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…
- Healing
- Progress, not perfection
- Breath in my lungs
- Free weights
- The overhead press machine, without which my shoulder couldn’t do those lifts
- 45 pound bar
- My local YMCA
- Water bottle full of cool refreshment
- The men in the weight room who encourage me even though I’m lifting a third of what they do
- The ability to move and lift
- Target active wear (bras and tops)
- 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
Gail
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