A (Hopefully) Minor Setback

Well, it’s been a few weeks since I joined the gym, and I’ve been going along very regularly.  Sure, I’ve had two weekends where I took an extra day off, this past one included, but 5 days of working out in a week is far better than the 0 days I was getting in previously.

My diet, on the other hand, still needs work.  I haven’t spend a lot of time talking about this with my trainer, but he made a point of telling me that it is the biggest piece of the puzzle, and he will be watching to see how my progress goes.  I suspect he will want me to make some changes after our first month is past.

Anyway, I don’t remember when I last detailed a workout here, but I’m doing 1 hour cardio on my days in between my strength training, which I am supposed to be doing three days a week.  I had my trainer session on Thursday of last week, then did cardio on Friday and took Saturday and Sunday off from the gym.  I went back in on Monday and did the strength routine Jay (my trainer) outlined followed by his prescribed post-strength cardio workout.

Tuesday was an hour on the elliptical, doing the interval program.  That was fun, and motivating.  Yesterday, after I posted about my new compression shorts, I had my second trainer session.  He had me go through a slightly modified “300″ workout, made famous by the movie.  It was one of the toughest workouts I remember doing in a long time.

After I got home, my lower back started getting stiff.  Usually a tough workout takes at least a day before I really start feeling it, so this was some cause for concern.  By the evening, my back was screaming.  I took some Advil, which helped some, and I was able to get more comfortable, and able to get to sleep last night.

When I woke up, it seemed ok, but as soon as I started moving, it started to stiffen up and get very sore again.  Within a short time it was again screaming, sending me back to the Advil, and keeping me out of the gym.  I did consider briefly the idea of going in to do the recumbent bike, but I decided it was in my best interest to just take it easy today.

The Advil seems to be keeping the back pain in check, but my hamstrings and upper back are starting to get stiff.  I’m not sure if these may come from the workout or from compensating for my lower back, but either way, it is very uncomfortable.

Hopefully by tomorrow I’ll feel up to doing at least a cardio workout.  I’ll need to let Jay know about this too, so he can take it easier on my back.  If the back goes, so goes the hiking, and that defeats the purpose of going to the gym in the first place.  I’ll let you know tomorrow if there is any news.

BTW – if you have any suggestions for dealing with back pain, or any other comments or suggestions, please let me know in the section below.  Thank you.

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