Overdoing it

After almost three weeks of inactivity, I finally resumed my exercise routine yesterday. I’d really planned on going out for walks while I was supposed to be taking it easy. Somehow, that didn’t happen and now the temperatures have soared into triple digits on the Fahrenheit scale. Inside our house is not that much better at the moment, with the humidity from the evaporative system being double and triple what is outside. Despite the failings of our cooling system, I went ahead and did a workout with the Gold’s gym program on the Wii.

There had been no specific instructions regarding resumption of exercise after surgery, aside from avoiding any activity that hurts and, of course, the limit on heavy lifting/work. I did make an assumption that I should avoid abdominal exercise until it’s okay to resume the heavy lifting. I started out with a couple of beginner level warm up routines that run for about six minutes each. I was surprised at how alien it felt to be exercising even though it’s just been a few weeks. When I restarted the exercise in November, I remember feeling how easy it had been to slip back into the intermediate exercises I’d abandoned months before. This time, my body felt really awkward and clumsy. I also found that I was struggling with basic movements that I’d done so well just weeks ago. The next routine was a longer, two part program but still at beginner level. I improved a bit on my movement this time and started to get my heart working a bit. It felt okay at this point so I decided I’d work on the beginner ducking routine which was another two-parter that ran for about fifteen minutes. This is where I started to flag and the ducking movement didn’t feel so great once I’d done it a few times. I’m sure part of the problem is I’d not used those muscles for a while but I also think it was too soon to be doing that kind of movement. I did finish the routine but I was only half-hearted in my effort by the the time the second half began and was very ready to be done with it when I did finish. This morning, unsurprisingly, my legs and bottom were really sore when I got out of bed.

I’m about to go back for more exercise today but will be avoiding the ducking routines or anything more difficult until I’m further along in my healing. Or at least until I can discuss this with the surgeon at my follow-up appointment next Thursday.