Friday, May 30, 2008

Update: 6/5/08

After 6 days of soreness, I finally got most of it out of my system.  I went kayak fishing at the coast last weekend, which meant a lot of hard paddling against the Rockport wind.  That seemed to do the trick.  As of Tuesday, I could extend my arms again.  :-)  I worked out again yesterday morning, and I am extremely sore today, but not the same kind of soreness.  This soreness I recognize this time. 

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Oh my!  Have you ever worked out with a personal trainer?  Before Tuesday of this week, I had not.  I decided a few weeks ago to take the step to sign up for six sessions with a trainer, and the first session was on Tuesday night.  I realized I needed some help to get my butt in gear, so that I can increase my body strength, fend off changing metabolism, and get in good shape for an upcoming referee camp (not to mention just to look good for my wife...sorry if that's TMI.)  So, I hired a guy that I play ball with up at the church from time to time.  He's a great player and athlete, and I know he does a great job with his basketball training and physical training.  He's also a former college player, so he can definitely ball (not that this is a requirement but worth mentioning.)  He's also a Believer and we prayed together beforehand.  Great start, I thought!

So, he worked me out extremely hard...much harder than I had expected.  We just jumped straight in and went after "burning out."  That's an appropriate description, I eventually learned.  Most of the stuff he had me doing was resistance training to focus on abs and triceps, as well as biceps and back.  I was doing diamond push-ups, military push-ups, bicycle kicks on my back, etc.  That was the first half hour.  The second half hour when we jumped onto some weights kicked my butt even harder.  I was hurting so bad by the time it was over, that I literally could not extend my arms.  They were locked kind of like you see those meathead body builders when they walk around with their chests out and arms bent.  I guess they really can't help it I now realize, given that I was doing it not out of my own choice. 

So, here I am three days later.  How do I feel now?  ABOUT TEN TIMES THE PAIN I felt after the first day!  I still can not extend my arms.  Is this normal?  My left arm when bending it bends about 40 degrees, when normally I can bend it nearly 90 degrees.  Some of you know my hidden talent/stupid human trick of basically being able to invert my elbows.  It's kind of freaky.  Well, I'm pretty sure at this rate, I will lose my special arm trick capabilities.  That's fine, as long as I don't permanently have that meathead body builder arms locked pose the rest of my life. 

My next session is Monday night, and man I hope I can get rid of some of this soreness before then.  If not, I'm in for some trouble.  Holy schnikees!  Pray for me.

Friday, May 30, 2008 10:40:57 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)  #    Comments [6]
Friday, May 30, 2008 8:34:41 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
I never thought about the meatheads not actually being able to relax their arms. I always thought they were showing off.
Jan
Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:40:12 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
They say that the best way to relieve soreness is to repeat the activity that caused the soreness in the first place. I'll bet you feel better after your next session!!
Brandis
Monday, June 02, 2008 12:36:08 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
Sounds like you pushed pretty hard for a first workout. Brandis is right, you'll feel better after your next workout. If you continue to work out at this level you'll have Herculean strength within a couple of months, and you'll continue to be this sore.

I know it makes me look like a meathead (great word usage, Jan), but I like that feeling of not being able to fully drop my arms. Its a visual reminder that I'm working out.
Monday, June 02, 2008 2:27:38 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
Oh my gosh. This post made me laugh so freaking hard. I totally know how you feel. It's normal that your arms and what ever else are going to hurt. You are using muscle that you haven't used in a long time and even at that, you did many of the same movements. Your body is building up acid which is causing a lot of the pain.


Regardless, it was still a freaking hilarious post. Oh the meatheads - Thanks for the visual.
Thursday, June 05, 2008 12:10:44 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
You've probably already had your second session and I hope the pain is better. My trainer used to tell me that 48 hours after the workout is the max pain you'll feel. So once you're past 48hrs it's all downhill. Of course, until you work out again :)
Colleen
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:11:45 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
just thought i would let you know i read your blog for the first time. be a man and quit crying about the soreness! ;-)
tjw
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