll be at last week’s weights for a while. But I’m making progress!

The Accident happened on August 12, 2013. They were declared dead 8/13/13. The first ten months I found myself depressed in the days leading up to the 12th. Then, July of 2014, I decided to choose gratitude. I wrote my first list of Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th. I’ve written a monthly gratitude post ever since.

fitness, Gratitude, progress not perfection, weight lifting


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

Comment

Leave a Reply

Some of the links on KathleenBDuncan.com are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, this site could earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Copyright © Kathleen B Duncan 2021. All rights reserved.
Website management and design by Go Forth Online Now go Forth Online Now
and their associates.

Get the Newsletter!

%d bloggers like this: