I am dedicated to my fitness regiment.
I workout everyday and devote at least an hour to strenuous exercise. I combine high intensity cardio with strength training. I maintain my flexibility, balance and stamina. Because of this, I sometimes push my body too far in other areas of my life. I was recently involved in a large remodeling project in my home. I made the mistake of attempting to hang drywall on the ceiling by myself. I am 54 years old, around five feet tall and weigh approximately 120 pounds. Although I cut the drywall sheet in half, it was still quite heavy and difficult to maneuver. I needed to hold the piece in place with the top of my head and my left hand. I then used my right hand to run the cordless drill. I realized that I was putting a great deal of strain on my joints and muscles. I didn’t understand the full extent of the damage I was causing my body until too late. The pain didn’t set in until several hours later. I had torn my trapezius muscle, which left me almost totally incapacitated. The pain and swelling were so intense that I could not remain standing for more than a minute or two. I couldn’t even manage to sit upright. I needed to lie flat at all times. I used ice and took painkillers and was unable to shower or brush my hair. Just trying to eat was difficult. My life was totally interrupted for over three weeks. There was no way that I could workout. I went without even stretching my muscles for almost a month. As I slowly recovered, I had to be extremely careful and cautious with getting back into exercising. I started by pedaling the stationary bike very slowly and only for twenty minutes.