Despite my pride for finishing that hard-as-hell circuit training class on Monday, my body was not very happy with me. When I decided to go back to working out and joined a gym after my surgery, I told my husband (and myself) that I would ease back into it. That is what I had been doing with beginner’s Zumba and beginner’s Yoga, the exercise bike, and very little (due to lack of fitness) elliptical. Monday’s workout was way too advanced. It was not easing in but something I may hope to be able to do in a year’s time when I fully recover from ACDF.
Monday night I could already feel the pain beginning while trying to sleep. By 4 am (my ‘wake-up and begin work’ time), literally every muscle in my body ached. There were muscles that no matter how in shape I was I must never have worked out. The most striking is whatever muscle is from the elbow to the wrist. I have never exercised that muscle and I’m not sure I want to again! My neck muscles, shoulder muscles, back muscles, stomach muscles, glutes, quads, inner thighs, calves all hurt like hell all day Tuesday. I felt like crap and had to take a nap after work. I still felt crummy when I woke up from the nap.
This morning my muscles tamed down a bit but definitely not enough to do any sort of exercise besides walking Roger to school and back. Fortunately, I had a massage booked from a Groupon and that helped immensely.
Tomorrow I am going to attempt gentle yoga. I know I can always go into child’s pose if need be.
* An aside: I get an inspirational quote in my email daily. Today’s rocked and I want to share it with everyone.
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
Mark Twain
Namaste
Spinning Wheels 
Leah, I don’t now what that exercise program you went to was, but I hope to God, I never run into it. I was beginning to hurt just reading your post! So now you’ll really take it easy, right? I am truly convinced that we can wear out our parts if we overdo exercise. The purpose of exercise should be to make us able to do ordinary things daily, not be a superstar. Did you ever notice what happens to the super stars, i.e. knee replacements, hip replacements, all kinds of arthritis from internal injuries while working out. Remember,for every action, there is a reaction and that reaction may not be what we were aiming for!
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